1. Seattle Center & the Space Needle Seattle Center, along with its iconic Space Needle and the Monorail, was originally built for the 1962 World's Fair. They have since been turned into an entertainment complex and park area with theaters, sports facilities, and restaurants. Modern tourist attractions now proliferate the area, including the multi-genre exhibits at the Museum of Pop Culture and impressive glass artworks at Chihuly Garden and Glass. Seattle's best radio station, KEXP, also operates out of a studio in the Seattle Center, where music fans often have reason to gather. Riding to the top of the Space Needle is a quintessential experience of visiting Seattle. Tourists can take an elevator to the 360-degree-view Needle Observation Deck to look out over the city, Elliott Bay, and Mt. Rainier. The Space Needle is best done in summer when the gray clouds of winter have disappeared. The Seattle Center itself, however, offers one of the city's best places to visit in winter, with seasonal events like the annual Winterfest featuring family-friendly and free attractions. Address: 400 Broad Street, Seattle, Washington 2. Pike Place Market Vendors offer a wide range of wares for sale on the two floors of the picturesque Pike Place Market. This busy area near the waterfront is a popular tourist spot throughout the spring, summer, and fall. Market tours are an ideal way to cut through the bustle of Pike Place and hear some unusual stories. Fish, fruit, vegetables, and all sorts of odds and ends tantalize the taste buds and camera lenses. If you don't have the hotel facilities for cooking up some seafood, head to one of the 80 local restaurants and bakeries, or pick up goodies to bring home from one of the specialty foods stores. In addition to plentiful food choices, there are more than 200 proprietor-operated shops that range from antiques and collectibles to bookstores and quirky specialty shops. The historic nine-acre shopping haven also includes a crafts market that features 225 local and regional creators. Although it's possible to spend all day admiring each stall in Pike Place Market, typically it's only a part of a touristic day. The market is in the central downtown area, surrounded by several other places to visit. Within a short walk, visitors can also check out the Seattle Art Museum, the Seattle Aquarium, and the Seattle Great Wheel at Pier 57. Address: 1st and Pike Streets, Seattle, Washington 3. Discovery Park Discovery Park covers nearly 550 acres and is the largest park in the city, and one of the top beaches in Seattle. It's located on a point protruding into the sound from the Magnolia neighborhood, west of downtown. The park encompasses coastline, forest, and meadows, offering a true escape from the city and providing a habitat for wildlife. West Point Lighthouse marks the westernmost vantage in the park and is a popular photo destination. But the natural space affords many other advantages over Puget Sound, and there are also great views of the Olympic Mountains. The Loop Trail and Beach Trails are the two most popular routes to see the big views. An environmental learning center hosts interactive exhibits and information about the park, as well as education programs for all ages. The network of trails is sprawling within the park, but abundant signage makes navigating throughout the 500-plus acres fairly easy. Still, first-time visitors might want to download the park map. Address: 3801 Discovery Park Blvd, Seattle, Washington 4. Chihuly Garden and Glass The Chihuly Garden and Glass is one of Seattle's best museums and is located within the Seattle Center. The collections and exhibits here display and explore the work of innovative glassblower Dale Chihuly - a Tacoma native. Chihuly's work is known for using glass as a purely artistic medium and creating sculptures that captivate onlookers. In addition to eight galleries, visitors can admire one of his largest works in the Glasshouse, where the installation's colors and appearance change with the moving sunlight above. Adjacent to the Greenhouse, the Art Plaza and Collections Café offers a lovely place to sit and enjoy hourly glass blowing demonstrations. The plaza abuts the garden, where visitors find Chihuly's work presented within a natural environment, enhancing the flow and depth of the glass. The museum also features a video presentation about the artist's life and craft, as well as daily gallery talks and tours. Chihuly Glass and Gardens is open seven days Address: 305 Harrison Street, Seattle, Washington