Exploring Seattle With CityPass
Basically, if you plan to hit up the tourist hotspots in a major city, then CityPASS is a great option for you.
Getting Ready For OUR Seattle TRIP
We recently took a trip to the Emerald City in an attempt to get away from the heat and soak up some Pacific Northwest culture. I’ve used CityPASS before while visiting Toronto and had a blast exploring the city on a discount.
Prior to planning my trip, I had heard of Seattle’s reputation of being a pricey city and I wanted to stretch out my dollar as best as I could. To save money on our trip to Seattle, we decided to purchase two Seattle CityPASS tickets. We can say confidently that the Seattle CityPASS is worth every penny.
Seattle 3 Day Itinerary Using CityPass:
You can absolutely maximize our Seattle CityPASS tickets within 3 days. CityPASS is valid for nine days from the first date of use, so if you are planning a longer trip to Seattle, the pass is also a great choice.
However, the itinerary below is a fun guide for an extended weekend in Seattle. It shows you how you can easily get the maximum value out of the Seattle CityPASS in a long weekend.
Day One In Seattle
Morning
Start your official day one of your Emerald City adventures in the most iconic location of all: Pike Place Market.
Pike Place Market is just as magical as everyone describes it. There are so many breakfast options available that it would be impossible to name a favorite.
However, if you are a lover of donuts, then you might want to make a stop at the Pike Place Bakery for a twisted sugar donut. It will be delicious.
Afterwards, walk around the market and explore all the sights and sounds. One can easily spend a whole day in Pike Place Market. The best part is that entry to the market is free and many vendors hand out tasty samples.
Pike Place Market & The Gum Wall
Also, what is a trip to Pike Place Market if you do not visit the adjacent gum wall? Located right between the market is the infamous gum wall where visitors stick…you guessed it…pieces of gum in various stages of being chewed on the wall.
I did not get too close, but where else will you see a site like this?
Midday at the seattle aquarium
The Seattle Aquarium is a world-class aquarium accredited by The Association of Zoos and Aquariums. One of the best things about the Seattle CityPASS is that you get to skip the lines at many locations. At the Seattle Aquarium CityPASS holders get access to a special line, which means you can start exploring the aquarium in a shorter time.
The aquarium has hosted over 27 million visitors since opening and it is easy to see why. We spent about two hours in the aquarium looking at the various exhibits and interacting with the staff.
There is an awesome 13-foot interactive exhibit when you first enter the museum that cannot be missed.
Not only do you have knowledgeable staff teaching about the various species but you also get to touch the marine life at this exhibit.
One of the best things about the Seattle CityPASS is that you get to skip the lines at many locations.
Another amazing exhibit at the Seattle Aquarium was the Windows on Washington Water.
This is a 120,000 US gallon tank that is meant to replicate the coastal water of the state. In addition to seeing native marine life, you also get to experience a live dive show.
At this exhibit the divers wear special masks in order to speak with the guests and you can catch the show several times throughout the day.
Yet another cool attraction at the Seattle Aquarium is the ‘Life Of The Drifter’ exhibit. This is a 12-foot tall glass exhibit filled with moon jellies.
It is designed as a donut tank to allow you take a photo as if you were in the tank. Talk about a truly immersive experience!
You will also want to experience the Seattle Aquarium ‘Birds and Shores’ and the ‘Underwater Dome’ exhibit. The ‘Birds and Shores’ exhibit consists of three separate areas where you can find a variety of birds who call the Pacific Northwest their homes.
Within these exhibits (and really all around the aquarium) you can learn about the various conservation efforts Seattle is undergoing and how you can do your part.
There is certainly not a shortage of sites to see at the Seattle Aquarium and you Seattle CityPass also gives you a discount at the gift shop.
Afternoon
Another free activity that helps you explore Seattle is the Seattle Free Walking Tour. Hands down the best walking tour Seattle has to offer.
There are several tour options: The Market Experience, Seattle 101 and Old Seattle Cemetery.
You can visit the site and check out which tour best fits your group.
We did the Seattle 101 Tour because we wanted to learn more about the city. The tours leaves rain or shine from Victor Steinbruek Park, located less than a block away from the North Entrance of Pike Place Market.
The Seattle 101 tour is awesome because it allows you to truly explore Seattle with a local guide who is knowledgeable about the city.
Along the tour your guide will fill you in on the history of Seattle, how the city got its name and some of the famous urban legends of Seattle. There are also many scenic photo ops of Seattle’s beautiful waterfront and skyline along this tour.
The group size is manageable and it is easy to hear the animated tour guide as she or he points out landmarks, cool activities and restaurant gems. It is a wonderful end of day one in Seattle because you can hit up Happy Hour recommendation or head to the infamous pier for dinner.
Day Two In Seattle
Morning At The Space needle
Start day two in Seattle at none other than the incredible Space Needle.
Arguably one of Seattle’s most iconic locations, the Space Needle was originally built just for the 1962 World’s Fair.
The observation tower, however, turned out to be such a hit that Seattle decided to keep the structure.
Included in your Seattle CityPASS is a trip up the elevator to the observation deck. At the top you will find 360-degree indoor and outdoor panoramic views of Seattle.
From the Space Needle’s height you can also see Mount Rainier, the Pugent Sound and the Olympic Mountain ranges.
The Space Needle is an incredible premiere attraction that is not to be missed.
At the Space Needle, you can stand on the Loupe, the world’s first rotating glass floor, and check out the sites from 605 feet above.
Furthermore, there are even open-air glass walls and glass benches on the upper most level for a truly uninterrupted view.
Located inside the Space Needle is also a virtual experience called the Stratos VR. It allows you to experience a fun virtual reality ‘bungee jump’ off the Space Needle (all from the safety of the gift shop).
This experience is included with your Seattle CityPASS so if you are not faint of heart, add it to your Seattle bucket list
Midday at chihuly garden
Two other locations included in the Seattle CityPASS are within walking distance of the Space Needle. You can choose to go to the Chihuly Garden and Glass or the Pacific Science Center after your visit to the Space Needle.
Both sites had wonderful reviews on Google so it has hard deciding where to go next. Ultimately, it was a clear and sunny day in Seattle, so we opted to head to the Chihuly Garden and Glass.
We used the Seattle CityPASS once again to skip the line and head right in.
It is clear to see why people go to the Chihuly Garden and Glass when visiting Seattle. There are many vibrantly colored and incredibly detailed glass sculptures.
Our favorite part of the Chihuly Garden and Glass were the flower exhibits outside because it was a beautiful mixture of nature and art.
Note: If you have younger children, you might want to opt for the Pacific Science Center instead. The artwork at the Chihuly Garden and Glass is often only protected by a rope and thus easy to accidentally bump into.
Afternoon
In addition to the Space Needle, we decided to do the Argosy Harbor Tour for day two in Seattle. The website recommends that you check in 30 minutes early to this popular harbor tour. The check-in process at the front desk was pretty smooth.
We simply showed them our Seattle CityPASS and were given tickets to the next harbor ride. Seating is first come, first serve and you can sit on the upper deck (or inside if you are quick to get chilly).
The Argosy Harbor tour provides breathing taking views of Seattle’s waterfront. During the hour cruise, you will get plenty of photo opportunities to capture the pier and even the Space Needle.
There is also a trained crew member who provides educational commentary regarding Seattle’s fishing industry, pier history and much more during the harbor cruise. It was certainly one of the highlights of the day.
Late afternoon
During the harbor cruise, the captain raved about seeing the view of the Seattle at night from the Space Needle.
Our Seattle CityPASS tickets allowed us re-entry into the Space Needle so we decided to head back there for another visit.
Seeing the 360-degree glass views from the Space Needle at night is even more breathtaking. Unfortunately, none of the pictures we took does the view much justice so you will just have to experience it in person.
Day Three in Seattle
All Day
What better way to end an extended weekend in Seattle than at the Woodland Park Zoo? The zoo is located across the bridge and outside of Seattle so one would need to drive out of the city, take a Ride-Share or public transportation to get there.
We saw Every. Zoo. Exhibit. My boyfriend is a huge fan of the zoos and we make it a point to visit the zoo in each new city we explore.
One can easily spend the entire day at the zoo, especially if you have animal lovers in your group. The zoo also makes it easy to plan out your day and see the most animals.
For instance, there is a cool free mobile app that allows you to plan out your zoo visit and mark off the sites you have explored.
We used our Seattle CityPASS to start off our zoo day at the Temperate Forest. Here you will see several interesting birds such as the red-crowned crane and the great blue toraco. You will also see the red panda.
Zoo Exhibits – Part 1
After you’ve seen the Temperate Forest, make your way to the ever expansive African Savanna exhibit. This part of the zoo hosts typical savanna animals such as the lions, zebras, giraffes and hippos.
Just this zone alone is approximately six acres and could probably take an hour to an hour and a half to get through the entire zoo depending on your group size and interests.
Given that there is so much to do at the zoo, you might not know where to go next. We recommend that you head over to the Tropical Rain Forest.
Here you will find a very interactive exhibit in which the birds fly free. Be sure to take extra care to shut the doors behind you as you walk in and out of this exhibit.
Your group might be hungry at this point. Luckily, the Rain Forest Food Pavilion is not too far away from this exhibit so you can refuel.
Zoo Exhibits – Part 2
After lunchtime, continue your zoo trip by checking out the large animals of the Banyan Wilds. Here you will find information about the tigers and ongoing conservation efforts to save this species as well the bears and gorillas.
You will also find several interactive exhibits at both the Trail of Wines and the Assam Rhino Preserves.
If you have a kangaroo lover in your crew or someone interested in feeding the birds, then be sure to check out the Australasia exhibit while at the Woodland Park Zoo.
Another interesting exhibit is the Northern Trail.
This is where you will find the wolves, brown bears, otters and other animals who call the Pacific Northwest their home.
If you use your Seattle CityPASS to visit the zoo, you can find entertainment for hours. In addition to eight expansive habitats, the Woodland Park Zoo also offers a fun historic carousel, a wildlife theater and several opportunities to interact up close with the animals.
Is Seattle CityPass Worth It?
Seattle CityPASS is definitely worth the money. The Seattle CityPASS gives you access to several top notch attractions and allows you to customize where you go depending on what you like.
The pass also offers many great attractions that kids will love such as the aquarium and the zoo. In fact, My boyfriend and I are two millennials and we also enjoyed both the Woodland Park Zoo and the Seattle Aquarium.
CityPASS Admission Includes
Current Seattle CityPASS Price
- Adult (ages 13+) – $99.00
- Child (ages 5-12) – $79.00
Planning A Week In Seattle (Or Longer)
If you have extra room in your budget or more days in Seattle you can check out this post for a whole list of other fun and budget friendly activities.
For example, a very fun and relatively low cost activity includes taking the ferry to Bainbridge Island for a day trip.
You could also spend your time in Seattle doing some quality hikes.
There is certainly not a shortage of awesome things to do or eat in Seattle and it is definitely a location to add to your travel bucket list.