After coming down from the Space Needle, we wandered around the rest of Seattle Center a bit. There was some special Brazilian theme going on so people were in stands selling jewelry & handmade purses, there were people dancing the traditional Brazilian dance, and others scooping out platefuls of Brazilian food. Everything else was like a fair. They had mini roller coasters, and games where you shoot darts or make things into a basket for prizes. There were also popcorn, cotton candy, and hot dog stands galore. We ventured towards some other attractions here but they all charged an admission fee. A nice place to bring your kids and sit out in the lawn to enjoy the live entertainment, but other than that I didn't find anything that exciting around here. read more

Great public space in the heart of downtown. Gigantic play area for kids with towering structures and creative musical activities. The armory has a wide assortment of fast casual food. If you're travelling with kids this is a great place to rest while the wee ones run off some energy. read more

Space Needle, EMP Museum, Chihuly Garden and Glass...Seattle Center is where most of your top Seattle attractions are, conveniently located in a park with everything within a super short walk away! If you come to Seattle for sightseeing, you can bet that you will spend a good amount of time here. Aside from the many notable attractions in the area, Seattle Center also has the Seattle Armory, a large food court, and a festival ground that usually has some kind of cultural festival going on! Despite the constantly large traffic, the park area was also maintained clean and well. Yep, an area with various type of attractions and many food options...You got everything here! This and the Waterfront are pretty much the essence of Seattle tourism. Getting here is easy. Seattle Center has a monorail station so you can ride into the park from elsewhere. Parking may be expensive but you can definitely snatch a good deal especially if you do your research online. I parked at a garage near the Bill Gates Foundation for a $15 for 10 hour deal, so maybe you can look into that too. Trust me, you will need that 10 hours to spend here! read more

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A congregation of attractions, including the monorail, the space needle and the EMP, experience music project. Nearby is the Duck Tour and other family friendly events. It's walking distance to downtown and eateries from McDonald's to bars and bistros and the mall. Its a great place to walk around, but I am not sure where to suggest for parking, as everything seem to be quite pricy. read more

Pretty amazing that this place has persisted as long as it has. One of Seattle's handful of genuine historical landmarks that aren't from frontier days. Better yet, it's still functioning as a relevant entity to this day. Visiting the fountain, the needle, the food court, and the EMP/SFM easily make for a full day if you have out of town company--or at least the better part of a day. Most of the appeal of SC revolves around special events here--Bumbershoot, Folklife, opera or ballet performances, productions at Intiman or the Rep, tons of smaller events are always happening too. That's what really makes it a destination. But it's a pretty and well-run place even if there's nothing else going on. Sports teams are gone now, which is probably good for the parking situation, though bad for business. If you're visiting from out of town, you're definitely not stuck eating at the food court. There are good places to eat at every price level within a few blocks. Google up Kerry Park and combine that with a visit here for an iconic Seattle skyline photograph to go with the other shots from your trip. read more

Seattle Center is a nice collection of random things, some of which can be probably 2 stars where as others can be 5. I am thinking of this place as a tourist joint so overall I think it deserves 4 stars. A few things of notable mention here include the Seattle Space Needle, which is always interesting even though I've probably been up there like five times ... but only once when it was sunny! so that was really pretty. Also there is sort of an on-going year-round carnival here where you can find all kinds of yummy treats from the good ol' days like kettle corn. You will also find the science museum and the music museum here. Both are ok, nothing spectacular but will kill a few hours if you're with tourists or family. My favorite part of this place is the fountain. I recently discovered it and it was really fun to run through the HUGE crater that is the fountain and try not to get splashed along the way. read more

Out of towner: Went on a Friday, still super busy during summer. Didn't go up in the elevator, so just looking at it from below it's meh. Overpriced gift shop on lower level. read more

I love Seattle Center! There are so many cool events that happen here. Whether you go to a big music festival like Folklife or one of the smaller cultural events like the DAY OF THE DEAD celebration- a good time can be had by all. Although some locals gripe about it being "touristy," Seattle Center has a lot to offer, all year long. Anyhow, ever seen a tourist? They are HAPPY and they have FUN....and that my friend, is the whole point of life. Seattle Center gives me that happy fun falling-in-love-with-Seattle all over again feeling. If nothing big is going on, it's always fun to head down to play games or ride the carousel. The people watching is always fun at the center! read more

Seattle Center - Amusement Parks Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Free fun for the family. This was the perfect place to go on a hot day. With the Covid pandemic and all of the water parks and pool is closed, the fountain located at the Seattle center just underneath the space needle is still open. The grass is green and lush and soft. The kids and my dog had a blast. I had a blast as well. The water was cold but it was perfect in the 90° weather. It wasn't super crowded. ITS FREE!!! The music plays and the fountain comes off and on, just super beautiful.We didn't see any drug attic's or paraphernalia like I was told in the past. I was also told homelessness is a problem here, I've probably seen two or three homeless people and they're not sitting around the fountain there literally just minding their own business. This is a great place to go have a picnic and just hang out and let the kids have fun. Suggestion, wear comfortable shoes and not slippers or sandals if you plan on getting in the water. My feet were slipping and sliding in the sandals So I took them off and the ground there around the fountain gets a little tough on your feet and begins to hurt. I suggest a good pair of shoes you don't mind getting super wet and have a good time. read more

Home to the Space Needle, Pacific Science Center, Experience Music Project, Key Arena, Memorial Stadium, the Monorail, and numerous other events, venues, businesses, and attractions. I'd say that the chances are pretty good that if you've ever been to Seattle, you've been to Seattle Center. If not, why not?? The variety of experiences to be had at this cultural nexus alone make it a 5-star attraction. Sure, much of what brings the tourists flocking here on a daily basis is over-priced commercial crap, but you can also have a great time just strolling through the grounds and people watching without spending a dime. Year after year I find myself returning to the Center for some concert, festival, or other event-- and occasionally I wind up just walking around the place because I'm in Seattle and it's cool :-) My most recent trip here was to see a National Geographic film at the Pacific Science Center IMAX theater-- and it happened to be on the same day as the Seattle Pride Festival and parade. Always a big event, this year was something of a historic occasion due to the recent supreme court decision legalizing same-sex marriage throughout the country. The buzz of elation and good will emanating from the huge crowd around and within the Center was truly amazing! Seattle Center is a worthy showcase for this beautiful city and all of it's wonderful people. read more

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Awesome place for festivities and a lot of other stuff! They have monkey bars for adults, a lot of food around the area, The Space Needle!, collections cafe, and the Seattle repertoire theater with the Seattle ballet is within reach! Awesome place to actually spend your day for a stroll or enjoying their park for other activities/festivities! read more

Great park to walk around in. There is always activities going on here. One week there's the St. Patty's Day Dash; the other has Magic Tournaments; or concerts in the park. There's something for everyone in this plaza! I love that the monorail is a easily accessible from downtown (although if you have more than 3 or 4 people, it's going to cost about the same in parking). read more

Seattle Center is one of those places that I just loved to spend time at. There is ALWAYS some kind of event going on, so except a big crowd year round. I know some locals complain about the place having a "touristy" feel to it, but it's one of the things that makes Seattle famous. You think people in London get mad when we go see Big Ben? Okay, they might, cause we all know the British are still pissed about the Revolution. Anyway, Seattle Center is a spot that has something for everyone, so grab the family and friends and come spend some time at a Seattle institution. read more

Been here several times over the years and each time I visit, it gets better and better. The city has been remodeling and upgrading the center for years. There is more activity and additional food options now, which was great during my recent visit during the half marathon. The food court wasn't crowded and we were able to find easily. There is a large grassy area where we viewed the concert and it was nice to throw down a blanket and soak in the was left of the sun and great music. The Space Needle is located at the SC as well as an exhibition. Space Needle is a must and check out the rotating exhibition if you get a chance. read more

Love this place. Crashed the 36th annual kids fair along with Folklife festival all in one day. This is a great place for certain especially to spend a weekend there's so much whether it be the space needle, the EMP, the kids epic play zone, or the awesome eats! Came in from CA definitely a great spot. Got caricatures done and had some amazing corn from Kornman. Went up the space needle. Tons of incredible views and sights to be seen. Beautiful. read more

If it is your first time in Seattle, don't miss out on the Seattle Center. Here are tons of attractions for you to visit; The Space Needle, EMP Museum, Chihuly Garden and Glass. Highly recommended the Chihuly Garden and Glass. It is a museum showcasing the studio glass of Dale Chihuly. The Chihuly Garden and Glass is small, but filled with amazing art pieces. Street parking is not easy to find, but plenty of paid parking lots. I love their food court. Lots of food options; Mod Pizza, Skillet, Starbucks... Overall, the Seattle Center is a great place to explore and visit. read more

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This place is fine. Lots of places are closed, but the Space Needle and the Monorail, popular places, are still open. Closed places include Artists at Play giant playground, the Armory and Pacific Science center. It's still nice to go to, just a lot of closed places. When the places re-open, say my review is 5 stars. read more

This is a pretty cool place, one I actually advise tourists to go to. There are multiple things to see and do if you want. Of course its all insanely overpriced but its a tourist trap. This is the area for all of our events, we have the Bite, Bumbershoot, the ballet, concerts, WWE shows, science center exhibits. You name it, it will probably be around this area. On a nice summer day, the Seattle Center is a really pleasant place to be. It's also nice if you have kids, between the Science Center and the children's Museum, your little ones will tire themselves out. They did however take out the Fun Forest, it was that area with all the rides. I believe its being replaced with a glass museum? Oh well, i guess they are finally trying to spruce up the area, it desperately needs it. Parking sucks and its expensive, plain and simple, no way around it. It makes sense to carpool if you can. read more

Seattle Center - Amusement Parks Near Me - Seattle, Washington

The Seattle Center has been a part of my life for so many years! i've attended festivals and music events as a participant, a spectator, volunteer and paid staff. Through the years I have had to cal customer service for info re one thing or another. They are always positive, good listeners and solve problems or get needed info. Miracle workers- when you think about how many events are held there in a month or year. many, many thanks. read more

Don't use the free Microsoft WiFi service here. It's crap (see screenshot). It offers a very weak 1 Mbps down & .6 Mbps up. *Much* better is the Google Starbucks network (also free) which gets 5.5 Mbps down & 3 Mbps up. Also, avoid the Subway. You can check the reviews for the specific location here on Yelp, but I found my experience to be consistent with them -- incredibly slow & unusually bad quality food for a Subway. All that aside, it's a nice facility, especially with young kids. Definitely worth a visit when you're in town. read more

Seattle Center - Speedtest of the free Microsoft WiFi. Don't use it. It's crap. Use the Google Starbuck network. - Amusement Parks Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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There's so much to do here! Get a plan first. Today, despite the onslaught of 100's of kids on field trips, we braved the science center. Awesome, hands on for all ages, and all ages were there today! The butterfly garden was outstanding, and as a beekeeper, I was impressed by their working hive. The man working it knew his stuff and was exceptional with all the kids. So much to see we didn't even get to the glass garden. Military discount as well. Kudos to the schools visiting today, your students were not off their rockers! read more

Seattle Center - Butterfly garden rocked! - Amusement Parks Near Me - Seattle, Washington

The only place I can get in close contact with squirrels! No joke... it always kills me I don't have snacks for them as often as I see them. read more

Seattle Center - Amusement Parks Near Me - Seattle, Washington

If you're visiting Seattle, you have to check out the Seattle Center (where the Space Needle is). There are a variety of attractions here besides just the Space Needle, such as a large playground (made me want to be a kid again), a gigantic fountain ring area (which turns into a mini waterpark in the summer when they turn the fountain to full strength), the Seattle Center Armory (a food hall and marketplace), open grassy areas for concerts (and chilling in the sun), and the MoPOP (Museum of Pop Culture). We came on a Sunday morning and paid $12 (for 0-2 hours duration) to park in the Seattle Center public parking lot. We spent about an hour walking through the area and also took a little stroll to the Olympic Sculpture Park, which is a free sculpture park and walking area just 5-10 minutes away from the center. If I was a Seattle local, I can imagine coming here a few times a year, especially in the summer, for various events such as concerts or Bite of Seattle (an annual food festival) or even just a nice weekend trip to the city. This was one of my favorite places during my first ever visit to Seattle! read more

As first time tourist to Seattle and Seattle Center...I LOVED it! We stayed right across from the Space Needle at the Hyatt House so we were spitting distance from this park. We didn't get to do everything here, but we will be back to do so. Here's my recap: Pros: -Lot's of museums and the sort in one spot: The Children's Museum, The Pacific Science Center, Space Needle, Chiluly Garden, MPOP, etc... -The HUGE, HUGE, adult sized/but big kid rendered playground! Dude, this is the most impressive big kid playground I've ever seen. The two slides are massive and the spiral one was damn near a vertical drop. Super, super fun and cool. An awesome place to burn some energy FOR FREE. -Monorail Station to take you to the mall and downtown area and pike Market -A clean, safe and entertaining space for tourists and locals alike Cons: -non that I've seen. Maybe cost to do some of the museums but you can get a city pass or find groupons (I did for the Children's Museum). -Parking is hard to find, but there are paid lots read more

Even if you don't have the cash to wander into any of the museums or attractions, it's worth walking around Seattle Center and just to take a stroll and see the sights there for free. I naively walked across town, thinking the Space Needle was closer than it really was, just to slap its base and turn around and walk back toward the waterfront. The park surrounding it was still a good enough reason to justify our sweat and slight exhaustion. We had fun walking through the "Sonic Bloom" interactive exhibit, wherein these solar-powered flowers would hum their own unique sound as you got closer. The more people in the area, the more they sound like an eerie spectral choir. Apparently they light up at night, but I haven't been there to see it. read more

So many iconic Seattle attractions here. An obvious key site for tourists and locals in this beautiful city. I highly recommend getting the City Pass to allow you access to many of these sites. It's a great deal. The sites that are here, and easily accessible via Monorail or walking from downtown: Space needle: day/night views Chiluly glass museum EMD museum Science center It's also adjacent to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. The area includes a park with really nice art and good photo opportunities of the needle. There are also many gift shops, cafes, and places to grab a bite! read more

Been here twice, second time was with kids, we had so much fun. Have been thinking about this place and the city lately, Seattle remains one of my favorite cities. read more

Super impressed w/ Seattle Center! We visited the EMP museum but didn't go all the way in - but really liked the musical displays w/ the different video screens & musical genres Chihuly Exhibit was phenomenal! So many fantastic pieces & while there was a similar exhibit in San Francisco a while ago, there were many more pieces at this exhibit to enjoy Space Needle was really fun & not all that crowded - great crowd control! - Eiffel Tower could take lessons here Really cool paneling on the outside of the buildings that play on the light so it appears 1 color from 1 angle & another color from a different angle read more

Came in for a quick bite. It's just basic mall style food court stuff, nothing too crazy

I just spent two days down at the Center and Christmas time is when this space really shines! If you have kids, you absolutely have to take them down! The price is right at FREE, but it's more then that! The people watching is spectacular this time of year! I have an insider that just gave me the 411 on everything that's going down at the Center, and you're about to be wowed! Everything is changing! Growing, expanding, and moving toward a stronger emphasis on becoming a true cultural and art centerpiece for the city! I can't tell you too much without outing my source, but keep your eyes peeled! When I get back to Seattle New Years 2010 it's going to be a whole new ball game! read more

I love Seattle Center! I came here several times for different events from Beer Fest, Torch Light Run, Pirate Parade, to many many... It's a convenient location in Lower Queen Ann on bus lines. The food court area has free wifi. However, food can get pricey there! But, hey, free wifi and air conditioning, I am a big fan! read more

It would be extremely convenient if Seattle Center was connected directly to my house. In fact I propose a new monorail route. For those who don't live here, Seattle Center is highlighted in our international reputation. This is likely due to the 1962 Seattle World's Fair that left the defining monuments that dot the Center. Among the Fair's visual leftovers are the arches (and dinosaurs) of the Pacific Science Center, the International Fountain, the Alweg Monorail, and of course the needle. Yes, the Space Needle - a landmark so important that a visitors use pictures of it as proof they have been here. However, the monuments are just backgrounds. The true essence of Seattle Center comes from the ground, a place that has seen things. Take the international festivals that spread cross-cultural ideas at Seattle Center many weekends out of the year or the big music festivals like Bumbershoot and Folklife. Often the Center is a stop for food trucks or street performances, but the real purpose of this place is community. Seattleites meet their friends, attend events, and have life experiences at Seattle Center. At Seattle Center I met Sir Mix-A-Lot, encountered a man who lives in a yurt year round knitting clocks, and also learned the rules of roller derby. It is a truly magical place and those don't take advantage of it are missing out. read more

Park at Taylor street street parking is the best bet (Right outside Best Western Hotel). Very cheap $1.5 per hour and I can park the whole day. The best part is that it is only 7 minutes from the space needle. Can't find anything cheaper. read more

There's tons to do here, but it always feels run down and a little depressing. The Fun Forest is no more. The food choices in the food court are a little out-of-date. At least it's easy to get from here to the other things you're doing, but overall it feels like a wasted opportunity to have something so "central" to Seattle be a more vital part of the community. I'm especially disappointed they're going to give over the Fun Forest space to a useless glass art museum. How about putting a kick-a** playground in so families had somewhere to go? read more

What a great spot for any breed. There's always something to do or going on that will spark an interest. GREAT for kids, whether your broke or have wads of cash. -Water fountain to play in for those hot summer days -Amusement Park & arcade building with laser tag -The Space Needle -Pacific Science Center -EMP (Experience Music Project) -SFM (Science Fiction Museum) -Bums playing music for change -Monorail -Center House with plenty of food & treats -Key Arena -Mural Amphiteatre And all sorts of little things along the way.... You also have seasonal events going on all of the time, such as Folklife Festival, Beerfest, Movies at the Mural.....best is to keep checking their website for all the haps.... Perfect for the tourists or for Seattlites to just hang out for the day. read more

Seattle Center, it has been ten years in between my visits and you didn't disappoint at all! The center is a hub of activity. There is usually some sort of festival happening. Great place for people watching. When I lived in the area (years ago) I used to like to bring my daughters to play in the fountain and picnic on the grass. Fun for locals and tourists alike. :) read more

Yup indeed, I am a big fan of Seattle Center! It's one of the many paces in Seattle that's a free venue (except for Bumbershoot and Folk Life). There are so many options. As it is a "park" of sorts, it's owned by the City of Seattle. I was debating whether to add the last star (and I probably will in a future review). That will occur when the Transportation Departments of Seattle and WA State fix the Mercer mess and parking around the Center. It's probably the only venue in Seattle where you can experience a myriad of cultural events and show generally located inside the Armory Building. Part two of the four stars is the multitude of entertainment venues that are within walking distance of the "center" of Seattle Center. The prices at the venues range from fantastic free to über pricey. Part three is the multitude of public & private transportation options to get there. There is a fair amount of parking that abuts the Center's perimeter. If you have mobility challenges, try valet parking at the base of the Space Needle or the east parking lot adjacent to Memorial Stadium. Lastly, there is a multitude of food options within the Center grounds and throughout Lower Queen Anne. read more

The Seattle Center is touristy, but I love it to pieces. I've been so so many events here and I've always had a blast. The Space Needle is great. Only been up it once, but it's still an impressive sight in the sky even after all this time. The Pacific Science Center was a lot of fun when I was a kid. Now I like to go to the laser dome to see laser shows! The fountain is a lot of fun in the summer. I've rarely run through the water, but sitting by the fountain on a sunny day is definitely a great people watching experience. The Children's Museum was one of my favorite places to go as a child and I kind of wish I could still go there now. Too bad I'm too big for most of the fun stuff! All the random festivals they have here are great. Bumbershoot is a ripoff, but Folklife is a blast and I love to wander the Center and check out the booths and the music acts. One of my favorite things to do is visit the Center House during the holidays. They have the holiday model train display and it's a lot of fun. My brother and dad are volunteers and help run the train every year. It's fun to go down with them and (almost) be a part of the magic. From there my mom and I always take the monorail downtown to do Christmas shopping. The monorail is kind of dorky, but I like it. Especially when we make that holiday shopping trek to downtown. Anyway, I love the Seattle Center. It could use some updates here and there, but...it's a classic! read more

If you're going to visit Seattle, live in Seattle, or whatever the heck---in Seattle..... you have to come to the Seattle Center. it's a command. not only is this the staple of city... but c'mon, it's such a great place to be. in the shadows of the Space Needle, this is where all the hot events take place! from the Fun Forest, Jazz Festivals, Water Fountain (where you can walk through on a hot day and get drenched for free.), the crazy but mind-blowing architecture, historical and amazing concerts, Bumbershoot, basketball aftermaths, etc... it's the place to hang out during the spring/summer/fall, it's the heart of Seattle. you can't leave Washington without the experience. I've been coming here since i was a newborn. the countless pictures and memories i've made here will never be forgotten. i love this place so much. check out EMP, too. the Jimi Hendrix/Rock n Roll museums. they always have fantastic exhibits and something for everyone. come during the weekends- they have their cocktail lounge open for drinks and dancing. hiphop/r&b/top40. just.... go! read more

A classic Seattle landmark. I still remember the first time I strolled around Seattle Center. It was late one night in the Fall and we had just moved to town and were staying just a few blocks away. We walked to the fountain and just enjoyed how peaceful it actually felt. And then we got to see the Seattle Thunderbirds hockey players walking towards their buses and we were set on staying. I don't come here as often as I would like, usually because of tourists. I tend to get violent and insulting around them. So I wait until the off months and find fun stuff to do when the rains settle in. I love Winterfest. It's one of my favorite things that the center does. I also am thankful to have the Children's Museum to use on rainy days. And I did love going to hockey games, too bad Seattle can't keep a team. I've never been here when the fair rides are on and it's never been warm enough to play in the fountain when I visit. And for some reason. I like it that way. read more