Visiting a new city is always exciting. Especially in a city like Seattle, there are hundreds of things to see and do, sometimes making trip planning a little overwhelming. Here, we’ll look at the top five things to do in Seattle. There’s something on the list for everyone.
- The Space Needle
Built for the 1962 World’s Fair, the Space Needle stands sentinel over Seattle Center at 605 feet tall. The top provides an amazing view of the city, and the center itself offers tourists plenty to see and do, featuring theatres, a science center, and a food court. Often a stop on Seattle walking tours and Seattle bus tours, it can also be accessed from the Seattle Center Monorail which departs from Westlake Center, downtown. A visit to the Space Needle has earned a spot as the most popular thing to do in Seattle.
- Pike Place Market
The market is almost as well known as the Space Needle, and has been featured on countless television programs and movies. Since 1907, Pike Place has been home to the year round farmers market where vegetables, seafood, cheese, and other interests are available from local vendors. The fish stall, located near the main entrance is perhaps the most famous, mainly because of the habit vendors have of tossing fish to one another and making jokes for the amusement of passersby. Below the main area of the market, visitors can visit a variety of small shops including the original Starbucks.
- Olympic Sculpture Park
Seattle Art Museum’s Olympic Sculpture Park is one thing to do in Seattle that draws fewer crowds than it deserves, especially given that it’s free. A walk through the park reveals gorgeous sculpture and breathtaking views of the city, the harbor, and the mountains. Open year round, the park spreads across nine acres and features such remarkable artwork as “Eagle,” six tons of painted red steel configured to look like a soaring bird, crafted by Alexander Calder. The sculpture park meets up with Myrtle Edwards Park, where another path leads visitors along the gorgeous waterfront.
- Center for Wooden Boats
Another free thing to do in Seattle is less well known, but no less fantasic. The Center for Wooden Boats displays over a hundred historic boats, and provides rental boats. The real draw, however, are the free vintage boat rides given on Sundays. Paddleboats, sailboats, rowboats, steamboats, electric boats,and power boats all depart from the dock. Early July brings the annual Wooden Boat Festival, where the center features miniature boat building and rides on sailboats, rowboats, and motorboats as well as live music.
- Seattle Great Wheel
The Seattle Great Wheel is a popular thing to do in Seattle, despite its fairly late arrival to the Seattle tourism scene. The wheel opened to the public in June 2012 and stands 175 feet tall. Forty-two gondolas seat eight people each, giving 300 passengers at a time a breathtaking view of the city. The wheel is the largest observation wheel on the coast and extends almost 40 feet past the end of the pier where it sits, over Elliott Bay.
Seattle offers plenty to see and do, making it one of the most popular tourist destinations on the west coast. Regardless of which sites you choose to visit, the number one thing to do in Seattle is have fun!
