My kids are at the age where they’re barely considered kids anymore. At 15 years old, they definitely do not order off the kids’ menu and they no longer need to immediately stop for playgrounds when we pass them on our travels. But old habits die hard and I can’t help myself-I keep an eye out for spaces I might bring my nephews and nieces one day. And if we’re in the Ballard area, I know I will want to take them to the Nordic Museum. (Especially paired with the Ballard Locks-this museum has a cafe and clean bathrooms so after a morning at the Locks, it’s a perfect indoor space.)
What to expect visiting the Nordic Museum
Space-wise, when you enter the Nordic Museum it feels absolutely grand. It has high ceilings and spacious rooms. But with kids it might only take 15 minutes if you breeze through without a plan. There is a small kids’ corner upstairs with books and maybe crafts. This is where we would probably head first, at museum opening with my guys when they were small. I was there an hour or so after the museum opened on a weekday and it was empty and the same was true a few weeks later. So maybe this is a good space at any time for kids. (Another similar space we loved like this was at the Seattle Art Museum although this space might have changed over time.)
There are exhibits that stay the same-like a big room that shows Seattle’s Nordic ties in businesses from Nordstrom to Foss; there are a lot of Seattle businesses with Nordic roots. My family especially loves the room that is full of trees in front of a big screen. It feels so peaceful to sit here for a while. Last month a pop-up exhibit featuring an Icelandic music artist was at the museum and I went alone and had to come back again to bring my guys. The exhibit was completely dark to really give the impression of being in a storm and it was a little terrifying and very cool. I saw on the website that there was a yoga session in this art exhibit and it reminded me to check for upcoming events because that would have been a pretty incredible experience. And something cool that is similar to something I found at the Epic Immigration Museum in Ireland, at the Nordic Museum here in Seattle you can sign up for their Genealogy program on the third Wednesday of each month too.
And maybe you want a Nordic Museum Membership
When I last checked admission prices, adults are about $20 for entry and kids 5-18 are $10. I buy the Steward Membership here because it’s the type of museum I just want to be able to pop in for a bit anytime I’m in Ballard and not stay long enough to feel like I get “my money’s worth”. This membership also includes a NARM membership which allows us to go to many reciprocal museums in Seattle and beyond for free. I like that you get 10% off at the cute cafe in this museum with your membership too.
Nearby the Nordic Museum in Seattle’s Ballard neighborhood
Ballard is near our home so we spend a lot of time in this Seattle neighborhood. When we visit the Nordic Museum we are often combining this visit with grocery shopping, or a trip to Golden Gardens or Ballard Locks. It’s really close to Spice Waala where we try to pick up soft-serve if we find close parking as well.
Have you ever been to Seattle’s Nordic Museum?
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)