Eight Things You Must Do While Visiting Seattle
Seattle is easily recognized by the Space Needle but there is so much more to the city than that! We live just 45 minutes from Seattle so we are able to visit often. Whether you’re going for the weekend or just a day, here’s some things we love to do!
You may be thinking “why would I go to a market?” This isn’t your ordinary farmers Market. There are so many things to see, taste, and photograph in the market that I made an entire blog post about it! From great food to historical statues and the gum wall, it’s filled with fun. Check out my blog post “Pike Place Market in Seattle” here.
Okay, so you are most likely already going to the Space Needle, but here’s some things you may want to know. The Space Needle is located in the area called the “Seattle Center”. Here you can find museums such as the Museum of Pop Culture, Pacific Science Museum, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Discovery Center, and the Dale Chihuly Garden & Glass.
If you are making a trip out to Seattle then I highly recommend getting a city pass because it saves you a lot of money for admission at these popular places. We did not get it because we usually just go up to Seattle for the day. We did buy the Chihuly Glass Garden and Space Needle Combo Ticket to save a little. It is $59 per adult and $39 per child for the combo ticket. Space Needle tickets alone are $25-$33. Also, if you purchase online you have to choose a specific time to go. I bought our tickets for 9:45 am but we got there at 9 am and they let us go in early.
I get motion sickness easily, so I’ll share that the ride up in the elevator I was okay. It’s quick and there are no stairs involved! The top level is the glass edges and outdoor area, where you’ll get let out of the elevator. This is where you can see 360 views of the city and the place to take fake falling photos.
Go down one floor and this is the rotating level with glass floors. This level did make me pretty nauseous. The inside part does not move and the outside part rotates slowly but faster than you’d think. The elevator ride down made me pretty sick but thank God I did not puke. Also, included with your ticket is a virtual reality experience that is located on the bottom floor in the gift shop.
For more info about the Space Needle, click here.
Dale Chihuly Glass Garden & Museum
Pretty sure this is my second favorite place in Seattle. The glass works are incredible but the garden is so beautiful, it’s easily the prettiest place in the city. Since we got the duo ticket with the Space Needle you have to go on the same day but that’s easy since it’s next door! Admission is $22-32 per person with 4 and under free. Hours are Monday through Thursday from 8:30 am to 8:30 pm and to 9:30 pm on Saturdays.
For more info about the Garden & Glass Museum, click here.
This museum is three floors full of unique fun, however, I would suggest this one for older kids or adults only. While there are some areas younger kids would enjoy, I wouldn’t take Aurora in two major areas of the museum. I’d prefer to keep it an adult trip, especially with the price being a bit high. Tickets range from $20-32 depending on if you want to see the special exhibits or not. You can save about $2 per person with the military discount or by purchasing online in advance.
So let’s talk about the exhibits. The guitar tower is one of the most recognized spots of the museum. This area of the museum has lots of music themed exhibits like Nirvana, Prince, and a collection of Guitars. On the same level there is a Indie Game Revolution exhibit. So you could sit inside here and play video games all day if you want. Upstairs you’ll find a Sound Lab, where you can record music. Singing, playing instruments, and more are available in this area.
My favorite exhibit is the Fantasy: Worlds of Myth and Magic. It’s set up like a door into another world and inside you’ll find yourself walking through an enchanted forest. All of my favorite movies have original costumes and props on display. You can see items from Harry Potter, Chronicles of Narnia, Wizard of Oz, Lord of the Rings, and more! There is also a giant throne you can sit on for a photo op.
Level one is where I would steer the kids clear. The Science Fiction and Fantasy area is not that bad but I know some of the props would’ve scared Aurora. They have lots of alien replicas and props from sci fi movies. There is a seven foot Terminator robot but also a really cool Star Wars set up that looks like the inside of the Millennium Falcon.
The “Scared to Death” exhibit is rated PG-13 but I wouldn’t let a thirteen year old in personally. This exhibit is about all of the most famous horror movies over time. They have a lot of photos and things on movies about demon possession, vampires, exorcism, zombies, etc. I chose better photos to post here but they have props such as heads, body parts, hanging dead bodies, and water tanks with zombie parts. If horror movies are your thing you can snap a photo in a seven foot tall coffin.
For more info on MoPop, click here.
This museum is large and has all kinds of artwork inside. You can check out contemporary art, fine china, statues, native Indian, Greecian pieces, and more. General admission is free, donations are encouraged. If you want to see the special exhibit it’ll be $17-25 per person. They have a room to occupy smaller kids as well, so there’s something for everyone!
Bill Speidel’s Underground Tour
Here’s your chance to learn a little bit about the history of Seattle. It was pretty interesting and surprising to me, since I’d never heard about any of it. The guides are comical and make it something to laugh about. Check the weather and dress appropriately because while some of it is under ground, a lot of it is also walking around the city above ground.
The coolest part to me was a certain spot that you walk over above ground and then get to see it beneath the city and hear people walking over it. It’s not as creepy as I thought, but make sure to keep an eye on the kids because there are lots of random items below like wood scraps, metal, nails, etc. Cost for the tour is $22 per adult, $10 for youth, and 6 and under are free. Please note that strollers are not allowed on the tour, but you can check them at the starting point and come back after the tour to retrieve them.
This museum offers free admission for military through the Blue Star museums program Memorial Day through Labor Day. This is the general admission ticket only, it does not include the special exhibits or theater. Tickets run between $16-25 per person and go up if you add the extras. Museum of Flight is open daily from 10 am to 5 pm. The third Thursday of each month is FREE admission for everyone from 5-9 pm.
This museum is HUGE. Give yourself a good two to three hours here. Of course they have airplanes but they also have a space exhibit, a Boeing exhibit, exhibits on World War I and II as well as a huge hanger of airplanes you can actually walk inside. For the little kids there is an indoor play place that is space themed. For more info about the Museum of Flight, click here.
My favorite thing to do in Seattle is actually on the outskirts of the city, Lake Union! You can take dog friendly Ferry rides, FREE boat rides, and visit museums such as MOHAI and the Center for Wooden Boats. There’s actually a lot to do at Lake Union so it has an entire blog post! Check out my post “Sundays are for Lake Union in Seattle” here.
Looking for somewhere to stay in Seattle? We really enjoyed our weekend at Motif Seattle. A little on the pricey side but it is within walking distance to Pike Place Market, Seattle Great Wheel, the Seattle Aquarium, and tons of shopping and restaurants. They are pet friendly and they even provide a dog bed and food/water bowls for your pooch!
If you are wanting something a little more reasonably priced we have also stayed at the La Quinta. It is actually a very nice on the inside. You’ll get free breakfast and WiFi. Parking is $20/night unless you are military then it is waived. Unfortunately this one have been taken over by Wyndham and it’s a $20 fee per pet for your stay (not per night). Even with the parking fee and pet fee, this hotel is still more reasonable than most hotels in the city. It is within walking distance to the Seattle City Center which holds the Space Needle, MoPop, Chihuly Garden & Glass, Pacific Science Museum and more.
Finding the fun everywhere life takes us!
Love, Olivia Michelle
