A few weeks ago I was invited to work with the new Museum of Illusions with my Instagram and I ended up having such a great time I thought I’d share here too. The Museum of Illusions in Seattle is a franchise of a chain of museums that now has around 50 branches around the world including in Montreal and Toronto where we went for summer vacation last year and there is one opening in Singapore where we’re heading later this summer. So these Museum of Illusions are popping up everywhere and it’s really cool that we have one in our city, this is such a complement to all the things we can do in Seattle downtown.
What is the Museum of Illusions all about?
The Museum of Illusions in Seattle has about 9000 square feet to explore. I thought this would only take about 30 minutes but both times we visited we stayed way longer and probably should have budgeted about an hour and a half to 2 hours in order to interact with all the installations, read how the optical illusions are created and take pictures. The museum is not just about the entertainment part of playing with illusions but also educates visitors about how they work as well. Tickets range in price from $27 and children 4 and under are free and buying tickets for a scheduled date and timeslot before your visit is encouraged.
Is it just a museum to take selfies in?
I thought this would be more of a selfie museum based on the photos I saw before my visit. (Do you also look at social media before you visit a place too?) But it almost is like a science museum mixed with an art museum that has designated spots for photo opportunities. There are areas in the museum where you might not really take any photos at all because you are too busy interacting with the optical illusions. And then there are the optical illusions that you see all over the internet if you search photos of any Museum of Illusions. In Seattle the photogenic illusions there are a few: one where you ride the monorail upside, one where you climb the wall of a high-rise and one with your head on a platter. I wore a dress and I think maybe pants would have been better for getting the most action style photos but these still worked out. Also one of the days I was there, it was a media event and so while my two friends and I were setting up our photos, we ended up with about 20 people watching which was a little terrifying and that will not happen on a regular visit.
Are all the Museum of Illusions the same?
Teachers get in free at the Museum of Illusions in Seattle and I have seen this offer at a couple of Museum of Illusions around the United States (Check these links if you are headed to New York, Las Vegas, and Charlotte too!) so this is a really cool thing for our city. I’m not sure how long this promotion will last, so make sure you check the actual Museum of Illusions Seattle website before you go and I don’t know if you can book your tickets ahead of time for this promotion-many say walk-ins only. I do know you need a valid school ID.
And a few things to know before you go?
When I visited the there were lots of hand sanitizing stations around the museum and this kind of things still makes me happy knowing that places are cognizant of the fact we just went through a pandemic. Also, I appreciate that the staff at this museum seem eager to help with everything from taking photos, explaining how the illusions are created and many will even teach you how to pose and where to stand to get the best photos too. And while this museum was a lot of fun with friends, I think if you could even have a good experience too (I have visited a candy museum in San Francisco all alone once too). For me I think the enthusiasm I experienced my the museum staff on both my visits is also what made me linger longer and have more fun than I usually do in places like this. So the Museum of Illusions in Seattle is definitely worth a visit if you have time either as a visitor or a local (and for locals I’d especially remember this place on days that are hot or wet and you need a fun indoor activity downtown)
(PS. I parked at Pacific Place because there you pay when you exist so you don’t have to choose how long you park when you arrive and also I know that many of the street spots closer to the Museum are parking for only 2 hours max. So even though Pacific Place marking might seem speedier, it makes it easy for stopping at restaurants or shopping after the Museum of Illusions visit.)
Have you been to a Museum of Illusions somewhere in the world? I’m excited to hear if you visit the Museum of Illusions in Seattle.
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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