Ed Newbold

With almost 25,000 pieces of art in permanent collections, the Seattle Art Museum (SAM) has art to appeal to almost any taste. It's the type of place you can visit many times and still find something new to see.Best and worst time to go to the Seattle Art MuseumNon-holiday weekdays are likely the least busy time to visit SAM, except free first Thursdays, when SAM is part of the First Thursday Art Walk in downtown Seattle. Of course, free admission may be worth the crowds.Must see/do at the Seattle Art MuseumPermanent collections you can choose to view include African, Ancient American, Australian Aboriginal, European, Islamic, Modern & Contemporary, Native American, and Oceanic. The museum also hosts special exhibitions.Admission to the Seattle Art MuseumThe museum is open Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Adult admission is $19.50, with senior, military, student, and teen discounts available. Children 12 and under are free. The museum is closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas.Parking and public transportation at the Seattle Art MuseumDiscount parking for SAM is available at the 3rd and Stewart Garage, located four blocks from SAM's 1st Avenue and Union Street entrance. On weekends only, discount parking is also available in the Russell Investment Center Garage, adjacent to the SAM building. For either discount, request a discount voucher at the SAM Ticketing Desk. Otherwise, parking in downtown Seattle is available but expensive. Many King County Metro buses and some Sound Transit buses serve the area around the museum.Food at the Seattle Art MuseumSAM has a restaurant named Taste that prepares food using local ingredients. OnSundays the restaurant has a brunch from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.​​​​​Insider tip for visitors to the Seattle Art MuseumThe first Thursday of every month admission to SAM is free for everyone. The first Friday is free to seniors 62 and over. If the museum is hosting a special exhibition, there is a charge for the exhibition. ​Groups of 10 or more people can receive a discount rate with an advance reservation. SAM also has a membership program, and members always receive free admission to the museum.Author's bio: Carol Wiley is a freelance writer offering services ranging from articles and blog posts to customer case studies and business web content.