Seattle Sampler

ON FOOT
Start your morning on a three-hour Seattle City Tour. Discover the many facets of the Emerald City as you tour the downtown business and shopping district, historic Pioneer Square, and the vibrant Chinatown-International District. Drive along the shores of Lake Washington and through the 200-acre University of Washington Arboretum. Visit the Hiram M. Chittenden Government Locks and fish ladder, which connect our many freshwater lakes to the saltwater Puget Sound and allow salmon to migrate upstream. Return to downtown Seattle via Magnolia and Queen Anne, two areas that offer spectacular views of Seattle, Mt. Rainier, Puget Sound, and the Olympic Mountains.

Lunch can be independent or organized in one of our many fine restaurants in Pioneer Square, Pike Place Market, Chinatown-International District, Seattle Center, or the bustling Seattle downtown or waterfront. downloadable Dining Guide

After lunch, stroll above and below ground in Seattle's old Pioneer Square, a 30-block National Historic District. Hear tales of the colorful characters who shaped Seattle's rough and tumble history on the 1 and a half hour Underground Tour. Stroll tree-lined streets bordered by graceful old buildings and antique street lamps. Explore more than 100 art galleries, antique shops, boutiques and specialty stores.

Spend the remainder of the afternoon exploring Seattle's world-famous Pike Place Market, the oldest continually-operating farmers market in America. More than 300 shops and restaurants, 100 farmers, 150 craftspeople - and 50 street performers - call Pike Place Market home.

AFLOAT
Tillicum Village excursions depart by chartered vessel from Seattle's Central Waterfront, Piers 55/56. Cruising to Blake Island State Park, the site of Tillicum's authentically reproduced longhouse, you'll enjoy a narrated tour and spectacular views. A member of Tillicum's Native American staff greets you upon arrival, serving an appetizer of steamed clams and nectar. Once inside, you'll see whole salmon baking in the traditional manner on cedar stakes around an alder fire. After a salmon feast, the stage show "Dance on the Wind" brings to life the myth and magic of Native American legends. There's plenty of time left on this four-hour adventure to explore forested trails and beaches.

For a sit-down, fine dining on-the-water experience, make dinner (or lunch) reservations on the "Royal Argosy," a cooperative effort of Argosy Cruises and Consolidated Restaurants. Christened in 1999, this 180-foot (55 meter) ship offers prepared-to-order regional cuisine, elegant décor and ever-changing views of Puget Sound. Argosy Cruises also operates Seattle Harbor Tours, offering lake cruises from both the Seattle and Kirkland waterfronts, special events and theme cruises.

You can easily get between many of the attractions and dining options listed above on a Double Decker Tour by Gray Line of Seattle. You'll get a tour of the downtown, Seattle Center and Pioneer Square areas as well as having the opportunity to hop on and off at any of eleven stops. You can also explore the downtown shopping district or catch a Washington State Ferry to Bainbridge Island or Bremerton.

If you're looking for a unique way to see the Emerald City, tour Seattle by land and sea on a WWII amphibious landing craft! Ride the Ducks is a party on wheels... that floats! You'll see all the major sights of Seattle and then, splash into Lake Union for a breath-taking view of the skyline, the Sleepless in Seattle houseboat and Gasworks Park! Your Coast Guard-certified Captain will quack you up with historical information, local folklore and just plain fun! It's a great experience for the entire family!

Choose Waterways Cruises for a different dining experience, departing from the south shore of Lake Union (just north of downtown). More than 100 dining, entertainment, and special event cruises are open to the public in their Signature Dining Cruise series.

BY RAIL
For a change of pace, take a Spirit of Washington Dinner Train excursion, which glides along the eastern shore of Lake Washington while you enjoy gourmet cuisine and award-winning wines. The 44-mile (70 km) roundtrip also includes a one-hour stop at a winery in Woodinville, with time to enjoy a tour.

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