15 Things to See and Do in Seattle, Washington

Seattle, Washington has long been known for the flying fish at Pike Place Market and the towering views from the top of the Space Needle, but there is so much more this city has to offer visitors. One of the easiest and most budget-friendly ways to see the highlights of Seattle is to purchase the Seattle CityPass. With admission to five of the top attractions, this is a great deal for the whole family.

The Space Needle is iconic and a can't miss, especially if this is your first visit to Seattle. A quick elevator ride to the top and you'll be rewarded with 360-degree views of the city. There's a café at the top with plenty of sitting room-even clear benches outside that may be a little much for those with a fear of heights. Walk down one floor and there is a rotating glass floor that allows you great views of the surrounding area.

Make sure to give yourself plenty of time to explore Chihuly Garden and Glass. Dale Chihuly is a famous glass artist creating beautiful sculptures out of colorful blown pieces of glass. His work is all over the world-featured in more than 200 museums-with special exhibits traveling to places like the Biltmore House in North Carolina.

Best known for the flying fish, Pike Place Market has so much more to offer. With stalls of fresh flowers, produce and meats, it's fun just to take a stroll through this area. There are plenty of places to eat, so I would encourage you to come around lunchtime-the market normally closes at 6 pm and 5 pm on Sundays. Of course you need to hang out by the fish stall, but you may be waiting a bit to see workers throwing fish-normally this is only done when someone actually buys some, and the area can get crowded waiting around for this.

Even if you're not a museum person, I would encourage you to visit the Museum of Pop Culture. There really is something of interest for everyone here. Currently their exhibits include Nirvana: Taking Punk to the Masses, Prince From Minneapolis, Fantasy: Worlds of Myth and Magic, Scared to Death: The Thrill of the Horror Film and more. There's even a Sound Lab where you can try out your own musical talent and a video game room dedicated to indie games from around the world.

The Museum of Flight is slightly outside of Seattle, but it's worth the drive. Dedicated to all things air and space, there are flight simulators, field tours of Boeing and more. This is the perfect place to bring your child if they are at interested in a life in the skies-there's even a pilot testing course where they can go through a one-hour training experience to see how they do as a pilot in a simulator.

Okay this may be a little gross to some, but it's also a great people-watching spot. This alley beneath Pike Place Market has its walls coated with chewed gum from patrons. The city even removed all the gum at one point, but it has since come back.

Yes it may seem a little cliché, but you have to grab a Starbucks coffee while in Seattle. The coffee tycoon is located everywhere, and there's even a Reserve Roastery. The original was located at Pike Place Market until 1976 but moved across the street and is still there today.

Enjoy planetarium shows, virtual reality experiences, a tropical butterfly house and more at the Pacific Science Center. This is a great stop for families and includes many interactive exhibits like the Tinker Tank to get those creative juices flowing. At night, Thursdays through Sundays, there's even a laser music show in the laser dome.

Located at Pier 57 sits the Seattle Great Wheel. Depending on the weather, you can get great views of the city and harbor. Plus, at night, the wheel will light up in an array of colors.

A must while visiting the area is to grab some local seafood. I highly recommend the chowder-especially if you can find it served in a locally made sourdough bread bowl-perfect for warming you up on a chilly day. The whole town is known for its seafood-especially the salmon.

My personal favorite outing while visiting was the Harbor Cruise. Included in the Seattle CityPass, the cruise took you in a wide loop around the city, giving great skyline views, explanations about current plans for expansion in the city, a little history of Seattle's industry and a chance to relax from all the walking you've probably done up until this point.

The Seattle Aquarium is located on Pier 59. There is a daily storytime and a chance to meet some of the marine mammals while they're being fed. Most of the animals that you can find in this aquarium are animals native to the area like sea otters, orcas and Puget Sound fish.

Just this past May, the Woodland Park Zoo welcomed Hasani, a baby giraffe. The zoo is filled with wildlife and exhibits like the Assam Rhino Reserve and Humboldt Penguins. Spend the afternoon enjoying learning more about these and other animals and the conservation programs the zoo is participating in-including ways you can help.

Although Mount Rainer sits at an elevation of over 14,000 feet just to the southeast of Seattle, it can actually be a little difficult to see. The mountain is often obscured by the cloudy weather of the area. But when you do catch sight of this active volcano-yes active, but currently at rest-it is a sight to behold.

It's fun to just walk through Waterfront Park in Seattle, located right at the harbor and running perpendicular to the piers. You'll find fun shops, delicious restaurants and beautiful views of the water. It's also the easiest way to get between attractions like the aquarium, Ferris wheel and where you catch the boat for the harbor cruise.