A tour of the Pacific Northwest would not be complete without a sightseeing trip to Seattle. Seattle was founded by Noah Sealth, chief of the Suquamish Native American Indian tribe. It is a city rich in cultural diversity and history. Visit the city in the summertime to dodge the heaviest rains and when temperatures average 75 degrees F.
Although the observation deck of Seattle's famous Space Needle is 520 feet in the air, it will take you only 41 seconds to get there on the elevator. At the top, you can get a 360-degree view of the city, Puget Sound, Mount Rainier, the Cascade Mountains and the Olympic Mountains--all while dining at SkyCity, a revolving restaurant.
Take a leisurely walk through or do a little shopping at Pike Place Market. In its more than 100-year history, the market has been a centerpiece of Seattle's eclectic attractions. It features street performers and musicians in addition to 190 craftsmen and 120 farmers that bring their goods to market. Two hundred businesses operate here year-round.
You can ride a street car to get a full-length sightseeing tour of the Seattle Waterfront district and make a stop at Piers 62 and 63 to enjoy live entertainment or to visit the Seattle Aquarium or the Odyssey Maritime Discovery Center.
You will enjoy more views of Mount Rainier, Puget Sound and the Olympic Mountains from the walking and biking trail along Elliott Bay in Myrtle Edwards Park on the waterfront. This park is open 24 hours a day, every day.
The nine-acre Olympic Sculpture Park is adjacent to Myrtle Edwards Park. The hours vary at Olympic Sculpture Park, but generally the hours are from dawn to dark.
At Pier 86, Elliott Bay Park is an 11-acre park along the shoreline with a 400-foot fishing pier and rose garden. It is open from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. (See Reference 3)
Bill Speidel's Underground Tour may seem a little eerie as you enter the subterranean passages of a former Seattle--before the Great Seattle Fire of 1889. However, this historical tour is worth a few goose bumps. Begin the tour at Doc Maynard's Public House, an 1890s saloon. Then, stroll through Pioneer Square and another three blocks of the Underground before ending your journey in Rogues Gallery gift shop.
Blake Island is believed to be the birthplace of Chief Seattle because it was once a campground of the Suquamish and Duwamish Indian tribes, according to Tillicum Village and Tours, Inc. At Pier 55, you can book a 45-minute narrated cruise to see the sights on Blake Island State Park. While there, you will be treated to steamed clams at Tillicum Village before enjoying a traditional Northwest Coast Indian-style salmon entree. The cultural event includes Dance on the Wind, a spirit dance performance.
