Pike Place Market
A giant piggy bank named Rachel stands watch over downtown Seattle’s Pike Place Farmer’s Market. It also serves as a collection point for the site, a National Historic District that was founded in 1907. The market is a hubbub of activity with hundreds of farmers, fish markets and craftspeople peddling their wares. It is also the site of the world’s first Starbucks coffee shop, which opened in 1971. You can shop, eat or watch street performers at the market, or you can escape from the shopping frenzy by relaxing in Victor Steinbrueck Park, located at the north end of the market.
Address: 1st and Pike in downtown Seattle.
The Space Needle
The Space Needle is symbolic of Seattle itself. It was built in 1962 for the World’s Fair, though most visitors recall it from the blockbuster hit, Sleepless in Seattle. The Space Needle is 605 feet high and 138 feet wide, at its widest point, and an observation deck at its top allows visitors to view the Seattle skyline, as well as the mountainous and nearby islands beyond. After taking in the fabulous Northwest view, grab lunch or dinner at the SkyCity Restaurant for a panoramic (the restaurant rotates 360 degrees) meal.
Address: 400 Broad St
Telephone: (206) 905 2100
Website:www.spaceneedle.com
Hours of operation: Observation deck: Mon-Sun, 9am-12am
Admission: Adults, $18; Seniors, $16; Children, $11; Children under 3, free
Experience Music Project
The EPM Museum is dedicated to popular music and science fiction. A quick walk from the Space Needle will get you to the museum, where you’ll see the Northwest Passage, a collection including exhibits of Bing Crosby, Nirvana and Sir Mix-a-Lot. There is also a guitar gallery dedicated to the history of guitars. Check ahead to see who’s playing – the museum also hosts a number of concerts.
Address: 325 5th Ave N
Telephone: (206) 770 2700
Website:www.empmuseum.org
Hours of operation: Daily, 10am-7pm
Admission: Adults, $18; Children, $12; Free for members
Seattle Art Museum
Referred to as “SAM” by Washingtonians, the Seattle Art Museum has three main legs: the primary museum in downtown Seattle, the Seattle Asian Art Museum and the Olympic Sculpture Park. The museum shows nearly 25,000 works of permanent art, including collections of African and Oceanic, Ancient Mediterranean and Islamic, and Northwest Native American art collections.
Address: 1300 First Ave
Telephone: (206) 654 3100
Website:www.seattleartmuseum.org
Hours of operation: Thurs-Fri, 10am-9pm; Weds, Sat, Sun, 10am-5pm; Closed Mon-Tues
Admission: Adults, $15; Students with ID, $9; Children 12 and under, free
Pioneer Square
Restaurants, art, night life and history all work together to make Seattle’s Pioneer Square the must-see tourist attraction that it is. Pioneer Square is Seattle’s oldest neighborhood and is home to a good number of antique shops. The square boasts some really exciting nightlife – plus galleries galore.
Telephone: (206) 667 0687
Website:www.pioneersquare.org
Museum of Flight
Built in 1965, the Museum of Flight is the largest private air and space museum in the world. The museum has more than 80 aircrafts on display for your viewing pleasure, as well as a library dedicated to aviation. The museum is right next to Boeing Field, just south of downtown Seattle.
Address: 9404 E Marginal Way S
Telephone: (206) 764 5720
Website:www.museumofflight.org
Hours of operation: Daily, 10am-5pm. On the first Thursday of the month, the museum is open until 9pm, and free from 5pm until 9pm.
Admission: Adults, $16; Children, $9; Children under 4, free
