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Steep
hills. Lush greenery. Glimpses of sparkling water everywhere --
Puget Sound, bays, lakes, rivers, canals. And snow-capped Mount
Rainier in the distance suddenly emerging from its mantle of clouds.
A visitor soon learns why Seattle is known as "The Emerald
City."
Seattle is the largest city in
Washington State, and is divided into different areas and
districts. Browse through the Downtown, Bellevue, Kirkland,
and University districts.
Seattle is the gateway for many tour
groups into Washington State. The airport that serves Seattle
is SeaTac International Airport.
10
Things You MUST See & Do in Seattle...
Courtesy of the Seattle Convention & Visitors Bureau
The Space Needle
Seattle Center, 400 Broad St.; 206.905.2100;
www.spaceneedle.com
A 41-second elevator ride
takes you up 520 feet to the observation deck of the Space Needle,
built for the 1962 World's Fair. Enjoy a meal at SkyCity, the
restaurant at the top that revolves 360° while you dine.
Pike Place Market
Between First Ave. and Western, from Pike to Virginia streets
www.pikeplacemarket.org
Born in 1907, Seattle's Pike
Place Market is the granddaddy of farmers' markets. Today, it's a
major tourist attraction with 200 businesses operating year-round,
190 craftspeople and 120 farmer booths - plus street performers and
musicians. Flowers by the bucketful, flying fish, fresh pastries and
fruit, handmade cheeses, local honey, wine, an assortment of
restaurants, import goods, antiques, collectibles and lots of
surprises are around every corner.
Ferries
www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries
Traveling by ferry is a state
of mind as much as a means of transportation to some of the Puget
Sound's most historic and scenic sites. Views of the Olympic and
Cascade mountains, the Seattle cityscape and the green shorelines
will draw you out onto the deck to feel the salt breeze on your
face. The state ferry system takes passengers and their vehicles
from Seattle and nearby departure points to Vashon Island, the
Kitsap Peninsula, the San Juan Islands and Canada. For privately
operated ferries, see the Sightseeing & Tours (page 35) and Visitors
Services/Travel & Transportation (page 120) listings in this guide.
Seattle Aquarium
Pier 59
206.386.4300
www.seattleaquarium.org
Meet Alki, the sea otter pup
born at the Aquarium. Walk under the water in a glass dome as
bluntnose sixgill sharks and other Elliott Bay creatures swim all
around you. Touch a sea anemone. Learn about the lives of salmon at
the world's first aquarium-based salmon ladder. Marvel at the
impossibly bright-colored coral reef fish. And don't forget to wave
to the giant Pacific octopus.
The Seattle Waterfront
Piers 52 to 70 on Alaskan Way
ci.seattle.wa.us/tour/water.htm
A bustling collection of attractions, restaurants and shopping, as
well as starting points for ferries, cruise ships, the Victoria
Clipper and Argosy boat tours are located here. Feed the seagulls at
the statue of Ivar Haglund in front of Ivar's Acres of Clams, stroll
by the fountains on the wooden piers of Waterfront Park, admire the
view or shop for souvenirs.
Woodland Park Zoo
South Gate: 750 N. 50th St
206.684.4800
www.zoo.org
See more than 1,000 animals
of 300 different species, from elephants and gorillas to piranhas
and penguins, in naturalistic exhibits at the Woodland Park Zoo.
Drop by at scheduled feeding times and talk with the people who care
for the animals.
Bill Speidel's Underground Tour
608 First Ave.
206.682.4646
www.undergroundtour.com
After the Great Seattle Fire
of 1889, the city was rebuilt over the top of the ruins. This guided
tour takes visitors through the hidden subterranean passages that
once were the main roadways and storefronts of old downtown Seattle
and tells stories of the frontier people who lived and worked there.
The Seattle Public Library
1000 Fourth Ave.
206.386.4636
www.spl.org
Designed by world-renowned
Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas, the award-winning glass and steel
structure of the new Central Library makes the building seem a
little off-kilter and translucent - allowing passersby on the street
to look in.
Tillicum Village
Blake Island
206.933.8600
www.tillicumvillage.com
A short, narrated cruise
takes you to an island village, where you'll feast on salmon cooked
in the authentic Native American way. A stage show of traditional
dances and stories entertains and teaches you about the people who
lived in the Northwest first.
Ride the Ducks of Seattle
516 Broad St, Seattle
206.441.DUCK (3825)
www.ridetheducksofseattle.com
Tour Seattle by land and
water on a WWII amphibious landing craft. This 90-minute adventure
tour will have you "quacking up" through the streets of Seattle.
You'll see the major sights of the Emerald City on land before you
head out to the funky Fremont neighborhood where you'll splash into
Lake Union.
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