Child-friendly venues reopening in Seattle space: Our record consists of their COVID-19 precautions

With pandemic conditions changing so often and so suddenly, it can be difficult to keep track of what’s open. Woodland Park Zoo reopened last summer and stayed that way, while Seattle Children’s Museum has been closed since last March. With most of Washington state now in Phase 2 of Governor Jay Inslee’s current reopening plan, many kid-friendly attractions in the Puget Sound area that closed in January are reopening.

Here are some of those places. Thanks to national guidelines, the precautions they take for safe operation are fairly consistent. Each organization opens with a reduced capacity and, unless otherwise stated, requires the pre-sale of tickets with a specified time. Facilitated by techniques such as one-way traffic and reconfigured rooms, they ask guests to adhere to distance protocols and require guests (5 years and older unless otherwise noted) to wear masks. Many have also implemented on-site contactless transactions for grocery purchases and gift shops; limited access to bathrooms; and restricted or closed food and cloakroom services. Most of them participate in contact tracing – ask for details if you have any questions.

Arena Sports inflatable FunZone

Arena Sports has five locations (Issaquah, Mill Creek, Redmond, Magnuson Park and Sodo in Seattle) in warehouse-like facilities with very high ceilings and upgraded HVAC systems, according to Jen Goetze, director of marketing. Each facility offers indoor soccer and an inflatable FunZone. Mill Creek also has laser tag, a high ropes course with zip lines, bowling, climbing walls, and an arcade. FunZones are open to small groups (up to six or 15 children, depending on location) by reservation and visit (in Mill Creek and from March 3 in Magnuson Park). An electrostatic disinfection and disinfection sprayer is used in the FunZone between sessions.

Burke Museum

New bronze paddle artwork points the way to the Burke Museum, which reopened to the public on February 2nd (Alan Berner / The Seattle Times)

The Burke Museum reopened on February 2 with no room or interactive elements on the exhibits. The logs are the same as before the holidays; You need masks for all guests aged 3 and over. Off the Rez Café is open with limited seating.

MoPOP

The Museum of Pop Culture has been open from Friday to Sunday since February 5th. Stylus pens for interactive elements are cleaned after each use. The small, powerful Sound Lab and the Culture Kitchen food service will remain closed. All guests aged 3 and over must wear masks.

Aviation Museum

The Museum of Flight plans to reopen on March 4th. In addition to the usual precautionary measures, health examinations of the guests (with a contactless questionnaire and possible temperature controls) are carried out upon entry. Touch elements and closed areas within exhibits remain closed.

National Nordic Museum

The National Nordic Museum will reopen on February 18th with the same precautions as last fall. All guests aged 2 and over must wear masks. The children’s craft workshops on Saturday remain online.

Seattle Aquarium

After closing for 29 days earlier in the year, the Seattle Aquarium reopened on February 9, with the same security protocols they put in place before it last closed. The Aquarium Café is currently open with a capacity of 25%.

Seattle Art Museum Seattle

The outdoor spaces of the Olympic Sculpture Park remain open to the public. The downtown Seattle Art Museum plans to open Friday through Sunday starting March 5, with some galleries remaining closed. The Seattle Asian Art Museum and the PACCAR Pavilion in Olympic Sculpture Park will also remain closed. All guests aged 3 and over must wear a mask.

Gemma Alexander
is a Seattle-based freelance writer; gemmadeealexander.com.