Pike Place Farmers Market & Seafood Market, Seattle; (c) Soul Of America
Seattle General Attractions
Seattle Center
DESCRIPTION: More than an iconic holdover from the 1962 Seattle Worlds Fair, this 74-acre urban park is home to the landmark Space Needle, Pacific Science Center, Experience Music Project, Science Fiction Museum & Hall of Fame, Seattle Opera, Pacific Northwest Ballet, Seattle Repertory Theatre, Intiman Theatre, Seattle Children’s Theatre, Seattle Children’s Museum and other attractions. The center also hosts two large art festivals, International Children’s Festival, the Bite of Seattle. From downtown at the Westlake Center at Fifth Avenue and Pine Street, take the Seattle Center Monorail from Westlake Station or take a five-minute taxi ride. Sports fans also revel during games seen at a mega-sports bar & grill across the street.
ADMISSION: free, but specific attractions require a fee
DAYS & HOURS: daily, attraction hours vary
ADDRESS: 305 Harrison Street, Seattle, WA; MAP
PARKING: Mercer Garage at Third Avenue N. & Roy Street, 1st Avenue North Garage between John and Thomas Street, 5th Ave N Garage at Fifth Avenue N.
PHONE: 206-441-7200
WEBSITE: http://www.seattlecenter.com
Space Needle
DESCRIPTION: Make this 605 foot iconic tower your first destination in Seattle; anticipation begins on the ground as floor-to-ceiling-window elevators rise to the Observation Deck in a scant 41 seconds. At 520 feet above the city, O Deck gives a commanding 360º view of man-made and natural wonders in the Puget Sound region. See a panorama of snow-capped Mount Rainier and Seattle’s great skyline to the south, Cascade Mountains to the east, and majestic Olympic Mountains to the west. Watch bi-planes take-off and gently land on Lake Union. Washington State Ferries, cruise ships and cargo ships look like moving toys on a game board. Powerful complimentary Swarovski Telescopes bring distant objects into sharp focus. You can enjoy the excellent seafood menu in the revolving Sky City Restaurant — reservations are recommended. On the way down, you’ll travel at the gentle speed of a parachutist, another pleasant sensation. This attraction includes a substantial gift shop and SkyCity Restaurant with a view.
ADMISSION: Ages 14-64 $18, Ages 65+ and Miltary $16, Ages 4-13 $11, Age 3 & under enter Free
DAYS & HOURS: Observation Deck & Retail Store Mon–Thu 10a–11p, Fri & Sat 9:30a–11:30p, Sun 9:30a–11p
ADDRESS: 400 Broad Street, Seattle Center, Seattle, WA; MAP
PARKING: Mercer Garage at Third Avenue N. & Roy Street, 1st Avenue North Garage at between John and Thomas Street, 5th Ave N Garage at Fifth Avenue N. &Republican Street
PHONE: 206-905-2100 or 800-937-9582
WEBSITE: https://www.spaceneedle.com
Westlake Center
DESCRIPTION: A popular shopping, entertainment and people watching place in the heart of downtown, this four-story retail pavilion offers a mix of national retailers, a unique selection of the fine regional merchandise, good dining options and a monorail station that leads to Seattle Center. Dilettante Mocha Cafe, Bronco BBQ and P.F. Chang’s China Bistro are at street level, while Cajun Bar & Grill and the Food Court are on the Third Level.
ADMISSION: Free
DAYS & HOURS: Mon-Thu 10a-8p, Fri-Sat 10a-9p, Sun 11a-6p
ADDRESS: 400 Pine Street at Fifth Avenue, Seattle, WA; MAP
PARKING: located between 4th & 5th Streets on Olive Way
PHONE: 206-467-1600
WEBSITE: https://www.westlakecenter.com
Pike Place Market
DESCRIPTION: One of the oldest farmer’s markets in the U.S, Pike Place presides over a 9-acre historic district in downtown; features fresh fish and produce stands, arts and crafts, ethnic groceries and gift stores, vintage clothing, antiques and collectibles, and international restaurants; paid street musicians entertain at designated sections of the market.
ADMISSION: free
DAYS & HOURS: daily 10a-6p Mon-Sat 11a-5p Sun
ADDRESS: bound by First Ave, Western Ave, Union Street and Stewart Street, Seattle, WA; visitor information booth at 1st & Pike Street MAP
PARKING: Public Market Garage at 1531 Western Avenue; Free parking after 5p with restaurant dining validation
PHONE: 206-682-7453
WEBSITE: https://www.pioneersquare.org
Seattle Cinerama
DESCRIPTION: Opened in 1963, this landmark movie theater that is one of only three movie theaters in the world capable of showing three-panel, curved Cinerama films, that means it uses three film projectors simultaneously to present Cinerame movies. It blows away IMAX projection. But, the economics of Cinerama film succumbed to regular widescreen and 70MM widescreen movies, the only types Hollywood released from 1954 onwards. The late Paul Allen of Microsoft purchased the movie palace, renovated it and reopened it as 808 seats in 1999. Since then, it plays classic 70MM films and occasionally, Cinerama films like 2001: A Space Odyssey. It received another renovation in 2010 to support 3D Digital movies.
DAYS & HOURS: daily
ADDRESS: 2100 4th Avenue, Seattle, WA; MAP
PARKING: metered parking and lots nearby
PHONE: 206-441-3653
WEBSITE: https://www.cinerama.com
Pioneer Square
DESCRIPTION: Seattle’s historic district on the southern fringe of the downtown was rescued from the wrecking ball in the 1960s. It features 20 square blocks of Victorian Romanesque architecture, museums, the city’s highest concentration of art galleries, many restaurants and nightclubs. The Underground Tour offers a look at the remnants of the old town below street level. The Klondike Gold Rush National Historic Park interprets Seattle’s role critical role in the gold rush. Antique-hunters, gallery-walkers and bar-hoppers keep the district bustling day and night.
ADMISSION: free
DAYS & HOURS: daily
ADDRESS: Bounded by King Street, Alaskan way, 4th Avenue, Yesler Way, Seattle, WA; MAP
PARKING: metered parking on streets
PHONE: Bohemian Cafe (Reggae/African, 206-447-1514), New Orleans Creole Restaurant (Ragtime/Jazz/R&B, 206-622-2563), Central (R&B/Jazz/Reggae, 206-622-0209), Larry’s Greenfront Cafe (Blues, 206-624-7665), Old Timers Cafe (Jazz/Blues, 206-623-9800)
WEBSITE: http://www.pioneersquare.org
Museum of Flight
DESCRIPTION: From the Wright brothers to outer space, the wonder of flight comes alive at one of the world’s largest air and space museums. That is not surprising given the large presence of Boeing in the region. It features 85 historic aircraft on display, interactive exhibits and activities for the whole family. The venue includes a retired Concorde jetliner by British Airways and 28 restored World War I and II fighter aircraft.
ADMISSION: Age 18-64 $15, Age 65+ $13, Military $11, Age 5-17 $8, Age 4 and under enter Free
DAYS & HOURS: daily 10a-5p, first Thursday of the month till 9p
ADDRESS: 9404 East Marginal Way South at Boeing Field, Seattle, WA; MAP
PARKING: Free adjacent to the Museum and Airpark
PHONE: 206-764-5720
WEBSITE: https://www.museumofflight.org
Museum of History & Industry
DESCRIPTION: An offshoot of the older Seattle Historical Society, the museum opened in 1952, MOHAI is dedicated to enriching lives by preserving, sharing and teaching the diverse cultural, social and economic history of Seattle, Puget Sound and the Pacific Northwest. The engaging exhibits and programs including “Essential Seattle” a core exhibit of a city revealed, the future imagined.
ADMISSION: Ages 18-61 $8, Ages 62+, Student and Military with current ID $7, Ages 5-17 $6, Ages 4 & under Free, First Thursdays of the month are Free
DAYS & HOURS: daily 10a-5p, First Thursdays 10a-8p
ADDRESS: 2700 24th Ave East, McCurdy Park, Seattle, WA; MAP
PARKING: Free on premises
PHONE: 206-324-1126
WEBSITE: https://mohai.org
Chinatown-International District
DESCRIPTION: Spans 44-blocks south of downtown, bound by Yesler Way and Dearborn Street on the north and south, and Interstate-5 and Fourth Avenue on the east and west. Sizable populations of Chinese, Japanese, Filipino, Korean, Vietnamese, Samoan, Laotian, Native Hawaiian and other groups coexist in the Chinatown-International District. Chinatown Discovery Tour offers a guided walk through the district. Also visit the Wing Luke Asian Museum at Seventh Avenue and South Jackson Street and Uwajimaya, one of the largest Asian grocery and gift stores in the U.S. at Sixth & Weller.
ADMISSION: free
DAYS & HOURS: daily
ADDRESS: visitor center 409 Maynard Street, Seattle, WA; MAP
PARKING: Paid parking is available on the street and nearby lots
PHONE: 206-382-1197
WEBSITE: http://cidbia.org
Chittenden Locks
DESCRIPTION: Often called the Ballard Locks, they lie at the western end of the Lake Washington Ship Canal. They were constructed to raise and lower ships 6 and 26 feet, depending on the tides. The locks allow ships to pass between fresh water (Lakes Union and Washington) and salt water (Puget Sound). See the fish ladder for salmon and other fish and a botanical garden.
ADMISSION: Free
DAYS & HOURS: visitor center Thu-Mon 10a-4p, October-April, locks open daily 10a-6p May-Sept
ADDRESS: 3015 NW 54th Street, Seattle, WA; MAP
PARKING: Free on premises
PHONE: 206-783-7059
WEBSITE: https://www.nws.usace.army.mil/Missions/Civil-Works/Locks-and-Dams/Chittenden-Locks/
