From the city guide, checked October 28, 2026.
Space Needle
The Space Needle at 400 Broad St. opened on April 21, 1962, the first day of the World's Fair; the basic tower took about eight months to build. Since 2018 The Loupe, billed as the world's first rotating glass floor, sits below the upper observation level. Tickets are timed in 15-minute windows, and the trip from the entrance to the top takes about 30 minutes. The combo ticket with Chihuly Garden and Glass lets you visit the glass exhibition any time the same day.
Pike Place Market
Pike Place Market has operated since 1907 on nine historic acres in the center of downtown, at 85 Pike Street. It holds more than 220 independent shops and restaurants, 70-plus farmers, 180-plus craftspeople and permitted street performers, and it is open 363 days a year. Piroshky Piroshky, the Russian bakery listed below, is at 1908 Pike Place.
Chihuly Garden and Glass
An exhibition of Dale Chihuly's glass at 305 Harrison St., next to the Space Needle at Seattle Center: eight galleries, the Glasshouse and an outdoor garden. Most visitors spend one to two hours, and a downloadable audio tour is included with every visit. The Seattle Center Monorail runs from Westlake Station.
Museum of Pop Culture (MoPOP)
MoPOP at 325 5th Ave N, also at Seattle Center, fills about 140,000 square feet over three floors with music, film and science fiction. It is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Washington residents get 15% off with ID, and a ticket allows re-entry the same day.
Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park
The Seattle unit is inside the historic Cadillac Hotel at 319 Second Ave S. in Pioneer Square. This National Park Service visitor center tells the story of the Klondike Gold Rush and Seattle's role in it: after 1897 the city became the main outfitting point for prospectors. It shows the park film, with ranger programs in summer (park page on nps.gov).
Discovery Park
Seattle's largest park, 560 acres, at 3801 Discovery Park Blvd. in Magnolia. It covers most of the former Fort Lawton army post; below the bluffs are about two miles of protected tidal beaches and the West Point Lighthouse from 1881, visible from the South Beach Trail. Hours are 4:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. The visitor center is closed until summer 2027 after a water main break, and a free beach shuttle runs through November 1, 2026 (seattle.gov).
Gas Works Park
At 2101 N Northlake Way on the north shore of Lake Union. People fly kites from the big hill, which looks straight at downtown; there is a sundial and a play barn. Hours are 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Swimming, wading, fishing and launching boats are not allowed because the lake sediment here is contaminated. The Burke-Gilman Trail runs past the parking lot.
Kerry Park
A small viewpoint on the south slope of Queen Anne Hill at 211 W Highland Dr. It looks over Elliott Bay, downtown and the Space Needle, with Mount Rainier behind on clear days. Crowds gather at sunset and after dark when the tower is lit. Open 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
The Museum of Flight
At 9404 East Marginal Way South in south Seattle. Open daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; the Aviation Pavilion aircraft can be seen from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free from 5 to 9 p.m. on the first Thursday of every month, and children 4 and under are always free. Closed on Thanksgiving (November 26, 2026) and December 25.
Mount Rainier National Park
A day trip from Seattle. For GPS the Park Service suggests 39000 State Route 706 E, Ashford, the Nisqually Entrance, which is the only vehicle access in winter, on the road to Paradise. A private vehicle pays $30 for seven days, the park's annual pass is $55, and no timed-entry reservation is required in 2026. The Paradise visitor center is open year-round with shorter winter hours, while Sunrise is generally open July to mid-September (nps.gov). Fees checked October 28, 2026 on nps.gov.