Seattle, WA
Whether you are servicing out of KBFI or KSEA, downtown Seattle may be one of the most activity-saturated city centers you could touchdown in for a layover. Plan to walk up and down some formidable hills getting to and from your hotel but enjoy the hidden gems you will discover as you navigate the labyrinth of Seattle’s undulating grid.
Make the most of a couple of hours:
Central Public Library - it’s a work of art on the outside let alone the treasures it hold inside. Walk by or walk in, but you’ll appreciate it either way.
Pioneer Square - Buskers and coffee shops and people watching galore! Tie down in the center of it all and sip some cold brew while the city bustles around you.
The Great Wheel - Look at it, ride on it, eat at one of the fine restaurants underneath it and revel in the idea that it’s all built directly on top of the water.
Maximize half a day:
Space Needle - Technically you could walk there but it might feel like a haul from your hotel depending on where you’re based for the night. Can be seen from afar but attractions lie within. Was it built for the 1962 World’s Fair or Did the Men in Black have it figured out?
Pike Place Market - Where ABC gum on a wall is a tourist attraction. Also don’t miss the fish butchers spectacle and the countless eats, drinks, and looks.
Underground Tour - a 75 minute walking tour cataloging the history of the city below the city. That’s right, Seattle was built twice!
24 hours or more!?
Ballard Locks - you’ll need a transport for this one but it’s well worth the trip if you have the time. How do boats pass from lake to sea? At the locks, you’ll find out.
Museum of Flight - okay so this one was off my radar but now that I know its there, how could I not want to spend a day touring “one of the largest air and space collections in the country?”
T-Mobile Park - If you’re fortunate enough to be in town for a Mariners or Seahawks home game, treat yourself to some pro sports action while you sample the appetizers like a true veteran.