May 24, 2018
You and your luggage have spent an amazing week together on your Alaska adventure. But maybe it’s a good time for a temporary break from each other? You have an extra few hours or a day to spend in the Emerald City and your bags have already been whisked off to the airport by the nice folks at Port Valet. Now what? Seattle is your oyster (by the way … ours are tasty), so take some time to explore our beautiful and natural city. Your bags will be waiting for you when you arrive at the airport, checked through to your final destination. And we promise, your luggage won't hold a grudge and will want to hear all about the amazing things you saw in Seattle. The following great ideas are courtesy of our friends at Visit Seattle.
Seattle in Two Hours
Seattle’s a small and walkable city, so you can pack in a lot of adventure. And it’s easy to get to the airport from any of these places to reunite with your bags and take your flight home.
1. The Pike Place Market, the oldest continuously operating farmer’s market in the country
2. The Original Starbucks Store, which transformed coffee into a Big Deal
3. Beecher’s Handmade Cheese, where you can watch the artisanal cheese-making process. And have the most delicious tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwich of your life
4. Pioneer Square, Seattle’s first neighborhood dating from the Gold Rush
5. The Smith Tower, the city’s original skyscraper at 38 stories, and the tallest building west of the Mississippi when it was built in 1914
6. The Columbia Tower Sky View Observatory, the highest public observation deck on the West Coast at 902 feet high
7. The Seattle Art Museum, with permanent collections and rotating exhibitions spanning classic to contemporary art, just steps from the Pike Place Market
8. The Olympic Sculpture Park, an outdoor museum with world-class artwork and views of the Seattle waterfront
9. The Great Wheel, Seattle’s 175-foot tall Ferris wheel with epic glimpses of mountains and waterfront and mountains and waterfront
10. The Seattle Aquarium, where a giant Pacific octopus can’t wait to stare back at you
Get this full itinerary at Visit Seattle.
Seattle in Four Hours
Want to get the full flavor of the Emerald City in a half day? These iconic Seattle experiences will be enhanced by our (almost always) amazing summer weather. But always carry a raincoat. Because as the locals say, “If you don’t like the weather in Seattle, just wait five minutes.”
1. The Space Needle, Seattle’s most famous landmark, built in 1962 for the World’s Fair as a vision of the future
2. Bill Speidel’s Underground Tour, a hilarious and informative walking tour under the streets of the old city
3. Savor Seattle Food Tours, guided tours of the Pike Place Market and other foodie spots around the region
4. Chihuly Gardens and Glass, an indoor and outdoor celebration of Seattle artist Dale Chihuly’s work
5. The Pacific Science Center, with world-class exhibits about the physical and natural world, a planetarium, and an IMAX movie theater
6. The Museum of History and Industry (MOHAI), a museum about the culture and history of Seattle in a beautiful urban maritime setting
7. The Center for Wooden Boats, where you can celebrate the region’s maritime history, learn about boatbuilding, and rent a boat
8. Museum of Pop Culture (MoPop), a museum that grew from a rock and roll museum and now celebrates the risk-taking ideas that fuel contemporary pop culture
9. Take an Argosy Cruise around the harbor to view the working cargo ships and the downtown skyline, or through the Chittenden Locks to see historic Fishermen's Terminal
Get these itinerary ideas at Visit Seattle.
Seattle for Days
There’s so much to do — maybe you should stop and stay for a while! Input your travel dates, your travel style, and Visit Seattle will help you create a personalized itinerary. Or, get a map or a free visitors’ guide.
Photo credit: Visit Seattle/ Howard Frisk Photography
Learn more about Port Valet, a complimentary cruise luggage program sponsored by the Port of Seattle.
