Our Visit to the Seattle Aquarium (Full Review!)
Last Updated on April 21, 2024 by Kelly
The Seattle Aquarium is one of Seattle’s most popular attractions. Conveniently located downtown right on the pier, you’ll enjoy unobstructed views of the Puget Sound all while learning about local marine life. Curious as to what’s below the surface of Washington’s waters? The Seattle Aquarium will give you a direct view of the vibrant underwater ecosystem.
We have personally visited the Seattle Aquarium twice, and we would gladly go back again! This post shares 6 things you can’t miss at the Seattle Aquarium. I also include lots of our own photos!
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I may earn commissions from qualifying purchases. This post was not sponsored by the Seattle Aquarium, but I have collaborated with them in the past with my Instagram account.
About the Seattle Aquarium
The Seattle Aquarium is located on Pier 59 and within walking distance of Pike Place Market. It’s easy to visit both attractions in the same day. It’s only an 8-minute walk between Pike Place Market and the aquarium.
The Seattle Aquarium is open daily from 9:30am to 6pm, with the last entry at 5pm. It contains both indoor and outdoor exhibits, so dress for the weather!
The Seattle Aquarium was built in 1977 and is currently managed by the Seattle Aquarium Society. (It was previously owned and operated by the City of Seattle Department of Parks and Recreation.) The aquarium was expanded in 2007 to include a new 120,000 gallon exhibit, a gift shop, a cafe, and event space.
The aquarium’s mission is to inspire conservation of our marine environment. The aquarium provides a number of educational activities and they contribute to conservation efforts. .
Travel Tip: If you’re planning a trip to Seattle, consider buying a Seattle CityPASS. You’ll be able to save money if you plan on visiting multiple attractions
Where to Find Parking
If you’re driving to the Seattle Aquarium, you can currently park for free for three hours (thanks to the Seattle Historic Waterfront Association) at the Pike Place Market Garage. Just don’t forget to ask for a parking voucher from Guest Services when you enter the Seattle Aquarium.
When we last visited, we parked at the Pike Place Market Garage and it was just a quick walk cross the street to the aquarium. We used the garage entrance at 1531 Western Avenue. Once you park, you can take the stairs or the elevator down to the waterfront level. Just head west, cross the street, and you’ll see the aquarium right in front of you.
| See our guide The Best Hotels in Downtown Seattle to help you plan your trip! |
Best Things to See at the Seattle Aquarium
There’s a lot to see at the Seattle Aquarium! The aquarium has 6 primary exhibits. These include:
1. Window on Washington Waters
As soon as you walk through the entrance, you’ll see a giant 120,000 gallon aquarium viewed from a 20×40 foot glass pane. This is the Window on Washington Waters exhibit. The marine life in this exhibit is what you would expect to find in Washington’s Neah Bay. The tank is filled with salmon, eels, sea stars, urchins, anemones, and more. And if you’re lucky, you might even see a scuba diver working in the tank! As you exit this exhibit, be sure not to miss the Sound Surround alcove around the corner of the main window. The alcove will give you a more immersive view of the tank. Windows on Washington Waters was one of our favorite parts of the Seattle Aquarium. There’s nothing like walking into the building and seeing a gigantic aquarium right before you!
2. Life on the Edge
One of my favorite memories growing up is walking along the local beaches at low tide and examining the tide pools. The Life on the Edge exhibit allows you to do just that, but you’re not at the mercy of the Puget Sound’s tide schedules! You’ll also have a naturalist nearby to answer any questions you may have about the sea life you see. At this exhibit, you’ll get to peer into the tide pools and see the unique seascape. You’re also allowed to touch what you find in the tide pool. You’re likely to find sea urchin, hermit crabs, sea stars, and sea cucumbers. Our daughter absolutely loved this exhibit!
3. Tropical Pacific
This 25,000 gallon Tropical Pacific exhibit gives you an insider perspective of the coral reefs that are native to the Puget Sound area. There’s a variety of viewing windows in which you are likely to see a variety of corals, pufferfish, and triggerfish. We thought this was a beautiful exhibit.
4. Birds & Shores
As you walk outside, you’ll find the open-air exhibit Birds & Shores which showcases the indigenous birds to the area. You’ll learn how these coastal birds survive life in the Puget Sound. You’re likely to see tufted puffins, long-billed curlews, common murres, and more.
5. The Underwater Dome
Ever wonder what it’s like to be under the Puget Sound? Most people will never know because the water is so cold and very few residents are scuba divers. But in the Underwater Dome exhibit, you’ll be able to easily observe life under the Puget Sound’s waters. You’ll have a 360º view of rockfish, dogfish, and more. This is the Seattle Aquarium’s largest exhibit, with over 400,000 gallons of water in this habitat!
6. Marine Mammals
To top off your visit to the Seattle Aquarium, you’ll get to see some very active otters playing. The Marine Mammals exhibit was one of our favorite experiences at the Seattle Aquarium. There are plenty of areas to sit in this exhibit and observe for awhile. You can choose to have an underwater view or watch the otters from above the water. At this exhibit, you’ll see river otters, sea otters, harbor seals, and fur seals. It’s honestly cuteness galore.
The Seattle Aquarium was actually the first facility in the world to have an otter conceived, born, and raised successfully in an aquarium. The Seattle Aquarium has worked hard to restore the sea otter population in Washington State.
What other attractions are at the Seattle Aquarium?
At the Family Activity Center, you’ll learn about the orca whales that call the Puget Sound home. They have been on the Endangered Species Act since 2005. You can even listen to the underwater hydrophone station live to try to listen for whales. (But even if you don’t catch any whale noises, the website has some pre-recorded calls so you know what they sound like!)
One of my favorite things to see at the aquarium is the Life of a Drifter exhibit. You’ll walk through an acrylic ring that is filled with jelly fish! There is also a large two-tank exhibit connected by a transparent tube for the Giant Pacific Octopus. It’s really fun to see the octopus on the move between both of the tanks!
There’s also an exhibit completely full of Puget Sound Fish. You’ll see marine life that live in three different types of local habitats: eelgrass, deep sandy bottoms, and rocky areas.
Finally, the Salmon Exhibit is where you’ll learn all about the local salmon, which is a crucial aspect to the Pacific Northwest culture. I find it fascinating that they transition from the ocean (saltwater) to freshwater (streams) during their journey.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long should you spend at the Seattle Aquarium?
We would recommend staying for about two hours to see all of the exhibits at the Seattle Aquarium, but you can certainly stay longer to observe all the marine life.
Is the Seattle Aquarium ethical?
The Seattle Aquarium is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and has approval from the American Humane Association. Additionally, the aquarium provides support for a number of conservation programs. They have a local beach naturalist program, an octopus survey, sea otter conservation, and sea turtle rehabilitation. The aquarium is also active in promoting ocean public policy.
The Seattle Aquarium is also highly focused on sustainability. They use alternative energy sources (like solar energy) and they purchase carbon offsets. The building uses efficient fans and lighting. The Seattle Aquarium has also set a goal of being 100% single-use plastics free by 2021. The dining services also are committed to serving sustainably-sourced seafood. (You can read more about their role as a Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch Partner.)
The Seattle Aquarium also gives back. They have a number of partnerships with local agencies (called the Seattle Aquarium Connections program) in which they provide complimentary admission tickets to selected communities.
Is the aquarium worth visiting?
It’s definitely worth visiting the Seattle Aquarium. The Puget Sound is an essential part of life in the Pacific Northwest, and deepening your understanding of the marine life within the Puget Sound will help you to appreciate the greater Seattle area. We also hope that a visit to the aquarium will inspire you to care for our one world ocean.
Is there dining options?
There are two areas to dine at the aquarium: indoor and outdoor. The indoor seating is located on the second level. The outdoor seating is on the west end of the pier. Outside food is allowed, but only in designated areas.
Both the indoor and outdoor location offer burgers, french fries, and ice cream. The indoor location also serves fish and chips and has an espresso bar.
How does the Seattle Aquarium compare to the Vancouver Aquarium?
We have been to both the Seattle Aquarium and the Vancouver Aquarium. We recommend visiting both as well if you have the chance! The Vancouver Aquarium is larger than the Seattle Aquarium (60,000 animals in 30 exhibits). The Seattle Aquarium has some unique exhibits (like the Underwater Dome and Window on Washington) that you can’t find anywhere else.
Nearby Attractions
Once you’ve finished your visit at the Seattle Aquarium, there are a number of awesome places to visit within walking distance! We recommend the following:
- Waterfront Park: This park is located directly next to the Seattle Aquarium. The park has views of the water, a boardwalk, and art sculptures.
- The Seattle Great Wheel: Take a ride on Seattle’s waterfront ferris wheel. The ferris wheel is 175 feet tall and will give you unprecedented views of Elliot Bay. Even if you don’t want to ride the wheel, you should at least stick around to see it at night. There are over 500,000 LED lights and on weekends they put on quite the show!
- Wings Over Washington: Another attraction within walking distance is Wings Over Washington. It’s a state of the art 5k theater that will let you “soar” over Washington State.
- Carousel: Also located along the pier in Miner’s Landing is the carousel. You can ride it for $4 a person.
- Pike Place Market: We could spend an entire post describing this market and our favorite treats! The market contains hundreds of booths from local farmers, bakers, chefs, and craftspeople. The market has been an essential part of Seattle’s community life since 1907. We wrote a full post about what to see at Pike Place Market with all our recommendations.
- Gum Wall: Below Pike Place Market in Post Alley you’ll find the infamous gum wall. Whether you’re intrigued by it or grossed out by it, you have to see it at least once!
Restaurants Near the Aquarium
While you’re down on the pier, we recommend that you eat at the Crab Pot. It’s super fun to have crab, shrimp, scallops, corn, potatoes, and more dumped right on the table in front of you. Be prepared to get messy and enjoy the delicious seafood! The Crab Pot is just a 3-minute walk from the Seattle Aquarium.
We’ve also dined at Fisherman’s Restaurant and Bar. We especially enjoyed the calamari, and you’ll have an up-close view of the Great Wheel! Fisherman’s Restaurant and Bar is just a 4-minute walk from the Seattle Aquarium.
Summary
The Seattle Aquarium is a fun place to spend an afternoon learning about local marine wildlife. We’ve visited the Seattle Aquarium as a couple and as a family, and both visits were a lot of fun. We hope this post about the Seattle Aquarium has inspired you to visit the aquarium and to take care of the ocean.
Disclaimer: We always strive for content accuracy. Since the time of publishing, travel-related information regarding pricing, schedules, and hours may have changed. Please look up such information directly from each vendor or institution for the most current information.
