Mordern, Free, Best Art Museums in Renton

"Exhibits here explore American pop culture, from David Bowie to Jim Henson to Star Trek. Bring the kids, because The Museum of Pop Culture truly has a little bit of something for everyone. The Museum of Pop Culture: 325 5th Ave N; 206-770-2700www.mopop.org/"

"The Museum of Pop Culture’s Frank Gehry-designed building is stunning, and older kids will love this museum’s focus on contemporary culture. Don’t miss the Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame and the temporary exhibits."

"The Museum of Pop Culture, established by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen in the year 2000, has tons of exhibits that focus on preserving and promoting contemporary popular culture."

"With an extensive collection of world art, from Ancient American to Modern Art to Mediterranean to Islamic to Oceanic to Native American, The Seattle Art Museum, located downtown near the Pike Place Market, is a great place to spend a rainy afternoon. They’ve also got a sister Seattle Asian Art Museum in Capitol Hill and the Olympic Sculpture Park on the waterfront, which are equally worth exploring. But if you find yourself in Seattle for a day and pressed for time, a visit to Seattle Art Museum is a safe choice, as it’s the most all-encompassing collection you’ll find in Seattle."

"The Seattle Art Museum’s sleek and contemporary digs are as artful as the works that inhabit it. As an institution of Seattle’s art scene, it’s a must-see for any visiting art lover. And while it's not uncommon that a museum’s exhibits play second-fiddle to the permanent collections, here they are one of the main attractions."

"The serene park is also a top destination for photography in Seattle. Apart from providing lovely greenscapes with sculptures in the background, the view of Elliot Bay and Puget Sound is stunning from here. You can also see Mount Rainier beyond the Puget Sound in clear weather."

"The Seattle Art museum manages a sculpture park with over a dozen works of art!. From dusk until dawn, visit the Olympic Sculpture Park to see captivating pieces for free. This outdoor exhibit art walk is a perfect way to kill some time in Seattle (as long as it’s not raining!)"

"The University of Washington’s recently remodeled natural history museum has all the wonders and exhibits you’d expect from one of the largest mammal collections in the Pacific Northwest, but it has also reimagined the entire museum experience. Nearly all the archives and artifacts have been pulled out of storage and put on display, as have the folks who tend to them: The museum includes a dozen labs and workrooms so that visitors can see how the research and curation of a museum happens. Watch artists at work before touring the Northwest Native art and see how dinosaur fossils get prepared for display so you can truly marvel at one of the best-preserved T."

"The collections at Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture reflect groundbreaking research in biology, geology, paleontology, and cultural studies. Within those collections, visitors will find 16 million objects from across the globe and specifically from the area around the Pacific Northwest. Visitors will be able to see Northwest Native Art, flora, fauna, minerals, anthropology and natural resources of Washington and beyond."

"The Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture is the state of Washington’s oldest public museum which has been open for over 130 years. At this amazing museum, you’ll find some astonishing natural collections, like their giant artifacts of dinosaur bones, stunning fossils, and more!. This museum also offers a ton of other exhibits to check out such as their “Northwest Native Art” exhibits, “Culture is Living” exhibits and more."

"For over 70 years, the Bellevue Arts Museum (or BAM) has been celebrating artists and the people who love their work. From the ornate to the whimsical, there is much to appreciate here. Even if you don’t like what you see initially, just turn the corner and you might be surprised by what you might find."

"Simply adding to the list of noteworthy Seattle museums, the city is also home to the largest museum in the U.S. dedicated to the history of Nordic immigrants, the National Nordic Museum. There, visitors can explore the culture of the five Nordic countries both at home and how they changed and evolved in the United States, shown through artifacts, photos, and videos. You’ll even find a fully functional 1910 sauna in the museum garden, which an immigrant built to recreate their favorite aspects of home here in the Northwest—just a few feet from a Viking boat, also out back."

"If there’s a Viking in your family, check out the Museum's Nordic Journeys exhibit which is a hands-on, kid-friendly display about the immigration story from the "old country” to the United States, then to Seattle and on to Ballard. For your preschooler, he or she will delight in the free Nordic Stories programs which involves a Nordic story and a related craft. Check out more fun events here. What's New:Family Fun Thursday happens the 2nd Thursday of each month from 6-8 p.m. Drop in for special activities."

"Learn all about Nordic immigration to Seattle, Swedish folk tales, and even rosemaling—a traditional form of decorative folk art that originated in the rural valleys of Norway. An inquisitive mind is a must, donning a lusekofte sweater is optional. Nordic Heritage Museum: 3014 NW 67th St.; 206-789-5707"

"More of a paean to pop than a traditional museum, the just-opened Seattle Selfie Museum is located near the Gum Wall at Pike Place Market. It's a different type of art museum—a place where the art is you!. “Built for the 21st century digital nomad” this place is filled with room upon room of different props for you and your little guys and gals to create the ultimate selfie."

"Now you can go visit the Seattle Aquarium (also included in the CityPass), wander along the Waterfront Park, or go ride the Seattle Great Wheel. Here at Miner’s Landing is where we found some great souvenirs to take home as well."

"Note- We stayed in an Airbnb in the Queen Anne District that was in a beautiful and centrally located area. Get $40 off your first stay using this code."

"There’s so much backstory to the delicate noodles that chef Mutsuko Soma makes by hand via centuries-old methods at her Fremont soba restaurant, it’s easy to overlook the basic fact of eating here: The food is really flipping fun. The lineup of eight-ish soba dishes takes the occasional culinary liberty with classic combinations; Japanese chefs weren’t making soba with duck meatballs or curry with gooey mozzarella centuries ago, but in Soma’s hands it all makes sense. Same goes for the tempura menu, which might dress up fried satsuma yam with honey and gorgonzola."

"Star chef Mutsuko Soma’s magical handmade soba has earned national acclaim. The noodles are served in classic styles, including seiro (cold with dipping sauce) and nanban (bathed in warm broth), and Soma has added some excellent sandos to the takeout menu. Sibling bar Hannyatou next door serves sake and has an outdoor patio."

"Mutsuko Soma's takeout menu is a smart balance: Her signature soba and other Kamonegi staples (curry, foie gras tofu) along with more casual dishes like katsu sandos and onigiri suited to our Covid times."

"People love this quintessential neighborhood sushi bar, in Tangletown, with the unpretentious vibe (read: good for families) and a a chef who can tailor the omakase to his devotees. The menu can happily veer into more adventurous territory than the above may lead you to expect."

"WallingfordKisaku means frank and easy going, which you will definitely be after having a round of fresh raw fish here. Be sure to grab the Green Lake Roll, which has salmon, flying fish eggs, asparagus, avocado, and marinated seaweed."

"Japanese , Sushi"

"Diners at this U District hot spot grab a tray and slide along the line, cafeteria-style, to place a noodle order. The next step is to choose some deep-fried delights a la carte, like the excellent tempura chikuwa, a fishcake in the shape of a tube. With two locations (the other is on Capitol Hill), this mini-chain is the first in Seattle to serve udon made on-site, with the cold preparations showing off the chewiness of the firm, al dente noodles best; diners can even watch them being made while they wait to order."

"This duo of fast-casual noodle shops is all about Japan’s udon, either in warming soups or just lightly sauced, with simple, mostly classic toppings like a thick slab of fried tofu. Order your noodles, then choose from a bevy of tempura for topping and dipping. The U District location is students galore; the new one in Capitol Hill’s 12th Avenue Arts building has a calmer vibe."

"If you have time or got started early, venture behind the market (and down a lot of stairs) and toward the Seattle Waterfront. You won’t have too much time to really delve in here but choose from taking a ride on the Seattle Great Wheel or Wings Over Washington and then peek in at the shops along the water, including Ye Olde Curiosity Shop."

"Many important architectural heirlooms are concentrated in Pioneer Sq, the district that sprang up in the wake of the 1889 Great Fire. Instantly recognizable by its handsome redbrick buildings, the neighborhood's predominant architectural style is Richardsonian Romanesque, strongly influenced by America's Chicago School."

"Once you get off the boat head straight up the Ferry Walkway to 1st then turn right and go 2 blocks to Pioneer Square. This lovely little green scape is surrounded by late 1800’s Romanesque Revival style buildings, with a plaza full of quaint bistro tables & bocce ball courts."

"There are currently three locations throughout the city, but we recommend with our two day itinerary of Seattle to head to the Pioneer Square location to stay on track. Explore Pioneer Square"

"Spend a romantic afternoon relishing the swanky new hub for Washington wine located in Woodinville, directly next to Willows Lodge. Inside the former space of the Redhook Brewery, Sparkman Cellars and DeLille Cellars have found an inviting new home in which to offer elevated, seated tastings, flight-based offerings and small bites. Eventually guests will also enjoy the venue's expansive patio and wine club room."

"Designed by Charles Reed and Allen Stem and built in 1906, the station’s 250-foot clock tower was modeled after Venice, Italy’s Piazza de San Marco’s bell tower. A recent renovation uncovered ornate ceilings, wainscoting and mosaic tile work hidden after an unfortunate redesign in the 1960s. A post shared by Shane Medbery (@shane_medbery_pdx) on Nov 10, 2017 at 3:32pm PST"

"Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user SounderBruce used under CC BY-SA 2.0. King Street Station is more than just a train station. Its spectacular architecture has made this station one of the popular landmarks in the city, which is why even though you are not planning to travel by train, you will still need to drop by the station for the view."