How to Make the Most of Seattle’s Waterfront Attractions?
Seattle’s waterfront area around Elliott Bay offers a great capturing view and dynamics that attracts many people, tourists mainly. There are many fun things to do here including visiting several places of interest, delicious places to eat and beautiful scenic views that offer a magnificent view of the surrounding environment, making this an exciting place to visit and spend the entire day. Here is how to make the most of your time along the parameter of the river or lake and have the wonderful Pacific Northwestern times of your life.
Take in the Views from the Seattle Great Wheel
To get a picturesque view of the waterfront, the mountains and the Seattle’s bay, just hop into the intriguing Seattle Great Wheel. This is a 175 feet tall Ferris wheel situated on the pier 57 and is equipped with fully enclosed climatic controlled cabins that are safe and comfortable for passengers and provide 360 degree view of the area. This is especially magical during the evening and at sunset, during the night the wheel is creatively lighted. Pro tip: It is better to buy your tickets online in advance to eliminate having to stand in line to buy the tickets.
Get Up Close to Marine Life at the Seattle Aquarium
Animal lovers should not miss the chance to visit Seattle Aquarium situated in pier 59. It is an enormous complex wherein the focus is on marine animals endemic to the Pacific Northwest, such as sea otters and Pacific octopuses. Tour the Underwater Dome and enjoy the view of the 400,000-gallon tank with salmon, sharks, and rockfish. To interact closely, you can reach out to touch anemones and sea cucumbers found in the low-tide rock pools. Look at the timetable, so, in case, you can attend educational speeches and feedings of animals.
Stroll & Admire Art at Olympic Sculpture Park
At the Olympic Sculpture Park, visitors can experience an extraordinary blend of art and nature: this is a free outdoor museum of sculpture with an area of 9 acres, which is under the control of the Seattle Art Museum. Located within a five-minute drive of the hotel, the fortress is accessible by car or bus and features a paved promenade featuring more than 20 large-scaled sculptures by such artists as Alexander Calder and Richard Serra as well as breathtaking views to Puget Sound and Olympic Mountains. Bring your sandwhich/bbq lunch for lunch on the lawn or beach area for a peaceful river side dining. Best to visit early morning or in the evening as the light falling on the structures is more spectacular and perfect for photo shooting.
Indulge in Fresh Seafood with a View
The city is a seaport city, what this means is that seafood is unbelievably fresh, and the waterfront is packed full of restaurants serving up meals with the seafood caught the same day, with added bonuses of scenic views of the bay. Savor fresh oysters on the terrace of one of Seattle’s most famous restaurants, Elliotts Oyster House or unpretentious Ivar’s Acres of Clams where fish & chips are the must taste. For a gourmet dinner, one of the finer dishes is the tasting menu at Six Seven Restaurant at The Edgewater Hotel themed on seafood and a great view. At the end of the day you might feel like you want to take a break from cleaning that is when you can take advantage of the services provided by one of the leading cleaning services in Seattle.
Get Out on the Water on a Cruise or Ferry
Some of the activities that you can engage in while visiting the places include going on a cruise or ferry.
To get an up-close, personal view of Seattle and its stunning water frontage and live busy port, venture onto Elliott Bay. Argosy Cruises has sightseeing cruises originating at Pier 55 ranging from a one-hour, historic/narrated cruise of the harbor to extended cruises that cover the Ballard Locks. Want a cheap but lovely event? Use the Washington State Ferry and head for Bainbridge Island; expect breathtaking views of Seattle skyline, Puget Sound islands, Mt. Rainier on a clear day.
Browse Unique Waterfront Shops & Boutiques
In between the sightseeing, detour to the many quaint shops lining the pier of almost all the historical places to grab some unique trinkets. On visited historic pier 54, there is a store known as Ye Olde Curiosity Shop that sells collectibles such as mummies and shrunken heads and artwork by seattle artist On the pier 56, there is Simply Seattle Shore store where you can find gifts souvenirs and wears which are uniquely seattle. Situated only a block away from the waterfront, the constantly buzzing Pike Place Market showcases a variety of products ranging from jewelry and local artwork to bouquets.
For a better waterfront experience, one should consider arriving early in the morning, this way no many people will be around and a good parking space will be easily found. For the piers it is advisable to put on comfortable pair of shoes and wear layers of clothes. It might be beneficial to purchase a Seattle CityPASS to deal with this situation and save on the entrance fee to such attractions as the Seattle aquarium and the Great Wheel. Selfie stick and cameras included because you’d want to take as many pictures as possible with the shiny bay and mountainous territories in the backdrop.
