Will you be cruising out of Seattle soon? Will you be arriving a day prior to embarkation? Well, if so, then you are in luck! The city of Seattle offers a great array of museums, galleries, parks, and other interesting attractions for you to enjoy before embarking on your cruise. Here is a quick list of some of my recommendations for you to check out during your stay in the Coffee Capital of the World.
Seattle Space Needle
While most arguably Seattle’s most prominent landmark, the Seattle Space Needle should top your list of things to do while visiting the Emerald City. Once you’ve boarded the exterior elevator that will bring you to the observation deck, you can check out a beautiful panorama of the city during the day, and a bustling city of lights at night from 500 feet in the air. If you’re very lucky, on a clear day, you might even be able to spot Mt. Rainer in the distance. Admission to the Space Needle even grants you a free souvenir photo that can be emailed to yourself and your friends from the computers on the observation deck. In addition to the observation deck, the Space Needle is also home to the Sky City Restaurant, which offers visitors the chance to dine with a beautiful view of Seattle and the Puget Sound.
Museum of Flight
The Museum of Flight is definitely a must do for any aviation buff. Located next to the famous Boeing Field, visitors to the Museum of Flight can take a step back into the time of the very early years of aviation. Here you can learn about the very first airplanes and the progression of the industry throughout the ages. The Museum of Flight is also home to various aircraft that are open for walkthroughs including a British Airways Concorde, the 707 Air Force One, the first 737, the first 747, and an American Airlines 727. The museum even houses a special space exhibit, which features models of the shuttle and other space modules.
Seattle Aquarium
For the fans of sea life, the Seattle Aquarium is a must see. The Seattle Aquarium features six permanent exhibits: Window on Washington Waters, Life on the Edge, Pacific Coral Reef, Puget Sound Fish and Dome Room, Puget Sound Orcas Family Activity Center, and the recently renovated Marine Mammals exhibit. The aquarium just recently renovated the Marine Mammals exhibit, creating a new home for the three harbor seals, Barney, Q and Siku. The aquarium is conveniently located along the waterfront, just steps from the Seattle Public Market.
Pacific Science Center
The Pacific Science Center is located just a few minutes’ walk from the Space Needle and creates for a fun and learning filled day for its visitors. At the Pacific Science Center, visitors can explore the many exhibits such as Destination: Station, where visitors can learn about the ISS; Imaginate, an exhibit on inventing and imagination; Dinosaurs: A Journey Through Time, an exhibit on our friends from the Mesozoic Era; and the Butterfly House, where you can come up close to hundreds of butterflies in a simulated tropical environment.
In addition to these great attractions, Seattle offers plenty of other great and interesting attractions. So make sure to get out to explore on your own and check out everything else this great city has to offer!
Travel Tip: If you are interested in checking out all of these attractions, plus the EMP Museum and a harbor cruise on Argosy Cruises, you may want to check out the Seattle CityPASS. The CityPASS offers you expedited admittance into all of these attractions for a lower price than paying for each attraction separately.
