Learn how to use the Seattle Transit system and your U-PASS on a tour of one of Seattle's iconic neighborhoods. Have issues or questions? Call or text us at 206-207-5564.  

The U-PASS is a bus pass plus more. Loaded right onto the Husky Card, the U-PASS provides members with unlimited rides on regional buses, commuter trains, light rail and water taxis as well as full fare coverage on vanpools. 

• How to get there: Take the 32 bus from Roosevelt Way NE & NE 42nd St. Get off at Queen Anne Ave N & W Harrison St 

• How to get back: Take the 32 bus from Republican St & 1st Ave N. Get off at 11th Ave NE & NE 42nd St 

Seattle Center is a must-see place for those living in Seattle. The Seattle Center truly took shape following the 1962 Seattle World’s Fair which resulted in the New Arena, SIFF Film Center, Pacific Science Center, Seattle Center Monorail, and Space Needle. 

Currently, the Seattle Center is an arts and entertainment institution and is home to several popular attractions, many of which you will see today! The Seattle Center also hosts major festivals including Bumbershoot, Northwest Folklife Festival, and the Bite of Seattle. Dick's Drive-In, a Seattle fast food staple since 1954, is located in Uptown (formerly known as Lower Queen Anne).   

The space has indigenous roots. The land belongs to the Duwamish tribe. In 1927, the Marion Oliver McCaw Hall and Civic Arena initiated construction of the Seattle Center. The two attractions were followed by the Seattle Center Armory, Memory Stadium, and the Wall in 1939, 1948, and 1952 respectively.  

Tour Description: 

1. Climate Pledge Arena: Former home of the Seattle Supersonics and Seattle Thunderbirds, current home of the Seattle Storm and Seattle Kraken. Climate Pledge Area plays host to Seattle basketball and hockey teams and also serves as a large concert venue. 

2. Chihuly Garden and Glass: This exhibition showcases the work of Dale Chihuly, a famous glassblower from Tacoma. Purchase tickets here. 

3. Space Needle: It was built for the 1962 World's Fair and stands over 600 feet tall. From the top you can see 360-degree views that include Mt. Rainier, Puget Sound, the Olympic and Cascade Mountains, the beautiful city of Seattle and beyond. Purchase tickets here. 

4. Seattle Center Armory Food & Event Hall: The Seattle Center Armory offers delicious food and beverage options from selected restaurants on the main level (2nd floor) and hosts many cultural celebrations and performances inside. Take in the sights and sounds of Seattle Center on the 60-foot outdoor deck or purchase official Seattle Kraken merchandise at the newest Seattle Kraken Team Store located on the main level.  

5. International Fountain: The fountain, a mainstay from the 1962 Seattle World's Fair, was designed to reflect outer space exploration. It underwent a three-month renovation in 2021 that replaced 56 of the fountain’s 274 water jets and installed new, colorful LED lighting. All of its water is recycled and it’s probably the cleanest in the city, with three types of natural treatments before it ever reaches the public. 

More Fun Places to Explore: 

• Pacific Science Center: The Pacific Science Center is an iconic interactive science institution with a one of its kind (in WA state) Tropical Butterfly House and other special exhibits, and is home to the Boeing IMAX Theatre, Planetarium, and Laser Dome shows. Purchase tickets here. 

• Museum of Pop Culture (MoPOP): MoPOP was funded by Paul Allen and the building's architecture is supposed to look like a melted guitar from above. MoPOP is an interactive music museum combining hands-on experiences with equipment and interpretive exhibits that tell the story of musical groups and artists that changed the history of American pop music.  Occasionally it is a concert venue and hosts Sound-Off (a battle of the bands competition). Purchase tickets here.  

• Artists At Play Playground: An imaginative, artists-created playground offering active, free fun for all ages, located in the plaza between the Museum of Pop Culture (MoPOP) and Seattle Center Armory, just north of the Monorail station. 

• Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Discovery Center: A center with interactive exhibitions, global health innovations, and powerful stories of partners and communities. Discover ways the foundation works to fight poverty, disease, and inequity around the world, as well as ways to take action on causes that you care about. 

• Seattle Center Monorail: The monorail is the fastest way to travel between downtown Seattle and Seattle Center. Check out the Downtown Seattle Guide for more things to explore! 

• Olympic Sculpture Park: The Olympic Sculpture Park transforms a nine-acre industrial site into open and vibrant green space for art. This waterfront park gives Seattle residents and visitors the opportunity to experience a variety of sculptures in an outdoor setting, while enjoying the incredible views and beauty of the Olympic Mountains and Puget Sound.

 Special Events:

• Seattle Center Sculpture Walk 2023: Several artworks will be showcased throughout the public grounds of the Seattle Center mid-August through the end of 2023 

Map: