I took this picture from Alki Beach which is directly across from Puget Sound and is a great view of the Space Needle. The Space Needle was originally built for the 1962 World’s Fair and has remained the icon of Seattle. Dinner is served at the top of it and the restaurant revolves. Not interested in dinner but would like to see the view from the top? An elevator takes you up there, but it’s pricey now-a-days, depending on the time of day, ranging from $28-40 dollars. There are parking lots nearby, but if an event is going on, the parking rates go up.
Below the Space Needle is the famous Chihuly Garden and Glass Museum. It’s colorful and the artist did wonderful work. Well worth it. Various tickets for entry. You can get a combo ticket for it and the Space Needle together. The Science Center is on the grounds of the Space Needle and is a great place to entertain the children with hands-on exhibits.
To get around Seattle, there are various ways of transportation from bus, train, trolley, or tram. The Pike Place Market is located in downtown Seattle. Venders sell fresh fruit, vegetables, fish, pastries, and flowers. Many out-of-towners enjoy watching the fish venders toss salmon. The floor below has different shops including a candy store. At the far end of the top floor, you will find artists selling their wares and a small park. If you walk down the stairs, you’ll come to the waterfront and the parking garage.
At the Waterfront, you’ll find various piers with different activities including a Ferris wheel. A new attraction this year is the Mining Company that has a robotic sasquatch. The Seattle Aquarium is located at 1483 Alaskan Way Pier 59. It was recently remodeled and included a small park over the water. There are many harbor cruises available through Argosy Tours and prices vary. An hour tour around the harbor at Pier 65 runs $43 a person. A two-hour tour through the Ballard Locks on Pier 54 runs $56. The San Juan Islands across the Sound is another tour. Sometimes you can see a few whales. In Port Townsend there is a haunted mansion that you can stay overnight. A bar inside it makes the best chocolate martinis.
In North Seattle is the Woodland Park Zoo off 50th and Phinney. It’s huge and a lot of walking. Many of the animals are outside and not caged. You can feed the giraffes for a fee. A new exhibit for forest animals like the red panda is coming soon. Buses come directly to the zoo. If you drive, expect to pay for parking as well as admission. Another zoo is the Pt. Defiance and Aquarium. It doesn’t have as many animals as Woodland Park and it’s out farther heading south. The aquarium is a must to see though. You will find seals, walruses, jellyfish, and sharks. No charge for parking. There is also a large park with it and leads down to the beach.
The best times to visit Seattle is during the summer or the spring. Weather is better during these times. Seattle has mild winters and usually rains with little snowfall. Many street fairs happen during the summer months, especially celebrating Seafair and ends with the hydroplane races on Lake Washington in August. The Torchlight parade happens usually a day before the races. The children love the Seafair Pirates.
Another place visitors find appealing is the Snoqualmie Falls. They are about an hour’s drive from Seattle heading east. The power in the falls is amazing to watch. There are walking trails around it too. It’s free.
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