Seattle offers an impressive array of free or affordable attractions. Additionally, savvy travelers take advantage of some major seasonal and year-around sightseeing, dining and accommodations packages.
SEATTLE SUPER SAVER
The Seattle Super Saver program offers an alternative to the mega online hotel bookers with a best available rate guarantee at more than 90 top Seattle hotels. Seattle Super Saver, operated by Seattle's Convention and Visitors Bureau, features a preferred guestroom inventory as well as special rates on suites and additional value-added offers at participating hotels. Book at www.seattlesupersaver.com or call (800) 535-7071 (from inside the U.S. and Canada) or (206) 461-5882 (from outside the U.S. and Canada). Phone reservationists personally inspect each property and can advise of hotel features and location, as well as make bookings. Reservation lines are open 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (Pacific Time), Monday through Friday; and 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
SEATTLE CityPass
Visitors wanting the "full Seattle experience" often choose to purchase a CityPass to get the most for their money. Included in the CityPass are admission tickets to many of Seattle's most popular attractions including the Museum of Flight, Pacific Science Center, Seattle Aquarium, Woodland Park Zoo and an Argosy Cruises Harbor Tour. If purchased separately, the admission to these attractions would total $79.25.
As a part of CityPass, the cost is just $39.50 for adults and $24 for children. A CityPass can be purchased at the Citywide Concierge and Visitor Center or any of the attractions mentioned above. For more information, visit www.citypass.com.
GO SEATTLE CARD
The all-inclusive Go Seattle Card grants visitors admission to more than 30 of the area's top attractions and tours. Offered by Smart Destinations, the credit-card-sized Go Seattle Card offers simplified access to attractions for a fixed, per-day price (cards are available for one, two, three, five or seven days). Cards are accompanied by Seattle guidebooks and maps to help orient and guide visitors to participating attractions. Savings of up to 20 percent are offered by the card which sells for a low price of $55 for an adult one-day card and $39 for a one-day child card. The card offers admission the Space Needle, Underground Tour, Experience Music Project, Gray Line City Sights Tour, Museum of Flight and other top Seattle attractions. Travelers may purchase the discount card online at www.GoSeattleCard.com.
BEVERAGE TASTING
Bainbridge Island Vineyards and Winery - You will find this small, family run vineyard and winery just a 35-minute ferry trip across Puget Sound. Bainbridge Island Vineyards and Winery is the only winery in the Seattle area that grows all of their own grapes on location. A guided tour through the vineyard is available Sundays at 2:00 p.m. Wine tasting featuring eight wines is offered Friday through Sunday 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Four wines can be tasted for $3.00. For more information visit www.bainbridgevineyards.com or call (206) 842-9463.
Winery Tours and Tasting - Located in Woodinville, a Seattle suburb. Free.
Chateau Ste. Michelle - (425) 415-3633, www.ste-michelle.com
Columbia Winery - (425) 488-2776, www.columbiawinery.com
Hedges Cellars - (425) 391-6056, www.hedgescellars.com
Silver Lake Sparkling Cellars - (425) 486-1900, www.silverlakewinery.com
Redhook Brewery - Puget Sound's largest microbrewery offers tours and brew tasting for $1.00. The tour of this Woodinville brewery includes tasting of four beers and a complimentary beer glass. For more information visit www.redhook.com or call (425) 483-3232.
Pyramid Brewery - Located across from Safeco Field, Pyramid Brewery offers free tours and tasting on Saturday and Sunday at 1:00, 2:00 & 4:00 p.m. For more information visit www.pyramidbrew.com or call (206) 682-3377.
Caffé Appassionato - With locations throughout Seattle, visit a Caffé Appassionato and see the coffee roasting process first hand and enjoy samples of some of their finest blends at their tasting bar. Free. For more information visit www.caffeappasionato.com or call 1-888-502-2333.
ATTRACTIONS
Pike Place Market - Established in 1907, Pike Place Market is one of the oldest continuously-operated farmers market in the U.S. Enjoy samples of local foods from vendors and be entertained by street musicians. Entrance to the market is free, street performers gladly accept donations. For more information visit www.pikeplacemarket.org.
Glass Art Displays - Various locations throughout downtown Seattle have displays of glass art for viewing. Some places to see these exhibits include: the U.S. Bank Building at 5th & Pike, The Sheraton Hotel at 6th & Pike, Benaroya Hall at 3rd & University and various galleries. Free.
University of Washington Campus Tours - You don't have to be a student to take this free tour of the UW campus. The 90-minute walking tour allows visitors a glimpse of Red Square with its gothic style buildings, Drumheller Fountain, Husky Stadium and other notable sights. Spring is an especially beautiful time to visit when the cherry trees on campus are in bloom. Free. For more information click here.
Fremont Sunday Market - Host to more than 100 vendors from around the region who bring fresh flowers and produce, crafts and world imports Sundays from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. in the winter and 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. in the summer, rain or shine. Browse the flea market in search of the rare or funky or eat in one or the neighborhood bistros. Free. For more information visit www.fremontmarket.com/fremont.
Seattle Mariners' Safeco Field - Visit the home of the Seattle Mariners. Tour includes areas of the ballpark that are not normally open to the public: press box, luxury suites, field, dugout and visitor's clubhouse. Adult tickets are $8.00 and children tickets are $6.00. Hours vary; tickets can be purchased by calling (206) 622-4427.
Seattle Seahawks' Qwest Field - Visit the home of the Seattle Seahawks. Tour allows fans to experience Qwest Field like never before by sitting in a luxury suite, suiting up in the visitor's locker room, and eventually setting foot right on the same next-generation playing surface as Seahawks players. Adult tickets are $7.00 and children tickets are $5.00. Hours vary; to check availability call (206) 381-7582.
ENTERTAINMENT
Out to Lunch Concerts - Free public concerts in Seattle's downtown parks and plazas nearly every lunchtime during the summer. Groups range from classical to rock and jazz. Free. For more information visit www.downtownseattle.com.
Seattle Center - 74-acre park that was the site of the 1962 world's fair and now the city's cultural center - location of the Space Needle, Seattle Opera House, Seattle Repertory Theatre, Intiman Theatre, Children's Museum, Children's Theater, Fun Forest Amusement Park, Pacific Science Center and Experience Music Project. Entrance to the Seattle Center grounds is free. For more information visit www.seattlecenter.com.
Northwest Folklife Festival - One of the largest folk festivals in the country - arts, crafts, music, food, performers - on the grounds of the Seattle Center, Memorial Day weekend. Free. For more information visit www.nwfolklife.org.
Pioneer Square Artwalk - A long-standing tradition among art lovers and one of the most successful regular gallery tours in the nation. Take time to meander thorough Pioneer Square's galleries on the first Thursday of the month from 6:00-8:00 p.m., appreciating the art and sampling wine and hors d'oeuvres some galleries have to offer. Free. For more information visit www.pioneersquare.org/first_thursday.html.
MUSEUMS
Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park - Actually a museum dedicated to the Klondike Gold Rush of 1897, this is one half of a two-part park; the other half is in Skagway, Alaska. Visitor Center and Museum open daily from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Free. For more information visit www.nps.gov/klgo.
Coast Guard Museum - Collection of Coast Guard memorabilia, uniforms, guns; when not on duty, Arctic icebreakers are usually moored nearby.Located on the Seattle waterfront at Pier 36. Open Monday, Wednesday, and Friday 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Free. For more information click here.
Seattle Art Museum - Free on first Thursday of the month. Major Asian, African and Pacific Northwest art collections. Closed Mondays; open Tuesday through Sunday 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. on Thursday and Friday. For more information visit www.seattleartmuseum.org.
Seattle Asian Art Museum - Largest collections of Japanese, Korean and Chinese artwork. Located in Volunteer Park on Capitol Hill. Free on the first Thursday and Saturday of each month. Closed Mondays; open Tuesday through Sunday 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. on Thursday and Friday. For more information click here.
Frye Art Museum - This museum houses a large collection of German and American art as well as others. Free but donations are appreciated. Closed Mondays; open Tuesday through Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, and 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Friday. For more information visit www.fryeart.org.
Museum of Flight - This museum is considered one of the foremost flight museums in the world. Walk within inches of a Blackbird spy plane or board the original Air Force One. Free from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. on the first Thursday of every month. Open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. For more information visit www.museumofflight.org.
Experience Music Project and Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame - Museums co-located with $15.00 admission allowing access to both museums. Free on the first Thursday of each month from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Open daily; summer hours are 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. and Winter hours are 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. For more information visit www.emplive.org and www.sfhomeworld.org.
SCENIC PARKS
Seattle boasts many parks that offer stunning views of the city, Elliott Bay, Mt. Rainier and the Olympic Mountains, or just a quiet shady retreat from the fast-paced city. Pack a picnic lunch of fresh fruits, meats and cheese from Pike Place Market and enjoy Seattle from off-the-beaten path.
Olympic Sculpture Park - The nine-acre park unifying the Belltown neighborhood in downtown and the waterfront features a 2,500-foot, descending, z-shaped pedestrian path leading to a beach on the waterfront. With sweeping views of the Puget Sound and Olympic Mountains, the path takes visitors past sculptures and major works by world-renowned artists such as Richard Serra, Alexander Calder and Mark di Suvero. Open daily; summer hours are 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. and winter hours are 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Free of charge. For more information visit www.seattleartmuseum.org
Hiram M. Chittenden Locks - One of the city's most popular visitor attractions, locks raise and lower boats between salt and fresh water between 6 to 26 feet. Watch salmon make their way up the fish ladder from the viewing window (sometimes you may catch a sea lion hunting for a meal) or just watch pleasure boats go through the locks. Free. For more information visit click here.
Washington Park Arboretum - The Arboretum collects, conserves and teaches about plants that are hardy to the Northwest. Its 230 acres are filled with 10,000 native plants and its landscape is an excellent setting for hands-on learning and recreation. The Arboretum is recognized as one of the most beautiful and diverse collections in the western United States. Free. For more information visit www.depts.washington.edu/wpa.
Japanese Gardens - Located at the south end of Washington Park Arboretum, this garden contains native Japanese flowers, shrubs and trees and is open to the public March 1-November 30. Chado, a traditional Japanese tea ceremony, is presented free with admission on the third Saturday of the month, April-October at 1:30 p.m. Garden admission is $5 for adults and $3 for children, students and seniors. For more information click here.
Discovery Park & Daybreak Star Indian Center - Situated in Seattle's Magnolia neighborhood, Discovery Park is the perfect urban retreat. Spend the day exploring 534 acres of wooded trails where small animals hide among native plants. Open meadows and bluffs overlook Puget Sound and the Olympic Mountains. Stop by the Daybreak Star Indian Center to view original Native American arts and crafts. Free of charge. Open daily from dawn to dusk. For more information click here.
Kerry Park - This small grassy strip on Upper Queen Anne offers a picture-perfect view of Seattle Center, Downtown Seattle and Elliott Bay. On clear days Mt. Rainier looms aboveproviding a stunning backdrop. Free of charge. For more information click here.
Volunteer Park - Look down upon the city from this prime location on Capitol Hill. This park is home to the Seattle Asian Art Museum. Be sure to climb the water tower for "the best free view in Seattle," as voted by readers of the Seattle Weekly. Free of charge. For more information click here.
TRANSPORTATION
Metro Buses - Exploring downtown is easy by Metro Transit's Ride Free Zone. For those who want to explore outside the downtown area, the fare is $1.25 for adults and $.50 for children 5-17 years of age between off-peak hours and $1.50 adults, $.50 children during peak hours. All-day passes are also available on weekends. For more information visit www.transit.metrokc.gov.
Seattle Monorail - For a quick, inexpensive trip between downtown Seattle and Seattle Center try the monorail. A round trip ticket is $4 for adults, $1.50 for children and $2 for seniors. Terminals are located on the upper level of Westlake Center and at the Seattle Center near the Space Needle. Hours are from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. For more information visit www.seattlemonorail.com.
OUT ON THE WATER
Washington State Ferries - Take a scenic ferry ride across Puget Sound to Bainbridge Island or Bremerton from downtown Seattle. Ferries depart from Colman Dock on the Seattle waterfront. Cost is $6.70 passenger/walk on only, round trip. For more information visit www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries.
Home : Media 
