Tours & Attractions - Area Overview
The Emerald City is a glimmering jewel surrounded by water, and these waterways make up a good part of Seattle’s appeal and character. It is the core city of the Pacific Northwest, midway between Portland, Oregon, to the south and Vancouver, British Columbia, to the north. To the east lies Puget Sound, which connects with the Pacific Ocean about 150 miles north of Seattle. As the Sound reaches Seattle, it feeds into Elliott Bay, on which downtown Seattle sits. On the east side of the city is massive Lake Washington, a glacial lake that is the second largest in the state. Meandering within the city are Lake Union, Green Lake, and the Chittenden Locks, a network of working canals. All told, the city has more than 190 miles of waterfront. Life evolved in Seattle around the water, and its early fishing and seafaring communities existed because of it. Today, Seattleites love the water as much as ever and sports such as sailing, kayaking, fishing, and water-skiing are extremely popular.
Tours & Attractions - Attractions
A lot of the major “must-see” sights of Seattle are concentrated within small geographical areas—a boon for tourists. For example, you will visit Pike Place Market, of course; in and of itself, this nine-acre open-air market—the oldest continuously operating farmers’ market in the country—provides a half or whole day’s worth of entertainment in its 250-plus stalls of food vendors and craftspeople. The market sits right on Elliott Bay, and from its water-facing side at Pier 62 you can access the scenic waterfront and the parks, ferries, dockside restaurants, and attractions, such as the Seattle Aquarium, that dot the shoreline.
When you come to Pier 50, you are at Pioneer Square, Seattle’s most historic neighborhood and site of the original town. The six blocks that make up Pioneer Square are filled with gorgeous turn-of-the-twentieth-century buildings that are home to museums, galleries, nightspots, and fun tourist attractions like the Underground Tour. Just a few steps east from Pike Place Market is the commercial heart of Seattle, with its huge assortment of department stores, specialty shops, restaurants, and theaters. Walk 3 blocks north of the market and you’ve arrived in Belltown, a hip neighborhood of art galleries, trendy boutiques, and cocktail lounges.
About 5 blocks farther north past Belltown is Seattle Center, an area prized by locals and home to the iconic Space Needle. Seattle Center is 74 acres of public spaces, museums, theaters, shops, restaurants, fountains, green areas, and even an amusement park. This was the site of the 1962 World’s Fair, and its pavilions and exhibition halls were turned into a cultural center where dozens of community events are found each week. From festivals and celebrations to live concerts and movie nights, much of the entertainment at Seattle Center is free or low-cost. It’s easy to get to from the center of downtown via the monorail; in fact, all of these sections of Central Seattle are easily accessible via the terrific public bus system, and it’s all located within the Ride Free Area, meaning you don’t have to pay a fare to get around.
Tours & Attractions - Kidstuff
Seattle is a great place for a family vacation. The entire Pacific Northwest serves as your backyard, offering an endless range of options for outdoor fun such as hiking, kayaking, fishing, or simply exploring. It’s incredibly easy to scale any outdoor recreational activity for children of all ages, and people of any physical or ability level.
So many of the general attractions for adults in Seattle are also extremely interesting and enjoyable to children as well. Following are a few of the attractions mentioned in the other sections of this book (because they are not specifically targeted to kids and families) that are must-see sights for your family vacation.
Tours & Attractions - Day Trips And Weekend Getaways
If you have more than a few days in Seattle, there are a lot of great destinations that are nearby and easy to get to. Whether your interest is the mountains, islands, or valleys of the Pacific Northwest, or you want to check out the state’s fabulous wine regions, this chapter will give you a great overview. A number of cruise ships leave from Seattle’s ports, and there are also a large number of casino and spa resorts to choose from if that’s your thing. You may even want to take advantage of Seattle’s location, so close to the Canadian border, to cross over into beautiful British Columbia. This chapter highlights destinations within about a three-hour drive from Seattle, with recommendations for overnight stays and must-see attractions.
1. Fun Forest Amusement Park
City: Seattle, WA
Category: Tours & Attractions
Description: A large video arcade can be found at this Seattle Center amusement park.
2. Frye Art Museum
City: Seattle, WA
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (206) 622-9250
Address: 704 Terry Ave. (Central)
Description: The area’s only art museum that is completely free all the time, the Frye showcases a collection of late 19th- and early 20th-century European and American art. The Frye also hosts rotating notable exhibits by both emerging and internationally renowned artists. The museum is closed on Mon; public guided tours are available Wed through Sun at 1 p.m. Free parking is available in the parking lot across the street from the entrance on Terry Avenue.
City: Seattle, WA
Category: Tours & Attractions
Address: 1300 1st Ave. (Central)
4. Seattle Asian Art Museum
City: Seattle, WA
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (206) 654-3100
Address: 1400 E. Prospect St. (Central)
Description: Home of the original Seattle Art Museum, this gorgeous art deco building in Volunteer Park was designed by architect Carl F. Gould. When the SAM moved downtown, the Seattle Asian Art Museum opened in its former location in 1994, to showcase the museum’s Asian art collection. The museum is closed Mon and Tues. Admission is free all day on the first Thurs of every month, and from 5 to 9 p.m. on the second Thurs of each month as part of the Blitz Capitol Hill art walk. First Fri are free to seniors 62 and over, and first Sat are free for families, courtesy of Target. Members and children 12 and under are always free.
City: Seattle, WA
Category: Tours & Attractions
Address: 201 Yesler Way (Central)
City: Seattle, WA
Category: Tours & Attractions
Address: 400 Broad St. (Central)
City: Seattle, WA
Category: Tours & Attractions
Address: 506 2nd Ave. (Central)
8. Burke Museum Of Natural History And Culture
City: Seattle, WA
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (206) 543-5590
Description: The Burke Museum is associated with UW and located on campus, showcasing Washington state’s collection of cultural and natural wonders of the Northwest and the Pacific Rim. Its mission is to create a better understanding of the world and our place in it, and the museum shares that knowledge through its extensive changing exhibits of recent natural discoveries, historic artifacts and archives, and contemporary cultural arts. Long-term exhibits include “Life and Times of Washington State,” over 500 million years of regional geological history, and “Pacific Voices,” representing 17 native cultures. Don’t miss a stroll through the Erna Gunther Ethnobotanical Garden. Free admission on the first Thurs of each month.
9. Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park
City: Seattle, WA
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (206) 220-4240
Address: 319 2nd Ave. (Central)
Description: This park is run by the National Park Service, with sites in Canada and Alaska, and a Seattle unit located in Pioneer Square. The museum offers a glimpse into the stories of adventure and hardship during the exciting, adventurous Klondike gold rush of 1897–98. Seattle played an important part in this historical event, as the place of origin for many stampeders headed to Alaska for their riches in gold. In addition to historic exhibits from this time, there are also gold panning demonstrations, video presentations, and a Pioneer Historic District walking tour. The museum is open every day, although hours may be limited in winter months. All programs are free to the public.
10. Museum Of History And Industry
City: Seattle, WA
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (206) 324-1126
Address: 2700 24th Ave. East (Central)
Description: The MOHAI is a dynamic and innovative center for historical exploration, and is the largest private heritage organization in the state. Its collection includes nearly 4 million artifacts from the Pacific Northwest, including archives and photographs. The main exhibit, “Essential Seattle,” takes visitors on a journey through the city’s 150-year history, with transformation from wilderness to pioneer town, through technology and grunge music. An exciting schedule of rotating exhibits rounds out the collection, including regular photographic histories of the city. Open daily, with extended hours on Thurs, and the first Thurs of every month is free of charge.
11. Nordic Heritage Museum
City: Seattle, WA
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (206) 789-5707
Address: 3014 NW 67th St. (North)
Description: Since its founding in 1980 in Ballard, the heart of Seattle’s Scandinavian settlement, the Nordic Heritage Museum has provided a place where the history of these countries, and their impact on Seattle, comes alive. The collection includes art, cultural objects, dioramas, folk costumes, textiles, tools, furniture, and a music library. You can trace the voyage and life of Nordic immigrants as they made their way to the Pacific Northwest and settled here. There is also a focus on the logging and fishing industries, a mainstay of Seattle’s growth and prosperity in which Scandinavians played a major role. It is the only museum in the United States that honors the legacy of immigrants from Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden. Open Tues through Sun.
12. Northwest African American Museum
City: Seattle, WA
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (206) 518-6000
Address: 2300 S. Massachusetts St.
Description: The NAAM is a vibrant community gathering place and museum that documents the unique historical and cultural experiences of African Americans in the Pacific Northwest. At the heart of the experience is the story of African immigrants’ journey to the region and the many ways in which they survived. The museum’s exhibits feature visual arts, crafts, music, literature, and history. Many revolving exhibits are also featured, such as those highlighting the more recent waves of East African newcomers to Seattle, particularly from Ethiopia and Sudan. The Legacy Gallery hosts myriad performances, events, and lectures on an ongoing basis. NAAM is closed Mon and Tues.
City: Seattle, WA
Category: Tours & Attractions
Address: 719 S. King St. (Central)
City: Seattle, WA
Category: Tours & Attractions
Address: 9404 E. Marginal Way South (South)
City: Seattle, WA
Category: Tours & Attractions
Address: 200 2nd Ave. North (Central)