Introduction

When you come to Washington University, you will probably want to explore your new city. A good place to start are the best-known attractions of Seattle, and you can then work your way through to the less well-known insider venues and nice cosy places to go. But first, you should get to know the main attractions, because they are a big part of what makes Seattle’s landscape and the city itself so interesting.

The Space Needle

The Space Needle is the most famous landmark of the city and you therefore can’t miss out on it, so you might as well go and visit it properly. The Space Needle was originally built for the 1962 World Fair in Seattle, and the initial sketch for the architecture was put forward by E. Carlson in 1959. Nowadays there is lots to do there, so why not have a romantic meal with your sweetheart at the 500-feet high restaurant, or watch the city above, from a breathtaking 520 feet off the ground, on the observation deck. Or, if you’re prepared to pay a little more, why not host your birthday party  at the SkyLine Level in the Needle, a ‚mere‘ 100 feet off the ground, and make it a memorable experience for all your guests.

The Seattle Aquarium and the Woodland Park Zoo

If you’re very animal-friendly, the Seattle Aquarium is a good place to start your tour of Seattle with. The prices are quite reasonable ($15 for an adult ticket) and there are interesting exhibitions and special guests giving talks every so often – you can check out the exact dates and events on their online calendar. And, if you end up enjoying your visit so much that you’re really keen on spending more time there, you can also volunteer to actually work at the aquarium. Another good place to go for animal lovers is the Woodland Park Zoo, which was actually rated one of the best zoos in the world. Admission starts at just $11, with further discounts available at certain hours. As with the aquarium, there is a comprehensive event calendar online that you can check anytime.

Museums

Depending on what you are interested in, there are a few museums worth going to in Seattle. One is right on campus, the Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture, which has lots of interesting exhibits  and talks going on. Admission is free on the first Thursday of every month, so you should take advantage of that! There’s also the Seattle Art Museum with its large collection of over 21,000 items, and the associated Seattle Asian Art Museum; again, you’ll find a range of nice events scheduled that you could consider attending. If you’re into more eccentric things, there’s always the Experience Music Project, the Science Fiction Museum, the Museum of Flight or the museum of Doll Art.

Great Saving Deals

As a student, managing your money and always having enough of it is not an easy thing to do. But that’s not a problem, you can always take advantage of one of the great deals offered on attraction sightseeing in Seattle. You can get discounts on lots of guided tours, for example, a discount on a Chinatown discovery tour. Or, you could get boat cruises for lower prices! In fact, there’s also vouchers for Woodland Park Zoo, Space Needles and lots of the museums, so make sure you check the offers out before going on your sightseeing tour in Seattle!

In Short…

As you can see, there is no reason for you not to get out as soon as your college life allows it, and visit all the amazing attractions Seattle has to offer you. You will then gradually learn about the smaller, just as nice places to go, and as you do so, you will come to find out what an exciting city Seattle is, in just about every way possible!