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You can't go to Paris without stopping by the Eiffel Tower. And you
can't visit Seattle without checking out the view from the
world-famous Space Needle. Here's a "must do" list for
first-time visitors and those who want to be sure they've done
everything.
The Space Needle
www.spaceneedle.com
A 41-second elevator ride takes you up 520 feet to the observation
deck of the Space Needle, built for the 1962 World's Fair. Enjoy a
meal at SkyCity, the restaurant at the top that revolves 360° while
you dine.
Ferries
www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries
Traveling by ferry is a state of mind as much as a means of
transportation to some of the Puget Sound's most historic and scenic
sites. Views of the Olympic and Cascade mountains, the Seattle
cityscape and the green shorelines will draw you out onto the deck
to feel the salt breeze on your face. The state ferry system takes
passengers and their vehicles from Seattle and nearby departure
points to Vashon Island, the Kitsap Peninsula, the San Juan Islands
and Canada. For privately operated ferries, see the Sightseeing &
Tours (page 35) and Visitors Services/Travel & Transportation (page
120) listings in this guide.
Seattle Aquarium
www.seattleaquarium.org
Meet Alki, the sea otter pup born at the Aquarium. Walk under the
water in a glass dome as bluntnose sixgill sharks and other Elliott
Bay creatures swim all around you. Touch a sea anemone. Learn about
the lives of salmon at the world's first aquarium-based salmon
ladder. Marvel at the impossibly bright-colored coral reef fish. And
don't forget to wave to the giant Pacific octopus.
The Seattle Waterfront
www.ci.seattle.wa.us/tour/water.htm
A bustling collection of attractions, restaurants and shopping, as
well as starting points for ferries, cruise ships, the Victoria
Clipper and Argosy boat tours are located here. Feed the seagulls at
the statue of Ivar Haglund in front of Ivar's Acres of Clams, stroll
by the fountains on the wooden piers of Waterfront Park, admire the
view or shop for souvenirs.
Bill Speidel's Underground Tour
www.undergroundtour.com
After the Great Seattle Fire of 1889, the city was rebuilt over the
top of the ruins. This guided tour takes visitors through the hidden
subterranean passages that once were the main roadways and
storefronts of old downtown Seattle and tells stories of the
frontier people who lived and worked there.
The Seattle Public Library
www.spl.org
Designed by world-renowned Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas, the
award-winning glass and steel structure of the new Central Library
makes the building seem a little off-kilter and translucent,
allowing passersby on the street to look in.
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Pike Place Market
www.pikeplacemarket.org
Born in 1907, Seattle's Pike Place Market is the granddaddy of
farmers' markets. Today, it's a major tourist attraction with 200
businesses operating year-round, 190 craftspeople and 120 farmer
booths, plus street performers and musicians. Flowers by the
bucketful, flying fish, fresh pastries and fruit, handmade cheeses,
local honey, wine, an assortment of restaurants, import goods,
antiques, collectibles and lots of surprises are around every
corner.
Woodland Park Zoo
www.zoo.org
See more than 1,000 animals of 300 different species, from elephants
and gorillas to piranhas and penguins, in naturalistic exhibits at
the Woodland Park Zoo. Drop by at scheduled feeding times and talk
with the people who care for the animals.
Tillicum Village
www.tillicumvillage.com
A short, narrated cruise takes you to an island village, where
you'll feast on salmon cooked in the authentic Native American way.
A stage show of traditional dances and stories entertains and
teaches you about the people who lived in the Northwest first. |
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