If you’re looking for a Seattle, WA museum, the Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture is worth a visit. Its expansive exhibits and world-class science center will educate you about a wide range of topics. Located on the UW Seattle campus, the Burke is an easy 10 minute walk from campus. For a full and engaging experience, plan to spend a couple of hours here.
The space gallery is one of the most exciting parts of the museum, containing the world’s first space tourist, Charles Simonyi. Visitors can tour a Soyuz capsule that traveled to the International Space Station, as well as NASA’s Full Fuselage Shuttle Trainer, which is a replica of the space shuttle. The space museum’s collections are extensive and offer plenty of ways to learn about space travel and the human body.
If you’re looking for something a little more exciting, visit the museum’s rotating exhibitions. Exhibits here range from a local artist’s first solo exhibition to famous artists like Andy Warhol’s. The rotating exhibitions are usually thought-provoking and well-curated. Be sure to check their website for hours and directions. There are free parking lots and metered street parking available on the premises, and admission is free.
If you’re traveling by car, the Museum is located about 45 minutes away from downtown Seattle. Parking is abundant in Tacoma, but you can also rely on Amtrak, which runs five trains a day from King Street Station in Seattle. The Cascades train and Coast Starlight train run from King Street Station to Tacoma as well, which is about 20 minutes’ walk from the museums. Alternatively, you can take a bus to the museum, which leaves every 15 minutes.
The Chihuly Garden and Glass are both open daily. If you’re visiting both, consider purchasing tickets together, because they are included in the Seattle City Pass Promotion. Take a monorail or bus to get around downtown and visit the museum is a great option, but parking is also nearby and can be paid for via valet. The museum is conveniently located near Seattle’s Union Station.
During the peak season, late spring through early fall, Pike Place Market can become very crowded. For those with young children, visit early in the morning to avoid crowds. For an even more memorable Seattle experience, we recommend taking the Ultimate Food Experience Tour with a Local Guide. The tour includes a visit to the Boeing Factory. We also highly recommend the Mount Rainier Full Day Tour that includes the Olympic National Park Small-Group Tour, Snoqualmie Falls & Winery, and hotel pick-up.
