Seattle Aquarium, Seattle

Seattle Aquarium, Seattle (must see)

A family-friendly attraction on Pier 59, the Seattle Aquarium features 200 varieties of fish native to Puget Sound. There are also environments simulating the region's rocky reefs, sandy sea floor, eelgrass beds, and tide pools. A working fish ladder illustrates the salmon life cycle and other exhibits show the paths that water travels on its way to Puget Sound.

Vividly striped lionfish, lethal electric eels, chameleon-like flatfish, octopus, dogfish, and salmon dart by, side by side with irresistibly entertaining seals and otters. The twice-daily oceanic tides flood Puget Sound and mix with fresh water from rainfall to nurture "an unequaled estuarine haven for plants, animals, and humans," as one of the educational captions says.

Among other things, the Aquarium includes a three-story great hall with educational kiosks and conservation exhibits, a man-made coral reef, and two large exhibit pools that include touch zones, though the main attraction here is the enormous 120,000-US-gallon (450,000 l) tank filled with fish, sea anemones, and other marine life. Dive shows take place several times a day and the divers are able to converse with visitors explaining the types of fish in the exhibit tanks in detail.

The building's location is great – right on the waterfront with plenty of seafood restaurants and bars located close by.

Why You Should Visit:
Relatively small aquarium compared to others in the US; however, the focus is on local marine life and it is well presented. You can touch sea stars, cucumbers, coral – with luck you can see the staff feeding the stars, anemones, sharks, etc. Definitely welcoming to everyone of all ages, with lots of hands-on activities for kids and informative/friendly staff.

Tip:
Use the map provided because you could miss a section without knowing it and it would be a loss not to see the entire aquarium. Use, also, the elevators in the public parking across the street to get up the hill to Pike Place Market.

Opening Hours:
[Aquarium] Daily: 9:30am–5pm (last entry: 5pm)
[Gift shop] Daily: 10am–6pm
[Café] Daily: 9:30am–4pm

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Seattle. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from iTunes App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

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Seattle Aquarium on Map

Sight Name: Seattle Aquarium
Sight Location: Seattle, USA (See walking tours in Seattle)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Walking Tours in Seattle, Washington

Create Your Own Walk in Seattle

Create Your Own Walk in Seattle

Creating your own self-guided walk in Seattle is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Seattle Architecture Walking Tour

Seattle Architecture Walking Tour

Downtown Seattle has many features typical of American cities – towering skyscrapers abuzz with commerce, upscale shopping and dining, splendid theaters – but is also unexpectedly pleasant with hills, outdoor sculptures, and peek-a-boo views of Elliot Bay's sparkling water.

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Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.1 Km or 1.3 Miles
Fremont Neighborhood Walking Tour

Fremont Neighborhood Walking Tour

At the height of its counterculture days, Fremont renamed itself 'The People's Republic of Fremont' and later gave itself the moniker 'Center of the Universe'. As if to prove the point, there's a signpost showing the distances from Fremont to far-flung places around the globe.

The famous neighborhood is home to some of Seattle's most beloved and controversial...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.1 Km or 1.9 Miles
Seattle Center Walking Tour

Seattle Center Walking Tour

Just north of Downtown you will find the ever-popular Seattle Center – a 74-acre (30-hectare) park and arts and entertainment center. Developed for the 1962 Century 21 Exposition (World's Fair), it contains many Seattle landmarks, including the Space Needle, the Pacific Science Center, the Chihuly Garden and Glass Museum, and the highly interactive Museum of Pop Culture. It is also the...  view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.1 Km or 0.7 Miles
Pioneer Square District Walking Tour

Pioneer Square District Walking Tour

Known as the district where Seattle was founded in the mid-19th century, Pioneer Square went through periods of boom and near-bust until a period of preservation managed to save and transform the area. Today, it is pretty much the most historic part of Seattle with some structures of note, including the Pioneer Building near Occidental Park, the Smith Tower, a Victorian-style wrought-iron pergola...  view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 0.8 Km or 0.5 Miles
Historical Religious Buildings Tour

Historical Religious Buildings Tour

Seattle's religious buildings play a very important role in the city's social life. Besides their religious functions, the buildings are an important part of the city's architectural and artistic heritage. This walking tour will lead you to some of the most beautiful religious buildings in Seattle.

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.5 Km or 2.2 Miles
Seattle Introduction Walking Tour

Seattle Introduction Walking Tour

Overlooking the Puget Sound's Elliott Bay on the West Coast of the United States, the city port of Seattle is renowned for its surrounding waters, mountains, evergreen forests, and thousands of acres of parkland. The largest metropolitan area in today's Washington State had been inhabited by Native Americans for at least 4,000 years prior to the European pioneers. The first European to...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.0 Km or 2.5 Miles

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