#Top things to do in seattle free#

According to most, Mount Si is also a good place to get warmed up before tackling some of the more challenging trails found in nearby Mount Rainier National Park. Sitting about 40 miles east of the city center, Mount Si offers several opportunities to strap on your hiking boots and hit the trails. If you don't have time to make the drive to Mount Rainier (about 80 miles southeast of downtown Seattle), Mount Si provides a popular alternative.

You can also learn more about the locks on one of Seattle's best boat tours.

#Top things to do in seattle free#

Many visitors suggested taking one of the free hourlong tours offered to learn more about the history of the locks. Botanical Gardens, which feature a variety of 1,500 plants from around the world and beautiful views. The Chittenden Locks are also home to the Carl S. The fish can be seen up close from special viewing windows. After you've watched a couple barges pass by, head to the south side of the locks where fish ladders help salmon migrate during the summer months if you're lucky, you might catch a glimpse of a sea lion looking for a quick bite to eat. The locks allow boats to pass between Puget Sound and the Lake Washington Ship Canal, offering a live demonstration of Seattle's maritime lifestyle (many have compared the locks to a miniature version of the Panama Canal). These locks – operated by the Army Corps of Engineers – are popular among visitors and locals in Seattle. Visitors say it offers a well-rounded aviation experience and recommend giving yourself plenty of time to explore. Past travelers lauded the museum as one of the finest sites in Seattle, with a variety of exhibits to keep a range of age groups engaged. One of the most popular attractions is the SAM 970, which served as Air Force One for presidents Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson and Nixon, as well as other vice presidents and VIPs until its retirement in June 1996. Meanwhile, the exhibit 'Stranger than Fiction' delves into aerospace medicine.

Wilson Great Gallery also holds vintage aircraft, offering travelers a unique look into Seattle's prolific technological history. Also recommended is the Red Barn, Boeing's original airplane factory, which features exhibitions chronicling the history of flight. The museum is especially enticing for families with young children who can climb in and around various aircraft. You can find out more about the city's unique and fascinating history in aviation at one of its best museums, the Museum of Flight at Boeing Field. Seattle is one of the most important cities in the world of aviation and home to several facilities belonging to the Boeing Company, one of the world's leading aircraft manufacturers.