The tour was fantastic and very informative. As a visitor, I had subscribed to many stereotypical…read moreideas re: Seattle, mainly just coffee, and was happy to "get to know her better" and find out the interesting real-deal tidbits. Our tour guide (Dave!) was terrific and made it even more enjoyable with his delivery and choice of info he shared. Residents and tourists would both benefit from checking into this gem in their backyard for the fun facts. We wound our way through many of the underground passageways and were appreciative of the historical photos and items. The in-sidewalk installations of prisms from above and below viewpoints was fascinating. Be prepared to walk along various types of roadway surfaces, as well as navigate multiple flights of stairs.

Our tour guide, Daniel, was fantastic! He was interesting, funny, knowledgeable and fun. He kept…read morethe group going and engaged. I would highly recommend trying to find out when he is working. One thing important (for me) is that the guide spoke loud enough for people to hear him, and he did just that. Very enjoyable tour!

Bill Speidel's Underground Tour? Delightfully strange. Humans built a whole city, hated it, and…read morethen just... built another one on top. Bold move. Questionable dam strategy. Tunnels are sturdy enough (I checked), stories are rich, and the damp ambiance feels like home--though severely lacking in chewable wood. Four tail slaps out of five. Would gnaw again.

First the good- The tour guide was nice and the underground areas are AMAZING!…read moreThe bad- In a group of (appx) 30+ people you are herded here and there to different parts of the underground. Everyone is herded into a small space, a story is told, and then it's onto the next area. Want time to enjoy the experience? To look around and take pictures? Nope- onto the next. Want to learn more about the original buildings that you are standing in front of? Barely covered. Or the amazing debris that scatters the areas? Nope. Take Pictures as you walk, because that is all the time you will get. Oh, and if you are hard of hearing? You won't be able to hear the tour guide well. There are just too many people. -Wish I could have asked for a refund- *IF YOU ARE SENSITIVE TO MOLD or DUST WEAR A MASK!!!*

First of all, I want to start this review by stating that I did not get to attend this tour because…read moreI was late (which I will admit) but I am still giving one star due to the rude staff member who worked at the starting location of this tour. On Saturday, the 21st, four of us were scheduled to go and do this tour and we were extremely excited. After dealing with the atrocious Seattle traffic and terrible parking situations down by the pier I was already very frustrated. Our party arrived at the Ye Olde Curiosity Shop at 7:04 for our 7:00 pm tour and asked the worker where the tour meets to which the rude worker just replied under their breath, "they left" and returned to work.I explained that I understood we were late but were hoping we could catch up with them. I asked that same worker where the tour meets and they said, "In a big group outside" and continued to work. While we were on the pier in Seattle this information was not helpful. Trying to salvage the night, we went outside and tried to walk around and look for a "big group of people" on the crowded Seattle pier on a Saturday night. After a few minutes I went back inside he shop frustrated and asked the worker if they could find someone that was actually helpful that could answer some questions. With some reluctancy this person called their accommodating manager who explained that the tour heads to the right and described exactly what the tour guide was wearing. Ultimately we were unable to catch up with our tour guide because of how much time was wasted with this worker who was unwilling to help us at all. Again I understand we were late, but stuff happens. This place needs to hire people who have customer service skills.

Found a Groupon and thought we'd give it a whirl. I've been on the Underground Tour before and…read morethought this might be a different perspective. First off, the Groupon was a nice deal, however the reservation process was a bit challenging. You must reserve a minimum of 48 hours in advance. And they are closed Tuesday& Wednesday in slower months. I followed the directions and emailed my request in for a Thursday 6 pm walk. (Friday and Saturday were unavailable for Groupon) Apparently I put the incorrect Groupon code so received an email requesting correct code. After another email, I was confirmed. The emails are a bit overwhelming and require you to read all rules and stipulations regarding cancellation policy..and I imagine they were created because of multiple problems with third party discounts, but I suggest perhaps toning down the big print and bold highlights to a more tourist friendly approach as it was a tad off putting for a first impression. So, all Groupon issues aside, we arrived at the address provided a half hour early (always better to be early than late!). There are multiple parking lots available throughout the address, as well as metered street parking. As a disabled person, I was able to find a spot right in front with a placard for free. We walked down a steep stairway into a very fitting dungeon like storefront. We were greeted by a friendly lady who found our reservation and said we could walk about the DEATH MUSEUM until 6 when our tour would meet just to the right of the counter. There is a small gift shop with mostly local products. The museum has some interesting information and displays that reflect all aspects of death, from embalming utensils, death masks, photos of deceased, mourning attire, coffins, hair embellishments and more. Nice touch. At 6 we met in the pews, and were greeted by our tour guide, Graham.. A "portly" (lol) gentleman with a charismatic presence. He spoke with enthusiasm and provided recordings, pictures and videos throughout the tour. The walk itself is easy. The tour is 90 minutes and only covers a few blocks of Pioneer Square. There are several sets of steep stairways that are part of this tour. It is not wheelchair or stroller accessible. At the end of the tour we were aka to walk through their own "underground" in the dark with flashlights they provided. This was pretty cool. I really am intrigued by the whole underground here in Seattle. I did enjoy the tour, and our guide was great.. However I felt like there wasn't a lot of substance. I have done the UNDERGROUND TOUR below, so I am a little familiar with Seattle's history and I would have liked to hear a little more area history and visited more buildings. This is not a HAUNTED TOUR. There is no-one jumping out at you or spooky sound effects. This is a tour based on evidence and local stories and lore of paranormal experiences. You can be a believer, a skeptic or a non believer.. You are given the facts, the stories, the lore and evidence and you can form your own opinion. All in all it was a good PG intro to the world of yesteryear in Seattle. I hear there is a pub tour for adults only and think this may have been a better option, however it was not available through the Groupon. Overall..skip the Groupon and book an adult only tour. Till our next visit to Seattle... :)

We really enjoyed the tour with Emmett (a long time local). He was very entertaining with lots of…read morewit and wisdom, very easy to hear and an excellent communicator. A great mix of history, culture, and current activities. We highly recommend this tour

https://seattlefreetours.com/…read more We opted for two tours from Seattle Free Walking Tours, and both were entertaining, educational, and highly enjoyable! SEATTLE 101 Tour guide Joe provided an in-depth history of Seattle, with plenty of stops to showcase key points of interest. Joe was really personable, very funny, and offered a wealth of facts and info. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! THE MARKET EXPERIENCE TOUR Tour guide Curtis delivered a history and tour of Pike Place Market - and it is essential, because the place is huge. With so many twisty buildings, unexpected stairwells and hard-to-find areas this tour was as informative and helpful as it was entertaining. Next time you are in Seattle sign up for these tours!! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Lynn was amazing. Reopening after a long forced hiatus from Covid, Bill and I felt as though Lynn,…read morethe owner operator of Under The Radar Tours had so much to share and we were the benefactors of her enthusiasm and information. My back is always an issue so a long walking tour was out of the question but Lynn took us through beautiful historical districts, Capitol Hill, the site of the riots, Volunteer Park, a local gayberhood and a terrific shop called Retail Therapy and it was. We felt like Lynn could have been a long lost cousin who wanted to share her love for her city with us. We will be back to catch the rest of the Seattle story. Thank you Lynn a hundred times over.

REVIEW OF OUR SEATTLE LOCKS, GASWORKS PARK & HOUSEBOATS TOUR--ONE OF THE SEATTLE UNDER THE RADAR…read moreTOURS My wife and I visited Seattle for the first time in April 2022. As part of our visit, we booked a tour titled "The Locks, Gasworks Park and Houseboats Tour." The tour is one of "The Seattle Under the Radar Tours" and was billed as a chance to see Seattle "through the eyes of a local." For us, that "local" was Tour Guide Lynn Curtis, who (if I remember correctly) said she had lived in Seattle for 11 years. Our tour with Lynn took place on the afternoon of Friday, April 22nd. It was a beautiful, sunny day and perfect for a tour of Seattle. Twenty-four hours before the tour, Lynn emailed us to confirm we knew where to meet, what to expect on the day of the tour and to answer any pre-tour questions. That was much appreciated and helped assure us we we're working with a professional. The tour rendezvous point was in front of a bakery within walking distance from the Seattle waterfront and marketplace district where we parked our car. Lynn arrived a little early and after introducing herself, invited us to accompany her into the bakery for a complimentary pastry and beverage. Afterwards, Lynn directed us to her personal vehicle--a spacious and clean SUV parked just outside the bakery. To our pleasant surprise, we learned we were her only guests for this tour. Our more than three-hour private tour began with a drive to the Seattle Ballard Locks to see and learn how the locks work to permit the movement of small and large boats. The locks are located at the west end of Salmon Bay, in Seattle Washington's Lake Washington Ship Canal, between the neighborhoods of Ballard to the north and Magnolia to the south. On the drive to the locks, Lynn pointed out various points of interest and once there, shared her wealth of knowledge about the locks. A highlight of this stop was seeing the salmon swimming up the salmon ladders and watching the boats enter and leave the locks. Next, it was on to "Gas Works Park." The park sits on the former Seattle Gas Light Company gasification plant. What makes the park so appealing and a must see for tourists like us, is its location: the north shore of Lake Union at the south end of Seattle's Wallingford neighborhood. It offers breathtaking views of Lake Union and the Seattle skyline. A highlight of this part of the tour, was getting there. On the drive over, Lynn once again shared interesting facts and stories about the neighborhoods we passed through, as only a local could do. Another highlight of the tour was a surprise stop at Ivar's Salmon House restaurant. The restaurant specializes in American and Seafood cuisine and is located on the north shore of Lake Union. Lynn said she personally recommends it to her tour guests who love American and Seafood cuisine, but we learned the food is not the only reason it's a tour stop: its stunning Northwest native art, décor and historical photographs, including a full cedar replica of a Northwest Native American longhouse, are the other reasons. We were so impressed with Ivar's, that we came back that evening for dinner. With the exception of a challenge finding nearby parking, it was a wonderful experience. Our final destination was a visit to a secluded Seattle neighborhood where many residents live in beautiful multilevel houseboats--some valued in excess of $1 million--with their own private docks. This neighborhood is not on your typical Seattle tourist's itinerary and would be difficult to find and traverse without a local like Lynn. If you're looking for a Seattle tour that's well worth your money, this is it. We highly recommend it and highly recommend Lynn. She was great. Thank you Lynn! Tim Roberts Vella Black-Roberts Hayward, California

We came here on a Saturday night and it was nearly empty. It's $40 per ticket, which is absolutely…read morenot worth it. Fun to swing by after dinner, but too short for it to be a single event. Pros: -helpful staff around to help take photos or answer questions -parking garage close by -plenty of tickets available -kid friendly with step stools to stand on Cons: -very expensive -mostly illusions using mirrors, so it's the same type of exhibit every time (looks like there's five of you in a room, looks like four of you sitting down, looks like a lot of you down a hallway) -doesn't last long

Was in Downtown Seattle and didn't necessarily have enough time to see some other sights, so I…read morefound Museum of Illusions highly rated on Yelp and decided to book for four people plus infant. Luckily they had tickets available for purchase online on a Valentine's Day Saturday! Initially I thought we can go through b/c we had bought tickets already, but there was a crazy line to enter, even for people who already bought tickets. The lines didn't stop there though, there were also lines to see the exhibits and take photos. I think typically I would have been fine waiting, but with a little one and stroller, it was tough navigating crowds and having to wait and experience an exhibit for a minute. I will say that I did appreciate that there were some Valentine's Day themed exhibits/merch, as well as some cool photo ops that gave off different illusions, but it was all up pretty quickly... Overall, I'm not sure it was worth the $35-40/pp charge, but probably my fault for wanting to visit on a Valentine's Day night with a toddler...

Went to Fort Nisqually for the Queen Victoria's birthday celebration. The weather started out fine…read morebut turned into a rainy day complete with hail, lightning and thunder. We took up shelter in Store #2 which has the blacksmith shop currently. We had the chance to talk to many of the volunteers and staff during our visit. I have a little of knowledge regarding the local history, which I tend to keep to myself, and was shocked by the sheer volume of historical information provided by the volunteers and the staff, all was accurate to what I knew (I have read some of Dr. Tomie's diaries and the book "Company of Adventures" among other local historical books/ information. I questioned the blacksmith on one of his statements based on a historical reference I had read. Long story short, he was aware of the reference, and we discussed how accurate what I had read was. I was honestly shocked to find out he was a volunteer. This type of interaction was not unique to one volunteer. There was an individual with a straw top hat who was also incredibly knowledgeable, the carpenters were first rate just hitting on the tip of the ice berg here. Overall, phenomenal place to visit, I wish the more volunteers and staff were present during non-event days as well, but I will be going back. I understand they have a list of people volunteering and staff available in the gift shop so one can determine who is there before paying to enter. Couple of thoughts: - depending on when you go through, remember some of the staff/ volunteers may have something they are working on. If they ignore you when you first show up in their "space", remember they may have something happening that needs immediate attention. Don't be impatient. Watch what they are doing and ask questions. This is supposed to be an interactive experience, not necessarily an entertainment. - "Be curious" to quote Ted Lasso. - Depending on who is in Store #2 (blacksmith shop), ask about the "family courting candlestick". Interesting story there - I failed the "Blacksmith IQ test". See if you can do better...

This is a fun way for the kids to learn about a very narrow and specific part of the history of the…read morearea. Of course, it is not a very important or interesting part of local history. It's always disappointing to see European intruders' subjection of land, animals, and people glorified in this way. But, if this type of history interests you, they've done it well. We took our 5 and 8 year old and had a discussion about the fort in the wider context of history and whether it represents changes that were positive or negative for the people living on this land.

Interesting tour in Seattle should not miss. We have a very good tour guide. He is funny and makes…read morethe tour PG joke. A lot of kid in our group and make them enjoyable too. The tour is about 1 hours. Three underground tunnels and one orientation tour. The underground told a lot of history. This includes the big fire in 18th century. The tour is educational and fun. It is highly recommended after the Columbia tower observatory. The underground tour takes us below the city in the pass.

Check out the Underground tour and thought it was very informative and interesting. Our tour guide…read moreAndie was super friendly, funny, and knowledgeable about the history of Seattle. If you have a the time while in Seattle, I highly recommend this tour!

Got to do the original tour for my birthday on Saturday. Chris was our guide, which I was super…read morehappy about, cause I have watched SO many of his YouTube videos, and even used it as a source in a paper I wrote. He was just as awesome as on his videos, very funny and genuine. The tour was fantastic, I am absolutely going to do all the other tours now. The story of the reoccurring murder had me hooked. It was super spooky to be guided through Tacoma by lamp light. Our group was fun and I even had other birthday buddies who celebrated with this spooky tour. So don't wait, go book, like right now. It's worth every penny.

We did two walking tours with Anna because the first one was so good! She is super friendly, funny,…read moreand knew all the local history and legends. You can really tell she loves what she does. Highly recommend if you want a fun and memorable way to explore the area!

The bus ride itself was mostly ok, because it was a lovely sunny day and we got seats at the front…read more The driver ran 5 red lights (my daughter was keeping track) but we all survived and it appears so did the pedestrians and other cars around us. The audio tour, however---sheesh! It's at least 3-4 years old ("and here on the waterfront you'll see construction as workers prepare for the Viaduct to come down," and "The Cinerama is bla, bla, bla amazing and has chocolate popcorn") as the Viaduct and Cinerama are both *ancient* history now. Also what's with talking about the history of activities on Capitol Hill and using the phrase "questionable morals"?! And, then we laughed when the narrator first pronounced Ivar, as in Ivar's fish house as "E-var". Anyway, based on the grave reviews you'd think I'd skip this altogether but I'm a local Seattle person and wanted to do the tour just for the experience of having the double decker open air bus ride. Like the other reviews noted, you get no help over the phone (no one answers) and the website isn't very helpful for navigating all the specifics. The office also has no staff on site and there's just a sign on the door which did help us in terms of finding where to pick up the bus at Seattle Center (thank goodness!). The staff person working at the sidewalk kiosk on Broad St was helpful and friendly, there's that. And overall I I enjoyed seeing the sights of my hometown from the high-up veiw from the bus. And...Is it worth $46/person? I'm choosing to disassociate myself from that question and instead, cherish the fun time with my daughter.

We took the Locks Cruise and booked the return trip with the Sightseeing bus. It was convinient,…read morethe driver was super nice and helpful. I enjoyed riding on the upper level and feeling the breeze and seeing the sights. We only rode the bus a short distance but im sure that it goes through many cool places.