The Space Needle on a cloudless day can afford views all the way to Mount Rainier. But on a cloudy day, the most you can see is the immediate downtown area surrounding the Seattle Center. Winter and fall months are traditionally the wettest and cloudiest times of the year, while spring and summer often supply sun and clear skies. The Space Needle is designed to withstand winds blowing at 200 mph, but in 1993 the Space Needle closed during a windstorm with 93 mph winds. During high winds, the speed of the elevator is lowered to half its normal speed.
Because the Space Needle is equipped with 25 lightning rods, it is safe during lightning storms, and the visuals from inside can be quite dramatic. However, weather can close the Space Needle, so in stormy weather it is best to call ahead.
Space Needle
400 Broad St.
Seattle, WA 98109
206-905-2100
spaceneedle.com
The restaurant at the Space Needle offers a unique dining experience. The slow motion of the restaurant, which turns 360 degrees within an hour, allows most diners a full spin during their meal. The restaurant has won local awards as the best place to get engaged or have a party, and the best restaurant with a view. The Washington Wine Commission named it Restaurant of the Year in 2009. The restaurant menu includes local seafood and salads, as well as a children's menu and wine list. Special and private events can sometimes close the Space Needle restaurant to the public, and reservations are recommended.
Admission to the elevator and observation deck are complimentary for diners, who have access to a line separate from the public to enter the elevators. However, there are only two elevators, and at the peak of the summer tourist season, the wait for the elevators to reach the restaurant can seem excessive. You can watch a virtual ride up the Space Needle in the elevator online at YouTube.
The Space Needle is located in the Seattle Center, one of Seattle's biggest parks. This location offers pros and cons. The good part is you can take in an IMAX movie, visit the Science Center or the Experience Music Project, enjoy the Children's Museum, or watch a ballet or opera, all within steps of the Space Needle. The bad news is that the parking accommodations can get overloaded, and the crowds can be overwhelming. The Space Needle offers valet parking for its guests to both the restaurant and observation decks, and you can also leave your car there the whole day while you explore Seattle Center's other attractions. The City of Seattle operates several local parking structures around the Seattle Center, which can fill up during special events and holidays.
Visitors also have the option of taking the historic Seattle monorail to the Seattle Center. The monorail lets off passengers just steps from the Space Needle. The Seattle Monorail was built in 1962 as a companion to the World's Fair. Its purpose was to link visitors from the downtown Seattle area to the Seattle Center. The monorail still connects downtown and Seattle Center, leaving in both directions every 10 minutes.
Several times a year the Space Needle itself is the center of attention, including New Year's Eve. Fireworks explode from the Space Needle's base and restaurant platform on New Year's Eve, and large crowds take over Seattle Center. You can watch the New Year's Eve fireworks on the Space Needle on YouTube. During crowded events such as these, you must plan carefully for parking and visiting the Space Needle restaurant.
