Space Needle Tickets?

I believe a "pass" is good for a year... tickets are for one day only. The $24 ticket gets you two rides up, so you can go in the day and after dark. There is an $18 ticket, as well - not sure if you get to go up twice for that price, but doubt it. If the weather is right, I do take out-of-towners up. Once is enough. Two trips a day seems kind of like overkill. Everyone liked it a lot. I have been in "high season" and in "low season" and never noticed it was incredibly busy. I've been 5 or 6 times and each time was able to walk up to a window and purchase a ticket at the spur of the moment. Then there's a line to stand it, but it has always seemed do-able to me. Days that the crowds might be horrible include 4th of July, any time during the dreaded Sea Fair... not sure when else. IMHO, it is a GREAT place for a panoramic view - IF the weather is clear. If you'll be here in September, you have a good chance of getting clear skies, in which case, the view is glorious. You can't beat Seattle on a clear, sunny day. Mountains, water, trees... delightful. If it's cloudy, do not bother. Big waste of time and money. I've been up on a gloomy day (don't ask - odd family) and it was NOT worth it. Locals tend to poo-poo the restaurant. Considering that a ticket up the needle is included, it seems like decent value for money. But I've not been. For a super Seattle-y restaurant experience, I suggest The Palace Kitchen, a few blocks awar from the needle. It's a Tom Douglas restaurant. He's our Big Local Celeb Chef. The Palace Kitchen gets a solid 4 stars on yelp.com - I've always had a 4.5 star experience. Decor is funky and hip, service is solid, food can be amazing, and is always well-prepared and better-than-average. Another you might like, and also in walking distance, is Tom Douglas's pizza joint - called Serious Pie.

Kira - thank you for the info. Based on this, I think I'll wait to purchase a ticket. I've never been to Seattle and I'm really looking forward to this trip (Seattle, Portland, San Francisco). Thank you for the restaurant recommendations. Donna

Hey Donna, we just returned from our first visit to Seattle and the "Space Needle" thing. It's nice to do once, but you definitely don't need more than that. Don't know how many days you're spending in Seattle, but we chose to NOT stay in the downtown area and instead we stayed in a B&B in the Capitol Hill area - The Mozart Guest House. That was a great decision for us. https://sites.google.com/site/mozartguesthouseseattlebb/

The Space Needle is grotesquely overpriced especially the restaurant. I have not had brunch specifically, but the food is really not worth it. I understand the touristy kitsch value of going up to the Space Needle specifically, but it is not the only observation deck in the city. If you are after a great view and not the name, try going up to the top of the Columbia Tower (southern end of downtown). It's only $5 last I checked, and the view is superior + you're not outside. This is just a suggestion though, because again, I understand why people go up the Neeedle :) If you want great brunch, try Portage Bay Cafe. They have 3 locations, and pretty much the most delicious and filling breakfasts ever.

Kira, Tim & Anna – thanks for your helpful responses. I definitely will try one of the restaurants you mentioned for brunch/lunch and (here's hoping the weather is good) a trip to the Space Needle. Looks like I'll only have about 4-5 hours before meeting the rest of the group for a "sightseeing tour of the Emerald City, including the colorful restored waterfront area, historic Pioneer Square, and Pike Place Market, a famous fish and vegetable market dotted with restaurants and shops." I am really ready for a vacation and looking forward to the trip! Thanks for your help with my non-Europe related question.

This thread is making me nostalgic. Haven't been in Seattle for about 30 years. It's been so long - I was at the opening game in the Kingdome. Are the Ivar's restaurants still open? I remember his salmon grilled with alder wood, and those prawns!!! I might have to plan a trip out there. I'd love to see my old home but I bet I wouldn't recognize the downtown.

Ivar's is alive and well! In fact, the Salmon House is still one of my favorite places to go...good seafood and right on North Lake Union. The views are pretty amazing.

Wife and I had dinner at the Needle a couple years ago and had a great time. Very expensive though the food was excellent. Our favorite skyscraper view is the Smith Tower Observation Deck, which is outside and you get a 360 degree view as the deck goes around the whole building. Better than Columbia Tower as it way above downtown, whereas Smith Tower is IN downtown. I think admission is $7 to go up to the top.

@Elaine: Ivar's is growing - like a fungus! The Salmon House still does a pretty good job - and you cannot beat that location - but every other Ivar's makes food that is, alas, disgusting. It has been downhill for them for many years now. The chowder is particularly horrible. Like hot glue. Agua Verde - on Boat Street, a few blocks from the Salmon House - has wonderful Mexican food, nice big thirst-quenching margaritas, and you can eat and then rent a kayak and paddle on Lake Union! It's great.

I have lived here for 24 years and never had any desire to go up the Space Needle. No need either, as my office on the 20th floor of a downtown building has a gorgeous view. Everyone I know who has been there says the restaurant is vastly overpriced and not the best quality. Why not just buy a ticket for the elevator ride up? And then have breakfast someplace good, like Etta's or someplace in the Market.

And if the OMG Peaches are still available in the market definitely DO get one. It was the absolute BEST peach I've ever had. The peaches alone might entice me to retire to Seattle!

Dave, I hope by "above downtown" you mean elevation-wise, because the Columbia Tower is actually a little bit north of Smith and therefore slightly more IN downtown. But for all intents and purposes, the two buildings are right across the street. Agua Verde is a great spot...at least if you can get a set. It's usually pretty crowded, but if you can wait, it is worth it :) James -- a friend of mine recently moved to Olympia/Lacey, and every time I visit her, I want to move to Olympia a little bit more.

I wonder if there's a travel helpline in Europe where people ask questions about what to do/see/eat in Seattle. :-) Donna, have fun! Living in the Pacific NW is wonderful! Just spent the weekend up in Edmunds and Mukilteo and am grateful for all the rain forest has to offer. (It was 75 and sunny all weekend. Simply divine!) FWIW, Boeing does a great tour, the Future of Flight, in their Paine Field facility, where they make the Dreamliner (787). If you can go to Edmunds, drop in on ETBD. It's a cute town and there's nothing quite like shopping at RIck's store. San Francisco, Portland and Seattle: what a great trip! Three of my favorite cities in the US.

Donna: You will have a fabulous time in Seattle. I moved here from the Big Island of Hawaii in 1996 and find it really hard to take vacations (other than Europe; or in the grey days of winter) away from here. When "the mountain is out" it is gorgeous. Another outing you might consider doing while here is to take the Water Taxi from the Seattle ferry dock to West Seattle. You will get more great views of the city except it won't be in the air, it'll be from the water. The fare is reasonable and the ride is short. Some people just turn around and come back just for the ride; others catch a shuttle bus (free) up to the main part of West Seattle or Alki (the beach) and enjoy an afternoon. Watch the schedule though because I think they stop in the early evening. Below is the link for the Water Taxi schedule. Enjoy your visit. http://www.kingcounty.gov/transportation/kcdot/WaterTaxi/ WestSeattleRoute/Schedule.aspx

Elaine, You do need to come for a visit and see all the changes. Ivars is still as busy as ever tho they closed the one in Bothell to make way for huge changes going on there. As for the chowder: having never tasted glue we'll have to take Kiras word for that..tho thousands would disagree. Donna, I agree with those who said a trip to the top of the Space Needle should be done once. I also do not think the food is that great and it's overpriced.
And Dave, Aren't you supposed to be on vacation someplace?

Thanks to everyone for the information and recommendations - I really appreciate your help. Tim -- I will be on the lookout for those peaches! Donna

I have to agree with Tim on the peaches! We were just in Seattle (first time for me!) two weeks ago and honestly it was the best peach I have ever had. We actually passed on going in the Space Needle. It was clear the days we were there but there were other things we chose to do. Have a great time. We love Seattle.

Wild Ginger for some Asian fusion cooking. Won't find that in C-town, worth a try.

OK, I've got to add my two cents. We live 2.5 hours from Seattle but go there regulary. We have taken three groups up to the Space Needle for lunch and everyone has really enjoyed it. Sure you are paying more for lunch than you would at an 'normal' restaurant, but on a clear day the view is spectacular. All three times we thought the food was good. If it is a clear day I would highly recommend it. We also like Salty's in West Seattle, near the ferry dock discussed in an earlier post. As was said earlier you also get a great view of the skyline from there. We like the breakfast at Lowell's in Pikes Place and it has a nice view of Elliot Bay if you eat upstairs. My wife can't get enough of Seattle.

I really appreciate everyone's helpful hints and recommendations - now I'm wishing that I would have made plans to arrive in Seattle a few days earlier! I hope we have good weather because it sounds like there is a lot to see and do. Thanks for all your help. Donna