Visiting Seattle - What to See and Do

(Seattle Tacoma International Airport SEA, Washington - WA, USA)

Seattle is one of the top five cities in the US and earns its reputation of being the 'Emerald City' from its green and plentiful parkland areas. Seattle was founded in 1869 and is situated in Washington State in the Puget Sound region, only 113 miles from Canada.

The city is a major port and has a multinational community due to its strategic geographical position. Much of Seattle's economic wealth is also thanks to the port and the city thrives on the many major US corporations that base themselves here.

Ten things you must do in Seattle

• Visit the impressive Seattle Center for a multitude of activities. There is an amusement park, theaters, museums, the Space Needle and many more attractions.
• Join the Underground Seattle Tour that takes you on a 1-hour, 30-minute guided walk of Pioneer Square and below ground to view the remnants of the old city.
• View the massive collection of over 21,000 works of art from all over the world at Seattle Art Museum; free lectures and tours are available.
• Take a look around the Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame, the only dedicated sci-fi museum in the US. Some of the facets of this comprehensive museum include: interactive displays, the history and legends of the genre and technology and creativity.
• View the Seattle skyline and beyond from the Smith Tower's observation deck. Glass lifts take you up to the top of this 1914 building.
• Relax in Seattle's biggest park located just 15 minutes by car from the downtown area. Discovery Park contains picturesque walking trails and the Daybreak Star Arts Center as well as offering access to the beach.
• Have a look at the superb exhibits and popular sea animals on display at the Seattle Aquarium. Several innovative attractions allow you to get up-close to the animals.
• Visit the massive collection of aircraft, spacecraft and aviation artifacts at the Museum of Flight. Celebrating America's aviation accomplishments, the museum possesses the presidential plane dubbed 'The Flying White House'.
• Enjoy the many attractions on offer at the Seattle waterfront area. Plenty of shops and restaurants are situated on the piers of Elliot Bay. Walking or taking the Waterfront Streetcar along the promenade is the best way to get a feel for the area.
• Take a trip to the Woodland Park Zoo. The zoo has won awards relating to its conservation work. Special exhibits include an Asian elephant area, African savanna, monitor dragon exhibit and a tropical rain forest environment.