Visitors to Seattle could comfortably occupy themselves for several weeks without any sign of boredom, but first-timers may want to start with some of city’s most-visit attractions.
The summit of the Space Needle (Photo: mat79 via Flickr / CC BY 2.0)
Surrounded by water, mountains, evergreen forests and acres of parkland, this fascinating city on Puget Sound in the Pacific Northwest is both a buzzing metropolis and a nature lover’s paradise. It’s a combination that attracts huge numbers of visitors every year who come here to take in the rich music and cultural scenes and the many opportunities to get out on the water. If you’re a newcomer to Seattle, there are some obvious places to begin when it comes to compiling a bucket list. Here’s our starter for 10.
Space Needle
Seattle is a feast for the eyes from any vantage point, but perhaps nowhere more so than up high. One of the city’s most recognisable landmarks, the Space Needle affords sensational panoramic views from the Observation Deck’s of floor-to-ceiling windows across the skyline and towards the imposing mountains that surround Seattle. At the summit, visitors can also test their mettle by stepping onto the world’s first rotating glass floor, as well as make use of state-of-the-art interactive technology to explore the history of the eye-catching structure and of the city as a whole.
Pike Place Market
Fresh produce on display at Pike Place Market (Photo: simone.brunozzi via Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0)
There are few better ways of getting to know a place than by taking in the inimitable sights, sounds and aromas of a local market. America’s oldest continuously operating farmers market, Pike Place Market draws millions of visitors each year who come to peruse and purchase farm-fresh fruit and veg, just-off-the-boat fish, locally sourced meats, kaleidoscopic bouquets and plenty more, all set against the melodic sounds of street buskers. There are also several restaurants and bars in the area for where you can dine or drink something enticing as you watch and hear the distinctive hubbub of the market.
Seattle Art Museum
Arts fans visiting Seattle are in for a real treat, with the city home to several prestigious arts institutions. Arguably the jewel in the crown is the acclaimed Seattle Art Museum, which actually spans three venues across the city, with the main museum located Downtown, where it boasts an extensive collection of over 25,000 works of art from across the globe, dating from antiquity to the present day. Both permanent and temporary exhibitions serve to represent a diversity of cultures and historical perspectives. The museum also has a well-stocked souvenir store and an on-site restaurant.
Seattle Great Wheel
The Seattle Great Wheel set against the waters of Elliott Bay (Photo: Rachel Samanyi via Flickr / CC BY 2.0)
After its installation back in 2012, this 175-foot Ferris Wheel became, along with the Space Needle, an icon of the city. Situated at the end of a pier in Elliott Bay on Seattle’s vibrant waterfront, the amusement ride provides sublime views from its 43 climate-controlled gondolas complete with glass floors for maximum viewing excitement. The attraction is open until 10pm or 11pm daily, with dusk a particularly popular time to take a ride, as the setting sun casts a golden glow over the city. All visitors also receive a complimentary glass of champagne at a waterfront restaurant once back on firm ground.
Starbucks Reserve Roastery
It says something about the impact Starbucks coffee house has had on our culture that its first-ever outlet, here in Seattle, is a tourist attraction in its own right. But while a visit to the inaugural Starbucks resonates with many, true coffee aficionados may favour a trip to the Starbucks Reserve Roastery. Located just nine blocks from the original Starbucks Pike Place store, the roastery is a veritable playground for coffee lovers, offering an immersive experience in how Starbucks sources, roasts, and crafts their beverages. Highlights include a library with more than 200 coffee-themed titles, the chance to learn about the entire roasting process and different brewing methods, and displays about the unique origin stories of coffee.
Seattle Aquarium
Marine life at Seattle Aquarium (Photo: Sid via Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0)
There are few more sure-fire winning suggestions with kids than the offer of a trip to an aquarium. Situated on the city’s downtown waterfront, Seattle Aquarium invites visitors to explore the wonders of the underwater world through a huge assortment of marine life on display. There’s the chance to get up close and personal with many of the creatures on display, as well as immersive experiences including a trip to the tropics at the Pacific Coral Reef habitat, plus daily diver shows and animal feedings. The attraction also places a keen focus on education, with visitors encouraged to engage, interact and learn about what we can all to do to protect our oceans.
Pacific Science Center
Another popular family attraction, the Pacific Science Center is jam-packed full of interactive exhibits and displays designed to spark children’s curiosity in all thing scientific. Built for the 1962 Seattle World’s Fair, the venue attracts nearly 1 million visitors each year who come to explore its diverse displays spanning a range of topics and themes. There’s a Butterfly House containing hundreds of butterflies in their tropical habitat, a Planetarium where guests can explore space through live, immersive presentations, a Makerspace for little ones to get their design hats on, and a Salt Water Tide Pool featuring a dazzling array of marine life, all designed to fuel a passion for discovery.
Museum of Pop Culture
A hotch-potch of guitars on display at the Museum of Pop Culture (Photo: Francisco Antunes via Flickr / CC BY 2.0)
From legendary rock bands to cult Horror and SciFi movies to classic video games, the Museum of Pop Culture takes visitors on an evocative journey through some of the most cherished and enduringly popular cultural creations of the 20th century. Housed within an eye-catching Frank Gehry-designed building next to the Space Needle, the museum features an extensive collection of artifacts that tell the story of some of pop cultures most important figures and milestone moments. Among the most notable are guitars belonging to the late, great Jimi Hendrix, items gleaned from the early Seattle grunge scene, and costumes from screen and stage.
Washington State Ferries
With miles of coastline, lakes, rivers and the many islands of Puget Sound in its vicinity, exploring the pristine waters off of Seattle can be a captivating experience. And there is no more quintessential mode of travel for doing just this than a Washington State Ferry. These modern and comfortable vessels run a range of sightseeing and wildlife-spotting adventures, during which passengers can gaze at snowcapped mountains and sculpted shorelines, as well as keep their eye out for whales, seabirds and other local creatures. Trips of varying lengths are available.
Central Public Library
The eye-catching architecture of the Central Public Library (Photo: Ming-yen Hsu via Flickr / CC BY-ND 2.0)
A library may not strike you as an obvious tourist attraction, but dotted around the world are a handful that buck the trend and fall firmly into that category. One such exception to the rule is Seattle’s Central Public Library, whose stunning architectural frame juts outs of the downtown skyline. Designed by Pritzker Prize-winning Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas, the 11-storey glass-and-steel edifice draws admiring glances from all who pass it, while those who venture inside its vast confines will discover an innovative “Books Spiral,” a 275-seat auditorium, and around one and a half million books and other materials spanning every subject under the sun.