Lush landscapes, grand sparkling skyscrapers, historic markets, and towering lookouts make Seattle a stunning city to visit. I don’t like the rain, so I thought Seattle and I wouldn’t get along but let me tell you, it’s a BEAUTIFUL city. I visited Washington to officiate the wedding of a dear friend, and I took the time to visit some of the more famous locations around the city.
These are the things I got up to while in the city. All of these activities are easily accessed by public transit which is what I used while staying in the city. I will say, I visited Olympic National Park while in Washington and I’ll share about it here but it’s a few hours away and I rented a car for that portion of the trip.
Pikes Place Market
Pikes Place is a bustling hub of people and merchants. The market, which was founded in 1907 when a handful of farmers brought their produce down to Pikes Place (the street) has become a famous Seattle landmark. Now, food vendors, craftspeople, restaurants, and small businesses make up the marketplace. You can easily spend 2 hours exploring the market and enjoying the food and goods found throughout the stalls.
Pikes Place has a few buildings which together create the sprawling market. The Sanitary Building and the Corner Market were both added later but helped secure the fact that the Market was here to stay. The Sanitary building got its name for its state-of-the-art stalls and design meant to keep the building squeaky clean. However, just after the bombing of Pearl Harbor the Sanitary building nearly burned to the ground, although it’s not confirmed many believe the fire was set by people trying to hurt the many Japanese businesses that occupied the building during that time.
The lower floors of Pikes Place itself are home to some interesting pieces of history. I suggest taking your time and exploring the whole Market.
There are some famous stalls and purveyors of goods located in Pikes Place. Some of the highlights are fairly famous, of course, this is where you can find the famous flying fish as vendors at City Fish toss selections across their stall in the heart of the Market. The Original Starbucks is located near the market although the lines do get terribly long. Piroshky Piroshky is a pretty well-known Russian bakery in the sanitary building where you can order a few sweet and savory handheld treats to enjoy while exploring. Take your time as you stroll the market as there are many cool spots. I stopped by Metsker Maps and had to stop myself from purchasing all of the beautiful maps they had in store.
Space Needle & The Seattle Center
You gotta visit the Space Needle when you’re in Seattle. The Space Needle was built for the 1962 World’s Fair and has been attracting tourists ever since. After taking an elevator to the top of the Space Needle you’re greeted with floor-to-ceiling glass views, seriously floor-to-ceiling as the floor of the indoor viewing area not only rotates around the structure but is made of glass. The open-air observation deck is a staggering 520 feet aboveground, and the glass-floored indoor observation deck is 500 feet aboveground.
In 2018 the Space Needle got a facelift or a “spacelift”. Now visitors can experience uninterrupted views and sit on terrifying glass benches called Skyraisers which tilt you back towards the glass walls of the observation deck. If you schedule your visit this is a quick and fun stop on a Seattle tour. Those afraid of heights may not be too thrilled when exploring but, on a clear day, the views are stunning. Try and take a different elevator on the ride up and down to maximize what you see.
Be sure to check out the museum that sprawls the ramp on the way to the elevators from the entrance. They are filled with fun facts and information about the building of the tower and its history.
Ashlee Polarek 2021
Olympic National Park
Olympic National Park is something out of a fairytale. This massive National Park is on the land of the Lower Elwha Klallam, Jamestown S’Klallam, Port Gamble S’Klallam, Skokomish, Quinault, Hoh, Quileute, and Makah indigenous tribes and people.
Located a few hours away from the city, this National Park is so worth the drive! I’ve only scratched the surface of Olympic National Park so don’t take this as the only and best guide to Olympic National Park.
Make sure you get up to Hurricane Ridge for some striking views of the mountain range. Winds that hit well over 75 miles an hour make for cold and gusty conditions, hence the name Hurricane Ridge. Take a stroll around the Meadow Trails and enjoy the view from the visitor center.
A short trail that is close to the Port Angeles Side of the park is the Heart O’ the Forest Trail. This is a moderate 4.4-mile out-and-back trail that takes you through the gorgeous trees in the old-growth forest. It’s fairly flat but has a good amount of growth that crosses the trail so it may be a little tricky for people less sturdy on their feet. This California Girl was blown away at just how green the world can be. Check out all the incredible plant diversity on this walk and settle into the feeling that we are just TINY little creatures on this Earth.
The Chihuly Garden and Glass
As an art lover, I always try and visit at least one art museum while I’m traveling especially if the art museum is connected to a local or is unique to the area. The Chihuly Gardens and Glass is a visual feast. Opened in 2012 the museum is home to the work of Dale Chihuly. An audio tour is available and very much something you should do, but also take note of the free Gallery Talks held at various times throughout the day. I caught the Garden Gallery Talk and learned all about the installations in the garden. Drop by the Hot Shop to see a live demo of glasswork at scheduled times throughout the day and see some glass artists create something amazing.
The Gardens and Glass are situated right next to the Space Needle offering easy access for a trip before or after exploring the museum. Honestly, before going to this gallery I was only mildly interested in Glass Work, and now seeing the incredible and insane detail I have a major appreciation for glass as an artistic medium.
Links and Resources for your Trip
- Walking Tours With Free Audio – https://historylink.tours/ (These are really cool historical walking tours through some famous landmarks and neighborhoods across Seattle and Washington. This includes Pikes Place and Pioneer Square
- City Pass – This is a pass that allows you access to the tourist location in Seattle! It’s a great way to save money when visiting all the big tourist areas.
- Chihuly Garden and Glass Museum Information
- The Space Needle
- Pikes Place
- Olympic National Park
The Great Big Wonder 
Leave a comment