Favorite Seattle Attractions and Drinks
Pioneer Square has been Seattle’s epicenter of the arts since the 1960s. With its collection of prestigious art galleries, cutting-edge exhibition halls, and bustling artist studios, Seattle’s Pioneer Square is a home for the city’s creative class.
The world is covered in outdoor sculptures. It was built in 1909 as a covered waiting stop for the Yesler and James Street Cable Car Company, and its magnificent Iron Pergola deserves a visit. Seattle architect Julian Everett conceived of this ornate Victorian-style pergola, complete with wrought-iron pillars.
A tall Alaskan Tlingit Indian Totem Pole sits nearby as a symbol of the troubled history between Native Americans and European settlers.
SEATTLE CENTER
Buying a Seattle CityPASS – https://www.citypass.com/seattle – is a great way to save money while seeing several of the city’s top attractions. You may save money on admission to five of the city’s top attractions by purchasing this pass.
Upon receiving your City PASS, your first stop should be Seattle Center, where you’ll find three attractions. Plan ahead if you want to see the Space Needle.
Visitors take an elevator to the top of the flying saucer-shaped structure. Guests can step outside to take in sweeping vistas of Seattle and the surrounding area, including Mount Rainier, Puget Sound, the Cascades, and the Olympic Mountains covered in snow.
The Space Needle is a 605-foot-tall observation tower that was constructed for the 1962 World’s Fair.
Upgraded Skyrisers feature glass walls that may be tilted outward, giving riders the sensation that they are floating in the air. The glass floor and open-air glass benches are perfect for taking in the view.
CHIHULY GLASS AND GARDENS
Chihuly Glass and Gardens is another Seattle Center attraction included in the Seattle CityPASS. Here, you may learn about Dale Chihuly and his stunning free-blown, fine art glass sculptures.
Self-guided tours of the galleries and the natural and glass gardens are available to guests.
In the museum’s little theater, visitors can watch documentaries about Chihuly’s large-scale glass installations in famous cities across the world.
Visit the sea life area to view the most exquisite underwater glass garden and the aesthetically amazing Float Boats, which come in a variety of shapes and colors. His mother’s garden was the source of inspiration for his stunning Mille Fiori “a thousand flowers” glass work.
The Space Needle and the Chihuly Garden and Glass are nearby, and so is the engaging MoPOP Museum of Pop Culture.
MOPOP MUSEUM
The MoPOP museum is one of the most interesting educational spots at Seattle Center. Paul Allen, co-founder of Microsoft, provided initial funding, and renowned architect Frank Gehry built the building’s distinctive and colorful facade, which first opened to the public in the year 2000.
When it first opened, it was known as the EMP Museum, and its displays hailed the contributions of musicians and artists. It has been rebranded as the Museum of Pop Culture (MoPOP) and will focus on the innovation and experimentation that drive modern pop culture.
Since rock ‘n’ roll, Jimi Hendrix, and grunge all had their start in Seattle, MoPOP is able to draw visitors of all ages with its interesting collections, fun exhibitions, and informative activities.
Visitors to the museum can dine on a selection of seasonal salads, grain bowls, hand-tossed pizzas, and grilled foods from Culture Kitchen, located inside the museum.
SEATTLE AQUARIUM
Take advantage of the waterfront location of the Seattle Aquarium and the Argosy Cruises Harbor tour with your Seattle City Pass.
The one-hour narrated tour is engaging and provides a unique perspective of Seattle’s waterfront, skyline, and historic monuments.
The Seattle Great Wheel is the best place to see the city from above.
SEATTLE GREAT WHEEL
The Seattle Great Wheel, a 175-foot-tall Ferris wheel, is conveniently located nearby and features 42 gondolas. It was the largest enclosed Ferris Wheel on the West Coast when it was installed at Pier 57 years ago.
Each of the gondolas may be rotated to provide passengers with panoramic views of Elliott Bay, Seattle, and the surrounding islands and mountains. This ride is not included in CityPASS and takes around 15 minutes of your time. Shoppers and diners from all over the world flock to Pike Place.
PIKE PLACE MARKET
At the bustling Pike Place Market in Seattle, you can see fishmongers tossing freshly caught fish into the air before wrapping it and handing it to a local consumer.
The market was opened in 1907, and its spacious interior is adorned with colorful fruit vendors selling freshly harvested apples, pears, and cherries, as well as unique craft stalls and eateries.
Don’t leave Post Alley without seeing the gum wall, where millions of sticky marks adorn a brick wall.
CONVERSATION KITCHEN & BAR
There is a wide selection of high-quality restaurants in Seattle. Kaleena Bliss, a popular chef in Seattle, is a recent Chopped: Casino Royale champion.
Stop by her restaurant, Conversation Kitchen & Bar, located in the Thompson Hotel, for a delicious meal with seasonal, locally sourced vegetables and farm-raised meats and seafood.
Wild Ginger, located in the Pike Place Market area, is a top-notch Asian restaurant. The expansive Pacific Rim cuisine, which includes Chinese and Southeast Asian dishes, is available on both floors of this bustling and roomy establishment.
Embassy Suites by Hilton Seattle Downtown Pioneer Square features a view of Lumen Stadium.
NEKO CAT CAFE
Reserve a spot at NEKO Cat Cafe and enjoy a cup of tea, glass of wine, or sake while you pet and play with adoptable cats and kittens.
The 45-minute encounter with the playful felines takes place inside a glass enclosure. Seattle is home to two different places. Both are in Washington, DC, however one is in the Capitol Hill neighborhood, while the other may be found in Bellingham.
COFFEE CAFES
Since Starbucks established its first location in Pike Place in 1971, coffee houses have sprouted up on nearly every corner. Zeitgeist Coffee, located in Pioneer Square, is another excellent coffee shop in the area.
It’s a bright cafe with an industrial vibe, serving coffee and pastries and showcasing some great local art. Caffe Umbria has an atmosphere reminiscent of cafes in Europe and serves espresso and coffee alongside pastries and paninis.
If you’re in search of tea, head on over to Rabbit Rabbit Tea where you may sample nine unique blends from all corners of the globe. Boba tea, Thai milk tea, Japanese buckwheat tea, and tiramisu milk tea are just a few of the 50 types they produce. More than 23 of Rabbit Rabbit Tea’s establishments may be found in Taiwan, and now there’s even a cafe in Seattle.
