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Downtown and The Waterfront
Downtown Seattle is full of the normal hustle and bustle you will find in any other cities.  The marked difference is the beauty and wonder of this city. The two most popular tourist spots are Westlake Center and Pike Place Market. Westlake Center is located right in the heart of Downtown Seattle, between 4th and 5th Avenue. If you love shopping this is definitely the place to go! With over 80 stores and restaurants to visit, you will need to spend at least half a day at this mall! Other than the international brand names such as Nine West and the oh-so-scrumptious Godiva Chocholatier, regional and other local stores can be found at the mall as well. Close by is an area popularly known as Belltown. Comparable to New York's Soho area, it can be defined as night life central. With boutiques, clubs, taverns, galleries and lots of places to eat, this area has everything to keep you entertained throughout the day and night whether you are a hip and trendy club hopper or an art enthusiast. Once you have had your fill of Westlake Center and Belltown, take a walk over to Pike Place Market. The nine-acre historic district receives close to 9 million visitors each year. The Market was opened in 1907 during an inflation period is currently home to over 500 residents consisting mainly of low-income seniors. Founded by angry citizens of Seattle who was unable to afford the high market price for produce, this public street market was proposed as a solution by Thomas Revelle, a Seattle City Councilman. Since then the market has continued to grow and become what it is today. Walking into the market for the first time can be rather confusing, what with all the noise, fresh produce and people everywhere and all those stores, so an option would be to take the Market tour that is available every Wednesday through Sunday, at 11am and 2pm. The tour costs $7 for adults and $5 for seniors and children under 18.
Within walking distance from the center of Downtown Seattle is the Waterfront, another popular tourist attraction.  This is definitely the typical tourist attraction in Seattle with its gift shops, T-shirt stores, saltwater Taffy and of course, all the overpriced restaurants. Located along Alaskan Way, the Waterfront also hosts the Seattle Aquarium, the IMAX Dome Theater and Odyssey – The Maritime Discovery Center. At the south end of the waterfront you will find Pier 52, where you can catch a State Ferry Ride. On Pier 55 you will find places to eat, sit and enjoy the skyline. The Seattle Aquarium can be found on Pier 59, also located in the same area is a small relaxing park and the Omnidome. The Aquarium is open daily from 10am to 5pm. Admission prices are $9 adults, $8 seniors, $6.25 ages 6-18 and $4.25 ages 3-5. The Maritime Discovery Center is located on Pier 66 also known as the Bell Street Pier. The center is definitely a children oriented attraction, with a kid-sized fishing boat, a virtual kayak trip through the Puget Sound and a live radar center that allows you to track movement of vessels in the Elliott Bay. The center is geared towards the promotion of modern fishing and shipping, and has more than 40 hands-on exhibits that are fun to participate in. It is open every Tues-Sun, 10am to 5pm. Other than the ferry rides, the aquarium and the Maritime Center, you will also find the IMAXDome Theater. This large movie theater has a 180 inch screen that wraps around the room! It makes you feel as if you're right in the middle of the action. The theater is conveniently adjacent to the Seattle Aquarium and shows different nature films such as Island of the Sharks and Dolphins. All in all, it is impossible to have a boring day in Downtown Seattle, there is always something exciting to visit or do, and most importantly, the attractions are very affordable!
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Writer: Sunita D.
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Nearby Spots: Capitol Hill District · Seattle Center ···
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