If you ask a Seattlite what to do with out of town guests, you’ll often get the same itinerary: Pikes Place Market, stand in line for an hour at the first Starbucks (don’t forget to take a photo), check out the gum wall, hitch a ride up The Space Needle, and visit the Glass Museum. Although we love iconic Seattle sights, we thought we would provide you with an alternative Seattle itinerary that’s both fun for you and your guests!
Your day starts at sunrise with a hot air balloon ride. Seattle Ballooning is the only company flying in the beautiful Enumclaw Valley. The launch location is just 30 minutes from Downtown Seattle in Auburn, Washington. You’ll enjoy fantastic views of Mt. Rainier while flying over Washington’s gorgeous countryside. After flying at tree top and skimming the water of the Green River, the hot air balloon will climb to 3000ft giving you a spectacular view of Seattle, Bellevue, Tacoma, and the Puget Sound. The hot air balloon flight lasts an hour and finishes in the perfect way: Freshly baked croissants, triple cream brie, organic strawberries, and a delicious glass of champagne. Seattle Ballooning only provides private and semi-private flights with a max of 4 people per hot air balloon. Luxury sunrise flights are $275 per person.
Now that you have seen Seattle from afar, it’s time to head to the highest point in the city, The Columbia Tower. The Sky View Observatory, located on the 73 floor, gives guests a 360 view of downtown Seattle. Tickets are $14 for adults and $9 for kids. From way up there, the Space Needle and Ferris wheel look like they were made for ants. With the ferries cruising the Sound and the Olympic mountains in the background, you’ll get the opportunity to capture all your iconic Seattle tourist attractions in one photo.
After spending the first part of the day thousands of feet above the city, it’s time to go below. The Seattle Underground Tour is a wonderful way to experience Seattle’s unique history, and get the opportunity to get out of the sun for an hour.
Your half day adventure concludes with a late lunch at Frolik, a rooftop bar at the Motif Hotel on 5th Ave. They serve great drinks, delicious food, and have shuffleboard and ping pong tables to keep you entertained.
