Space Needle, Seattle

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This group had been singing at the Space Needle for a long time. Every time I have visitors, I bring them to the Space Needle and while waiting for my visitors at the Space Needle, I just sit down closeby and listen to their Peruvian music. I enjoyed their instrumental cultural music. I bought three of their CD's.

Apart from singing with their Peruvian instruments, they also sell some arts and crafts from Peru including their own CD's.

You can support them by buying their CD's for $15.00 and buying the crafts they are selling and/or giving them donations. They used their guitar case to throw your donations. They appreciate it.

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Very touristy (I almost added it to the "Tourist Traps" section) but a must do if you're in Seattle.
We were fortunate and went on a day with no crowds, early morning with clear blue skies and zero wait time.
By the looks of the cordoned off areas however we could tell it was a virtual Disney World or Epcot Center during busy times.

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Many others have given the specifics of the Space Needle, so I'll skip that and just tell you my experience.

Since I was taking a class from 8:15 to 3:15, I had only the late afternoon and weekend in which to squeeze all the sightseeing I wanted to do.

Since I also was by myself, I had to figure out a place to eat that was interesting. I discovered that when you eat dinner at the Space Needle, your elevator ride is included in the price, plus you don't have to stand in line for a ticket. So I did that.

My dinner, including tea to drink, dessert and tip was $37.05. At the time, the elevator ride was $6.00 so my dinner was really only $31.05. It was a good dinner, and I enjoyed the view. I did this again in 2011 with Bob.

I found the following information on their website amusing:

THE UNEXPECTED
* Plans to build a stork's nest atop the Needle were canceled when it was learned that storks could not live in Seattle's climate and would migrate to warmer climates.

* The city of Fife, Washington offered $1 million to move the Space Needle to its downtown.

* During the fair, private planes that flew near the Needle were reported to the authorities only if they were so close their wing numbers could be read.

* There have been six parachute jumps from the Needle; two were unauthorized and the other four were part of a promotion.

* As an April Fool's joke a local television station aired a phony report that the Space Needle had fallen over. Emergency phone lines were swamped with calls. The Space Needle received more than 700 calls, even though there was a flashing alert during the entire report telling the audience that it was a joke. One Spokane man even jumped in his car and began driving to Seattle because his daughter worked at the Space Needle.

* The Space Needle moved 312 feet SW in June 1987. The move was only on paper, however. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) began a 10-year project of re-mapping the earth by satellite. Major structures, such as the Space Needle, were used as landmarks.

Seattles Space Needle has always given the cities horizon that unique look, hovering above the trees and hills of the city. It is very easy to get to and has a ton of parking, and for just under $20 you can take a ride to the top. there is also a restaraunt in the needle, and for that it would be smart to make reservations. The restarant serves by pre-paid courses, so bring your budget.

This is one of the more memorable symbols of Seattle which was built for 1962 World's Fair. At over 600 feet tall, the Space Needle has the best views of the city. Try the day and night pass to see the city bathed in light and then in darkness.
If you have the coin, check out the revolving Sky City restaurant for a romantic dinner with a great view that changes. I love seeing the city at night. If you don't have a chance to go here, at least check out the webcam below for a view of the city.

From the top of this landmark, made for a World's Fair, one can see the Cascade range of mountains, Mount Ranier (a 14,000 ft. volcano), Elliot Bay, and the surrounding islands. An elevator takes travellers to the top of this landmark.

The cost is $13 for adults (ages 14-64), $6 for kids ages 4 to 13, $11 for Seniors (65+), and free for children under age three. Military discounts are also given as well as day and night passes.

There is a restuarant, "SkyCity," at the top which revolves 360 degrees in one hour, giving one a complete view of Seattle from every angle. For views, visit SkyWay Restaurant.

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The Space Needle is the most famous symbol of Seattle. It was built for the 1962 World's Fair and was literally finished the day before the Fair opened.

The architecture of the Space Needle was a compromise of two designs - one of a giant balloon tethered to the ground and the other of a concept of a flying saucer. The end result is not a very pretty building.

The Space Needle is 605 feet high and 138 feet wide at its widest point and weighs 9,550 tons. It was built to withstand winds of 200 mph and earthquakes up to 9.5 magnitude. It also has 25 lightning rods on the roof the prevent lightning damage.

The Space Needle has an observation deck at 520 feet, and a gift shop with the rotating SkyCity restaurant at 500 feet. From the top you can see the downtown skyline as well as the surrounding mountains and islands.

Elevators to the observation deck travel at 10 mph and the trip to the top takes 43 seconds. On windy days elevators are slowed to 5 mph.

This is a very popular attraction in Seattle and the wait for an elevator can be an hour long, but it's definintely a must see in Seattle. Hopefully you can make the trip when the sky is not too cloudy!

You can buy your tickets online to avoid the lines. Check website for details.

Hours:

Observation Deck:
Sunday – Thursday 10:00am – 9:00pm
Friday – Saturday 9:30am – 10:00pm

Admission:

Adult (ages 14-64): $16.00
Youth (ages 4-13): $9.00
Child (age 3 & under): Free
Senior (ages 65+): $14.00

Please note that all visitor information is correct as of this writing.

A trip to Seattle wouldn't be complete without a trip to the Space Needle. While you can go to the restaurant or the gift shop, the obvious thing to do is to go to the observation deck for a 360 degree view of the area.

As of March 2010,A trip to the observation deck costs $17 for an adult, $9 for children 4-13 years of age, and $15 for seniors. Annual passes and various other combinations are available -- check the website for details. And speaking of the website, you can order your tickets online. Make your purchases, receive a confirmation number, and either receive tickets in the mail or pick up the tickets at the Space Needle ticket booth.

The observation deck is open daily from 9AM - Midnight. Occasionally, the deck is closed for a private function -- check the website for details.