Pike Place Market

One of Seattle's better-known tourist sites, the Pike Place Market is home to both a number of permanent merchants and a large space of booths filled on a daily basis by farmers and craftspeople. In addition to the main floor of the marketplace, the shopping area actually extends for 2 levels below the farmers' area (with used book sellers, collectables, at least one asian market, and 20+ stores) and across the street into the permanent shops for the 3-4 blocks between 1st and the main market building.

If you end up needing cash, there's one Chase ATM near the broze statue of Rosie the pig, and several more from other banks in the main building on the lower levels.

Ride the ducks!

Adjacent to the Seattle Center, this 90-minute amphibious tour travels through the sights of downtown Seattle and then along Aurora to to Fremont and Gasworks Park, out onto the water to see the houseboats on Lake Union before returning to Seattle Center.

Seattle Center - Seattle Opera

The northern end of the Seattle Center is home to a number of performing spaces, including ballet, theatre, film and opera. We recently attended a production of Falstaff in February; the opera was entertaining and well-done, with translations from Italian to English projected on a small screen over the stage. The intermissions between the acts were a bit too long for Emily and I, I think, but if you planned on grabbing a bite to eat or a drink from one of the cafes or bars set up outside the theatre, it would probably have been about right.

• Current calendar of events, talks, etc.
• 2010-2011 season of operas

Seaplane rides

Lake Union is not only a functioning marina and home to a number of houseboats, it's also an airport for a number of small seaplanes which are mostly based out of the south-western side of the lake. Walking along the shore between South Lake Union and Eastlake, you can find a couple of signs advertising seaplane flying lessons and seaplane tours of the city.

We haven't been up in any of the planes yet, although the idea of being able to fly out of an airport that's a 15-20 minute walk away is definitely enticing...

Pacific Science Center (and IMAX)

The southwest corner of the Seattle Center hosts a kid-friendly science museum and IMAX screen, though adults may also enjoy a lot of the material presented. The featured exhibit seems to change seasonally, for Feb-May 9 2010 it seems to be a series about human travel to Mars. Permanent exhibits include a butterfly house, robot insects, 3D technology and a planetarium, among others.

The IMAX screen shows a mix of current movies and science films including 3D films. As a warning, popular films will sell out in advance on the opening weekend.

Exhibit information

Seattle Center - SIFF

SIFF is the "Seattle International Film Festival" at the Seattle Center.  They have a number of art and foreign films, sometimes also including popular films in the mix.

• Main Schedule
• "Dinner and a Movie" series  (limited space, 4x per year)