Tourist Attractions in Seattle

Seattle is a culturally and visually stunning place to visit: from the visual wonder of the Space Needle to the treasures of the Seattle Art Museum, there are many things to see and do.

Seattle Center Located downtown is the Seattle Center, built in 1962. It houses numerous tourist attractions including the Pacific Science Center, Paul Allen's Experience Music Project/Science Fiction Museum & Hall of Fame and KeyArena, home of the Seattle Supersonics. Try the clams at the Palace Kitchen. Most visitors come to the Center for Seattle's most famous and most visible landmark, the Space Needle, and all will enjoy the ride on its glass elevators and the panoramic views from the observation deck.

Westlake Center The Seattle Center is also at one end of the Monorail, and the tour continues with the 90-second, 1.3-mile ride from the Seattle Center to the Westlake Center, a popular arcade for shoppers. The Brooklyn is an excellent dining option in this area. When you've had your fill, head south to Seattle's historic multi-level Pike Place Market.

Seattle Art Museum Stop by the Seattle Art Museum near the Waterfront, and just a few blocks onward, you'll enter Pioneer Square. If you're with children, or have a taste for kitsch, cap off your walk with the 1.5-hour Underground Tour, which gives a sense of what Seattle life was like before the fire and provides details of the reconstruction process. The Pike Place Market is also located near the Museum. Here you can find something tasty to eat.

Seattle Waterfront The views of the surrounding natural beauty from the Seattle Waterfront are spectacular. Take a ferry to Bainbridge Island or visit the Seattle Aquarium and the Odyssey Maritime Discovery Center. You can grab some food to go from one of the many Waterfront restaurants, like Waterfront Seafood Grill, and hang out in the nearby Myrtle Edwards Park.

Seattle Opera The Seattle Center Opera House hosts the Seattle Opera, one of the most acclaimed opera companies in the United States. This is also home to the Seattle Symphony, in an excellent acoustic space. Stop for a quick bite at the Pike Street Cafe. Theater buffs will seek out the nationally-recognized A Contemporary Theater (ACT) a few blocks away.

With so much to see and do, visitors usually opt for a tour company to help them see it all. Catch a ride on a dinner train, or choose the more traditional bus or van ride, the choice is yours.

Bus Tours Gray Line of Seattle ( +1 206 624 5077 / http://www.graylineofseattle.com/ )

Van Tours Show Me Seattle ( +1 206 633 2489 / http://www.showmeseattle.com/ )

Historical Tours The Underground Tour ( +1 206 682 4646 / http://www.undergroundtour.com/ )

Air Tours Ride the Ducks of Seattle ( +1 206 441 3825 / http://www.ridetheducksofseattle.com/ ) Classic Helicopter Corp. ( +1 206 767 0515 / http://www.classichelicoptercorp.com/ )

Boat Tours Ride the Ducks of Seattle ( +1 206 441 3825 / http://www.ridetheducksofseattle.com/ ) Kenmore Air Seaplanes ( +1 425 486 1257 / +1 800 543 9595 / http://www.kenmoreair.com/ ) Argosy Cruises ( +1 206 623 1445 / +1 800 642 7816 / http://www.argosycruises.com ) American West Steamboat Co. ( +1 800 434 1232 / http://www.columbiarivercruise.com/ )

Train Tours Spirit of Washington Dinner Train ( +1 206 227 7245 / +1 800 876 7245 / http://www.spiritofwashingtondinnertrain.com/ )

Wine Tours Chateau Ste. Michelle ( +1 415 3300 / http://www.ste-michelle.com/ ) Columbia Winery ( +1 425 488 2776 / +1 800 488 2347 / http://www.columbiawinery.com/ )

Brewery Tours Maritime Pacific Brewery ( +1 206 782 6181 ) Redhook Ale Brewery ( +1 425 483 3232 / http://www.redhook.com/ )

Adventure Tours Downstream River Runners Inc. ( +1 800 234 4644 / http://www.riverpeople.com/ ) Brew Hops Tours ( +1 206 283 8460 )

Kayaking Tours Moss Bay Rowing & Kayak Center ( +1 206 682 2031 / http://www.mossbay.net/ )

Sports Tours Big League Tours ( +1 866 619 1748 / +1 317 534 2475 / http://www.bigleaguetours.com/ )