Things To Do In Seattle
Here's list of 10 plus 1 things you must see and do in Seattle:
Note: Most of these items are highlighted on our Interactive Map.
The Space Needle
Seattle Center, 400 Broad St.
206.905.2100
www.spaceneedle.com
A 41-second elevator ride takes you up 520 feet to the observation deck of the Space Needle, built for the 1962 World's Fair. From the Observation Deck you have panoramic views of the surrounding Seattle area, Mount Rainier, Puget Sound and Olympic and Cascade Mountain Ranges. Also atop the Space Needle is the SkyCity Restaurant that rotates 360 degrees once every hour while you eat.
Pike Place Market
Between First Ave. and Western, from Pike to Virginia streets
www.pikeplacemarket.org
Born in 1907, Seattle's Pike Place Market is the granddaddy of farmers' markets. Today, it's a major tourist attraction with 200 businesses operating year-round, 190 craftspeople and 120 farmer booths - plus street performers and musicians. Flowers by the bucketful, flying fish, fresh pastries and fruit, handmade cheeses, local honey, wine, an assortment of restaurants, import goods, antiques, collectibles and lots of surprises are around every corner.
Ferries
www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries
Traveling by ferry is a state of mind as much as a means of transportation to some of the Puget Sound's most historic and scenic sites. Views of the Olympic and Cascade mountains, the Seattle cityscape and the green shorelines will draw you out onto the deck to feel the salt breeze on your face. The state ferry system takes passengers and their vehicles from Seattle and nearby departure points to Vashon Island, the Kitsap Peninsula, the San Juan Islands and Canada. For privately operated ferries, see the Sightseeing & Tours (page 35) and Visitors Services/Travel & Transportation (page 120) listings in this guide.
Seattle Aquarium
Pier 59
206.386.4300
www.seattleaquarium.org
Meet Alki, the sea otter pup born at the Aquarium. Walk under the water in a glass dome as blunt-nose sharks and other Elliott Bay creatures swim all around you. Touch a sea anemone. Learn about the lives of salmon at the world's first aquarium-based salmon ladder. Marvel at the impossibly bright-colored coral reef fish. And don't forget to wave to the giant Pacific octopus.
The Seattle Waterfront
Piers 52 to 70 on Alaskan Way
ci.seattle.wa.us/tour/water.htm
A bustling collection of attractions, restaurants and shopping, as well as starting points for ferries, cruise ships, the Victoria Clipper and Argosy boat tours are located here. Feed the seagulls at the statue of Ivar Haglund in front of Ivar's Acres of Clams, stroll by the fountains on the wooden piers of Waterfront Park, admire the view or shop for souvenirs.
Woodland Park Zoo
South Gate: 750 N. 50th St
206.684.4800
www.zoo.org
See more than 1,000 animals of 300 different species, from elephants and gorillas to piranhas and penguins, in naturalistic exhibits at the Woodland Park Zoo. Drop by at scheduled feeding times and talk with the people who care for the animals.
The University of Washington Campus
1400 NE Campus Parkway
Seattle, WA 98195
(206) 543 - 2100
www.washington.edu/
With nearly 700 acres, the university's well-manicured grounds are essentially the biggest park in the city - a park with 35,000 students, that is. It sits on the shores of Lake Washington and the Montlake Cut which connects Lake Union to Lake Washington. Husky Stadium opens to views of Mount Rainier and Lake Washington and is one of only two college settings where fans can get to a game via a boat. The Montlake Cut is regularly used for Husky Crew race competitions and the Husky Crew House sits on the edge of the Montlake Cut. The Husky Varsity Eight won the 2007 College National Championship - it was their 12th National Championship and capped off an undefeated Season. Visitor’s to the Husky Crew House can rent canoe’s, sail boats and row boats and row around Lake Washington and the nearby arboretum.
The Museum of Flight
9404 East Marginal Way South
Seattle, WA 98108-4097
206-764-5720
www.museumofflight.org
The independent, non-profit Museum of Flight is one of the largest air and space museums in the world, attracting more than 400,000 visitors annually. The Museum's collection includes more than 150 historically significant air- and spacecraft, as well as the Red Barn®—the original manufacturing facility of The Boeing Co. The Museum's aviation and space library and archives are the largest on the West Coast. Included on exhibit is one of British Airways recently retired Concorde supersonic airliners. Also on exhibit is the first Air Force One which has carried presidents Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, and Nixon, as well as VIPs such as Nikita Khrushchev and Henry Kissinger.
Experience Music Project (EMP), Science Fiction Museum (SFM) & Hall of Fame
at the Seattle Center
325 5th Ave North
Seattle, WA 98109
www.empsfm.org/
EMP|SFM was founded by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen and is housed in a 140,000 square foot Frank O. Gehry-designed building. This spectacular, prominently visible structure has the presence of a monumental sculpture set amid the backdrop of the Seattle Center.
Experience Music Project is dedicated to the exploration of creativity and innovation in popular music. By blending interpretative, interactive exhibition with cutting-edge technology, EMP captures and reflects the essence of rock ‘n’ roll, its roots in jazz, soul, gospel, country and the blues, as well as rock’s influence on hip-hop, punk and other recent genres. Visitors can view rare artifacts and memorabilia and experience the creative process by listening to musicians tell their own stories.
The Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame is the world's first museum devoted to the thought-provoking ideas and experiences of science fiction. SFM’s exhibitions promote awareness and appreciation of science fiction literature and media while encouraging visitors to envision new futures for humanity. In the Science Fiction Hall of Fame, the museum pays homage to the most respected of science fiction practitioners—writers, artists, publishers and filmmakers.
The Arboretum
depts.washington.edu/wpaThe Washington Park Arboretum is a spectacular urban green space on the shores of Lake Washington just east of downtown Seattle and south of the University of Washington.
Washington 's official State Arboretum contains internationally recognized woody plant collections on 230 acres. Noteworthy are North America's largest collection of Sorbus and Maple, the second largest collection of species Hollies and significant collections of oaks, conifers and camellias.
Safeco Field & Qwest Stadium
First Ave. South just South of Downtown
seattle.mariners.mlb.com/index.jsp?c_id=sea
www.seahawks.com/Home.aspx
Safeco Field was completed in 1999 and is the home ball park for the Seattle Mariners. It feathers a retractable roof - the Mariners have never had a rained out home game since they started using Safeco Field. The Mariners 2008 schedule has them in town during the week of the 2008 World Series. Tuesday August 6th will be Series 2008 Night at the Mariners Game with Minnesota Twins. Qwest Field was built in 2002 and is the home field for the Seattle Seahawks the NFC West Champions for the last 4 years. You can catch a Seahawks pre-season game while in the Seattle for the World Series in 2008.
