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Children love this delightful Old World mode of travel along the waterfront. Hop aboard at any of nine stations between Myrtle Edwards Park and the International District. They run every 20 minutes.

An icon of the Pacific Northwest, these ferries provide a picturesque, inexpensive cruise across Puget Sound, as well as transporting Seattle’s commuters from neighboring shores.

Two of the waterfront’s most popular all-weather attractions are the world-class Seattle Aquarium and the IMAX Dome Theater. Make a point to step inside the Aquarium’s glass-domed room under 400,000 gallons of water for spectacular shark and octopus views. The theater boasts a 180-degree domed screen and fantastic surround sound.

Looking for literature etched on rice grains, or other such unique objects? Since 1899, this has been the place to find curios both from the distant and recent past. It’s also a great source for coastal Native American art.

This harbor provides moorage for pleasure boats, large and small. It’s adjacent to the port of Seattle’s cruise-ship terminal.

If you’re feeling adventurous, strap on a paraglider and head up for a breathtaking ride and aerial city view. Many boat cruises depart from here.

Celebrating Seattle’s working waterfront, this institution has hands-on exhibits for landlubbers and their kids. You can steer a virtual tanker ship into harbor, try kayaking, spin a tanker’s propeller with pedal power, or operate miniature canal locks.

Visit this waterfront haven for fine views of Mount Rainier, Puget Sound, and the Olympic Mountains. A bike trail and pedestrian path winds along the Elliott Bay coastline. The park also has a fishing pier.

Seattle’s relative proximity to Alaska’s stunning Inside Passage, coupled with modern trends in leisure travel, led the city to build two new terminals to accommodate the thousands of passengers coming and going. You can watch ships docking by the Bell Harbor Marina all summer long.

Seattle’s local economy depends heavily on a successful shipping industry and marine activity predominates here. Constant tanker, tug boat, and rail traffic represent the city’s financial well being.