Seattle: What to Know and Where to Go
Looking to spend a day in Seattle before or after your Alaskan cruise? Read ahead and learn how to tackle the SEA-TAC airport, find a good meal and navigate the Emerald City of the west with my family.
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Getting to Seattle
You can arrive to the city of Seattle by almost every form of transportation out there! The SEA-TAC (Seattle Tacoma) Airport is even a stop on the city’s Light Rail line.
SEATAC Airport
I’ve been to a lot of major airports in my day, but the SEATAC airport was…overwhelming and huge. Be prepared for a lot of walking, especially if taking the Light Rail from the airport into the city. Of note for the airport:
- SEATAC participates in Hidden Disabilities Sunflower awareness This is a way for neurodivergent people as well as people with invisible physical disabilities to be identified in the airport as people who may require extra assistance.
- Departing SEATAC? You can reserve a scheduled time to go through TSA for FREE! I highly, highly recommend taking part in this program. The lines for security often snake through the airport. With the SEA Spot Saver reservation, my family of 5 was in and out of the security line in less than 5 minutes.
- Along with the usual airport transportation options ( taxi, rideshare, hotel shuttle, etc.) SEATAC is also a stop on Seattle’s Light Rail line. This is the city’s train system. While getting to this area from the Delta terminal was a bit of a hike, buying a ticket was very easy at the machines near the station.
Arriving by Cruise Ship
If you arrive to the Port of Seattle via cruise ship, you will be arriving to the waterfront of the city. NCL ships dock at Pier 66. If you plan to hang out in this area post-cruise, there is a very convenient luggage storage area directly at the south end of the cruise terminal building. Follow the crowd to luggage pick-up and when you exit be on the lookout for a Crew Center sign. This is where you can store your luggage for the day. Be sure to double check their hours. At my last check, bags must be picked up by 3pm and the rate is $5.00 per bag.
If you need transportation back to the airport from the cruise terminal, I highly suggest Seattle Express car service. They provided excellent communication and were even able to pick us up earlier than I had reserved. We had a large air conditioned luxury van with water bottles provided and Pier to Hotel service.
*Be smarter than me- As this was my first time in the Northwest of the United States, it had for some reason not occurred to me that Seattle would be filled with hills. Duh.
Taking the Light Rail from the airport was great and inexpensive transportation. However, the walk from the University Street Station to the Seattle Marriott Waterfront Hotel was about 20 minutes of up and down steep hills-with 3 exhausted kids-with luggage-in 80 degree weather. The sidewalks are filled with people as you are walking through the congested city streets and there was no easy and direct path down to the waterfront.
Either plan ahead mentally for this or find a rideshare option directly to the hotel if its in the budget.
Where to Stay in Seattle
Are you in town for a cruise? The most convenient hotel to the NCL dock is (as mentioned above) the Seattle Marriot Waterfront. This beautiful hotel is just a 3 minute walk to the dock!
Another choice would be the famous Edgewater Hotel. Stay in the Beatles suite and imagine how the band fished out of their windows in 1964!
The city is spread out, be sure to think about your transportation choices when booking a hotel and planning your activities.
What to do in Seattle
Seattle City Pass
Seattle literally has something for everyone. If you’re looking to check off some of the city’s quintessential sites, check out the City Pass. The Seattle City Pass includes admission to the Space Needle and Seattle Aquarium, as well as your choice of admission to three of the following:
- Chihuly Garden and Glass
- Argosy Cruises Harbor Tour
- Museum of Pop Culture (MOPOP)
- Woodland Park Zoo
- Pacific Science Center
Interested in Chihuly but live in the Midwest? Look no further than the Indianapolis Children’s Museum!
Tour a National Park
Seattle is nearby three National Parks. You will either need a rental car or to book a tour that provides transportation to visit the National Parks from the city center.
- North Cascades National Park-107 miles (2.5 hours) from Seattle
- Olympic National Park- From Seattle you can take the Ferry route (84 miles and 2.75 hours) or drive (180 miles and 2.75 hours).
- Mount Rainier National Park- 75 miles (1.75 hours) from Seattle
Read all about our day tour to Mount Rainier National Park here!
Visit Seattle’s Famous Waterfront
Looking for the infamous fish market? A fresh cup of Starbuck’s? You’re thinking of Seattle’s Pike Place Market on the Waterfront. Here are all of the things to see in this area-
Seattle’s Pike Market
Are you old enough to remember MTV’s The Real World? That is the first thing I think of when I see the sign for Pike Place Market! Visit early in the morning before the crowds of the day creep in. Entry is free and the market stalls will become shoulder to shoulder. Enjoy fresh produce, gorgeous flowers, handmade items and of course the fish market.
The fishmongers will do the famous fish-toss several times a day, sometimes they even let a lucky patron take part!
Looking for something to eat at Pike Place? Get inspired from this The Try Guys video where Keith eats from every stall at the market!
My little guy even got in on the action and bought himself a fresh pear to enjoy as a snack.
Shopping
If you haven’t gotten your fill of shopping at the Market, across the street are more shops. Several boutiques and cafes dot the surrounding area. Be sure to stop in The Purple Store. Everything in this eclectic store is purple!
The Gum Wall
Just down the ramp from Pike Place is the Seattle Gum Wall. In place since the 1990s, this is actually an entire alley filled with…old chewed up gum…
Shockingly, this is not my first experience with a gum wall, but it was a first for the rest of my family. They were appalled and disgusted. There’s no accounting for taste. LOL! Bring gum with you and add your DNA to the wall!
The Seattle Great Wheel and Pier Attractions
We are not usually ones for Ferris wheels and over-priced merry-go-rounds (other than at Disney of course…) but riding the Great Wheel was the one thing our youngest asked for after a day of being dragged around the city. The carriages had intermittent air conditioning and provided excellent views of the pier area. Tickets are available online or in person for the Great Wheel and other Miner’s Landing attractions. See the website here.
Miner’s Landing
This area of the pier is anchored by the Seattle Great Wheel, but also houses a merry-go-round, arcade, 3-D show and boat tours.
Looking for more to do? Our rainy day back up plan included this Beneath the Streets-Underground Seattle tour! I would love to go back someday to do this tour. Did you know the current city of Seattle is actually on a second level of ground?
Where to eat at the Pier
If the Market is too busy for you to find a place to eat, there is a great sit-down restaurant nearby. We arrived at Old Stove Brewery right at opening and snagged a table. We enjoyed sipping a sample flight of brews and the kids loved the kids menu and freshly brewed root beer!
Cruising from Seattle?
Is Seattle just the first stop on your Alaskan cruise? Read all about ours in these posts:
The NCL Bliss with Kids
Complimentary Restaurants on the NCL Bliss
Specialty Restaurants on the NCL Bliss
A Deck-by-Deck tour of the NCL Bliss
An afternoon in Sitka
A low-spend day in Ketchikan
Your Guide to Icy Strait Point
Mendenhall Glacier and Nugget Falls
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