Seattle Aquarium Gift Store

The Seattle Aquarium is a perfect place to take kids on a rainy day. They can literally spend hours checking out the tide pools, watching the seals and otters, and of course the fish too. The aquarium was always great but now that it is under construction I can't wait to see how they make it even better. It's also a great place for kids' birthday parties, with spacious rooms to use after the kids view the exhibits. more

Being originally from South Carolina, I was expecting the Seattle Aquarium to be like the Charleston Aquarium---overpriced, small, not too many exhibits, and generally disappointing. Au contraire! This aquarium is just the tops. They have otters, which I love. They have a huge pacific octopus as well which is very large and red and stares at you with its big googly eye. They have touch tanks and just tons of exhibits and tanks and wildlife and it's a really nice way to spend the day. My kid is fully grown and married, but I saw alot of little ones here when I visited and they seemed to just be having the time of their lives. Very kid & family friendly more

The Seattle Aquarium is a good rainy day choice to spend time at with younger kids. For a maritime city surrounded by water, this aquarium is somewhat dated and smallish. But the exhibits are well arranged for toddlers and younger kids. Many interesting things are set right at their height. And there are lots of hands on options for little kids to explore. The river otters, jellyfish and octopus are always a hit with the little ones. Hopefully Seattle will commit itself to building an updated, world class aquarium like they have in Vancouver, B.C. or Monterrey, CA. more

The Seattle Aquarium is getting a pounding from some reviewers! Yes, it's small, yes, you can walk through in 45 minutes if you want (great for toddlers, actually!). Marine life, however, doesn't move at the speed we humans do. It is slow. In fact, sometimes so slow it takes a day or a lifetime for movement to be seen, if ever. The tidal zones are a perfect example. If you watch them for 2 minutes, you'll see the waves rush in and out, and some of the larger animals move a bit. If you watch for 5 minutes, you will start to see nuances, subtle little critters hanging out in the cracks, on the bottom of the tank, on other critters! Watch for 15 minutes and you'll start to feel the rushing slow rhythm of what life is like in the tidal zone. You'll see the food floating about and being snatched in a moment you would have missed had you been casually perusing the exhibit. Sit on the edge of the zone and enjoy watching one animal only. See what it does in a 5 minute span of time, and relax into it. This entire aquarium has treasures like this to behold, if only you take the time to find the natural rhythms of sea life. A wonderful place for kids and adults alike, who love nature! more

I have been to many sea aquariums including the Boston Sea Aquarium and I was not impressed at all by this aquarium. I expected a lot more. Especially since it is in a city. We went with my toddler and walked through the whole thing and saw everything in a matter of forty-five minutes. There really was not anything extraordinary about it. It was ok to go one time but I do not think I would go back again. more

I must say I was a bit dissapointed when I went to this aquarium. There is not that many exhibits and we saw the whole thing is less then an hour. I expected a lot more. For what you get to see I think it is a bit pricey. I do not think I would go back again. more

The Seattle Aquarium located on Seattle's waterfront has come a long way from it's early days. The emphassssis is on placing the sea life in a natural setting, while still allowing it to be viewed by the public. The result is some pretty amazing displays, my favorite being the dome where the public is more or less, in a tank, and the fish swim freely around the dome in a natural setting. This is also where dedicated voluteer diviers will feed the fish by hand. this allows for the public to see some of the shy sea life. This is definately a place to go. more

I have been going to the Seattle Aquarium since I was a small child - and since the big window in the front was a wave pool where I tried to drop my little brother. The Aquarium has grown and changed - and is really wonderful. You enter right into a room with two very large "touch" exhibits, which is wonderful for children and adults alike. The other highlights are the sea horse exhibit, the salmon run (where, on season, spawning salmon go up the ladder above your head as you wind up from the lower levels), and this year there was a baby otter. You can see most of the aquarium in 2 hours, but spend 3 or 4 if you can. more

We became familiar with the Seattle Aquarium after our daughter decided to volunteer there during high school. She enjoyed it so much, that she continued leading tours and volunteering until she was too old (19). The Aquarium has a number of unusual exhibits from ultra-rare leafy sea dragons to huge octopi, to baby sea otters. It's an enjoyable way to spend an afternoon, and the kids love the hands on tidal pools. Just be aware - when they say "No Smoking" on the dock, they are *serious*! ;-) There is also an Imax theater attached. more

I love the Seattle Aquarium, especially the huge octopus they have there. It's a bit pricey to get in...around $15 a person...but it's real fun and very enjoyable. You can see so many forms of aquatic life and they even have a family of beavers that live there that you can watch. As always, you exit through the gift shop, but their souvenirs are overpriced and generic. Go down the street to Ye Olde Curiosity Shop to buy keychains and stuff for $4 instead of $15 at the Aquarium Gift Shop. Nice place to spend a day. Plan on either parking many miles away and walking because there is no parking there. You may, may may be able to get a spot under the Viaduct if the gods are smiling upon you. CHances are, though, you won't. Just deal with it and park about a mile down towards Pioneer Square. The distance isn't that far and the walk is pleasant. Take the time to enjoy the waterfront and the colorful cast of characters who spend time there. Get your picture taken in front of Ivars, and step gently over the homeless folks that sleep along the rails. more

An appropriate place to visit in a city all about waterways and surrounded by various bodies of water on three sides, experience exhibits not just on the usual suspects such as salmon, various Puget Sound fish, reefs, marine mammals and the like, but also birds, mountains, and even Antarctica. Located on the waterfront. more

One of the Better Attractions The Seattle Aquarium has changed a lot since I went there as a kid. The new exhibits are really bring the caliber of the aquarium up to par with ones in Hawaii and California. The shark tank is very cool. I really cannot wait for all the rest of the remodel and exhibit to finish. in Seattle more

The aquarium is definitely worth a visit. There is a lot of fun things to see, especially with children. The rates are a little high, but you can find coupons for it everywhere (we used Entertainment). There are supposed upgrades on tap for the facility, and it’s in need of some sprucing up, so I’ll be happy to revisit once this is finished. Try to do a day on the piers while you’re down there and see everything else too. more

Seattle aquarium is well known. Although it's not as big and famous as the one in San Diego. It is definitely an ideal attraction if you have your kids. You will find plenty of sea creatures like star fish, sea horse, otter, seal, sharks...The aquarium is currently under construction, but it is open. You should also considering getting an annual membership since it's really reasonably priced. You can always take your family here and spend a few fun hours. more

The Seattle Aquarium, while having a great range of aquatic life from both the Pacific Northwest and points distant, is too reminiscent of the zoos and aquariums of old. While not nearly at the level of plain cages one used to see in zoos, many of the tanks are too small and not nearly natural enough in terms of habitat and environment to provide a good home for the animals and a better educational experience. There are plans for a new facility in the works, but they have been fairly stop and go over the past few years. Bottom line: excellent place to see pacific northwest wildlife, but a little sad to see them there. Definitely take the kids for the educational experience. more

by Jonathan_CAfter seeing the fish mongers in Pike Market you owe it to yourself (and the fish) to hike down the hill and visit the aquarium. Here you'll be able to see the very same creatures alive and well in a naturalistic exhibit. You'll also be able to get aquainted with the various animals -- invertebrate, avian and mammalian -- you'll see when you go out to the coast. As always, you'll enjoy the aquarium most if you've done some homework. Before coming to Seattle you should definitely read a book on the natural history of Puget Sound. The deep, cold waters of the sound, combined with our temperate rainforest climate create a unique environment worthy of study and protection. Seattle's long history of fishing and environmentalism make us the perfect place for an aquarium along the lines of the great Monterey Bay Aquarium with an entirely local focus. Unfortunately, we don't yet have an angel like the Packard family to make this dream a reality. So come to the aquarium with only moderate expectations: the interpretation of exhibits is not the best. But the animals are still there for you to get aquainted with. Admission is $11. more

The seattle aquarium has great exhibits with great viewing and also some that are interactive. Kids can touch certain things in the tide pool exhibit. They also have a great viewing exhibit for the octopus. Their have a lot of staff that is available to answer any questions and also do presentations. My favorite is to watch the sea otters swim and eat. Great place to bring the kids. more

If you are a kid, you're probably enjoy this place. They seem to make it very kid friendly. I was, however, disappointed since there are very little exhibits. It also costs a bunch for very little to see. Since it's the pacific northwest, it goods they showcase marine life, but they need to expand this more. What else are they using the entrance fee money for! Bring your kids here...but don't expect much for yourself. more

I love the Seattle Aquarium -- It's like a zoo for fish! They have tons of different fish for you to see and it's really neat :) I wouldn't say it's 'fantastic' or anything, but it beats going bowling because it's not your average outing. I like the environment of it because when you walk in the lights are dim and the tanks are lit, so it's a sweet cave like feel. Its a huge aquarium, probably the biggest I've been too, and it's fun to visit on hot days for a break from the sun. Exhibits a lot of marine life around the Seattle area, so it's good for kids. In fact, my first visit was on a field trip! Also its on the water front so just walking along is a great way to spend the day. more

My family and I love going to Aquarium's. We enjoy seeing the animals, learning about their environments, and interacting with the displays. We had high hopes of an aquarium in Seattle - especially one on the waterfront. However, it was a total disappointment. Some parts of it were closed, it was very small, there wasn't much to interact with, and it smelled pretty bad in parts of it. All in all, they need to do some major improvements. more