Unspecified/General

On the 73rd floor of the iconic Columbia Center skyscraper in downtown Seattle, the Sky View Observatory is the highest public observation deck in the Pacific Northwest. The 902-foot observation level occupies the upper floors of the 76-storey Columbia Center, which was completed in 1985 and remains the tallest building in Seattle (although it has since been surpassed in height by the new Sphere of the King Salmon Building under construction). The observation deck opened to the public in 2001 and offers a 360-degree view of one of the most beautifully sited cities in North America. The deck stands at a height of 902 feet above street level, more than 400 feet higher than the more famous Space Needle observation deck and high enough to provide direct views of the surrounding Olympic and Cascade mountains on a clear day. The view from the deck is extraordinary. Looking west across the city, visitors take in the busy Elliott Bay waterfront, the Bainbridge and Vashon Islands beyond and the snow-capped Olympic Mountains in the distance. Looking east, the city skyline gives way to the broad Lake Washington and the towering Cascade Range beyond, with Mount Rainier (the great 14,411-foot stratovolcano about sixty miles south) visible to the south on the clearest days and Mount Baker visible to the north. Closer in, visitors can directly view the surrounding downtown landmarks including the Seattle Art Museum, Pike Place Market, the Smith Tower (Seattle's first skyscraper) just below, the Space Needle at the Seattle Center two miles to the north, the Climate Pledge Arena and the long industrial waterfront stretching south to the Port of Seattle. A small cafe and gift shop on the observation level offer refreshments and souvenirs. Several special-event nights including private dinner experiences, sunrise photography sessions and proposal packages are available throughout the year. A clear sky on a sunny day is the ideal time for a visit, although the observation deck remains spectacular even in the more typical Seattle weather of low cloud and rain, when the deck is often above the cloud line. Tickets are sold by timed entry, with discounted online pricing.

Type: Tourist Attraction

Address: 700 Fourth Avenue, 73rd Floor, Seattle, WA, United States

Telephone: 206-386-5564

Website: skyviewobservatory.com

Opening Date: 01/01/2001