So Your A Tourist in Seattle
If you have ever do any research on going to a new place and wanted to find things to do you might have come across a website called Tripadvisor.com where they publish a lot of different places and attractions you should visit while in a city or area. I recently looked at the top things to do in Seattle According to TripAdvisor and as a local I am going to re-rank them.
Here is the list of the 10 top ranked by the community from TripAdvisor:
- Chihuly Glass and Gardens
- Pike Place Market
- Space Needle
- The Museum of Flight
- Washington State Ferries
- Kerry Park
- T-Mobile Park
- Ballard Locks
- MoPop (Museum of Pop Culture)
- Sky View Observatory
My Analysis of this list:
The first thing that I see is things that can be combined, mostly things like Chihuly Glass and Gardens with the Space Needle since you can actually purchase a ticket bundle for both of them for around $60. Also, not mentioned in this list but on the their website ranked 15 is the “Seattle Center” which to get to the space needle you have to be in Seattle Center so those 3 can be combined. Add in the fact that MoPop is right there and you have 4 in one.
The second thing I see is an alternative, if you are not the biggest glass garden fan and didn’t want to spend the money to see it but still wanted a good view of the city the sky view observatory is a great option! For about the same price as the space needle, the sky view observatory will give you a $15 voucher to spend, a complimentary beverage, and reserved window seating the in restaurant. Of course, if you were only going for a little bit is also is only $25 for a standard ticket versus the $40 or so for the Space Needle.
The last thing I noticed is a lack of beaches, like I know that we aren’t know for our beaches because they aren’t really the most comfortable to walk on being all rocks most of the time but there are a couple nice sandy beaches (imported) that we have in Seattle that are worth taking a visit. On the full list, the do list Alki Beach at 14 and Golden Gardens Park at 48 but none of them make the top 10.
Here is My List:
- Pike Place Market and Waterfront
If you only have a few hours and can only do one thing touristy thing in Seattle, let it be arguably the most famous thing in Seattle, the Market. Combine that with great views and food on the waterfront and Seattle’s Great Wheel, it is a pretty safe bet to impress.
2. Seattle Center
This means space needle and the glass garden as well as the surrounding areas in the center of the city. The only reason this is as high as 2 is because Seattle center’s Armory and Benaroya Hall are always putting on different events and shows, otherwise it’s very much a one and done type of experience.
3. Alki Beach
It is more than just a nice beach, it’s its own community! If you have time to make a trip out to West Seattle, on a sunny day, Alki is a must. It has a great view of downtown Seattle (which makes for a great sunset) as well as some of the cities best restaurants and bars.
4. Kerry Park
If you ever search for a picture of Seattle on Google, what generally comes up is a picture from Kerry Park, one of the most famous outlooks over the city. Go here for a sunset and you will sure to be treated to one of the best images you might ever take.
5. Sky View Observatory
This in my mind is the better version of the space needle at least once you been in the space needle once. It is significantly cheaper and has more to offer in terms of drinks and a restaurant while maintaining that 360 degree view that people crave.
6. Washington State Ferries
Now if you have a enough time, taking a ferry ride from Seattle to any of the neighboring islands can be really fun and adventurous. But, recently and depending on which island you are traveling to, the ferries have been not as nice of an experience with delays and even some groundings.
7. The Museum of Flight
Even if you aren’t a huge fan of aviation, the museum of flight can offer you something. One of my favorite things is looking inside an Air Force One plan and seeing how different presidents used it.
8. Ballard Locks
Yes I think TripAdvisor got this one correct. The Ballard Locks are really important to the history of Seattle as well as really interesting to learn about wildlife here. You might even get to see them open the lock when you go!
9. Gas Works Park
So this is another one that TripAdvisor didn’t have ranked in the top 10 but to me a nice day at Gas Works is sometimes what the doctor ordered. Known for being a great place to view fourth of July fireworks Gas Works has a lot of charm but can be overly crowded.
10. Kubota Garden
Another place not mentioned by TripAdvisor, this garden is the home of some amazing plants and animals. A great place to take pictures and escape from the city, Kubota Garden is one of the best garden’s in Seattle.