12 Fantastic things to do in downtown Seattle

The downtown area of Seattle encompasses Pioneer Square ( where old Seattle was born) and part of Chinatown-International District to the South just shy of the Century Link Field ( home of the Seahawks) and stretches north towards the Space Needle to Denny Way.   The waterfront area as well as Pike Place Market are also part of it.

1)  Most people will head to Pike Place Market to take in the longest running fresh food market in the country and get flower bouquets that are beautiful to behold and very reasonably priced.  More on the Market on a later post.

2) Waterfront:

1. a) The Seattle Aquarium, a very popular place all times of the year. The Aquarium closes at 5pm but a little know fact is that you can stay there till 6pm when it's very quiet and you get lots of attention from the docents.

http://www.seattleaquarium.org/

1. b) Ye Olde Curiosity Shop, a favorite with locals and tourist alike. Where else can you find shrunken heads and 4 legged chickens and don't forget about Sylvester ( the resident mummy).

http://yeoldecuriosityshop.com/pages/about-us

1. c) The Seattle Great Wheel, it has been in Seattle for about 5years and it has become a favorite attraction.

http://seattlegreatwheel.com/

1. d) Washington State Ferries- you can walk on and end up in Bainbridge Island for the day, visit the quaint downtown, have lunch , do a walk on the beach and see the Seattle skyline at sunset on your way back.

Bainbridge Island Ferry Schedule

1. e) Argosy Cruises- a quick harbor tour or a longer tour through the Ballard locks into Lake Washington as well as a Blake Island experience awaits you.

http://www.argosycruises.com/

1. f) Restaurants: Ivar's Acres of Clams, Ivar's Pier 54 Fish bar, Elliott's, Crab Pot, Red Robin to name just a few.  Farther north on the waterfront you will find Anthony's Homeport.

3) Pioneer Square has the Beneath the Streets and Seattle Underground tours as well as many galleries, the 1st Thursday of the month is the gallery walk.  The Klondike Museum is the smallest National Park!, it tells us about the important part Seattle played in the Alaskan Gold Rush.

https://www.nps.gov/klse/index.htm

http://www.beneath-the-streets.com/

http://undergroundtour.com/about/index.html

4) Smith Tower- at one time the tallest building west of the Mississippi has been refurbished and is ready to welcome visitors once again.

http://www.smithtower.com/

5) Seattle Public Library- a very modern building that stands out among some of Seattle's oldest architecture.

http://www.spl.org/locations/central-library

6) Paramount Theater:  A free tour of the theater is offered the 1st Saturday of the month.

https://www.stgpresents.org/tours

8) Columbia Center Skyview observatory, the tallest building in Seattle and the State of Washington.  Sometimes referred to  the box the Space Needle came in! Couldn't have since the Space needle was here 1st.

http://www.skyviewobservatory.com/#/about

9) Seattle Pinball Museum

Something new, you can play the machines.

http://www.seattlepinballmuseum.com/hours---info.html

10) Wing Luke Museum

Do you know Bruce?

http://www.wingluke.org/

11) King Street Station

A beautifully renovated train station.

12) Shopping

A trip to downtown would not be complete without some shopping. The Nordstrom flagship store as well as Macy's anchor the shopping area.

Pacific Place mall and Westlake mall have national chain stores as well as many local ones.