One of Seattle's most famous landmarks, Pike Place Market is the oldest continuously working public market in the United States and one of the world's top 50 most visited attractions. Pike Place opened in 1907 as the city's first public market, expanding to keep up with its growing popularity as a convenient option for both shoppers and merchants. The market remains a veritable cornucopia of culinary and artisanal options, its crowded aisles and bustling halls thronged with customers jostled between vendors of fresh produce and gourmet eats, alongside fishmongers and craftsmen. The street level is dominated by the food and produce stalls, while the lower levels house a fantastic variety of shops including antique dealers, head shops, florists, and local artisans. A whirlwind of sights, sounds and aromas, Pike Place Market is nothing short of paradise for foodies and connoisseurs of unique wares.
Chihuly Garden Glass amazes visitors with displays of colour and fine artistry. With the iconic Space Needle serving as its backdrop, this unique exhibit – conceived by artist Dale Chihuly – features glass sculptures that have to be seen to be believed. The splendour of lush gardens showcasing Chihuly's signature glass creations is a truly serene experience. Easily accessible via the Seattle Monorail, there is no excuse for not experiencing this incomparable display of nature and glass.
Explore the history of flight from the Wright Brothers to space travel. Collections at Museum of Flight include commercial, military and civilian crafts. See a 1929 Boeing 80A-1, the sole survivor of its type. The 1926 Swallow was used as the nation's first contracted airmail service starting in April 1926. For those interested in more modern aircraft, there are the dynamic M-21 Blackbird, the fastest and highest-flying aircraft ever built, and the VC-137B Air Force One, which flew President Dwight D. Eisenhower on a historic visit to meet with Germany's Chancellor Konrad Adenauer in 1959. Take a walk through the “Red Barn,” a museum in its own right, where the Boeing Company manufactured its first aircraft. There is also a library with an extensive selection of aviation information, as well as a museum store and a cafe on the premises.
Museum of History and Industry (MOHAI) is the pride of Seattle. This museum houses approximately 4 million displays narrating the detailed local history of the city. Visitors can engage with exhibits such as Maritime Seattle, telling the story of ships and planes, including the 1919 Boeing B-1, Boeing's oldest planes for commercial use. Numerous seminars, workshops and lectures are conducted for various age groups, thus playing a vital role in educating the general public on world history. With the vast range of interactive artifacts, one can never get bored at this fascinating museum.
Seattle's most famous landmark, the Space Needle's futuristic design rises over 600 feet (182.88 meters) tall. The tower was originally built for the 1962 World Expo in Seattle, and was designed with cutting-edge know how by award-winning engineer John K. Minasian, known for his work at Cape Canaveral, home of the U.S. Space Program. From the top, the Space Needle provides 360-degree views of downtown Seattle, Mount Rainier, Elliott Bay, and the Cascade and Olympic mountains. Besides the Skydeck restaurant, the Space Needle also features a gift shop and observation deck.
The Museum of Pop Culture is one of the most interesting stops in Seattle. Located at the Seattle Center, this museum takes you through music history by immersing you in nearly 80,000 artifacts including photos, sound archives, costumes and musical instruments from notable artists. Most exhibits are interactive, allowing visitors to literally play with them. Also here is the Science Fiction Museum & Hall, which honors the greatest minds in the genre.
The corporate headquarters of Weyerhaeuser, the largest timber company in America, devotes a chunk of its property to two public gardens—a rhododendron display and this bonsai collection. The tiny, gnarled trees are fantastic both in shape and age. Some are as much as 1,000 years old. Most are little pines, but there are some deciduous trees as well, and several are arranged in charming miniature landscapes. Bonsai masters give occasional weekend lectures and classes. Tours are also offered every Sunday at noon.
If you want to get a tour of this beautiful and sunny city, then the Shutter Tours are the perfect tour guides for you. Well informed, educated, and well spoken, these guides will walk you through the finest of Seattle as per your time, convenience and availability. The company also organizes special and private tours. The award winning agency is also known for its unique photo tours to places like Leavenworth Oktoberfest, Tulip Festival, etc.
New on the local art scene, this tiny, ivory-toned gallery is full of carefully curated contemporary art, with an emphasis on European artists. The pleasure of it comes from the selection, which is intriguing and thought-provoking in a subtle, unthreatening way. A recent highpoint was an unprepossessing series of photos taken during a crossing of the English Channel and then pasted together to show the entire Channel. Now that's a photograph.
This is a place that is very difficult to define and categorize. Artists, who have different areas of specialization, all come together here and share their creativity. Housed in an industrial building dating back to the World War II era, this is a place where visitors can freely interact with the artists, who range from blacksmiths to photographers. This is more of an artistic community than a studio, one which encourages people to come and experience art first-hand. Do make an appointment with either the founder, Samuel Farrazaino, or with the specific artist you wish to meet, before dropping by.
Get ready for an energy packed tour on a comfortable mini-coach with Seattle Qwik Tour. You'll be taken to the top Seattle sights, including the Space Needle, Pioneer Square, and the Fremont Troll. Your friendly guide with provide informative commentary about each location, including historical facts and quirky jokes. This jam-packed fun tour will let you get to know this unique city.