Next up in our CityPASS series is Seattle, Washington. Of the eleven cities where these discount packages are available, Seattle is one of the most exciting. Like many of the packages, including CityPASS Houston, there are either/or choices to be made. Like Houston, the savings off the regular admission fees come to nearly 50% off.
Three attractions come with each package: Seattle Space Needle, Seattle Aquarium and the Argosy Cruises Harbor Tour. Then, you must make the choice between the EMP Museum and Woodland Park Zoo. You must also make a choice between the Pacific Science Center and the Museum of Flight.
The choice between the Pacific Science Center and the Museum of Flight is a killer for me. Ultimately, I would include the Science Center in the package, as it is slightly more expensive, and pay the individual price to go to the Museum of Flight.
Package Overview
Update: For 2016, the Chihuly Garden and Glass has replaced the Museum of Flight as an alternative to the Pacific Science Center.
What getting the CityPASS for Seattle provides is nearly a 50% savings on regular admission to each of the five attractions. It also gets you around ticket lines, which will definitely come in hand at the Space Needle. The pass can be used over a period of nine consecutive days, starting whenever you visit the first attraction.
As mentioned, the Space Needle, Seattle Aquarium and the Argosy Cruises Harbor Tour are included in every package. It should be noted that it is a day/night ticket to the Space Needle. This means you can visit twice over a 24 hour period to experience the incredible views in the daylight, along with the stars and city lights after dark.
The price of the Seattle package is $64 for adults and $44 for children 4-12. Three and under are free. Click on the ad right next to what you’re reading to go to the CityPASS official website for more information and to order your tickets.
The Attractions
Here’s some more detailed information on the great attractions included in this package. Click the links below to go directly to that item in this article.
- Seattle Space Needle
- Seattle Aquarium
- Argosy Cruises Harbor Tour
- EMP Museum (alternate to Woodland Park Zoo)
- Woodland Park Zoo (alternate to EMP Museum)
- Pacific Science Center (alternate to Museum of Flight)
- Museum of Flight (alternate to Pacific Science Center)
- Getting and Staying There
Seattle Space Needle
Located at 400 Broad Street, the Space Needle has been a well-known icon since 1962. At 605 feet in height, there are now five skyscrapers in downtown Seattle that are taller. The Columbia Center, built in 1985, stands 943 feet high and also has an observation level.
Opened in April, 1962 for the World’s Fair, the Space Needle’s observation deck is at 520 feet. The attraction is open 365 days per year. Hours are 10am to 11pm Monday through Thursday, 9:30am to 11:30pm Friday and Saturday and 9:30am to 11pm on Sundays.
As mentioned above, what is included is a day/night pass. This allows visitors to visit twice in a 24 hour period, allowing for daytime and nighttime views. Walk up prices for this pass are $29.00 for adults 13-64, $16.00 for youths 4-12 and $27.00 for seniors 65+.
Official website: Seattle Space Needle
Seattle Aquarium
Located on the waterfront on Pier 59 at 1483 Alaskan Way, after the Museum of Flight, this is probably my next most anticipated. Sure, there’s the Toronto Ripley’s Aquarium just an hour’s drive from my house and it’s up there with the world’s biggest and most diverse. However, the Seattle Aquarium focuses on the Pacific Ocean and specifically Puget Sound, the body of water right outside. The highlight is the amazing underwater dome. The aquarium opened in 1977 and was expanded in 2007.
The aquarium open daily from 9:30am to 5pm daily. Exceptions are Christmas Day and June 5 (annual fundraising gala) when the aquarium is closed. Regular, non-CityPASS, pricing is $21.95 for adults 13-64, $19.95 for seniors 65+ and $14.95 for youths 4-12.
Official website: Seattle Aquarium
Argosy Cruises Harbor Tour
Located adjacent to the Seattle Aquarium, Argosy Cruises have been operating since 1949. There are departures daily, except for Christmas Day, however the frequency changes depending on the time of year.
Regular pricing for the one hour harbor tour start at $23.00 for adults. Seniors 65+ pay $20.00 and youths 4-12 pay $11.50.
Official website: Argosy Cruises
EMP Museum (alternate to Woodland Park Zoo)
Located at 325 5th Avenue North, right next to the Space Needle, the EMP Museum is maybe best described as a pop culture museum. EMP stands for Experience Music Project. The museum is open daily from 10am to 5pm, September to mid-May. Over the summer months, hours are extended to 7pm. The EMP Museum is closed Christmas Day.
Admission to this 140,000 square foot museum has separate pricing for weekdays and weekends. From Monday to Thursday, adults 18-64 pay $20.00 while seniors 65+ pay $17.00 and youths 5-17 pay $14.00. From Friday to Sunday, add an extra $2 to those fees.
Official website: EMP Museum
Woodland Park Zoo (alternate to the EMP Museum)
Located at 5500 Phinney Ave. North in Seattle, the zoo is open year round but has a different set of hours and fees, depending on when you visit. From October 1 to April 30, the zoo is open from 9:30am to 4pm. Winter fees are $12.75 for those aged 13 to 64. Youths 3-12 pay $8.75 and seniors get $2 off the adult price.
Between May 1 and September 30, the hours are from 9:30am to 6pm, daily. Prices increase to $18.75 for adults 13-64 and $11.75 for youths 3-12. Seniors still get $2 off the regular adult price.
The Woodland Park Zoo boasts nearly 300 different animal species. Some of the highlights include elepant, orangutan, hippopotamus, jaguar, tiger, gorilla and snow leopard.
Official website: Woodland Park Zoo
Pacific Science Center (alternate to the Museum of Flight)
Like the Seattle Space Needle, the Pacific Science Center was opened as part of the 1962 World’s Fair. It was the United States Science Pavilion for that event. Located at 200 Second Avenue North, the Science Center is central to most of the attractions included in this CityPASS.
Open everyday, except Christmas, the science center has hours of 10am to 5pm on weekdays and 10am to 6pm on Saturday and Sunday. Regular admission prices are $19.50 for adults 16-64, $14.50 for youths 6-15 and $11.50 for children 3-5. Seniors 65+ get in for $17.50.
Official website: Pacific Science Center
The Museum of Flight (alternate to the Pacific Science Center)
Located at King County Interational Airport (Boeing Field) at 9404 East Marginal Way South in Seattle. The Museum of Flight is open daily from 10am until 5pm. Regular pricing is $19.00 for anyone 18 and older and $11.00 for youths 5-17.
Established in 1965, this is the largest private air and space museum in the world. There is a massive amount of aircraft on display. Some of the highlights include the City of Everett, the first flight worthy Boeing 747; a British Airways Concorde, one of just four Concordes on display in North America; the original prototype for the Boeing 737, today’s most popular and hardest working airliner; a Trans Canada Airlines Lockheed Super Constellation.
Folks from the Toronto area will know this Super Conny well. It was parked off Derry Road at the north end of Toronto Pearson International Airport until 2005. At one point, it served as a restaurant. I’m proud to say, I had a chance to have a great meal inside this classic plane before it was shut down and shipped to Seattle.
Official website: Museum of Flight
Getting and Staying There
For those in Toronto, getting to Seattle is generally cheaper than getting to nearby Vancouver, British Columbia. Via Southwest Airlines out of Buffalo, New York, return flights can be had as low as $300, including taxes. Out of Toronto Pearson, the lowest you’re going to find will be around $550.
As for hotel rooms in the area, Hotels dot com has hotels priced as low as $60 on the outskirts of town. Downtown hotel rooms start at $120 per night. Click the hotels dot com ad in the sidebar to your left to check out what’s available (this is an affiliate link that will not cost you anything extra but can bring some small income to It’s About Travelling to keep the site alive…).
