Seattle Vacation Pixabay Public Domain
2 Day Seattle Group Tour
Day 1 You'll See:
- Chihuly Garden and Glass
- Space Needle
- EMP Museum
Day 2 You'll See:
- Tillicum Village
- Pike Place Market
- Museum of Flight
If you’re short on time but longing for a truly restorative escape, this two-day trip to the sparkling seaport jewel of the Pacific Northwest ferries you around to popular Seattle highlights, including the Space Needle, an otherworldly glass garden, an Indian village on tiny Blake Island, and the star of the show – Pike Place Market! You’ll return from this West Coast junket well-rested, well-fed and perfectly refreshed - that lovely ocean air does a body wonders - and ready to plan your next getaway!
Day 1
Chihuly Garden & Glass
Master glass artist Dale Chihuly – with his creations displayed in more than 200 museums around the world - has said, “I want my work to appear like it came from nature, so that if someone found it on a beach or in the forest, they might think it belonged there.” The delicate and otherworldly “garden” holds the distinction of being the first natural environment fashioned specifically to showcase a Chihuly exhibition, and will amaze and delight you with its series of surreal blown glass displays, each offering a deferential nod to some of nature’s own best work. The glass garden is a definite must-see for travel groups on Seattle holiday!
Space Needle
This Pacific Northwest landmark – once the tallest structure West of the Mississippi - likely needs no introduction, even if you’ve never been closer to it than a photograph. It towers regally above Seattle, affording visitors to the top – accessible by stairs or deliberately slow and steady elevator – breathtaking views of the cityscape and surrounding area including the Olympic and Cascade Mountains, Mount Rainier, Mount Baker, and Elliott Bay. The 605-foot Needle was the brainchild of Edward E. Carlson, chairman of the 1962 World's Fair in Seattle, who was inspired by a recent visit to the Stuttgart Tower of Germany and wanted to construct a tower with a rotating restaurant in time for the Fair’s opening. Visitors today can browse a spectacular menu of artfully prepared Northwest-style cuisine in Sky City, a revolving fine-dining establishment offering every seat in the house a splendid panorama of the Seattle Metropolitan area.
EMP Museum
The EMP Museum is a cutting-edge, nonprofit institution, dedicated to the ideas and risk-taking that drive contemporary pop culture. With its roots in rock 'n' roll, it entertains and inspires a multigenerational diversity of audiences through its fantastic collections, exhibitions, and educational programs which feature intriguing interactive technologies employed to engage and empower visitors the world over. The building, itself, is a “rockin’” showpiece; an incredibly spectacular futuristic design conveying all the energy and fluidity of music – inspired by a pile of dissected electric guitars! Excellent photo ops here.
Day 2
Public Market Center Seattle Pixabay Public Domain
Tillicum Village
Day Two of this “Best of Seattle” excursion takes you across stunning Puget Sound to historic Northwestern jewel Tillicum Village, on tiny Blake Island, the birthplace of Chief Seattle, city namesake. A delightful 40 minute cruise ferries you over to the island, where you’ll tour the traditional longhouse and surroundings, study the authentic artwork of coastal tribes of the Pacific Northwest, and enjoy matchless views of the Olympic mountains and the Seattle skyline while traversing the pristine 475 acre park, home to a diversity of beautiful native wildlife. A convenient departure schedule allows you and your group to linger on Tillicum as long as you like, steeped in its rich aboriginal tradition and reveling in exquisite natural surroundings!
Pike Place Market
Missing out on a trip to Pike Place Market while in Seattle would be, well… unthinkable! You and your travel companions are in for a quintessential coastal treat as you browse, sample and shop this beloved 9 acre historic landmark in the Northwest corner of the Central business district, famous for its farmer’s and fish markets, the original Starbucks (which relocated to and has remained at Pike Place since 1977) and one of the largest craft markets in the world, featuring the wares of more than 225 vendors. It’s also the heart of the Seattle foodie scene; the market’s eclectic collection of cafes, restaurants, and bakeries serve up delightful, ever-changing menus of delectable offerings, including the very best organic, artisanal fare and rainbows of beautiful baked goods certain to tempt even the most disciplined dieters in your group to indulge!
Museum of Flight
The Museum of Flight’s vision statement is simply this: To be the foremost educational air and space museum in the world. This incredible Museum showcases one of the largest and most comprehensive air and space collections in the United States; millions of rare photographs, a world-class library, thousands of artifacts, and more than 150 priceless, rare aircraft and space vehicles await guests to this premier educational institution. You’ll enjoy exploring the diversity of fantastic and ever-changing exhibits, many incorporating thrilling interactive features for a “real life” experience – check out the original Air Force One, be an air traffic controller, climb into the cockpit of a Hornet fighter, step inside a full size replica of the International Space Station’s Destiny Research Laboratory – and more!
