Pike Place Market
Any visit to Seattle is incomplete without checking out the iconic Pike Place Market . Shops galore . Fresh produce is everywhere . Handmade jewelry , plus trinkets , and any Seattle souvenir imaginable is at hand . Lot ’ s of restaurants , too . Of course there ’ s nothing like watching the fish mongers work their magic playing catch with a whole salmon — that in of itself is worth stopping and checking out . You can also stop in and order yourself a latte from the original Starbucks coffee house ( prepare to wait in line ). Plenty of street musicians to boot . And the people watching is priceless . And be sure to find the gum wall ; that might be the best attraction of all in a quirky Seattle kind of way .
WHEN TO VISIT The market is open daily from 9 am to 6 pm and 9 am to 5 pm on Sundays . pikeplacemarket . org
Ferris Wheel / Seattle Waterfront
Seattle ’ s waterfront 100 years ago was lined with steam ships bound for places like the Orient and Alaska . It was a rough and tumble place . Today , the waterfront still has plenty of ships , only their cruise ships coming and going to faraway places . One must-stop is the giant ferris wheel found on Pier 57 . At its peak you ’ ll look out across the Puget Sound 175 feet in the air . The views are truly spectacular , especially if you catch a ride on a sunny day . The ferris wheel , which opened in 2012 , is a nice detour from the hustle and bustle of the waterfront , and it ’ s a short walk from the Pike Place Market .
WHEN TO VISIT Daily summer hours are 10 am to 11 pm Sunday through Thursday and 10 am to midnight Friday and Saturday . seattlegreatwheel . com
Safeco Field / Seattle Mariners
Watch Seattle ’ s professional baseball team battle for a division title in the American League West at Safeco Field , one of the premiere stadiums in the MLB . With players like Robinson Cano , Felix Hernandez , Kyle Seager , Nelson Cruz and Kete Marte sporting Mariner blue you ’ ll experience a slice of Americana — Seattle style . There ’ s not a bad seat in the house even when it rains ( because it does rain in Seattle ). Thanks to the retractable roof you ’ ll stay dry . Plan accordingly and you can walk away with a bobble head doll or a t-shirt during one of the Mariners game when they give away free souvenirs .
WHEN TO VISIT Now through the end of the season , which ends the first weekend in October with a home stand against Oakland . Check out the schedule online . seattlemariners . com
Museum of Flight
With Boeing as one of the central figures in the shaping of Seattle ’ s history , a trip to the Museum of Flight is in order when you visit Seattle . Countless airplanes are on display here ranging from planes from the pre-1900s to modern-day jets , all of which are a must-see for any flight enthusiast . There are also mockups and replicas from Apollo 17 mission , to lunar roving vehicles , to satellites . Give yourself plenty of time because there ’ s so much to see and experience .
WHEN TO VISIT Museum and airpark are open daily from 9 am to 5 pm . museumofflight . org kenmoreair . com
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