Seattle Aquarium

This post will share photos and our experience visiting the Seattle Aquarium before our Alaskan Cruise!

We visited Seattle in 2009 before we had kids. We were only there for a few days, but had so many fun adventures. Knowing our Alaskan cruise departed from Seattle and that this was our kids’ first time on an airplane, we wanted to maximize our time out there and do some of the same fun activities, but with them! We didn’t visit the Seattle Aquarium in 2009, so this was new for all of us!

Seattle Shore Excursion Idea

The Seattle Aquarium may be an option for a Seattle Shore Excursion if Seattle is a port on your itinerary. It could also be a pre-cruise or post-cruise activity to do if you have time.

We arrived in Seattle in the evening two days before our cruise departure. I highly recommend giving yourself wiggle room and never arrive the same day if taking a flight. We had one full day before our cruise to explore within the city. We planned on renting a car for the few days back in Seattle after our cruise, so we chose activities that we could walk or monorail to.

Our day started with a visit to Pike Place Market for some coffee, breakfast and shopping. We then walked to the Seattle Aquarium. It was a short 6 minute walk from Pike Place Market, perhaps a minute or two longer due to some construction blockage, but super quick and convenient.

Although you can pre-purchase tickets, we were kinda winging it this day (crazy, I know!), so we were able to walk in and just purchase tickets at the front counter.

Seattle Aquarium Exhibits

One of the first exhibits in the Seattle Aquarium was actually the kids’ favorite…the touch tanks!

There were several open tanks full of various sea creatures for you to reach in and gently touch. Be sure to roll up your sleeves!

I liked how there were volunteers throughout the room willing to share cool facts and fun tips about the creatures. I don’t remember the exact creature, but one of the volunteers showed us how the creature reacts differently when you touch it in different spots (same, sea creature, same).

Moving along, there were larger tanks of other fish, creatures and jellyfish.

You might catch a scuba diver in the tanks!

Continuing outside, there are larger open, outdoor exhibits for birds, otters, and seals!

There were various times for shows and demonstrations, like sea otter feedings, but we didn’t stick around long enough for any of them – we had an entire city to explore!

This area provides a great photo spot with some of the city in the background.

Inside, there are a few large cutouts for photos available.

Be sure to take a photo with the Seattle Great Wheel while you’re outside after exiting! Or go visit it! We didn’t visit it this trip, but it’s another option for your Seattle activity list.

Below are some questions you might ask:

Where is the Seattle Aquarium Located?

The Seattle Aquarium is located on Pier 59 on the Elliott Bay waterfront, next to the Seattle Great Wheel.

What are the Seattle Aquarium Hours of Operation?

The Seattle Aquarium is open 9:30am–6pm (with the last entry at 5pm). It is open 365 days a year, including holidays (holiday hours may vary).

How much does the Seattle Aquarium Cost?

At the time of this post (2024), an Adult ticket is approximately $40.95 and a Youth ticket is approximately $24.70. The price fluctuates depending on the day and they do only sell a certain amount of tickets each day, which can be seen on their website. Children 3 and under are free.

The Seattle Aquarium is included in the Seattle CityPASS® so that is another option to save if you plan on visiting multiple Seattle attractions.

Is the Seattle Aquarium Worth It?

In terms of our goal of “let’s do something that we didn’t get to do the last time we were in Seattle” yes, we did accomplish that. The kids loved the touch tanks and it was nice to have the weather outside warm up a little while we were there during the morning hours. We were only there about a couple of hours at most, so compared to other aquariums we’ve been to and the little amount of time we spent here, the price just didn’t seem in alignment.

We are glad to say we’ve experienced it, but are also ok with only going once. However, if you spent more time and stayed for the demonstrations, then you may get more value out of your ticket. They have also added a new virtual reality experience and puppet show, so check their website for their list of current exhibits and activities to determine if a visit is right for you and your family and is it fits into your schedule.