Space Needle

It's $16 bucks to take an elevator 52 floors up to an observation deck with one bathroom. The observation deck provides a wonderful panoramic view of Seattle, if you're lucky enough to go on one of the days when the weather is actually clear enough to provide these views. A guide told us that Mt. Rainier is only visible from the deck about 90 days of the year. Luckily, we were there on one of those 90 days. Also, be prepared to bend,twist, and buckle to see out of the "telescopes" provided. Sure, they're free, but if you're over 5'8", they're going to be way to short for you.

Like it has been previously stated, one should not visit Seattle without a trip up the Space Needle. Built in 1962 for the World Fair, it can withstand winds 200 mph and a 9.5 earthquake. So don't scared if you think its going to snap like a twig while you are up there. The observation deck offers 360 degree viewing of all of Seattle, the Olympic mountains, Mount Rainer, and Elliot Bay. Contrary to popular belief, it is not the tallest building in Seattle, that title belongs to the Columbia Center. If you get the chance, I would suggest eating at the SkyCity restaurant. The restaurant rotates 360 slowly while you enjoy a meal. The meal is not great, but good none-the-less. You are paying for the view more than anything and its a great view.

I would definately do this..especially if the weather is really nice. Other than the outside they have an inside area with snacks, drinks, tables and these cool machines that take pictures every minute of the 360 view. All the kids I saw had a great time.

Seattle has many locations which provide an excellent view of the city, unless you do not have the means to get to these locations, I'd say avoid the space needle. That is unless you like to pay a lot of money for a view that isn't nearly as good as the ones you could get for free.

For example, a short skip and a jump away is Kerry Park on Queen Anne hill.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queen_Anne,_Seattle,_Washington

(look at the bottom of the page)

The view there is spectacular and *tah-dah* free. If you're renting a car, its a quick drive up the hill. By bus, depending on where you are in the seattle center you can pick up buses to Queen Anne, which should run you about $2 (or less)

http://transit.metrokc.gov/tops/bus/neighborhoods/queen_anne.html

Not only that but Queen Anne is a pretty nice neighbourhood.

Other places to get a good view of the city are:

Harbor Ave SW heading toward Alki Beach in West Seattle, first exit when going across the West Seattle bridge.

SW Admiral Way, second exit off the west seattle bridge, get off on SW Admiral Hill Way and go up the hill, a turn off will be on your right.

Hamilton Viewpoint Park, go to the admiral hill look out then continue on SW Admiral Hill Way to California Avenue SW, hang a right. Continue for about a half mile, the park will be on your right.

Alki Beach go on Harbor Ave SW until you hit Alki, then park. Find a nice fish and chips shop and enjoy a bit of lunch with a great view (*note weather dependent)

Take a ferry ride out to Bremerton (go to ferry terminal along the waterfront, pick up a passenger ride out to the penninsula), the fresh air will do you good and the scenery along the way, esp. on a clear day is awesome. You get great views of Mt Rainier on the way out and the city on the way back. If you time it well, you get the city to your front and the sunset to your back.

The Space Needle is a must if you are visiting Seattle for the first time. Just make sure you buy enough time at the parking lot! They don't have "meters" you can add to if you are running behind...you have to guess how long you will be there and pay in advance...at least in the lot where we parked. We thought 2 hours would be plenty, but the line for the top was over an hour. No big deal, but we were 15 min. late and it cost me a $30 ticket! From the top, we had terrific views of Seattle, Mt Rainier, and Puget Sound. As a bonus, the Blue Angels were performing that day at an airshow nearby, and we had a front row seat at the top! The restaurant was too pricey for us, but the views were well worth the price and the wait. Should not be in town without checking it out!

You can't not got to the Space Needle if you are visiting Seattle, Washington for the first time. But unless the weather is so bad you can't see the top from the ground, or something along those lines you just are required as a human being to do this.
I must say that the ride up in the very fast elevator is gut churning. It takes only about forty (40) seconds to climb the 600 feet. Naturally, this is a glass fronted elevator. And with some of the structural bracing flying by as you whiz past it, there was a real feeling of movement.
And if you don't like being squeezed it a confined elevator with about the maximum number allowed, wait for a slow day.

Obviously verrry cold at peak level. Starbucks coffee is offered however. Great view of the city and bay. Wide selection of souvenirs at base.

I went to visit the Space Needle, because a girl I met at the hostel wanted to see it. The tickets are 16 US dollars which I thought was pretty expensive for a ride on the elevator. When we bought our tickets, we found out that if you dined at the restaurant on top of the Space Needle, you could get to the top for free. I cannot remember the exact price for the lunch, but it was around 25 dollars. Unfortunately, we could not return the tickets.
I think the view from the Space Needle was pretty good. Since I stayed in Seattle for only 2 days, I got a pretty good impression of Seattle.