Attractions in Seattle

Like a playlist of favorite songs, this list of Seattle must-sees will lead you straight to the gems you were hoping to find. So when you hit the ground in Seattle, finding the essentials will be as easy as hitting the play button.

Pike Place Market
Wander past stalls of brilliant flowers, watch fishmongers toss the catch of the day and stop by the original Starbucks. Inhale the aromas of macaroni and cheese bubbling on the stove at Beecher's Handmade Cheese, the smell of buttery croissants in the ovens at Le Panier, and the divine aroma of cinnamon drifting from Piroshky Piroshky. The market is literally a feast for your senses, and you'll need at least a few hours to explore what's been called the "soul of Seattle."

Seattle Center
You may have seen plenty of photos of the Space Needle, but if you haven't seen the view from the top, then you haven't seen anything yet! To make it a truly memorable visit, have dinner in the sky-high rotating restaurant. The Space Needle is located within the Seattle Center, a large collection of cultural attractions, so make time to check out the Experience Music Project, Science Fiction Museum, Pacific Science Center, the Children's Museum, the Seattle Opera, the International Fountain, and more.

Puget Sound Ferry Ride
For sweeping vistas of Puget Sound, the Olympic and Cascade Mountains, and the Seattle skyline, hop aboard a Washington State Ferry. A popular route is to Bainbridge Island, where upon arrival you can shop the charming village and then take a short drive or taxi ride to the Bloedel Reserve's quiet gardens (be sure to make reservations for your visit to the reserve).

Olympic Sculpture Park
A project of the Seattle Art Museum, the Olympic Sculpture Park opened in 2007 to rave reviews. With backdrops of the Space Needle and downtown in one direction and Elliott Bay and the Olympic Mountains in the other, the park's contemporary sculptures take on an entirely new light.

Aviation Museums
This is actually two distinct experiences. At the jaw-dropping Museum of Flight (about 20 minutes south of Seattle), visitors can sit inside Air Force One or the Concorde and gaze up at dozens of full-size aircraft. At the Future of Flight Aviation Center & Boeing Tour (about 30 minutes north of Seattle), visitors have the chance to digitally design and test their own jet, ride the XJ5 Flight Simulator, and watch the world's largest jets being assembled at warp speed in the world's largest building.

Seattle Public Library
One of the architectural gems of Seattle, the library features a steel-and-glass design that has made quite a splash on the downtown scene. Award-winning Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas led the $196.4 million dollar project. Gaze through the geometric lines of its translucent exterior and go inside to explore the library's notable collection of books and materials.

Wine Country
About 45 minutes northeast of Seattle is the Woodinville area, where more than 35 wineries who source their grapes from Washington's vineyards produce a host of delicious wines. Wine taste, tour, and wander gorgeous winery grounds.

Ballard Locks
Feel like part of a maritime crew by watching up close as boats large and small make their way through the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks in the Ballard neighborhood. Be sure to also watch the natural show at the fish ladder or peer through the underground viewing windows to witness the salmon's unstoppable instinct to swim upstream.