Welcome to Seattle Walking Tour
Description
This is a fun, informative tour that's easy to walk, but covers a lot of ground. We will point out the big iconic sites, but visit a few places off the beaten path as well. In this tour we’ll get you acquainted with Seattle. Starting in the Pioneer Square neighborhood, you’ll learn about the history and founding of the emerald city. We'll visit the cities art district, Chinatown-international district and meander through the downtown core. Then it’s a ride through the future past on the historic monorail, which we’ll ride to Seattle Center, the site of the 1962 world’s fair. This is a walking tour and we cover roughly 2.5 miles on foot. The tour will take place no matter the weather, rain or shine, (we only cancel during weather advisories). We recommend you dress appropriately, including footwear.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Meet here, learn about the native people of the area, the founding of the city, and the early days of Seattle
Pass through this lovely urban park lined with cafes and shops. Learn about the Great Seattle Fire
Beautiful mini park with a waterfall feature. Learn about the Klondike gold rush
Learn about the Klondike Gold Rush and the impact it had on Seattle - entrance is free
Amtrak station with large clock tower and ornate interior
Seattle's SODO neighborhood and Stadium District, home to the Seahawks and soccer teams - we pass by this stadium, but do not enter. Entry fee is NOT included in the tour
View the gate marking the entry to Seattle's Chinatown International District. Learn about the ID, Japan Town, & Little Saigon.
Learn more about this important Seattle Neighborhood
Experience the grandeur of this now defunct architectural treasure
Excellent museum - we pass by, but do not enter. Entry fee is NOT included in the tour
Japantown art gallery with an interesting and troubled history
View this unique architectural gem inside and out
Walk past this unique public market and and learn the history of this city gem
We'll take a ride on the iconic monorail from Westlake Center in downtown Seattle to Seattle Center
A walk through the grounds of the 1962 World's Fair, now a civic culture center with museums, performance spaces & theaters, and the iconic Seattle Space Needle. Tickets to these attractions is not included on this tour, guests are welcome to purchase tickets and visit various museums or the Space Needle after the conclusion of the tour. Your guide can make recommendations
Museum dedicated to rock and roll, science fiction, and pop culture, designed by the architect Frank Gehry - we pass by, but do not enter. Entry fee is NOT included in the tour
Iconic Seattle landmark - we pass by, but do not enter. Entry fee is NOT included in the tour
Seattle Science Museum with remnants of the '62 World Fair - we pass by, but do not enter. Entry fee is NOT included in the tour
musical fountain
Seattle Center Food Hall
Learn the story of how this historic structure was renovated into a state of the art sports and performance venue - we pass by, but do not enter. Entry fee is NOT included in the tour
The tour concludes at the gathering space at Seattle's independent radio station - KEXP. Grab a coffee (guests will purchase their own coffee), peruse records, watch the DJ's live in the booth and listen to the broadcast. If we're lucky, maybe we'll catch a live performance by a touring or local band
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- This is approximately 2.5 mile walking tour - remaining time be spent walking between stops
Reviews(228)
James did an amazing job showing us around Seattle. He had a lot of local knowledge and clearly loves the area. He was very engaging and thoughtful in his communication. Would definitely recommend. Thanks James!
Great way to learn about the history of the city, it’s origins and how the city evolved over the years. Tips on local favorites were appreciated. We had a great time on our tour and learned a lot.
James was simply the best guide! We learned so much about the history of Seattle and walked by all the important locations. We even rode the famous Monorail right up to the Olympic Park Space Needle. This is a great way to get to know the city.
We had a great walking tour with James last month on our trip to Seattle. He was knowledgeable and friendly, and the tour was well paced and engaging. Our family of 4 signed up for the small group tour but ended up being private (most likely due to being the July 4 holiday). His knowledge of all things Seattle was impressive and he asked good questions and told good stories! He asked if there were any special things that we were interested in and catered to the group while making sure he wasn’t redundant about things we had already seen or learned earlier in our trip. We would definitely recommend this tour and James!
James was the tour guide for our group of 5 adults and 3 teenagers, ranging in age from 13 to 81. He did a great job educating us about Seattle’s history and bringing us to various areas in the city. We enjoyed learning about Seattle’s indigenous roots and its development from the 1850’s to the 1962 world’s fair. He gladly answered questions and maintained a pace that considered the needs of all participants. We loved riding the monorail from downtown to the site of the 1962 fair.
James was a great guide; knowledgable and entertaining! Highly recommend this walking tour. Covered a lot of ground and learned a lot about Seattle history and got some local tips.
Thanks for the A+! Always happy to share a few locals tips. - James
James was an excellent guide sharing his wealth of knowledge about the beginning of Seattle and the old historic town. Worth a tour for sure.
Glad you had a good time - James
Excellent walking tour experience. The guide was on time and professional. We gained lots of knowledge (in addition to the independent research we had already done). We were able to ask questions. We would definitely recommend to anyone whether they are a tourist or a local.
Thank you! I love questions, one of the best parts of the tour
Great walking tour of the sites in downtown Seattle. James was very knowledgeable and made some adjustments to better enjoy the great weather and views.
Thank you! It always helps to have a beautiful city with amazing views! - James
This walking tour was very interesting. James is very knowledgeable and personable. We saw a lot of Seattle and learned a lot about the city’s history. He was easy to talk to and took breaks when asked. I do have to say, though, I’m an overweight 71 year old and I found the walking, enough of it uphill, to be a bit difficult. But if you’re up for it, it’s a really good tour.
Thank you for the review and the kind words. It is true that we cover a good amount of distance and go uphill for part of the way. It sounds like I could do better with my awareness of ability and energy levels of my guests and make more adjustments to the tour along the way. Thank you for bringing this to my attention, I appreciate the feedback - James
