subject: Interesting Sites In Seattle [print this page] There are many tourist attractions in Seattle that gives you the opportunity to take part in a variety of activities during your tour of the city. The following is a brief guide on some of the best destinations in Seattle.
THE SPACE NEEDLE
This is the best known landmark on the city's skyline. It was built in preparation for the World Fair that the city hosted in 1962. The space needle stands at more than 600 feet above the Seattle fairgrounds. If you visit the space needle on a Sunday, you will have the chance to spend some time in its revolving restaurant, where you will see the entire city when it completes one revolution. The view is excellent although the food is fairly expensive. The former ground-level exhibition halls are used for media and performing arts.
PIONEER SQUARE
This is where the tallest building in the west of the Mississippi used to be. By 1914, the Smith Tower was the tallest structure in this region, although many skyscrapers have since dwarfed it. However, the Pioneer square will still help you learn the way the district was formerly. Many buildings here are made of bricks and are used for a variety of purposes, which include selling souvenirs. The totem pole is an ideal location for picture-taking. It was constructed as a commemoration of Chief Seattle, after whom the city is named. The totem pole is a symbol of Native American art. If you would like to see local performers, craftspeople and artisans at work and even buy some of their products, then you should go to the square on the first Thursday of the month.
ALKI POINT
You will have the chance to tour the Alki Point if your visit is during summer. This is a lighthouse with an interesting history behind it. It was originally known as "Battery Point", in line with the New York harbor where early American immigrants passed as they looked for a better life. Its latter name is actually a Chinook term that means "all in good time." You will enjoy the funny stories about its lamp that was stolen in 1970 and was discovered some years later at a nautical artifacts' shop. The thief's fingerprints were still clearly visible on its surface, which enable the police to arrest him.
THE SEATTLE AQUARIUM
This is a great place for both children and adults to explore nature and science. The tanks give every person the opportunity to touch different types of marine life and learn more about their respective life cycles. The aquarium is open every day.
DOC MAYNARD'S UNDERGROUND TOURS
These tours give people the opportunity to learn more about the origins of the city and the intentions of its pioneers. It was during the 1950's that the city was established along the shores of Elliot Bay. The pioneers built it rapidly to compete with San Francisco as a better gateway to Far Eastern trade that was lucrative at the time. Unfortunately, they did not consider the tide tables, which eroded the loose landfill that was the foundation of the structures. As a result, part of the city literally sank underground!
