Activities for Seniors in Seattle

There’s a lot to love about the City of Seattle. Whether you’re visiting for the weekend or call the “Emerald City” home, you’ll find an amazing array of year-round activities for seniors in Seattle. From glassblowing studios to scenic hiking trails, and from thrift stores to food markets, Seattle has a lot to offer. 

This region is spoiled for choice when it comes to outdoor recreation, arts and culture, food, sporting events, and cultural experiences. Let’s jump right in and explore activities for seniors in Seattle, including free and low-cost options.

If you live in Seattle and are age 60 or older, get a free Gold Card, which you can present to local businesses for a variety of discounts. You can also use the City’s Discount Directory to find senior discounts for everything from theatre tickets to car washes.

Seattle has one of the largest library networks in the country, with 27 branches. Their free programs are appropriate for all ages, but some are especially helpful for seniors and older adults. For example, if you’re retired and want to learn how to use new technology, there’s a class for you. The best part is that all programs and services are free. The only thing you need is a Seattle Public Library card.

Be sure to check out these programs.

There’s something for everyone in Seattle, including museums, art galleries, parks, sporting events and more. Below, we’ll highlight a selection of activities for seniors in Seattle that are enjoyable year-round, even in the rain.

Built by Amazon, the Spheres are home to more than 40,000 plants from the cloud forest regions of more than 30 countries. Housed in three massive glass domes, this collection of flora will impress anyone with a green thumb.

Admission is free every first and third Saturday of the month from 10 am to 6 pm, with a reservation. You can reserve a time here.

Chihuly Garden and Glass is a sight not to be missed. Located at Seattle Center in the Queen Anne neighborhood, and nestled just beneath the Space Needle, the museum celebrates the work of Northwest artist Dale Chihuly. 

Chihuly Garden and Glass features eight galleries, the centerpiece glasshouse, and an outdoor garden, where Chihuly’s works are beautifully showcased in a real garden. Admission for ages 65 and up is $27 per person when you begin your visit before 11 am.

Bring a shopping bag, wear good walking shoes, and come prepared to see fish fly. Located in the heart of Seattle, Pike Place Market is a hub of flowers, food, artisan boutiques, specialty retailers, and fresh seafood vendors. It’s also home to the very first Starbucks. 

Parking at the market is limited, so take advantage of public transportation. Admission is free and the market is open seven days a week.

The Museum of Flight, located south of downtown near Boeing Field, is home to an inspiring collection of aircrafts, spacecrafts, artifacts, galleries, exhibits, and history. During a visit, you can walk through more than 100 years of aviation, aerospace, and military history. See the Apollo 17 Lunar Module Ascent Stage Mock-up, stand under the Lockheed M-21 Blackbird, or step inside Concorde.

Take a break during your tour and step outside to watch planes take off and land at Boeing Field, aka King County International Airport. It averages 180,000 takeoffs and landings each year, and you can see them all close-up.

Admission is free on the first Thursday of every month from 5 pm to 9 pm. Regular admission for seniors ages 65 and up is $21. If you’re  an AAA member, admission is $20. (There are lots of ways to save money at the museum; be sure to ask about all discounts.)

Seeing the views from Discovery Park are a must for both visitors to Seattle and those lucky enough to call the city home.

This 534-acre park is the largest city park in Seattle. Situated on Magnolia Bluff overlooking Puget Sound, Discovery Park offers gorgeous views of both the Cascade and the Olympic Mountain ranges. The secluded site also includes two miles of protected tidal beaches plus open meadow lands, dramatic sea cliffs, forest groves, and active sand dunes. 

During your visit, drop by the Environmental Learning Center to explore the rich history of the site, then plan a walk on the nearby paths and trails. You can even walk down to the beach and dip your toes in the chilly waters of Puget Sound, which is an inlet of the Pacific Ocean. 

Admission and parking are both free. You can also host a special event at Discovery Park, including weddings and reunions.

The Lake Washington Ship Canal and Hiram M. Chittenden Locks, aka the Ballard Locks, connect the fresh waters of Lake Washington, Lake Union, and Salmon Bay, to the tidal waters of Puget Sound. This engineering marvel allows ships to pass through a complex maze of locks, moving from ocean to lake. For example, many vessels from the Alaskan fishing fleet moor in Seattle for repairs and maintenance during the off-season. In fact, nearly 50,000 boats “lock through” each year.

Completed in 1916, the Locks also include a “fish ladder” that allows three species of salmon to migrate to spawning grounds. You can see the salmon through glass windows as they make their way up the ladder, then watch them jump out at the end. Depending on the season, it can look like fish are being fired from a water cannon.

Admission is free and street parking is available. Peak fish viewing season is mid-June to September.

Whether you want to catch a regular game or experience a new sporting event, you will be spoiled for choice in Seattle. With more than a dozen professional sports teams, fans are never disappointed.

While tickets can be pricey, there are some lower cost ways to catch a professional sports game. Before you buy tickets, be sure to ask about senior discounts.

Here are just a few of the most popular spectator sport activities for seniors in Seattle.

Seattle is known for its amazing thrift shops, which blanket the city from north to south. In fact, thrifting is among one of the most popular activities for seniors in Seattle. Fashionistas can easily spend a couple of days browsing Seattle Goodwill stores, as well as Lifelong Thrift and Assistance League stores, which are also nonprofits.

Think thrifting is only about fashion? Think again. These Seattle thrift stores feature a range of merchandise.

There are days when you want to stay cozy at home, especially with Seattle’s weather patterns. Here are three of our favorite ways to pass those long, rainy days.

Scrapbooking: Not only is scrapbooking fun and interactive, it’s also a great way to make meaningful gifts and mementos. One of the best places to find low-cost materials is at thrift stores. You can also look for supplies in local Buy Nothing groups.

Genealogy: Track down a long-lost cousin or learn more about your ancestors by building a family tree. You’ll find resources at Seattle Public Library, where you can explore family history with free online genealogy tools or make an appointment with a genealogy librarian for free help.

Gentle exercise: Simply getting a few minutes of exercise each day can help us all feel better. And, a great way to begin is by doing gentle stretches at home. You’ll find dozens of free videos to guide you through gentle stretches on YouTube. If you have any health concerns, it’s always a good idea to ask your health care provider before starting a new program.

If working with seniors, older adults, and families in Seattle sounds good to you, consider becoming a Papa Pal.

Papa Pals are part-time companion caregivers who set their own flexible schedules and work a couple of hours a week or more. They focus on companionship and doing things together with Papa members.

Papa Pals help others in the community by offering support with a range of tasks and activities, including help with errands, house tasks, basic technology, car rides, pet care, and light exercise. It's a great job for kind, friendly, and reliable people.

Start your application to become a Papa Pal here.