8 Must See Seattle Attractions
Seattle has always been a popular destination for travelers. There's something here for everyone, whether it's the music and art scene or the beautiful, natural scenery of the area. A visitor would be hard pressed to see everything this city has to offer on a single trip, but there are a number of things in Seattle that you really have to see. Consider these eight attractions for your next visit.
1. Space Needle
This is practically the symbol of Seattle, and is the one destination that you really shouldn't miss. At 605ft high, the Space Needle provides an incredible view of the city and the gorgeous mountains in the background. There are some incredibly strong telescopes on the observation deck that let you see even more, and the SkyCity restaurant rotates 360 degrees to give diners a wonderful backdrop to a great meal.
2. Seattle Aquarium
Here you'll find huge displays of the local marine wildlife. You can see the aquatic life that lives in the bay and some that come from a little further out to see, and even some really mysterious and unique creatures from other places. One of the most unique aspects, though, is the underwater dome where you are literally surrounded by 400,000 gallons of water and a wide range of fish from Puget Sound.
3. Underground Tours
After the Great Seattle Fire of 1889, Seattle chose to rebuild better, stronger, and higher up. Rather than build in new areas to avoid the rising mud of the area, though, the city put in retaining walls around the roads near Pioneer Place Park and then covered it over. The result was a lot of first-floors became basements and a maze of tunnels now takes you through this old town. A guided tour will make sure you don't get lost.
4. Pike Place Market
This famous open-air shopping area is an old farmers market that got its start over 100 years ago. Now it features more than 200 year-round businesses, 190 craftspeople and 100 other farmers who rent table space by the day, and another couple hundred street performers and musicians appear throughout the year. This is definitely a very unique shopping experience.
5. Argosy Cruises Harbor Tour
This is one of the best ways to really take in some of the scenery in Seattle. Visitors can ride on the open-air or enclosed decks while enjoying a light lunch and refreshing beverage. This tour around the harbor will give you an unmatched view of the Seattle skyline, including a lot of the major attractions like Safeco Field and the Space Needle.
6. Woodland Park Zoo
This is a great option for the entire family. There are some very unique attractions here, including the first sustainable penguin exhibit. There are animals from tropical Asia, the great northwest, the rain forests, and much more. The Woodland Park Zoo even features an indoor play area for kids under 8 years old.
7. EMP Museum
This music museum features a range of interactive galleries, changing exhibits, and number of exciting events. You can learn about the history of rock 'n' roll and find out how it was influenced by many other genres over the years. You can even participate in a virtual concert and see what it's like to perform under the bright lights on stage. And if the music scene isn't what you want, be sure to check out the Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame in the same building.
8. Seattle Art Museum (SAM)
There are actually three major facilities associated with the Seattle Art Museum: the downtown museum (the main one), the Seattle Asian Art Museum, and the Olympic Sculpture Park. There are over 25,000 pieces featured at these museums, and there's something here for everyone interested in the art scene.
Whether you are looking for a quiet way to take in the scenery around Seattle or you want to experience something really unique underneath the streets of Pioneer Place Park, take a little time to plan ahead and make sure you don't miss any of these great attractions.
This post was provided by Dan Patterson, who works for CityPASS. With the Seattle CityPASS you can see some of the top attractions in Seattle like the Space Needle for a huge discount. Visit for more details.
Considering a trip to Seattle? You can find the perfect place to stay on Tripping. Browse top Seattle vacation rentals starting at $55/night!
Photo sources:
Seattle Space Needle Facebook page, link here.
Pike Place Market Facebook page, link here.