Top Things To See In Seattle

Pike Place Market has the whole package. Aspiring singer-songwriters and chanting seamen, juggling their latest catch, set the mood. Local crafts inspired my Seattle's Native American heritage lay alongside international pieces of art. Indulge in vegetables fresh from the fields, or spoil yourself with a taste of France at Maximilien.

Finish off your shopping spree with a coffee to go at the original Starbucks cafe. The coffeehouse kickstarted their global success 44 years ago, but the very first store remains authentic and relatively small-sized.

Located right underneath the marketplace, is the rather disgusting, yet undeniable fascinating Gum Wall. I can only imagine how this got started, probably by some punks fooling around in the 90s. The peculiar alley is also the starting point of the Ghost Tour of Seattle. Rumor has it that Pike Place Market is the most haunted location in the northwest...

The Boeing adventure started over 100 years ago when William E. Boeing bought a shipyard on the Duwamish River in Seattle, later becoming his first airplane factory. Today, the corporation is one of the leading aircraft manufacturers globally. Visit the Future of Flight Aviation Center, and book a tour of the factory to see airlines in the making. It's quite extraordinary!

Once main roadways and first-floor storefronts, Seattle's original ground level now make up an intricate network of passageways and basements beneath the surface. After a devastating fire in 1889, the inhabitants decided to elevate the streets to avoid flooding. The underground is now a popular tourist attraction! Guided walks start at Doc Maynard's Public House, an 1890s saloon in Seattle's Pioneer Square.

The Capitol Hill Wall Project is worth a visit. The temporary art exhibit surrounding a building site perfectly reflects the hip neighborhood, famous for it's counterculture and a prominent gay community. The Stars on Broadway salutes non-profit organizations.

No one knows where the world's most mysterious soda vending machine came from. Curious investigators have put up hidden cameras, but who stocks it, and who collects the money, remain unanswered questions. For a pleasant surprise, plunk down 75 cents and press the Mystery Button! Located rights across the street from the Stars, on the corner of John Street and 10th Avenue East.

Closely associated with the grunge scene during the 90s, Capitol Hill remains a thriving musical center. Jimi Hendrix, Nirvana and Macklemore all had their start in the Seattle underground, and you might just spot the next big superstar when checking out the wide variety of concerts held in the area. Visit the EMP museum, an architectural wonder inspired by smashed electric guitars, to learn more about the city's music history.

Have an all-American breakfast, order tater tots and gravy and biscuits at Roxy's Diner in Fremont! Experience impressive latte art at the Fremont Coffee Company right across the street. I got the Grinch!

Last but not least; the Space Needle. Soak in the breathtaking panorama view of the city from the futuristic observation tower built for the 1962 Seattle's World Fair.