Richard P.
Yelp
I'm not sure you can fall in love with Seattle, as I have, and not fall in love with Seattle Center.
Originally the site of the 1962 World's Fair, this entire area has become known as Seattle Center and hosts some of the city's most iconic tourist attractions, some also made for the World's Fair, along with some of the city's most vibrant organizations. This includes:
Academy of Interactive Entertainment
A/NT Gallery
Book-It Repertory Theatre
The Center School
Chihuly Garden and Glass
Classical King FM 98.1
Climate Pledge Arena
Cornish College of the Arts
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Discovery Center
KCTS-9 (Public Broadcasting)
KEXP - 90.3 FM
Museum of Pop Culture
Northwest Folklife
Pacific Northwest Ballet
Pacific Science Center
Pottery Northwest
Seattle Center Foundation
Seattle Center Monorail
Seattle Children's Museum
Seattle Children's Theatre
Seattle International Film Festival
Seattle Opera
Seattle Repertory Theatre
Seattle Shakespeare Company
Space Needle
TeenTix
Theatre Puget Sound
The Vera Project
That's a lot, folks.
While some of these organizations have been available throughout the pandemic, the Seattle Center is really just starting to come back to life after having largely been shut down through the pandemic. While this meant I didn't get to check out everything offered, what I did get to check out I absolutely loved.
Under normal circumstances, you can also find food & drink, vendors, and an electricity that certainly isn't quite up to normal right now and feels more organized and controlled since most of the main attractions that are open are limiting themselves in terms of capacity and in terms of time slots.
In terms of accessibility, Seattle Center goes all out - this is a general thing in Seattle as it's a city that strives to be remarkably inclusive (I didn't always find this to be true, but I honor the effort).
Services on the Seattle Center campus include (but are not limited to):
Washington Relay Service (7-1-1)
ADA Coordinator is available at (206) 684-7200
Guest Services at Events; Assistive Listening Devices; Available Materials (large print and/or Braille); American Sign Language Interpreters; Closed-captioning at all Movies at the Mural screenings.
Accessible Parking Spaces are located at several locations along the periphery of the campus. All Seattle Center garages have designated accessible parking spots. If all the available spaces are full, visitors should check with the Attendant on Duty for remaining availability.
Mercer Parking Garage offers 67 accessible parking stalls on levels B & C, adjacent to the garage's sky bridge to Marion Oliver McCaw Hall. Note: due to height restrictions, the stalls at this facility are not van-accessible.
The 5th Ave N Garage offers 24 accessible parking stalls, including eight van-accessible stalls. One of the van-accessible stalls is also equipped with an Electrical Vehicle Changing station.
The Theatre Commons ADA Parking Lot, located between Seattle Repertory Theater and Cornish Playhouse, offers six accessible parking stalls, including three van-accessible stalls, and an accessible pick-up and drop-off area. An additional drop-off area along Mercer St. between Cornish Playhouse and Phelps Center/Exhibition Hall also accommodates patrons with disabilities.
The School District Parking Lot, located at 5th Avenue North near the Harrison St. entry to the Seattle Center campus, offers six parking spaces, with one accessible parking stall and five van-accessible stalls, which are located in the southwest corner of the lower parking lot.
Finally, Seattle Center even features an ADA-compliant adult changing room and nursing room You do have to visit Customer Service in the north end of the Food & Event Hall near the stage for a key.
There is so much to love here that it's impossible to cover it all in one review. There are both family friendly environments and environments best suited to the adults. There's a strong vibe of inclusivity and, yes, there are also places where you get the tourist shlock vibe. I'd love to come back and really experience Seattle Center when the pandemic has less of an impact and I can really explore these organizations more fully. Plus, I've added Seattle International Film Festival to my list of desired film festivals.
While locals may get tired of some of these features, for the Seattle Newbie there's little denying that Seattle Center is a "must visit" campus of entertainment, education, inspiration, and just plain fun.