Come one come all to the rainiest state of all! Just be sure to come with some extra time and spunk to stay and see some of the Seattle sights you'll surely not want to miss. Whether you're staying at the exquisite Alexis Hotel or the charming Pensione Nichols just a few blocks away (or perhaps you already live in Seattle), there are myriad exciting things to see and do nearby.
Seattle is certainly a walking
city. If you're unfortunate enough to have rented a car and are
attempting to navigate the one way streets and San Francisco-esque
hills you'll find out soon enough that it is not only cheaper, but
significantly faster and easier to walk to your desired destination
that it is from your $20 parking space that is now actually farther
from your endpoint than your hotel. But lucky you! You're going to
be staying in the middle of everything and will want for nothing*!
We've compiled a list of everything worth seeing in Seattle and why
it's awesome. So plan ahead, take a look, and see what excitement
Seattle has in store for you (besides our fabulous wedding, of
course)!
*We cannot guarantee that you will actually want for
nothing. Experiences May vary.
Info below from http://www.nwsource.com/visitorsguide/activities
Pike Place Market
1501 Pike Place
95-year-old public farmer's market, with dozens of fresh produce and flower vendors, was established in 1907, saved by citizens in the 1970s and has survived to become a Seattle cultural landmark. First Avenue and Pike Street - known as Under the Clock - is the market's heart. Pike Place north of Stewart Street becomes a pedestrian plaza as farmers take to the street each Sunday, 10am - 4pm, June 11 - September 24. Chef demos every Sunday at noon will highlight the "Featured Crop of the Week."
Space Needle
305 Harrison St.
Phone: 206-905-2100
Adult admission to the observation deck on this landmark (designed for the '62 World's Fair) is a hefty $13. If you're going to spend the money, you might want to visit SkyCity, the rotating restaurant located just beneath the deck. It's a tad expensive and the food is only decent, but there's no entrance fee so you get the view and get fed!
The Seattle Aquarium
1483 Alaskan Way
Pier 59
Phone: 206-386-4300
Its 400,000-gallon, walk-through fish tank is a winner, and its octopus, seahorse, jellyfish and otter exhibits are exceptional. IMAX theater that screens nature films, and a number of exhibits dedicated to fostering understanding of the ecosystems of the Pacific Northwest.
Experience Music Project
325 Fifth Ave. N.
Phone: 206-367-5483
This unique museum, housed in a swirly kaleidoscope of a building designed by Frank Gehry, is a music-lover's heaven. Explore your inner-rocker in EMP's interactive exhibits like the Sound Lab; gaze in awe at the 80,000 plus artifacts (like Jimi Hendrix's Woodstock guitar or Grandmaster Flash's original turntable); chow down in the Turntable Restaurant or have a drink in the Liquid Lounge before catching a show in Sky Church. At nearly $20, regular admission's pricey, but there's plenty to keep you occupied.
Pacific Science Center
200 Second Ave. N
Phone: 206-443-2001
With two IMAX theaters, five buildings of science exhibits, the Butterfly House, a planetarium and laser shows, the Pacific Science Center houses a wealth of educational and entertaining activities - especially for kids.
Woodland Park Zoo
5500 Phinney Ave. N.
Phone: 206-684-4800
One of the oldest zoos on the West coast, Woodland Park has garnered major awards for its Tropical Rain Forest, Northern Trail, Elephant Forest, Trail of Vines and African Savanna exhibits.
Pioneer Square
Pioneer Square offers a striking clash of cultures: high-end art galleries, Oriental-carpet stores, and sidewalk cafes are nestled between corner missions; executives in tailored suits and young couples out for a night on the town pass Occidental Park's homeless residents. The 20-block restored historical district along 1st Ave., Yesler Way, and S. Main St., south of downtown, is one of Seattle's most interesting areas.
Underground Tour
Bill Speidel's Underground Tour is one of the city's most distinctive tours. From Doc Maynard's Public House at 1st Ave. and James St., you roam the Pioneer Square area above and below; a guide provides humorous anecdotes (often at the expense of Tacoma), along with local history. These very popular 1.5-hour tours leave several times daily. Reservations recommended; phone 206-682-4646 or 888-608-6337.
Outdoor Activities
Myrtle Edwards Park
3130 Alaskan Way W.
Just north of Pier 70, this Elliott Bay waterfront park is a mid-day running/walking mecca for many downtown professionals. On weekends and evenings, its 1.25-miles of paths are popular among hand-holders catching a sunset or view of the Olympic Mountains.
Discovery Park
3801 W. Government Way
Phone: 206-386-4236
Just 10 minutes northwest of downtown Seattle, Discovery Park offers more than just a slice of nature: It offers the entire pie. Grass and dirt trails meander through the meadows and forest groves of this urban sanctuary. Formerly the Army's Fort Lawton, this 534-acre bluff is the city's largest park. Its elevation offers spectacular views of both the Olympic and Cascade mountains. Below the cliff, there are two miles of tidal beaches for in-city beachcombing.
Green Lake Park
7201 E. Green Lake Drive N.
Phone: 206-684-4075
A recreation hub for the entire city, this freshwater lake park has it all; paddle boating, picnicking, swimming, volleyball, tennis, a wading pool and even lawn bowling. Lush with green lawns and mature shade trees, the 323-acre park is equally appealing to those who want an outdoor midday nap. The newly reconstructed 2.8-mile path around the lake's edge, meanwhile, is a magnet for running and in-line skating. Want to try skating while you're here? Rent a pair at Gregg's Greenlake Bicycling
Volunteer Park
1247 15th Ave. E.
Phone: 206-654-4075
Stately and esteemed, Volunteer Park is home to green lawns, a classic conservatory and the Seattle Asian Art Museum. Lily ponds, a 60-foot water tower open for climbing, a children's wading pool and play equipment and greenhouses flush with varied plantings fill the park's 45 acres.
Outside of Town...
Tacoma Glass Museum
1801 East Dock Street
Tacoma, WA
(866) 468-7386 Features art in many media despite having a name that implies that it specializes in glass art; features rotating exhibits of contemporary and glass art in 13,000 square feet of gallery space. Also has a permament attraction: its Hot Shop Amphitheater, where the museum's staff artists work, sometimes in conjunction with visiting glass artists, in a setting that makes it especially easy to watch them at work. Unlike other glassblowing demonstrations, where the artist is too busy to tell the onlookers much about what they're doing, the Tacoma Glass Museum provides a narrator who explains every step while the artists carry them out. The museum helped fund the Chihuly Bridge of Glass, but they don't have any of his work on display. If you came to Tacoma to see Chihuly's work, go to the Tacoma Art Museum, where they have a large collection.
Central Cascades
The Central Cascades offer an extensive array of outdoor recreational activities less than two hours by car from Seattle, making the area a popular playground for hiking, backpacking, climbing and skiing for one of the Pacific Northwest's largest metropolitan centers.
Mount Rainier National Park
Washington's tallest and best-known peak, the perennially snowcapped Mount Rainier towers over surrounding Cascade summits.