Nine Rain or Shine Indoor Activities in Seattle, WA

When one thinks of Seattle, Washington some of the first things that may come to mind might be the iconic Space Needle, delicious Pacific seafood, or perhaps even steaming cups of heavenly coffee. Another person may think of the Seattle Seahawks, the famous gum wall, or the vast amounts of precipitation that fall upon the Pacific Northwest.

During this time of year, the clouds and rain that follow can potentially put a dampener on one’s sightseeing plans. Many brave the weather, come what may, but if you do not particularly care for a (quite literal) rain on your parade, what else is there to do? We put together a list of nine different fun indoor activities to take part in during your stay in Seattle, Washington. We also offer comfortable lodging nearby on Capitol Hill, Seattle at our famous Shafer Baillie Mansion, and we would love to offer you more tips to make your stay here as pleasant as possible!

Art:

Chihuly Garden and Glass -
The Chihuly Garden and Glass exhibition is a must-see for everyone visiting Seattle, no matter what the weather may bring. The exhibition is located next to the Space Needle, so visiting both of these iconic places is a breeze! The building contains eight Chihuly glass galleries, a beautiful 40-ft tall Glasshouse, an explosively gorgeous garden filled with glass art and flowers, and a theater depicting videos and presentations related to the art of glass blowing.

Address: 305 Harrison St, Seattle, WA 98109
Hours: Sunday-Thursday: 11:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Friday-Saturday: 11:00 AM - 7:00 PM

Seattle Art Museum (SAM) -
The Seattle Art Museum, or SAM for short, is well-known for its world culture displays. Their permanent collection spans the course of history and contains over 25,000 pieces of art! Currently, one of their temporary exhibitions, Peacock in the Desert: The Royal Arts of Jodhpur, India, is on display until January 21, 2019. If you missed it, check out our blog about this display and the SAM here.

Address: 1300 First Ave, Seattle, WA 98101
Hours:
Monday-Tuesday: Closed
Wednesday: 10:00 AM - 5 PM
Thursday: 10 AM - 9:00 PM
Friday-Sunday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Frye Art Museum -
The Frye Art Museum is a free must-see item on the list. The Museum is well-known for its 19th and 20th century German and American paintings, spanning a collection of over 200 such paintings. The Museum also features many fascinating rotating exhibits from all over the world. One current exhibit is the Frye Salon, a collection of 22 paintings hung close together across a wall, also known as salon-style hanging. The Museum also features a wonderful little gift shop and cafe.

Address: 704 Terry Ave, Seattle, WA 98104
Hours: Monday: Closed
Tuesday–Sunday: 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday 11:00 Am - 7:00 PM

Music:

If the performing arts are more to your liking, then venues such as the Showbox, The Triple Door, Pacific Northwest Ballet, and The 5th Avenue feature wonderful performances on a daily basis! The Showbox and Triple Door generally feature a plethora of musical artists and provide a night of fun, food, and drink along with a show! The Pacific Northwest Ballet is a highly regarded ballet school that will soon be featuring such ballets as The Sleeping Beauty (February 1-10, 2019) and Pinocchio (March 17, 23, 2019).

The 5th Avenue Theatre provides an elegant setting for the art of musicals and Broadway. They are currently featuring Annie until December 30, 2018, and will be performing the Sing-a-long Sound of Music from January 4-6, 2019, Rock of Ages from February 1-24, 2019, and Marie: A New Musical from March 22-April 14, 2019. Stay up to date on all these wonderful venues and get the best out of the performing arts during your stay here!

Science:

Seattle Aquarium -
The Seattle Aquarium features a large plethora of unique underwater creatures, fabulous fish, merry mammals, and cute cephalopods. One can expect to see everything from playful otter pups to puffin birds to spiny starfish. On the weekends the Aquarium features diver shows, Story Time at the Family Activity Center, and daily Pacific Giant Octopus feeds! This Aquarium is not to be passed up for any lovers of science and nature!

Address: 1483 Alaskan Way, Pier 59, Seattle, WA 98101
Hours: 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM daily

Pacific Science Center -
The Pacific Science Center (PacSci) specializes in scientific fun for the whole family! The PacSci features exhibits and experiences such as a Tropical Butterfly House that is open year-round with new butterflies introduced weekly, a special VR experience, Living Exhibits featuring live animals and plants, the Tinker Tank for daily engineering challenges, Science On a Sphere that details the marvels of our planet, and more! The Portal to Current Research exhibit features local scientists’ research and changes its content throughout the year. The Center also features a Planetarium with free shows every day (with price of admission) and a cafe to satisfy your nutritional needs.

Address: 200 Second Ave. North, Seattle, WA 98109
Hours: Monday-Friday: 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Weekends & Holidays: 10:00 AM - 6:00PM

These are only a few things that Seattle, Washington has to offer on a cloudy winter day. Of course, another option that many prefer is to cozy up in bed with a soft blanket and exciting novel next to a warm fireplace! If that’s the case, make sure to book a stay with us at Shafer Baillie Mansion on Capitol Hill, Seattle for such a trip! What’s your preferred activity on a cold, rainy day? We’d love to hear your thoughts!