Seattle, residing on Puget Sound in the Pacific Northwest, is surrounded by water, mountains and evergreen forests, and encompasses thousands of acres of parkland. Not only is Seattle is known for its technology industry since Microsoft and Amazon.com are headquartered in its metropolitan area, it is also the home of various tourist attractions that cannot be found elsewhere.
Conveniently located on Pier 59, adjacent to restaurants and the harbor cruise, the Seattle Aquarium is the 7th most-visited aquarium in the United States. It features more than 380 species of birds, fish, invertebrates and marine mammals. The tanks have anemones, sea cucumbers, and other interesting animals that visitors can touch and interact with. Beyond that they have nice simulated coastal zones with different local wildlife as well as otter, seal, seabird and other aquatic tanks. What the Seattle Aquarium lacks in size, it makes up for in several interesting hands on displays and staff that take the time to educate and entertain children and adults.
Watch out for: Great gift shop and nice cafeteria with spectacular scones
Covering 93 hectares, the arboretum consists of 5,500 different plants from around the world. While any time of year is a good time to visit, spring and fall are certainly remarkable for the color and grandeur on display from the myriad plantings and native species. The grounds and various trails are beautifully maintained and organized. There are multiple kinds of birds, including owls and their ingenious ability to stand and hide.
Watch out for: Make sure to check out the Japanese gardens with running streams occupied with big kois.
Located in close proximity to the Space Needle, the center offers tons of educational experiences that enthrall young and old. This place is super fun for families with a little bit of something for everyone. Membership includes feature film IMAX discounts and numerous free movie experiences and for that alone the membership is worth it. The staff is knowledgeable and the programs related to geology of the Pacific NW are interactive and informative. The place is spread out over several buildings, so it is wise for visitors to wear comfortable walking shoes and get a map of the layout.
No visit to Seattle is complete without a visit to the Space Needle. The Space Needle is a beautiful piece architecture and very evocative of its time. The Observation Deck provides a 369-degree view of Seattle and surrounding areas. Plus, the ticket office is organised, so is the queuing. The lift up to the top is executed greatly. There is a snack bar, free high-powered viewers, and an interactive wall where visitors may add themselves as parts of the millions of visitors to the Needle.
Watch out for: Cameras are set up at four locations outside to take “selfies” of visitors
Pike Place MarketVisitors can stroll through the fish market, and enjoy the many beautiful and reasonably priced flowers. There are also many shops and artsy vendors. The variety of booths is bigger than ever with artisan goods as well as more commercial items along with fresh fruit, vegetables, beautiful flowers and of course seafood. Off the bottom level of the Market is the Gum Wall, which may cause mixed feelings from everyone. Moreover, there is a very wide selection of eateries to choose from.
Watch out for: The shopping district is not too far from this area.
Chihuly Garden and GlassThe experience includes a theater with 5-minute videos about Dale Chihuly, his artistic progression over the years, his techniques, and projects he has completed around the world. There are many indoor displays including a Glass Forest, Sealife Room, Persian Ceiling, Ikebana and Float Boat, Chandeliers, and Forest. The outdoor garden is stunning in the choice of plants, both flowering and green. The creations by Cihuly are truly mind-boggling and range from enormous inside creations to smaller installations in gardens. The celing glass is just as gorgeous.
Watch out for: The gift shop has many items for sale including some very pricey small pieces of his art.
The Olympic Sculpture Park spans over the railroad tracks, and connects a pedestrian as well as biking trail. It is an amazing place for a walk with water view and some innovative art and sculptures. Furthermore, this park is not very crowded so it is one of the calm places to sit and relax with a fantastic waterfront view and fresh air. The installations are all very modern and set amongst beautifully landscaped paths. The variety of sculptures is impressive and the landscaping is getting more mature, which really adds another dimension.
5th Avenue Theater is a restored beautiful historical theatre decorated with spectacular and intricate Chinese carvings throughout. This non-profit theater puts on new and touring shows as well as revivals. They also mount new shows, which often make it to Broadway. The place recruits great actors, actresses and all the geniuses who make the best musical productions, All of whom come together to fine tune their newest hit before hitting Broadway. Another bonus is that it is located right in the center of the city, so restaurants are all walking distance.
There are benches to sit on and watch the large Koi swimming or the Blue Heron striking a majestic pose. The garden is always changing through out the year so different plants depending on the seasons should be expected. There are many grassy areas, which are perfect for a picnic. This is truly a gem of a Japanese garden that is really quite large with lots of “secret” walks and paths, a rambling creek with small waterfalls and lovely rhodendendrums. Kubota Garden is a great place for photos, lovers, even wedding photos.
Watch out for: Bring cameras for the heavenly scenery.
Smack in the middle of downtown, this building cannot be missed. It exudes modern architecture, providing natural sunlight to the interior and giving it an eccentric look. The focus on sustainability is also remarkable with glass walls and ceilings bring urban Seattle right into the library–the outdoors becomes the decor. Moreover, the floors are clearly labeled. This library also has a rich catalog with lots of books for all ages.
Watch out for: Ongoing special library events are available online.
