Highlights
Space Needle
Resembling a spaceship coming down to land, this sleek modern design, built for the 1962 World’s Fair, has been the city’s defining symbol for over fifty years. The complex, Seattle Center, draws a staggering annual attraction of over one-million visitors, so don’t hesitate to visit the UFO-like observation deck, which stands 520 feet above the city and offers staggering 360-degree views, or enjoy a meal in the rotating restaurant.
Pike Place Market
Wonder around Pike Place Market and take in the procession of noise, smells, urban theatre and amazing personalities that thrive in this waterside strip of Seattle. Since Pike Place Market opened its doors in 1907, to provide locals with fresh Northwest produce, the soulful and vibrant atmosphere still echoes around today and provides a brilliant local experience that shows off Seattle for what it really is. It is also the perfect location to sample local flavours and with a mantra of ‘meet the producer’, you know that the food is fresh. See if you can catch glimpse of the famous fish toss at Pike Place Fish Market and watch the fanatical fishmongers in action!
Museums
Start off your culture trip at The Museum of Pop Culture, which incorporates super-modern architecture and legendary rock ‘n’ roll history. Perhaps the Museum of Flight is up your street, displaying a broad sweep of flight memorabilia with key exhibits displaying the best of flight, including Apollo lunar modules, V2 rockets and aerodynamic gliders. Get your arts kick at Seattle Art Museum, known for its extensive Native American artifacts and work from the Northwest School, in particular by Mark Tobey. Always re-curating with new and imported art collections, the museum also includes Modern American art and renowned travelling exhibitions.
Lakes and Parks
If you fancy an escape from the busy city streets, make your way to one of Seattle’s green spaces or lakes for an afternoon stroll. Hard to beat on a sunny summer’s day, the 534-acre Discovery Park is a wild coastal park, laced with walking routes, meadows, forest, beaches and sand dunes that provide a welcome escape to and abundance of wildlife. Lake Union is a super place for watersports fanatics, as kayakers, rowers and sailboats regularly navigate this large stretch of fresh water lake. Visit the beautiful Washington Park Arboretum, which holds more than 5,500 plant species, a wide variety of gardens and 200 acres of mature forests; it is a calming respite from city life.
Family Fun
For a spot of family fun, Woodland Park Zoo will certainly not disappoint. Often voted as one of the top ten zoos in the country, it is one of Seattle’s most popular tourist destinations. With its spacious enclosures designed to replicate their animals’ natural environment, there’s a superb selection of exhibits, including two gorillas, an African Savannah, a tropical rainforest and an Asian elephant forest. Alternatively, discover the amazing array of sealife at Seattle Aquarium, home to the impressive giant fish-filled tank, ‘Window on Washington Waters’. Experience hilarious river and sea otters as they float on their backs or interact with hands-on exhibits where you can stroke starfish and sea urchins.