What to See on the Seattle Waterfront

From park to pier, here are our favorite things to experience along the water.

Located downtown, Hotel Theodore gives guests convenient access to all that Seattle’s waterfront has to offer. Whether you’re interested in exploring the area’s diverse marine life, or you’d prefer to keep your boots on dry land, there are all kinds of ways to enjoy this city by the sea. Here are some of our favorite activities along the coastline.

Pike Place Market

If you’re looking to avoid crowds, head to the iconic Seattle market early on a weekend or Monday morning. Catch the fishmongers tossing salmon from ice to counter to kick off the days’ sales, and watch the market quickly come to life with vendors and visitors alike. One of our favorite spots is Piroshky Piroshky, a Russian bakery specializing in both sweet and savory pastries.

Seattle’s Great Wheel

Located on Pier 57, Seattle’s Great Wheel stretches 175 feet above the pier, and 40 feet out over Elliott Bay. Take a ride just before sunset for one-of-a-kind views of Puget Sound, Mount Rainier, and downtown Seattle.

Colman Dock

Grab a ferry from Colman Dock, and take it across Puget Sound for breathtaking views of Bainbridge Island or Bremerton. It’s a great way to see the city from a new perspective. In this case, the journey really is just about as cool as the destination. Learn more about Washington State Ferries here.

Olympic Sculpture Park

A little over a mile northwest of the Hotel Theodore, Olympic Sculpture Park skirts Elliott Bay, transforming a former industrial site into a destination for both natural and manmade works of art. Free to the public, and commissioned by the Seattle Art Museum, the park’s distinct, z-shaped path allows visitors to zig-zag through 21 different sculptures, and take in gorgeous views of the city’s intersection with the sea.

Seattle Aquarium

A trip to the Seattle Aquarium promises interactive and educational experiences about Puget Sound marine life and global ocean conservation. One of its newest exhibits, “Windows on Washington Waters,” features a 120,000 gallon tank that simulates the coastal waters of Washington State. Several dive shows are held each day, giving visitors the opportunity to learn, in-depth, about some of the area’s key marine critters, like salmon, rockfish and sea anemones.

Discover more of Seattle

There’s so much to explore in The Emerald City. Check out our Seattle City Guide for our insider recommendations.