Seattle Holidays

What are the best things to do in Seattle?

1. The Museum of Flight is the world’s largest independent museum of its kind delivering an evocative rundown of the history of aviation. Housed in a former Boeing factory the museum features over 175 aircraft and spacecraft including a gigantic Boeing 747, a decommissioned Concorde and the tiny Caproni Ca 20, the very first fighter plane. Look out for curios such as the Gossamer Albatross, which was pedalled across the English Channel in 1979, and the Aerocar – designed to take to both the air and road.
2. Pike Place Market is Seattle’s original farmers’ market housing over 500 artisan food stalls, restaurants, farmers, craftspeople and buskers across nine acres of downtown real estate. Established in 1907 and open 363 days a year the market is seen by many as the soul of the city. It’s where locals and visitors gather to shop, eat and rejuvenate. Don’t forget to rub the bronze snout of Rachel the Market Pig at the entrance before diving into the sensory onslaught that is the Main and North Arcades with stalls heaving with fresh, local produce.
3. The Museum of Pop Culture, or MoPOP, is a striking building. This shimmering wall of sheet metal designed by Frank Gehry and resembling a giant wrecked electric guitar houses an eclectic mix of exhibits dedicated to exploring science fiction, fantasy, horror, fashion, sport, video games and music. Tune into grunge, Hendrix and the famous music of Seattle before trying your hand at jamming in the interactive Sound Lab.
4. Centring around the work of local sculptor Dale Chihuly, Chihuly Garden and Glass greatly enlivened Seattle’s art scene when it opened in 2012 and continues to enthral visitors today. It contains perhaps the world’s most impressive collection of curated glass art. Chihuly’s elaborate creations are showcased by a series of interconnected light and dark suites leading to a vast glass atrium and landscaped gardens in the shadow of the Space Needle. Don’t miss the regular programme of glassblowing demonstrations.
5. You can still visit the original branch of Starbucks, where the global coffee chain began its journey in 1971 from humble beginnings at 1912 Pike Place in the busy cobblestone alleyways of the market. Everything in the store is original, from the floor to the fixtures and counters, even down to the brass labels used for the coffee bean bins. Expect a long queue for your cup of Joe and look out for Pork n’ Beans, a statue created locally for the 2001 Pigs on Parade competition that raised funds for the Pike Place Market Foundation.
6. Take an immersive tour of T-Mobile Park, the home of the Seattle Mariners Major League Baseball team. Tours are available on both match days and non-match days and take you behind the scenes of this state-of-the-art stadium. Expect to be shown around exclusive areas of the ballpark including the Press Box, Owners’ Suite, Field, Visitors’ Clubhouse and the All-Star Club. Special pre-game tours even let you watch the squad take its batting practice in the Right Field.
7. Kerry Park may not be the largest park in the city but it’s certainly one of the most famous. That’s mostly due to its stellar views of the Seattle skyline, which is best experienced at sunset when the lights go on and the buildings sparkle and shine. Similarly epic views of Elliott Bay and Mount Rainier can be enjoyed. Check out the park’s centrepiece too – Doris Chase’s 15-foot-tall Changing Form sculpture.