What’s the first thing that comes to your mind when you hear Seattle? Space Needle, right? What if I say that there’s more to the city than just the iconic observatory deck. The city of Seattle is blessed with snowcapped mountains, pristine water bodies, evergreen forests and fascinating manmade attractions. Whether you’re an art buff or a history fan, a nature enthusiast or an urban explorer, the city has something to offer for everyone. Here’s a list of 10 awesome things you can explore in Seattle that will boggle your mind.
1. Museum of Pop Culture (Mo POP), Seattle Center
The shrine of Pop Culture will give you an immersive experience of the Pop Culture era, from music to science fiction, films, and video games. The architecture is a blend of textures and colours that appear distinct from different angles depicting the constantly evolving music and culture. A place that will keep you entertained throughout with their interactive and fun displays. My favourite area is the gaming section, where we discovered a few fun games.
2. The Spheres, Belltown
Amazon’s ultramodern office space in Belltown is a must-visit place. It’s a conservatory that is home to more than 40,000 plant species from cloud forests around the world. The interiors are warm, humid and have a distinct foresty fragrance. Don’t miss the Living Wall, a 60 feet tall vertical garden, and a neat selfie spot on the top floor.
3. Seattle Aquarium, Pier 59
Opened in 1977, this is Seattle’s premier location for hands-on marine education in a fun way. They have a huge variety of marine biodiversity including a gigantic adult octopus, a separate section for water birds and shorebirds, adorable river otters and sea otters, cephalopods and invertebrates and of course, room after room of beautiful fish. They also conduct various educational programs and excursions from time to time.
4. Wing Luke Museum, International Disctrict Chinatown (IDC)
Seattle is home to a sizeable Asian American population, who have left their mark on its history and culture. The Wing Luke Asian American Museum is an ode to their immense contributions, with exhibits ranging from Burma/Myanmar, the Philippines, Cambodia, China, South Asia. Being the Bruce Lee fans that we are, the gallery we enjoyed the most, was ‘A Dragon lives here’.
5. Bowling, Kirkland
As surprising as it may sound, Seattle doesn’t have too many bowling centres, but the few that have survived are top-notch and well maintained. We bowled a few rounds at TechCity Bowling in Kirkland. Most lanes were busy and the vibe was casual and cheerful. This place also has several arcade games for kids, a full-service bar named TenPin Tap and also a cafe. Come in at happy hour for some libations and quality fun with family or friends.
6. Bellevue Art Museum, Bellevue
Conveniently located in the bustling shopping sector of Downtown Bellevue, this is the perfect place to wind down and appreciate art from some of the best artists in the country. Drop by for a broad range of exhibitions ranging from visual design, craft and fine art. You might experience some deja vu when you walk by the glass art exhibits, done by none other than Dale Chihuly.
7. Museum of History & Industry (MOHAI), South Lake Union
Seattle is home to Microsoft, Amazon, Boeing, Starbucks, and several other household names. The Museum of History & Industry celebrates Seattle’s rich history of technology and industry. Located by the picturesque Lake Union / SLU, this place is the perfect way to spend a day learning about some Pacific Northwest History, and what makes Seattle such an attractive spot for innovation. This place also has several kid-friendly engaging galleries to keep the youngsters occupied.
8. Chihuly Gardens, Seattle Center
Dale Chihuly is an absolute wizard with glass. Did you know that this master artist began his career in weaving? He first incorporated glass shards into woven tapestries in a weaving class, this foray led him to work with glass. The Chihuly Gardens hosts some of his best works. Be sure to reserve a few hours to wander in this venue and grasp the beauty of this style.
9. Paramount Theater, Downtown
Located on Pine and 9th, this historic landmark can seat up to 3000 guests. It opened in 1928, as Seattle Theater, and since then, has been one of the most desirable performing arts venues. Notable performances include Pink Floyd, Slash, Nirvana, Queen, Bob Marley and many other legendary groups.
10. Space Needle, Seattle Center
The mighty needle is an Observatory that gives a 360-degree panoramic view of the city and the surrounding landscapes. An interesting fact about this tower is that it only took 400 days to build this wonder! A must-visit and the most iconic landmark of Seattle. Spend time ogling at the scenic landscapes from the observation deck or dine at their revolving restaurant or both! It’ll be worth a visit.
If you’re planning to visit the city on weekends with limited time in hand, take this tour to make the most of your time in Seattle.
