The holidays are over, and now you’re trying to save some money after buying gifts for everyone. Read on to discover some free and fun things to do in the Seattle area this winter!
Number 1: Take out a free peapod rowboat on Lake Union – The Center for Wooden Boats
Don some layers and a hooded raincoat and then head to the Center for Wooden Boats on Lake Union. They offer free, one-hour rowboat rentals every day. No experience necessary as the staff and voluneers will help you when you arrive. The beautifully maintained rowboats hold up to four adults and one child, but you do need to reserve your rowboat in advance. Online reservations open every Sunday night for the next 2–3 weeks of available slots.
Number 2: Visit a Washington State Park on these Discover Pass Free Days
Jan. 1 — First Day Hikes; New Year’s Day
Jan. 15 — Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
March 9 — Billy Frank Junior’s Birthday
March 19 — State Parks’ 111th Birthday
April 22 — Earth Day
June 8 — National Get Outdoors Day
June 9 — Free Fishing Day
June 19 — Juneteenth
Sept. 28 — National Public Lands Day
Oct. 10 — World Mental Health Day
Nov. 11 — Veterans Day
Nov. 29 — Autumn Day
Number 3: Get free museum and park passes from your public library
You can do more than check out a book at the library. Use your King County library card to reserve free museum or park passes each month. The passes are released each day at 2 p.m. for the day two weeks into the future. Each library cardholder can reserve passes twice each month for these venues:
Bellevue Arts Museum
KidsQuest Children’s Museum
Museum of Flight
Museum of History and Industry (MOHAI)
Museum of Pop Culture (MoPop)
Northwest Railway Museum
Rhododendron Species Botanical Garden
Seattle Aquarium
Seattle Art Museum
Washington State History Museum
Woodland Park Zoo
To find out more about these free passes, visit this page. Also, be sure to take advantage of Free First Thursday Museums that offer free admission on the first Thursday of every month. Special exhibits are typically not included, but the free hours usually run in the evening from 5 p.m. to close. First Thursday museums include:
Burke Museum
Museum of Flight
Museum of History and Industry
National Nordic Museum
Seattle Art Museum
Number 4: Go to a Seattle Center Festál
The Seattle Center will hold 24 free cultural festivals in 2024. Upcoming festivals include Tet, the Vietnamese Lunar New Year; the Irish Festival; and the Cherry Blossom and Japanese Cultural Festival.
Number 5: Visit the Frye Art Museum
Open Wednesdays–Sundays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is always free. The Frye Salon features more than 100 paintings originally displayed in Charles and Emma Frye’s Seattle home. The collection features an international roster of artists from Europe and the United States, with a particular focus on German artists.
