Visitors to Seattle's waterfront region can tour the area by ferry, street car or on foot. Ferries leave from Pier 52 and take passengers to nearby Bremerton, Bainbridge Island or Vashon. Rates and amenities vary per route and company, but each provide a stunning view of Seattle's skyline. The Washington State Ferries provide a simple ride at low cost, while private companies offer a full guided tour with amenities. For tours by land, the street car runs along the waterfront, giving guests an opportunity to rest their feet while exploring the piers. You can view the area more closely by foot and check out the attractions along the way as well. The 1.3 mile walk takes about 30 minutes.
The Olympic Sculpture Park is located outside of the Seattle Art Museum on the north end of the piers. The open space covers roughly nine acres of land and features contemporary sculptures with the Olympic Mountains and Puget Sound in the background. Myrtle Edwards Park is adjacent and stretches alongside the waterfront, boasting bike and pedestrian paths, picnic areas and a fishing pier beside a view of the Puget Sound. The Waterfront Park is located between Piers 57 to 59, and features the Waterfront Fountain -- a bronze sculpture by James Fitzgerald and Terry Copple. Flanked by winding stairs and walls, the angular fountain provides a photographic opportunity.
The pier area has a broad range of dining options. Ivar Haglund's Acres of Clams (ivars.com) is a Seattle staple, offering fried clam strips that can be ordered up on the boardwalk to avoid the dining room clatter. Elliot's Oyster House (elliotsoysterhouse.com) is a fine dining restaurant that boasts sustainability practices, while providing guests with simply plated food. Crab Pot Seafood (crabpotseafood.com) is a family-friendly restaurant, specializing in a feast-style menu where the steamed shellfish is poured onto the table for guests to break into with mallets.
The Odyssey, The Maritime Discovery Center at Bell Harbor Marina is a family-friendly interactive attraction that allows families to discover local fishing, trade and maritime habitats. The center features a simulator that lets guests take a kayak ride through Elliot Bay, a remote-controlled boat exhibit and other hands-on activities. Another family-friendly attraction is the Seattle Aquarium, adjacent to the Waterfront Park. The aquarium features an underwater dome located beneath the Puget Sound and a tide pool touch-tank of animals found in the Puget Sound.
