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Location
Best time
Visit on weekends (Saturday-Sunday) between 11am-4pm for the best experience, and check ahead for free admission days which the venue offers regularly
Visitor tip
Make sure to engage with the knowledgeable volunteer staff—they're highly passionate about the marine life and can share fascinating facts about creatures you might otherwise miss. Ask them questions about specific animals like starfish, shrimp, and other Puget Sound residents
Visitor tip
The venue is small but packed with exhibits; don't miss the interactive 'Pier Peer' underwater viewing station with ROV access and floodlights under the dock for optimal marine life visibility, plus the 'Meet the Beach' wading program
About Puget Sound Estuarium
Hands-on discovery center with aquariums. Educational marine life center with saltwater aquariums & interactive learning exhibits.
Quick Facts
- Type
- Nature Center
- Highlights
- Pier Peer underwater viewing with ROV, Meet the Beach tide pool exploration, Urban Birding tours
- Location
- 309 State Ave. NE, Olympia, WA 98501
- Hours
- Saturday-Sunday 11am-4pm
What visitors say
I didn't get to see the special exhibit in the back as it was being worked on just the tanks in the front but it was a free day anyway which is awesome that they even have that. Tanks had starfish some really awesome shrimp and a…
I had such a great time visiting the Puget Sound Estuarium with my whole family — even my 9-month-old son came along! We all got in for free with our EBT card, which made it such a wonderful and accessible outing for families. The…
The location is great! My son really enjoyed the stay. The location is small and my son enjoyed the show in the back room.
From 91 Google reviews
Did You Know?
- Features an interactive Pier Peer exhibit with underwater floodlights and remote-operated vehicle (ROV) screen access, allowing visitors to view marine life in the Puget Sound estuary from an illuminated dock
- Offers free admission days and accepts EBT cards for free access, making it an accessible educational resource for low-income families in the Olympia area
- Provides age-specific summer camps including Seastar Summer Camp for 2nd-3rd graders, demonstrating a structured K-12 educational programming focus
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