How to Explore Your Favorite Seattle Spots From Home

Seattle Aquarium

You may not be able to listen to a diver talk at the Window on Washington Waters or marvel at the fish swimming above under the dome, but if you miss seeing the playful harbor seals and sea otters who always seem to steal the show when you visit, you can check in on them via the aquarium’s live webcam stream. After you’ve watched them play, take time to browse the aquarium’s virtual YouTube library. Here you can take a deep dive into feedings, trainings and other marine-related topics that are sure to educate and entertain.

Seattle Art Museum

Get inspired to create art of your own during your at-home down time after you browse through the Seattle Art Museum’s online collection. Here you can click through African and Asian Art, Modern & Contemporary Art, even explore the larger-than-life-size sculptures that call Olympic Sculpture Park home. Best part? You can do it all while you’re still in your jammies.

Pacific Science Center

Mo Willems might be jealous of this one. Did you know you could watch the naked mole rats at PacSci via livestream? Trust us, they elicit the same conflicted feeling of being fascinated and a little grossed out at the same time whether you’re watching them from home or IRL. Follow up your viewing with PacSci DIY science videos designed to inspire curiosity and inquiry in your kids.

Good to know: [Editor's note: This event will be rescheduled.] Tune into PacSci’s Covid 19 Livestream: Ask the Experts on March 24 to connect with local experts and leaders in epidemiology and community health.

The Museum of Flight

You may not be able to sit in the seats of a retired 727 or marvel at the intricacies of the NASA Space Shuttle Trainer on-site, but you can explore them virtually, in 3D online. One aspect of the museum’s Step Inside programming, these virtual tours bring the museum’s most impressive artifacts to life in the comfort of your home.

Woodland Park Zoo

Your kids bee line for the grizzly bear exhibit at the Woodland Park Zoo, and we can’t blame them. When you can’t visit your favorite (and seriously ferocious) grown-up teddy bears, peek in on them through the Woodland Park Zoo’s live webcams. Say hello to the tigers and bats while you’re there, too. Families can also tune in to the Zoomazium to You blog posts for a weekly activity focused on educational play at home. Be sure to watch the zoo's Facebook as they add more ways to check up on and interact with your favorite wild animals.

Seattle Symphony

Grab a glass and fill those sippy cups. Then sit back and relax because you’re going to the symphony… at home. In an effort to “provide strength, comfort and joy” the Seattle Symphony will be rebroadcasting and livestreaming performances throughout March. Upcoming performances are scheduled for Thursdays at 7:30 p.m. and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and can be viewed via YouTube and Facebook. Tune in to get announcements about future performances so you don’t miss out, or sit down to enjoy already posted shorts (they've got Sir-Mix-A-Lot) in between upcoming performances.

Seattle Public Library

Your favorite story times and drop-in activities may be a no-go, but SPL has got you covered. With a slew of digital resources dedicated just to kids like TumbleBooks and BookFlix, alongside educational videos to stream from Kanopy and Access Video, there are plenty of ways to get your library fix at home. Families can also add to their growing online learning resources with library favorites like Mango Language and Safari Books Online, that includes thousands of digital publications focused on building tech knowlege. Don't your kids need some different Adventures in Minecraft?

National Nordic Museum

The National Nordic museum has an expansive collection of objects, photos, even recordings you can browse from home. They make it easy to sit back and study Nordic culture with the kids on a day off.

Space Needle

If that cooped up feeling sets in, click on to the Space Needle webcam to get a fresh perspective. The 360-degree views mean you and the kids can watch the ferries come in from Bainbridge, spy on your favorite museums, even see if the mountain is out from behind a screen.