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

School breaks in the Seattle-Tacoma metro area occurs at different times in various school districts. The mid-winter and spring break schedules are listed below for selected public school systems. Following the schedules, we offer some recommended activities for families and school-age children for school breaks during the year. Most are free and some are very low cost. See also our list of summer camps and school break camps.

2020 School Break schedules

Kids getting out of school – DepositP{hotos.com

2020 Bellevue spring break schedule: February 17 – 21, 2020 Mid-winter break + Pres Day and April 13 – 17, 2020 Spring break

2020 Seattle mid-winter and spring break schedule: February 17 – 21, 2020 Mid-winter break and April 13 – 17, 2020 Spring break

2020 Everett spring break schedule: April 6-10, 2020 Spring break

2020 Tacoma spring break schedule: April 6-10, 2020 Spring break

Spring Break Attractions in the Puget Sound region

The following attractions in the Puget Sound region are mostly free or very low cost. These museums and festivals are of particular interest for families with children and would make a fun outing during spring break when the kiddos are out of school.

Skagit Valley Tulip Festival April 1-30 is designed as a free self-guided driving tour. Hundreds of acres of blooming flowers are scattered across farms throughout the valley. Check the Bloom Map to see what is blooming during your visit, as well as the tulip festival events list to see what else is happening on the days you plan to visit There are many other activities to enjoy in the area, such as art galleries and museums, breweries and wineries, farms and nurseries, plenty of food options, and much more.

Center for Wooden Boats has two locations: in the heart of Seattle on Lake Union and at Cama Beach State Park on Camano Island, 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, and learn from interpretive materials. All of CWB’s programs and events are designed to provide public benefit. Boat rentals, classes and workshops, field trips, lectures, and opportunities for experience on the docks and in the water are just a few of the things you’ll find when you visit.

Museum of Flight Restoration Center and Reserve Collection at Paine Field in Everett is a 23,000 square-foot facility where historic aircraft are restored. A group of dedicated volunteers puts in thousands of man hours each year, working to restore each aircraft to exhibition quality in the most historically accurate way possible. On the Restoration Tour, you can get a look at all the labor that goes into aircraft restoration and get a chance to talk to volunteers on site. The Restoration Tour is available Wednesday-Sunday during business hours (9AM–4PM). Tickets: Adults (18 +) $5, Youths (5-17) $3, Children (4 and under) FREE. MOF Members get in FREE.

Naval Undersea Museum in Keyport (about 2 hours W of Seattle via ferry or driving through Tacoma, on 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.

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 watch busy ants in the 8 foot long Ant Farm. Over 15 kid friendly exhibits to explore. Free admission.

Valentinetti Puppet Museum in Bremerton. Highly rated collection showcases the variety and craftsmanship of puppet artists from around the world. Free to visit; donations accepted. Tours $4. Membership is also available to provide ongoing support.

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 available for a nominal fee by guided tour departing most Saturdays during the Regular Season at 12:30pm.

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.

11 lighthouses in the Puget Sound region that you can visit for free, though most will gladly accept donations. Lighthouses inside Washington State Parks require a Discover Pass ($10/day, $30/annual). A couple sites have small fees under $10 per visit. 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.

Spring Break Activities in Seattle

Like the list above, these Seattle attractions make a fun outing for families with children during spring break week. These sites are arranged roughly north to south throughout the city.

Ballard Locks, officially named Hiram M. Chittenden Locks 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, and 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 migration of salmon. In addition, there are beautiful gardens around the facility. A fish ladder is active with migrating salmon spring to fall.

Geocaching HQ Visitor Center. Geocaching HQ is where the tools for global geocaching adventures are created and maintained. Before your visit, you might want to check out the Fremont nieghborhood, by completing the Geocaching HQ GeoTour. Print out your GeoTour passport at home, then stamp the spaces as you find each geocache. These nine geocaches will lead you to some of the best geocaches in the neighborhood as well as great shops, restaurants, and sights. The entire walking GeoTour takes 2.5 to 3 hours to complete. Once completed, bring your passport to the visitor center to get a gold stamp of completion, plus take time to snap a photo in the photo booth, and buy souvenirs in the gift shop, and peruse the geocache museum. Free, drop-in self-guided tours are usually available weekdays, except holidays. Check their website for hours and closure information. To get started, schedule your visit.

Seattle Center (map) is a 74-acre urban park and event center north of downtown. Outdoors, enjoy year-around gardens, artwork, and the International Fountain with synchronized music. Indoors, enjoy cultural festivals, family programs, fitness classes, and the Armory food court.

KEXP operates one of the most influential listener-supported radio stations in the world, 90.3 KEXP-FM Seattle. You can tour their home at Seattle Center. 45-minutes tours are offered daily at 2:00 pm (excluding most holidays), and during summer (June-August) additionally at 10:00 am. Reservations are encouraged. Walk-ins are welcome, but subject to availability. For more information, visit the KEXP website or make a KEXP Tour Reservation.

Free Amazon tours. Amazon offers several ways to see its headquarters in downtown Seattle.

Amazon Headquarter tour lasts about 90 minutes and takes visitors through a few buildings on Amazon’s Seattle urban campus, including Doppler, Day 1, and The Spheres. Free, but requires advance registration.
Spheres are an extensive collection of biodiversity that explores the value of conservation in an urban environment. More than 40,000 plants from the cloud forest regions of over 30 countries range from tiny epiphytes that cling to a 50-foot living wall to Rubi, a 49-year-old ficus tree. Free Spheres tours are offered two Saturdays per month and require advance reservation.
Understory is a free, self-guided, museum-style exhibit where guests can learn about Amazon and The Spheres. Please be aware that the Understory exhibit is separate from the indoor gardens of The Spheres.
Free Audio Tour Listen gives customers a sense of Amazon’s history, a taste of the peculiar culture and customer obsession, a guide around the unique urban campus, and explains the company’s connection to the surrounding community. Available on Audible.com.

Outdoor clothing and gear manufacturer. For more than 100 years, Filson of Seattle has manufactured outdoor clothes and accessories using the best raw materials and construction techniques for garments, bags, and outdoor gear that make them last for generations. During your tour, you may even get a peek at some new items the product team has in development upstairs. Filson factory free tours are offered twice a week at their store located in the SODO district, located south of the sports stadiums on First Avenue South. Visit the Filson tour page to sign up for a tour.

Trail to Treasure Map free self-guided Walking Tour of Seattle’s Pioneer Square Historic District explores the rich history of the city’s oldest neighborhood. The map identifies 16 special places and events that helped shape the history and development of Pioneer Square, the city of Seattle, and the greater Puget Sound region. You can choose to pick up the trail at any of the 16 stops. Pick up a map in the visitor center at Klondike Gold Rush Park, 319 2nd Ave South, Seattle, or at participating locations throughout the district. Be prepared to walk on uneven terrain throughout the historic district and dress for the weather

Seattle Waterfront from Pioneer Square to Belltown is undergoing a multi-year transformation from 2017-2024 that includes replacing the Elliott Bay sea wall (completed 2017), building a new underground tunnel (opened February 2019), and removal of the aging Alaska Way viaduct concrete roadway (completed 2019). Additional projects include bridges and walkways to connect the waterfront to downtown, plus new surface streets, environmental upgrades, public art, parks, and opens spaces. Two ways to experience the progress include the Pike Place MarketFront for an overhead view of the progress, or closer to the action with a stroll along the west side of Alaskan Way from Pier 66 to Pier 50 featuring a variety of interesting shops, eateries, and public spaces along the way.

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. Hours: Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 9AM-3PM (closed Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday).

Community Centers in the Puget Sound region

Looking forward to spring break time! – DepositPhotos.com

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 five community centers and a number of community recreation facilities. There are programs for all ages in sports and recreation, arts, social programs, and more.

Everett Parks & Community Services have two indoor pools for affordable aquatic fitness play, plus drop-in classes and activities

Seattle Parks and Recreation offers 26 Community Centers 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 also eight indoor pools open year-round and two outdoor pools open May-September.

Tacoma Metro Parks offers four community centers around the city and a wide range of activities & sports 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. Listed below are links to libraries in the Puget Sound region. All libraries are closed on major holidays.

The following libraries serve 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.

These are some of the free and affordable activities that families in the Puget Sound region can take advantage of during spring break. See also our list of summer camps and school break camps.