A natural oasis in the middle of Seattle, Woodland Park encompasses manicured landscapes, walking paths, rose gardens, and a zoo. Home to diverse species of wildlife, Woodland Park Zoo is indisputably the park’s main attraction. Visitors can also enjoy outdoor recreation areas, picnic spots, and lakeside strolls.
At 2.5 miles in total, the Ape Cave Lava Tube system contains the longest continuous lava tube in the country and the third-longest in North America. Two tubes make up the Ape Caves, the upper being the largest and the lower being the easier tube to explore. The area also features a magnificent view of nearby Mount St. Helens.
Perched by a working airfield, the Future of Flight Aviation Center & Boeing Factory offers a chance to explore the history and future of flight; then, peek behind the scenes at a sprawling factory where cutting-edge aircraft are built. The Aviation Center features interactive exhibits, including a flight simulator, while tours of the Boeing Factory next door let you see planes being made on a massive 777 assembly line.
High-tech exhibits in this free visitor center highlight the foundation’s philanthropic work around the world, with displays on issues including global poverty, infectious disease, and water access. Interactive features let visitors explore the data behind each of these problems, with the chance to brainstorm solutions and create a media campaign.
Since 1971, the Hard Rock Cafe has centered people around tasty food, a love of music, and a high-energy atmosphere—a fitting focus for a city that cradled music giants, such as Jimi Hendrix, Nirvana, and Sir Mix-a-Lot. Downtown Seattle got its own Hard Rock Cafe in a LEED-certified building in February of 2010.
Think of it as America’s Amazon. The Hoh Rain Forest is one of the best temperate rainforests in the US, with spectacular old-growth spruces, redwoods, and firs growing up to 300 feet (91 meters). Within Olympic National Park, this mossy marvel is easy to access for those with a car, a park pass, and a readiness to get a little damp.
Puget Sound is a complex of inlets, bays, and harbors that includes not only Seattle, but also Tacoma, Olympia, and plenty of charming little towns and unique islands. The region is home to sparkling blue waters, lush green forests, sandy beaches, and a relaxed, slow-paced way of life.
The tallest mountain in Washington State and in the Cascade Range, Mt. Rainier towers over the surrounding landscape and can be admired from Seattle. An active volcano that’s home to an extensive glacier system, it’s a popular year-round destination for outdoorsy types, who come to hike, ski, camp, and otherwise soak in the picture-perfect Pacific Northwest scenery.
A busy United States cruise terminal in the Pacific Northwest, the Seattle Cruise Port is a gateway to the lively coastal city. There are two different ports of entry at Bell Street Pier Cruise Terminal—at Pier 66 and the Smith Cove Cruise Terminal at Pier 91. Either way, you're a few minutes away from the heart of Seattle.
Seattle’s hip, thriving Seattle waterfront neighborhood of Ballard is home to landmarks such as the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks (commonly known as the Ballard Locks), Golden Gardens Park, the Nordic Heritage Museum, and the Shilsole Bay Marina. It also boasts some of Seattle’s best restaurants, pubs, shops, spas, and parks.
Connecting the Thea Foss Waterway and downtown Tacoma to the Museum of Glass, the 500-foot (152-meter) Chihuly Bridge of Glass just might be the most scenic pedestrian bridge in the US. Visitors will cross under a rainbow sea, witness thousands of Chihuly glassworks, and admire glass blown into towering rock candy. If nothing else, it’s one of Tacoma’s best photo ops.
Just north of downtown and packed with boutiques, restaurants, and bars, the vibrant Seattle neighborhood of Belltown bustles with activity day and night. The densely populated area is considered one of the most walkable neighborhoods in the United States, making it an ideal place to explore on foot.
With a focus on Asian-American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander art and history, the community-based Wing Luke Museum showcases stories spanning oceans and generations. The diverse experiences of Asian Americans in the Pacific Northwest are displayed across three floors of exhibitions covering traditional culture, cutting-edge arts, and music. Offerings extend beyond the museum walls, and museum admissions include tours of the surrounding Chinatown-International District.
At 50 miles (80 kilometers) long, being on Lake Chelan almost feels like relaxing in the fjords of Norway. It’s no wonder this Washington spot has long been a resort “town”—and it now boasts a wine scene as recognized as its views. Welcome to one of the Pacific Northwest’s most beloved getaways.
Legend has it that Chief Seattle of the Suquamish American Indian tribe, after whom Seattle was named, was born on Blake Island, wild, forested land off made up of thickly wooded trails, a campground, and moorage for boats. American Indian history can be explored in Tillicum Village, where traditional cultural experiences are offered.
The Flying Heritage & Combat Armor Museum (FHCAM) is home to the world’s largest display of vintage planes and tanks, offering visitors the chance to view military artifacts from across the globe and even see the relics in action. The military vessels are displayed in working hangers and sometimes taken out for special demonstrations.
Showcasing the Seattle Art Museum’s collection of art from across Asia, the Seattle Asian Art Museum is housed in a 1930s Art Deco landmark building in Volunteer Park. Historic and modern works ranging from Korean wedding robes to modernist sculpture highlight the breadth and depth of the museum’s offerings. The surrounding 48-acre (19.5-hectare) park has places to play, picnic, and walk.
The Northwest African American Museum explores the history, culture, and artistic traditions of Black communities in the Pacific Northwest. Diverse stories star in exhibits spanning abstract painting and civil rights heritage: Permanent and temporary installations go from the era of trans-Atlantic slavery to recent waves of immigration that brought people to Seattle neighborhoods from Somalia, Sudan, and Ethiopia.
Arguably the world’s most famous coffee chain, Starbucks got its start in 1971 in downtown Seattle—it’s one of the reasons the city is synonymous with coffee. There’s often a line out the door at what’s called the original location, with coffee drinkers eager to say they’ve had a cup of joe at the birthplace of a worldwide phenomenon.
