On Your Own

 

 

Pike Place Market
Born in 1907, Seattle Pike Place Market is the granddaddy of farmers’ markets. Today, it’s a major tourist attraction with 200 businesses operating year-round, 190 craftspeople and 120 farmer booths – plus street performers and musicians. Flowers by the bucketful, flying fish, fresh pastries and fruit, handmade cheeses, local honey, wine, an assortment of restaurants, import goods, antiques, collectibles and lots of surprises are around every corner! www.pikeplacemarket.org

Seattle Center
You may have seen plenty of photos of the Space Needle, but if you haven’t seen the view from the top, then you haven’t seen anything yet! The Space Needle is located within the Seattle Center – a 74-acre campus with 17 acres of open space. The Center is home to more than 30 cultural, educational, sports and entertainment organizations, bringing together people of all ages and walks of life to create thousands of extraordinary experiences that enrich millions of lives each year. Other notable attractions at the Center: Experience Music Project; Fun Forest Amusement Park; Pacific Science Center; and, The Children’s Museum. www.seattlecenter.com

Olympic Sculpture Park
Enjoying art is a walk in the park at Seattle Art Museum’s new Olympic Sculpture Park. The Park has transformed a nine-acre industrial site into a vibrant green space for residents and visitors to experience art outdoors while enjoying incredible views of the Olympic Mountains, Puget Sound and Seattle’s cityscape. Admission is free. www.seattleartmuseum.org

Ballard Locks
Feel like part of a maritime crew by watching up close as boats large and small navigate through the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks in the Ballard neighborhood. Be sure to also watch the natural show at the fish ladder or peer through the underground viewing windows to see fish making their way upstream. The Carl S. English, Jr. Botanical Garden is located here and boasts more than 570 species and 1,500 varieties of plants from around the world – it is one of Seattle’s best kept secrets. Free guided tours are offered. www.seattle.gov/tour/locks.htm

Seattle Aquarium
Meet Alki, the sea otter pup born at the Aquarium. Walk under the water in a glass dome as bluntnose sixgill sharks and other Elliott Bay creatures swim all around you. Touch a sea anemone. Learn about the lives of salmon at the world’s first aquarium-based salmon ladder. Marvel at the impossibly bright-colored coral reef fish. And don’t forget to wave to the giant Pacific octopus. www.seattleaquarium.org

Woodland Park Zoo
See more than 1,000 animals of 300 different species, from elephants and gorillas to piranhas and penguins – all in naturalistic exhibits. The grounds are divided into bioclimatic zones – from tropical rain forests to the frigid climates of the Far North. Drop by at scheduled feeding times and talk with the people who care for the animals. www.zoo.org

Bill Speidel’s Underground Tour
After the Great Seattle Fire of 1889, the city was rebuilt over the top of the ruins. This 90-minute guided walking tour takes you through the hidden subterranean passages that once were the main roadways and first-floor storefronts of old downtown Seattle. The guides tell stories of the frontier people who lived and worked there. www.undergroundtour.com

REI Flagship Store
Serving Seattleites since 1944, REI is more than just a store – it consistently ranks among the Emerald City’s top sightseeing attractions. Here you’ll find the motherlode of gear, plus a mountain bike test trail, gear-testing stations, a 65-foot climbing wall and more hands-on fun. Come let the friendly, knowledgeable staff help equip you for your next adventure! www.rei.com