Vacations Blog

Museum of Flight in Seattle

If you are vacationing in the Seattle area and are looking for a cool daytrip for the whole family, consider a trip to The Museum of Flight. Located at the south end of Seattle’s Boeing Airport, The Museum of Flight is home to more than 150 historically significant air and spacecraft as well as several permanent exhibits which are sure to pique the interest of all in attendance. (Admission: Adults $14.00, Kids 5-17 $7.50)

I took my family on a recent outing with friends and we all had a terrific time. My 20-month-old is currently enamored with aircraft and the museum held his interest like few things do at that age. With several historic military, commercial, and experimental aircraft in the Main showroom (many hanging from the ceiling as if in mid flight), plus plenty of hands-on exhibits to see, this ended up being the perfect place to take a toddler on a rainy Seattle afternoon. There are numerous reasons to love visiting the Museum of Flight, but here are my top 10.

Top 10 Reason to love the Museum of Flight in Seattle, Washington

'Flying' Aircraft Adorn the Museum

2. International Space Station – There is a whole exhibit dedicated to the exploration of space. Included is my 20-Month-old’s personal favorite, a full sized replica of the International Space Stations Destiny Research Laboratory. This replica had stairs on both ends and gave visitors the ability to walk through the capsule, which featured a ‘window’ on the passing earth below. This had my little one coming back over and over again.

3. Views of Runway – As I mentioned earlier, the museum is actually on the south end of Boeing Field in Seattle. The design of the museum uses this to its advantage as there are several banks of window throughout giving patrons a unobstructed view of take-offs and landings of a variety of private and commercial aircraft. My son let out several shrieks of delight while watching.

4. Cockpits and Flight Simulators – These features offer hands on experience of what it is like to sit in a real cockpit and “experience flight without leaving the ground”. The flight simulator has several options which include being in a WWII dogfight. You can also sit in the cockpit of a real SR-71A Blackbird. I have to say this was an impressive experience.

Future 'Maverick' still needs his 'Goose'

5. The Kid’s Play Area – There was a dedicated toddler play area for the little ones. It was full of interesting flight related climbing toys, gears, and plenty of buttons, lights, and switches to keep the little ones occupied and happy while you gaze out at the impressive hanging aircraft collection.

6. William M. Allen Theater – A great place to go to kick back in a comfortable seat and let the history and education of flight come to you. Check with museum for shows and times.

7. Carl Sagan’s Sweater – Yes, Carl Sagan’s actual blue sweater was on display in the Space: Exploring the New Frontier exhibit. It is only one of numerous fascinating items relating to space exploration or the study of it, on display in this exhibit. You can simulate bringing the Space Shuttle in for a safe landing at the Kennedy Space Center or land the lunar module on the Moon and join Apollo astronauts in an exploration of the Moon’s surface.

Carl Sagan's Sweater

8. The Red Barn – The Red Barn, which was built in 1909, is the Boeing Company’s original manufacturing plant. It was transported to its current site in 1983 and houses two floors of rare artifacts and a re-created factory workshop. We personally enjoyed this exhibit because of its wide open spaces where our son could get down and wander without fear of breaking anything.

9. Museum Gift Shop – As far as museum gift shops go, this one easily ranks at the top of all those that I have ever visited. It is chock full of memorabilia related to flight. Toy planes, books, posters, clothing, patches, you name it. If it is aviation related, you are likely to find it at this great gift shop. There was even freeze dried ice cream, like the astronauts eat in space.

10. Control Tower – Being situated just off on an actual airport runway lends itself nicely to The Tower at Boeing Field exhibit. Everything you wanted to know about the complex system of communications between pilots and air traffic controllers can be learned in this interesting exhibit.

If you thinking of visiting the museum and are looking for Lodging options in the Seattle area, try starting here. Have fun visiting the Museum of Flight!

If you’re planning a trip, check out Seattle flights.