Pike Place Market - Open year-round, this is Seattle's most iconic attraction — and it's filled with tasty treats. There's so much to love about Pike Place Market: aisles of gleaming fruits and vegetables, tables overflowing with fresh floral bouquets, and booth after booth selling all manner of locally made jewelry, clothing, and gifts. It's also a great place to enjoy many fantastic eateries serving prepared dishes. When you're not sure what kind of food you're in the mood to eat, just head to Pike Place Market and sample a little of everything or hop on one of several market tours that focus on food, history, or a little of both. There's also the whole fish-throwing thing, too.
Chinatown-International District - Head south of the downtown core, just east of Pioneer Square, and you'll discover Seattle's Chinatown-International District, rich with authentic eats, captivating cultural experiences, and intriguing shopping. Shaped by the many Asian cultures that have settled in this part of town over the past 100 years, the ID has grown to be one of Seattle's most diverse and vibrant communities. Today, the neighborhood is thriving with an array of flavorful Asian cuisines, myriad shops selling everything from fresh fish to traditional herbs, and cool cultural festivals—like Dragon Fest and the Night Market & Autumn Moon Festival—throughout the year.
Pioneer Square - Welcome to the birthplace of Seattle. Laying claim as the city's "first neighborhood," Pioneer Square is a richly historic place known for its Renaissance Revival architecture, First Thursday art walks, night life, delicious lunch spots, and quirky boutiques. Explore the depth and beauty of Seattle's first historic district and jump on a tour that takes you underground to visualize Seattle as it once was in its gold rush days.
Seattle Aquarium - The Seattle Aquarium features a stunning 40-foot, 55,000-lb. viewing window that looks into a 120,000-gallon aquarium filled with salmon, colorful rockfish, vibrant sea anemones, and other native Washington marine life. Three times a day, divers take to the waters wearing specialized masks that allow them to interact with and answer questions from the audience. Other exhibits include two touching tide pools filled with sea anemones and sunflower sea stars, a pacific coral reef exhibit, marine mammals, and an underwater dome, the aquarium's largest exhibit. The aquarium is located on Seattle's waterfront at Pier 59.
Seattle Great Wheel - The Seattle Waterfront's newest attraction, the Seattle Great Wheel sits 175 feet above Pier 57 and extends nearly 40 feet over Elliott Bay. A view from the top offers sweeping panoramas of the city skyline as well as Elliott Bay and the Olympic Mountains beyond. Each of the gondolas is fully enclosed and climate controlled to allow for year-round riding, regardless of the weather.
Space Needle - Most definitely a bucket list item for many, the Space Needle is certainly Seattle's most iconic structure. Journey skyward for amazing views, fine dining, and an experience you'll never forget. At a height of 605 feet, the Space Needle boasts fabulous 360 degree views that include Mt. Rainier, Puget Sound, the Olympic and Cascade Mountains, the beautiful city of Seattle, and beyond.
Chihuly Garden and Glass - Located just beneath the Space Needle, this museum and gardens trace the art and career of world-renowned glass artist Dale Chihuly. The centerpiece of Chihuly Garden and Glass is the Glasshouse, a 40-foot tall glass and steel structure covering 4,500 square feet of light-filled space containing an expansive 100-foot long sculpture in a color palette of reds, oranges, yellows, and amber. Made of many individual elements, it is one of Chihuly's largest suspended sculptures. The perception of the artwork varies greatly with natural light and as the day fades into night.
