10 Best Things to Do in Seattle
Seattle is one of the most beautifully located cities in the United States thanks to its views of Puget Sound and Lake Washington. The area is popular amongst outdoor enthusiasts and boasts fantastic hiking, kayaking, cycling, and rock climbing. In recent years the city has become a foodie destination thanks to the many shops and restaurants of Pikes Place Market. The most famous culinary item to come out of Seattle would be their particular brand of coffee shops.
01Space Needle
The Space Needle is the first thing that comes to mind when most people think about Seattle. It was built in 1962 as part of the World's fair and since that day over 2 million people have traveled to the top of the tower to take in the views. If you want to spend time enjoying the views of the mountains and the Olympic Peninsula, have a meal at the Sky Restaurant at the top of the Space Needle.
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02Museum of Flight
Discover the history of flight at this fascinating museum. There are over 150 planes, spacecraft, and artifacts housed in the building. Altogether the collection spans the entire history of flight from the Wright brothers to modern jets and flights to the moon. Older children will love the interactive flight zone that includes two hang glider flight simulators and a section that teaches children how planes are built.
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03Pike Place Market
Pike Place Market has a unique set up with a number of lower levels that house antiques and collectibles shops. The main level is a large farmers market with a wide variety of stores. Pike Place Market began operating in 1907 and is the oldest continually running farmers market in the United States.
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04Safeco Field
Safeco Field is commonly referred to as The Safe by locals and is home to the Seattle based baseball team, the Seattle Mariners. The stadium has a clever retractable roof system that allows games to continue in any weather. Food trucks often park outside the stadium so you can grab a delicious meal before or after the game.
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05Green Lake Park
Green Lake Park is set in the center of the city of Seattle making it a popular place with office workers to enjoy a bit of greenery during their lunch hour. Take a stroll on the 2.8-mile trail that goes around the lake and enjoy looking at the different species of trees, birds, and flowers that occur in the park. There are a number of authentic coffee shops nearby for those needing some caffeine after their walk.
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06EMP Museum
The Seattle music scene was famous around the world in the early 1990's as grunge became a big part of the music world. This museum celebrates that part of musical history and a number of other musical genres. A separate section is home to a collection of memorabilia from the Star Wars franchise and a variety of items from horror movies set in the surrounding area.
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07Living Computer Museum
Seattle is known as the home of a number of famous tech companies and is a very intellectual city. This museum houses a collection of working versions of computers from their earliest days to modern laptops and tablets. You can interact with the computers and have fun learning about the early days of computing. This is a great place to take children to show them how things used to be.
08Pacific Science Center
The Pacific Science Center was built for the World's Fair in Seattle in 1962. You will find a number of interactive exhibits explaining the world of science to children as young as 3. There is a popular IMAX theatre that shows new and interesting scientific shows from around the world. The butterfly house and laser lights show are fun for the whole family.
09Seattle Ferris Wheel
Enjoy the spectacular views of Puget Sound, Elliot Bay, and the city of Seattle from this 175-foot Ferris wheel. Each gondola is fully-enclosed, so you can enjoy your ride even if the infamous Seattle weather is rainy and windy. The gondola's hold up to 8 people so the whole family can take in the ride at the same time.
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10Woodland Park Zoo
This is one of the best zoos in the United States. The enclosures are very large, and the animals have plenty of space to roam. Great care has been taken to make sure that the exhibits match the natural habitats of each animal. Children under the age of 8 will love the Zoomazium which houses nature-themed areas, games, and interactive exhibits. There are a number of restaurants in the zoo, but you are welcome to bring a picnic and enjoy the lawns if the weather is sunny.
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