Hello Summer, it feels like we’ve waited so long for you and every year you are so fleeting. Summer can also be tres expensive and I’m always looking for fun and free things to do in Seattle and close by. Seattle in summer feels pretty perfect.
Free Waterfront Shuttle
The Free Seattle Waterfront Shuttle is back and it runs until September. Shuttles hold about 20 people and run every 15-20 minutes or so. Make sure you check the schedule.
Borrow a boat at Center for Wooden Boats (or try to anyways)
We used to go down and write our names on a list to get on a free public sail. It sounds like this summer they won’t be doing this but will have free peapod boat rentals which sound pretty cool. I tried to book but when I did they are all booked up. I still might wander down if I’m in the area to see if they have people who didn’t make their bookings. And I’ll keep trying through their link.
Book Bingo with Seattle Public Library is a long-standing Seattle summer tradition
Can we get more free than the Seattle Public Library? I have been reading more lately and just downloaded my book bingo card from the Seattle Public Library. I’ll still be trying to use the free space to get my line in, but I’m going to get my teenager avid readers to join in so we have a big of a family competition. SPL also has a Museum Pass program where you can sign out memberships at local museums for free entry. These are really popular and often go quickly so make sure you look for the date you plan to go far in advance.
Free Museums with Seattle Free First Thursday
I always look for the Free day at museums when we travel and in Seattle our free day is the first Thursday of the month. Not all museums participate, so you should check before you go but Museum of Flight, Burke Museum, Mohai, Seattle Art Museum and Asian Art Museum and more. And if you get a Seattle membership you get to go free for a whole year. This year we have memberships to Seattle Mohai, Woodland Park Zoo, Pacific Science Center and Seattle Art Museum and all of these also help with free and discounted admissions to other museums when we travel.
Free visit to the Seattle Airport with the Seattle Visitor Pass
And yes, you can even go behind security! You need to sign up with the airport first and you don’t find out until midnight of the day you want to go. But, I’ve done this a few times and it’s usually worked out. It’s great if you are meeting or greeting someone who is connecting through the airport or if you want to prolong a goodbye. Or it’s fun to go and shop and eat there too. A little staycation-ish adventure maybe?
Free visit to the Amazon Spheres
I haven’t been able to get a reservation since I made this post, but maybe you might. It’s only open a few times a month and all the details are here.
Of course I’ll keep adding to this list. There are always free things happening in Seattle in summer along with some pretty cool free festivals too. And please feel free to send me a message through email or through instagram if you have something to add to this list as well.
Terumi Pong is a Seattle-based family travel writer and mom of twin teenage boys. She loves coffee and pastries, shopping local and looking for greener ways to live. She is also known as Scout’s mom (Scout is a 5ish pound little black yorkie-poo)
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