FREE school break activities in the Puget Sound region (greaterseattleonthecheap.com)

School breaks in the Seattle-Tacoma metro area occur at different times in our various school districts. Listed below are recommended FREE activities for families and school-age children for school breaks throughout the year (winter, mid-winter, spring, an summer). See also our list of summer camps and school break camps.

Where to find School Break schedules

Our recommended activities are useful for anytime kids are getting a break from school, winter, spring, or summer. Image via DepositPhotos.com

School Break Attractions in the Puget Sound region

The following throughout the Puget Sound region free. These museums and attractions are of particular interest for families with children and would make a fun outing during school breaks.

(Listed roughly north to south throughout the region.)

Center for Wooden Boats has two locations: Camano Island/Cama Beach State Park (about 65 miles north of Seattle), as well as in Seattle/Lake Union. Each CWB location is a hub of hands-on learning year-round. There is no admission fee for many CWB activities: you can stroll the docks (Seattle) or beach (Cama), enter the buildings, look at the displays, learn from interpretive materials, and attend lectures. All of CWB’s programs and events are designed to provide public benefit. Activities for a fee include boat rentals, classes and workshops, and field trips.

Puget Sound Navy Museum in Bremerton portrays shipboard life and chronicles naval heritage in the Pacific Northwest, including exhibits about the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, the USS John C. Stennis, Special Operations Submarines, and more. Along with the Naval Undersea Museum located 10 miles north, they form the Navy Museums Northwest a unit of the Naval History and Heritage Command with headquarters in Washington, D.C. Free admission.

Bug & Reptile Museum in Bremerton. Family-friendly museum lets you explore LIVE bugs, bizarre and interesting bugs, bugs under the microscope, glasses that let you see like a bug, and busy ants in the 8-foot-long Ant Farm. Over 15 kid-riendly exhibits to explore. Free admission.

Naval Undersea Museum in Keyport (W of Seattle via ferry or driving from Tacoma onto the Kitsap Peninsula) provides a comprehensive introduction to the Navy’s undersea operations, including torpedo technology, mine warfare, submarine technology, diving, and salvage. The museum holds over 39,000 artifacts, which includes items of historic, technological, and cultural significance, including submersibles, torpedoes, mines, submarine equipment, diving gear, ROVs, and models. Admission is FREE.

Northwest Railway Museum in Snoqualmie (about 30 miles east of Seattle) consists of several locations, the 1890 Snoqualmie Depot, the Centennial Trail Exhibit, and a Railway History Center. The Snoqualmie Depot has been restored to its turn of the century grandeur. What were once waiting rooms and a freight room are now exhibits about railroad history and the railroad experience. There is no admission charge to visit the Snoqualmie Depot; hours are 10am to 5 pm. The Snoqualmie Depot is located at 38625 SE King Street (faces SR 202 or Railroad Avenue) in Snoqualmie, WA. The Centennial Trail Exhibit is on a public walkway, is free and never closes. The Railway History Center is not free and requires tickets.

The Job Carr Cabin Museum in Tacoma was built in 2000 as a replica of the first permanent non-Native residence, about a block away from the original site of Job’s frontier home. In 1864 the age of 51, Job arrived in Washington, in late 1864. He claimed 168 acres and began construction of a log cabin. Inside, step back in time to see the living space as it would have been in the late 19th-century. Visitors can learn why settlers and immigrants came here, how they lived, what industries put Tacoma on the map, and much more. Open 11 months out of the year. Wednesday-Friday from June-September and Wednesday-Saturday from October-May. Free admission, donations accepted.

16 lighthouses in the Puget Sound region that you can visit for free, though most will gladly accept donations. Most of the lighthouses are historic sites with non-functioning lights. However, several are operating to aid maritime traffic in navigation of Puget Sound waterways. Several of the lighthouses are in Seattle or a short drive away. Others would make more of a day trip with a picnic in fair weather. Lighthouses inside Washington State Parks require a Discover Pass ($10/day, $30/annual). A couple sites have small fees under $10 per visit.

School Break Activities in Seattle

Like the list above, these Seattle attractions make a fun outing for families with children during spring break week.

(Listed roughly north to south throughout the city)

Ballard Locks officially named Hiram M. Chittenden Locks in Ballard is free to visit. connects the (fresh) waters of Lake Washington, Lake Union, and Salmon Bay to (salt water) Puget Sound. The locks prevent the mixing of sea water from Puget Sound with the fresh water, maintain water levels in Lake Washington and Lake Union. The locks allows commercial and recreational vessels to navigate the 20-foot difference in water level as they transverse the city. The entire complex includes two locks, a spillway, and a fish ladder for the migration of salmon. The fish ladder is active with migrating salmon spring to fall. In addition, there are beautiful gardens around the facility and free outdoor concerts on summer weekends.

Geocaching HQ Visitor Center in Fremont is free but requires advance reservations. Geocaching HQ is a business office where the tools for global geocaching adventures are created and maintained. During your visit you can log the GCK25B HQ geocache, shop for HQ exclusive merchandise, and collect a souvenir on your account. Check out the surrounding Fremont neighborhood by completing the Geocaching HQ GeoTour, which takes 2 to 2.5 hours to complete on foot.

Center for Wooden Boats has two locations: Seattle/Lake Union and Camano Island/Cama Beach State Park (about 65 miles north of Seattle). Each CWB location is a hub of hands-on learning year-round. There is no admission fee for many CWB activities: you can stroll the docks (Seattle) or beach (Cama), enter the buildings, look at the displays, learn from interpretive materials, and attend lectures. All of CWB’s programs and events are designed to provide public benefit. Activities for a fee include boat rentals, classes and workshops, and field trips.

Seattle Center is a 74-acre urban park and event center north of the downtown core (check out their map). Outdoors, you can walk the grounds and enjoy artwork and iconic buildings such as the Space Needle and Museum of Pop Culture (MoPOP) and enjoy the International Fountain water programs set to synchronized music. Indoors at the Armory, enjoy cultural festivals, family programs, and a food court.

KEXP near Seattle Center operates one of the most influential listener-supported radio stations in the world, 90.3 KEXP-FM Seattle. Enjoy a cup of coffee from Caffe Vita, shop for music at Light in the Attic Record Shop, listen to the live radio broadcast, experience special events, and access free live performances.

Klondike Gold Rush Park in Pioneer Square is National Park site located in the historic Cadillac Hotel building. The Visitor Center contains interactive exhibits and displays about the Klondike Gold Rush. Free video presentations are shown in the park’s theater. They also offer self-guided & docent tours, ranger programs, and summer demonstrations—check their calendar for availability during your visit.

Seattle Waterfront from Pioneer Square to Belltown is undergoing a multi-year transformation from 2017-2025. Projects include replacing the Elliott Bay seawall (completed 2017), building a new underground tunnel (opened February 2019), removal of the aging Alaska Way viaduct concrete roadway (completed 2019), new Union Street Pedestrian Bridge (completed 2022). Still to come are the Park Promenade (expected late 2024) and Overlook Walk and Pier 58 Waterfront Park (expected 2025). Two ways to experience the progress include the Pike Place MarketFront for an overhead view or online for a Waterfront Seattle – Construction Overview

Coast Guard Museum Northwest in Seattle at Pier 36. Ask for directions at the Main Gate. See thousands of Coast Guard related items, including large models of Coast Guard cutters, vessel plans, photographs, patches, and books, plus many interesting maritime artifacts (uniforms, ship wheels, lighthouse lenses, buoy lenses, ships bell, sextant…). Staffed entirely by volunteers. Admission is free but hours are limited: Monday, Wednesday, Friday from 9AM-3PM. (Closed Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday).

Community Centers in the Puget Sound region

Parks departments in the municipalities around the Puget sound region offer community centers with free and affordable activities. Visit the links below to find out what’s available in your area.

Bellevue Parks & Community Services offers several community centers and a number of community recreation facilities. There are programs for all ages in sports, arts, social programs, and more.
Everett Parks & Community Services offer a variety of events and activities at area parks such as orienteering, nature trails, book walks, and more.
Seattle Parks and Recreation offers Parks & Greenspaces, Community Centers, and Swimming Pools in neighborhoods across the city featuring a range of activities for all ages, interests, schedules, and budgets. There are drop-in activities, seasonal programs, free classes, sports gyms & fitness centers, computer rooms, board games, arts & crafts, book clubs, dance, and lots more. There are eight indoor pools open year-round and two outdoor pools (Magnolia, West Seattle) open summer only.
Tacoma Metro Parks operates many parks around the city with free activities such as trails and playgrounds. Four community centers offer a wide range of activities for a fee, including outdoor & nature programs, school break and summer camps, sports & fitness programs, martial arts, classical & modern dance, music, arts & crafts, open swim & lessons, and more.

Libraries in the Puget Sound region

Local libraries offer lots of free fun things to do at the library that might surprise you. During school breaks, there are often special programs for kids and families. All libraries are closed on major holidays. Some are closed on selected weekday; many are open on Sundays. Listed below are links to libraries serving communities in the Puget Sound region.

(Listed going roughly north to south)

Sno-Isle Libraries serve cities in Snohomish County, Whidbey Island, and Camano Island.

Everett Libraries serves the city at two locations.

King County Public Library serves eastside cities including Bellevue, Kirkland, Redmond and other cities in unincorporated north and south King County.

Kitsap Regional Library serves the Kitsap Peninsula at nine libraries from Kingston to Port Orchard.

Seattle Public Library (SPL) serves the city of Seattle at 27 neighborhood branches, plus online and bookmobile services. Many SPL locations are open seven days per week.

Pierce County Library (PCL) serves Tacoma and neighboring cities at 20 locations.

Timberland Regional Library system serves the south Sound in Olympia and surrounding cities, as well as the five counties in Southwest Washington State: Grays Harbor, Lewis, Mason, Pacific, and Thurston Counties.

Tacoma Libraries serves the city with eight locations.

Puyallup Public Library serves the city at their location on South Meridian.

But wait, there’s more!

10 best free outdoor activities year-round (greaterseattleonthecheap.com)
7 affordable winter sports on ice and snow.
30 great park trails for kids in the Puget Sound region.
And here’s a list of 101+ always free things to do for fun.
More free and cheap things to do every day: Greater Seattle on the Cheap event calendar.
Still more ideas for frugal fun: Greater Seattle on the Cheap home page.

Upcoming free things to do

Here are the free events on our calendar for the next 60 days. The items listed first each day highlighted by a photo are featured events that we or our advertisers don’t want you to miss.