Incredibly Engaging and Fun for Young Kids! We visited the Pacific Science Center with our four and six-year-old boys, and it was a highly engaging experience that kept their attention--even after a packed day coming straight from the Space Needle, the Chihuly Museum, and an IMAX screening. The museum is massive with a fantastic variety of interactive, hands-on exhibits. A personal favorite of mine was the beautiful Tropical Butterfly House, which was a wonderful treat (and unlike our experience in NYC, it didn't require a separate booking or fee). Our boys absolutely loved the outdoor water play area and spent a significant amount of time building in the special Artemis Adventure LEGO exhibition. They also had a blast in the Maker room creating ink art and clay builds. Because they are quite young, they also thoroughly enjoyed and appreciated many of the core installations in the main exhibit hall. Our only disappointment was that we weren't able to secure a booking for the planetarium during our visit. Overall, this is a high-value and engaging destination for families with children. I highly recommend adding it to your Seattle itinerary if you have the time! read more

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We visited the Pacific Science Center using the Seattle C3 Pass, and it was one of the best attractions included in the pass. Located right next to the Space Needle, it was an easy and convenient walk over. Our pass included the K-Pop Demon Hunters laser light show, which lasted about 30 minutes. It was entertaining for the kids and surprisingly relaxing for the adults, making it a fun bonus experience. The Science Center itself was packed with engaging, hands-on educational activities for both children and adults. In fact, we were so busy participating in the exhibits that I barely took any photos! We explored topics such as physics, Earth science, optical illusions, how the brain works, AI, STEAM activities, and other interactive sensory experiences. Every exhibit encouraged learning through participation, making it enjoyable for all ages. One of the highlights was the Butterfly Pavilion, where we even had the opportunity to feed the butterflies. It was a memorable experience and a favorite for our family. Overall, the Pacific Science Center offers a wonderful combination of education and entertainment. Whether you're visiting with kids or simply enjoy interactive learning, it's a fantastic place to spend several hours exploring, discovering, and having fun. read more

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WARNING: For those interested in watching movies at the Pacific Science Center in IMAX, PacSci no longer owns the larger Boeing IMAX screen. All movies are now shown in the much smaller and much more uncomfortable side theater. We totally got bamboozled for Project Hail Mary, not knowing that the PACCAR Boeing IMAX theater was sold and closed right before this movie was released, which caused the movie to get pushed into the smaller theater. We had no idea this smaller theater even existed in the first place until we lined up outside for the film. I don't believe (but am not 100% sure) they ever showed new feature films in the smaller theater in the past, so I believe it's somewhat disingenuous and very misleading behavior. It's a completely nonobvious change. Plug "Boeing IMAX theater" in any search engine, all that comes up is this smaller PACCAR IMAX as the top result. The small theater is really weird. There's only a tiny outdoor concession stand and the bathrooms aren't even inside the building, requiring a trek outside then down some stairs to reach. There's no assigned seating, same with the larger theater. We got to the movie 45 minutes before showtime and there were around 40 to 50 people already in line ahead of us. Luckily the theater is large enough that we still got some decent seating, although the seats here are cramped together and pretty uncomfortable. Overall I was very disappointed in this movie experience. I will definitely not be returning to watch movies at PacSci. I wouldn't have purchased tickets in the first place if I had realized the movie wasn't being shown on the 59.4 x 80 ft screen. read more

I have been going to Pacific Science Center on-and-off for decades. In the past, I loved watching movies at their Boeing IMAX; I went often enough that I funded a chair during the renovation. Ever since other theaters allowed reserving specific seats, I have stopped going to the Pac Sci IMAX since I need to wait in line for 1+ hour to sit on the chair with my name. I wish they would switch to a reservation system. I also used to come for the special exhibits. Favorites included the Star Wars exhibit with genuine movie props, the Pompeii exhibit with frescos, and the Harry Potter exhibition. They haven't had any high-quality special exhibits for a very long time. Kinda sad about that. The old reliable and crowd favorites such as the butterflies and the insects are still there. The dinosaur exhibit is gone. Parts of it are sadly becoming old and tired. Construction is somewhat on-going with parts of their property sold to help manage finances. I hope they will find a way out of their financial hardships. We recently went to see the spiders exhibit. Those with arachnophobia need to stay far away. With giant models, live specimens, and dead specimens, kids are squealing with delight while adults (like me) kept saying eeeewwwwww, also with delight. Keep it up, Pac Sci. Seattle needs you. Being a tech city, we need the science to back it up. read more

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Cool place, especially for kids. Lots of interactive activities. Lots of school kids on a Friday. We found street parking a couple of blocks away, so cheaper than parking in the garage. read more

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I wanted to like it but man oh man was it disappointing. We came here on a date, no kids, but we like to visit science centers in many cities and even though they're mainly catered to kids, we usually love it as adults. This place is huge but they're not using it well. There are a few cool things like trying to pick up 550 pounds, the butterfly exhibit (which was the only actually cool thing), and some little things here and there. No food other than the theater. Not very educational even for kids unless they're very young, I wouldn't take my kids here as it seems very pointless. The main reason we came here was for the Planetarium which was SO disappointing. Usually they're so much better. This seemed so outdated and fuzzy and pretty pointless unless you're a toddler. The parking garage is so expensive and not even that close for the price. It's a whole maze on how to get in, especially during construction. It says "follow the posted detour signage" and there's no signage. We had to ask for directions 3 times before we actually got to it. Just VERY not worth it. read more

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Pacific science Center is a great activity, especially if you need something on a rainy day. Some of the exhibits are a little dated and unfortunately a film festival was going on so we could not see anything in the IMAX however, laser light shows and planetarium are included with admission. read more

Pacific Science Center - Butterfly in the tropical butterfly House. - Museums Near Me - Seattle, Washington

It's actually so fun to come here! You can go here as a date idea as a whole family, just friends, personal relationships,etc. We wanted to check out the spider exhibit that was added and the line was very long so we went in the main area first and goofed around and read some of the things, the butterfly exhibit was very beautiful and really immersive, I honestly loved the different plants I saw over there as well (as a some want plant enthusiast). After that we checked to go back to the spider exhibit and the line went by quickly, very cool and awesome things we found. I'd say check it out before the spider exhibit is gone! We only paid $10(each) for our tickets and after we went over to the armory to check out the dia de los muertos (day of the dead celebration) and it was so beautiful and touching! read more

Pacific Science Center - Spider exhibit - Museums Near Me - Seattle, Washington

I used to be a member of the museum, with the Boeing IMAX theater being a major draw. You even received discounted tickets as a member. But I have to say... I understand the museum is having financial difficulties, but still... the quality of exhibits are simply sub-par, and the recent sale of the Boeing IMAX theater was crazy. I'm stunned leadership at PacSci thought it was in the best interests of the city to sell that IMAX theater to Space Needle Corp, who is basically shutting it down as far as a venue to watch major new releases. The Board of Pac Sci needs to be fired for this! Crazy. So disappointing. Outdated/subpar exhibits, AND effevticely shutting down (via the sale, as opposed to finding a film-friendly buyer) the city jewel known as Boeing IMAX... frustrating and disappointing. read more

We went for an event on 8/15 7-11 : Dos Flakos from the Bronx , New York performed! They are amazing I enjoyed the music tremendously!!The pacific space center was spacious , clean and well organized ! I want to go back with the family during the day , it looks like a lot of educational fun learning is to be done there! Also has a huge movie theater! read more

A good spot to go on a rainy day in Seattle, however the museum feels more and more dated with each visit. While the exhibits that are available are wonderful (especially the butterfly garden), each time I visit another section/wing of the museum is closed and it is quite small at this point. read more

It was fun to go once but not sure I will be back. The Dino's were cool and we enjoyed the information on them and the size comparison to a real person. The butterfly's are the best part!! So many and so cool to get up close and personal with them. Had a few land on me, so cool! I hate the pricing. As an out of state guest I was charged more to visit than a WA resident. Even though I am paying for a hotel, all my meals and coffee, and what not.. I am forced to pay more to visit this attraction. read more

Pacific Science Center - Dinosaur - Museums Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Finding activities for all three of my children (ages ranging from 1-6 years old,) to participate and enjoy can be challenging. The Pacific Science Center is one of our favorite places to visit because all of my children can explore and play together. The activities require their tiny but mighty minds to work and once they've successfully put a puzzle together, built a fort, connected tubes, pulled themselves up, manipulate water, make music, organize blocks in a box, etc. I can see their excitement of success. The customer service is always great, the team really goes over and beyond to ensure all guests are enjoying their experience. There is hand sanitizer, and restrooms located through throughout the center. If you have little children who enjoy very interactive activities this is your place; I highly recommend! read more

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Came from out of town and had a good experience. This is a good stop for young kiddos to get hands on and get their energy out. Easy to get to and there's fun water exhibits outside for the kids. The building is a bit old but the exhibits are well maintained. We loved the butterfly room. There's plenty of things we did not have time for as we had to cater to nap schedules, lunch, and hitting up the other tourist spots. For lunch, hit up the armory across the way! You can also get a stamp on your hand for re-entry. read more

Love going to Pacific Science center, especially for adult only nights and laser shows! Highly recommended to visitors coming to Seattle.

Even though some areas are still under construction since the big remodel and reopening, I cannot say enough about how much fun it is for the entire family, from grandparents to toddlers! There was a lot of friendly, kind and knowledgeable staff. Everything was clean and plenty of space to roam. The current Spider exhibit is a hit! So much to see and do. Many interactive exhibits to keep the learning fun. Only negative is if there is a Kraken game or any event going on, be prepared to pay more for parking than it costs to get in. (still worth it!) read more

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Such a fun place for toddler and kid! There's much to do that will keep them occupied plus the science show that was engaging. It was fortunate they the two times we went were not crowded. read more

Pacific Science Center - Toddlers can spend a whole day here - Museums Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Can't beat the $10 adult and $7 child admission fee through most of November. It's a great time to experience the Spider experience. Included in the fee are laser shoes and the space and science exhibits. Great for about 4 years and above. Friendly and knowledgeable staff. Enjoy! read more

Pacific Science Center - Museums Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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I had an amazing Sunday afternoon here! Tickets are $10 until November 20th 2025 so that was a nice surprise when booking the ticket.This was my first time back as an adult and it was still fun. My favorite part was the butterfly house. I was disappointed to see the planetarium wasn't open, I was looking forward to that the most. read more

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Very cool spot. Lots of interactive areas for kids and curious adults. They have a butterfly house as well as a movie theatre. Pretty big and seems to be worth the money you spend on entry. read more

Pacific Science Center - Museums Near Me - Seattle, Washington

I'm not sure who this place is for. It seemed like too much for a little kid and too little for a big kid. My friend's 7 year old was bored. I was bored. It was small and crowded. I definitely would not pay for this experience again. read more

This was a relatively small science center with limited things to see and do. The highlight was the butterfly garden which was very pretty. I was able to basically see everything in about an hour. Thankfully its located in an area to do other stuff like the space needle. As a visitor in the area I'd probably skip this unless you have young kids. read more

Pacific Science Center - Museums Near Me - Seattle, Washington

My three year old loved it! We were kinda worried it would be a bit beyond him but there was so much for him (and even more for older littles) we loved the butterflies and the bubbles.. the outer space exhibits and the planetarium and laser shows. Both are free with registration ahead of time so I suggest you register for a show when you get your tickets! Definitely will be back again. read more

The parking is not safe .. vandals with no security .. locked cars have windows broken and there is no one to report to or that has authority to prevent vandalism. The center is wonderful it's just not safe to park yourself read more

Kids can spend hours here and then off to get a bite at the armory and then back at it again. The interactive exhibits and topics are relevant for today and is a great deal if you use the City pass read more

By the time you find the entrance your kid will be too tired to enjoy the cool stuff inside.

Check out a lot of cool stuff. This place has changed a lot since I was a kid. A bit sad they didn't have anything set up outside and the water features were turned off. Especially since it was so nice and hot out when I came. Overall id say this place is great for kids, adults, not so much. read more

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If you have kids who like science or dinosaurs, this may be a good place to take them when the weather gets rough or just for a day out. At one point, we had their annual pass but then COVID happened and we weren't able to enjoy it. This is the first time since COVID that we've been back. Not much has changed. My little one loves butterflies and was delighted to spend the afternoon with the little fellas. She also liked the hands-on water tank where you can feel the starfish, sea anemone. We didn't do the imax because it was extra and I didn't think she'd enjoy it. It was spendy even with a WA resident discount. Some science related activities were lame or not really interesting - like the bowl sound thing or the bubble maker. I think I saw those there before. After about an hour, we were done exploring. Go when there's no events going on cuz parking is tough. We took public transit and still had to walk almost a mile. Boo..they need a better way of getting here. I took the light rail before but didn't feel like it that day. read more

Pacific Science Center - 7/24 - Museums Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Fun trip for the kiddos right next to the Space Needle. Visited here June and chose it as one of the options for the City Pass. The center has options to play and learn, a Butterfly garden which was so fun and a Dinosaur exhibit! The Butterflies were not shy, they were big in size and very engaging with all the people inside. We also enjoyed the Dark Space IMAX movie which was awesome to see. Prices were reasonable and the Center was fun for our kiddos. Bathrooms were big and very clean! read more

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The drop off and pickup is unclear. they also have rules where they won't allow your child for early pickup after 3:30pm (however, it's not communicated in advance). The staff won't meet you outside to discuss. Wended up being late for an important event - it seems odd that as a parent ,we would pay for a camp then they keep our child hostage and won't communicate no matter the circumstance. read more

Out of state visitor, coming to Seattle for the first time. Having two toddlers and being to many science and children focused museums throughout the US, this defintely ranks at the very bottom. What really saved this visit was the butterfly exhibit and the laser show that was included with the ticket. Pros: location, near the space needle and very accessible by the monorail. Laser show was cool, two kiddos loved it. Same for the butterfly exhibit, thy loved seeing all the live butterflies. These two things really saved the visit. Cons: very bad plan layout. Mainly it's a big open space with exhibits spread around, so very bad acoustics. Exhibits seemed to be worn out out or out of order. Majority of exhibits seemed to be aimed for 5+ age range. My 3 year old did not enjoy the majority of it or/and information seemed to aimed for older crowd. If you have to pay a ticket for a three year old, there should be activities/exhibits aimed for tha age range. It was bad enough where I wish I was refunded for her ticket. Overall: As a tourist and if you have toddlers, I would avoid this place. Money can be well spent elsewhere in the vincinity (museum of pop, space needle, Chihuly garden, Seattle center armory) read more

Our family enjoyed our time at the Pacific Science Center. It was the science museum of my childhood, and it was fun to see how it's changed and stayed the same. The butterflies were my favorite. My kids were all about the Dinosaurs. read more

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After visiting the Space Needle, I decided to take my kids to revisit the nearby Pacific Science Center. They had visited as toddlers but didn't remember much. Thanks to our Discovery Cube pass and the ASTC Travel Passport Program, we could visit for free. They enjoyed the variety of exhibitions, making the day even more memorable. read more

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In my opinion the Pacific Science Center is overpriced for the experience. To start with the positive, my favorite part of the Center was the butterfly room. Rivaling the epic Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden in Florida, the enclosed space boasted several different types of friendly butterflies and a wall of pinned chrysalises. After the high point that was the butterflies, a few of the sections such as the bias section and the data research section were engaging but not quite interactive enough. Outside of the surfing and body matching booths, almost all of the interactive booths were aimed at elementary to middle school aged kids and the entire dinosaur room felt dated (think 90's). The biggest feedback that I could give is that much of the space wasn't well utilized and was uninteresting. I could easily see the Pacific Science Center being the perfect place for a school trip with a tour guide, but there seemed to be very little reason to spend almost $30 on a visit (no student discounts) if you're just visiting on your own. read more

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Was very engaging, kept my kids entertained for a least an hour,had so many different rooms and buildings,would definitely need more than one day to see it all. read more

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For a place called science center, their technology was not quiet updated, and we had to wait in line for 30+ minutes in the cold for paper tickets (despite having QR codes). The inside had a lot of interactive displays and devices, but mostly designed for little children. The place seemed pretty dated and old, looked like it could use an upgrade some time soon, especially the dinosaurs. Many exhibits and stations were just scattered around without much cohesive organization. However, my boyfriend and I did enjoy the butterfly garden a lot. It was so fun seeing them land on him and flap their beautiful colorful wings, how pretty! This was the only part that was worth seeing and experiencing in my very personal opinion. read more

Lots of educational activities to keep children entertained. The kids planetarium show was a little skimpy. Many interactive stations. Butterfly experience was cool. read more

Science Centers are usually lots of fun but this one ain't it. It's outdated, it's inefficient, and overall just... not exciting. The best part was probably the butterfly exhibit with live butterflies flying around but that's it. The ticketing system is slow and inefficient, e-tickets aren't a thing apparently. The dinosaur section is a little dated. The space isn't utilized very well, everything is kind of scattered about and you just meander through everything clumsily. There really isn't any rhyme or reason to how anything is organized here and for the price you pay, you'd think you'd get somewhat of a nice scientific curiosity satisfaction. If you ever find yourself in LA, go to their science center, it's free, it's amazing, and you will see how much more modern it is compared to this one. read more

My 6yo daughter and I live in West Seattle and love getting an opportunity to play and explore at PacSci. There are a ton of spaces and opportunities for her to get her hands on and learn directly and through observation. It is geared to showcase and teach to many ages at the same time and we always have a great time. read more

First time visiting with my son. He had such an amazing time with all the hands on learning. Big shout out to Mackenna, who was working in the butterfly exhibit during our visit!!! She took the time to answer all of my son's questions about the exhibit and made him feel so comfortable. He's usually not one to interact with others, so it was so amazing for me to see him so interested. Definitely made our trip special! You're amazing Mackenna!! read more