Seattle Great Wheel
Hop aboard the Seattle Great Wheel at the end of Pier 57 for one of the city’s most scenic rides. Rising 175 feet above Elliott Bay, this gleaming Ferris wheel—just steps from Pike Place Market and the Seattle Aquarium—offers a slow, 15- to 20-minute spin with panoramic views of the skyline, the Olympics, and Mount Rainier (on clear days, of course). Each climate-controlled gondola fits six comfortably (up to eight if some are kids), and most groups get a cabin to themselves. After dark, more than 500,000 LED lights transform the wheel into a glowing waterfront landmark with weekend light shows in summer. Advance tickets are worth it—you’ll still wait in line, but not for long.
