Seattle Center

• Hours: Vary by attraction
• Cost: Free entrance, but some attractions have an admission charge
• Location: North of downtown
• How Long: Depends on the number of attractions you visit
• Best Time to Visit: Any time

Seattle Center began when the civic complex was constructed in 1927, but it was the 1962 World's Fair that transformed it into the 74-acre Seattle Center campus visitors see today. The Space Needle's panoramic views that are the main attraction here, but there's plenty more to see and do at Seattle Center.

Seattle Center Attractions

• Pacific Science Center: A fun, hands-on science museum with two IMAX theaters

• Experience Music Project

• Science Fiction Museum

• The Children's Museum

• Fun Forest Amusement Park, amusement rides and an arcade. Most of these rides are best suited for small children.

Other facilities at Seattle Center include theatre companies, Pacific Northwest Ballet, Seattle Opera and the Sculpture Garden. The Supersonics (NBA)and, Storm (WNBA) basketball teams and Thunderbirds (hockey) play at the Seattle Center.

Getting to Seattle Center

Seattle Center
Mercer Street and 2nd Ave North
Seattle WA
(206) 684-7200
Seattle Center Website Seattle Center is bounded by First Avenue North, Fifth Avenue, Denny Street and Mercer Streets. To get there from downtown, you can take the Seattle Center Monorail, or walk north on Third, Fourth or Fifth Avenues. From the waterfront, you can take the trolley to its north end, then walk up Broad Street to Seattle Center.

If you're driving, exit I-5 at the Seattle Center exit and follow the signs. You'll find Seattle Center parking lots on the Fifth Avenue side.