Seattle is known as the Emerald City, perched on the water and surrounded by beautiful evergreen forests. The city feels almost restless; constantly innovating and looking to the future, Seattle is known for being cool and edgy with a friendly vibe.
With its iconic Space Needle, renovated dock area and harbourside hangouts, Seattle has plenty of things to see and do. Pick up your car rental from Seattle-Tacoma Airport and you’ll have access to this vibrant city and the rest of Washington beyond.
Wonders in the air and on the ground
Towering over Seattle, the Space Needle is an architectural wonder. It was built for the World’s Fair in 1962 and tops out at a height of 184 metres. Take a ride to the observation deck for the very best views of the city or reserve a table at the famous revolving restaurant. The deck rotates gently to take in the skyline, while the recent addition of transparent floors has made the experience up top even better.
Back on the ground, head for the waterfront, lined with restaurants, shops, cafes and visitor attractions. Here you’ll find a waterfront park, Seattle Aquarium and the Great Wheel. Don’t miss Pike Place Market; going strong for well over a century, Pike Place is a brilliantly atmospheric public market with an abundance of produce on offer. Make for the neon sign and you’ll enter a bustling world of fresh produce, crafts and superb restaurants that turn the best of the market produce in to their finest menu options.
Eye on the future
Seattle’s embrace of futurism extends to the city’s finest museums. The first, MoPOP, is housed in a wonderful, trademark Frank Gehry designed building, a fitting shell for the shrine to modern pop culture inside. It’s a democratic celebration that takes in art, music, comic books and the superb Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame.
There’s plenty there for kids to get their teeth into, while they’ll also love the hands-on exhibits at the Pacific Science Center. They can go from rocket-building at this centre to designing a plane at the Future of Flight, a short way out of the city. It provides a fascinating look at modern jets, the space race and more, including a replica of an International Space Station module.
Wider Washington State
Make the most of your rental car by exploring the other cities and sublime scenery of the state. The port city of Tacoma has a great car museum and more than 100 historic buildings, while the state capital of Olympia is dotted with public art and bold sculpture.
Outside the towns and cities, there’s the active volcano of Mount Rainier National Park, with lovely walking trails around its base. Drive out to Fall City for antique stores and old-world charm in what was once home to the Snoqualmie Native American tribe. The wondrous waterfall here is worth the drive alone.
With so much to experience in and around Seattle, you might struggle to fit it all in. See as much as possible with Hertz car rental Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and start your Washington adventure.
