Washington state’s historic city is a compact place to engage in the culture through food and drink, especially the seafood display. Parks, beaches, museums, craft beer, chocolate and a coffee culture is boasted about and rightly so!
Written by Travel Without Limits Editorial Staff, 2025
You don’t have to go all the way to Oz to experience the delights of an Emerald City. Your next accessible adventure awaits in the Pacific Northwest, on the shores of the Puget Sound. This iconic city has been made famous by a smorgasbord of film, television, and musical acts for decades. From Nirvana, Sleepless in Seattle, to Grey’s Anatomy, this is a city that offers everything from unique museums, galleries, and attractions, to stunning natural wonders. So come and say hello to Seattle, the Emerald City of the USA.
Getting there and getting around
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) is one of the most accessible airports in the United States, with a range of accessibility programs and supports to make your arrival (and reluctant departure) a breeze. From the range of checkpoint and security screening accessibility tools (including support specialists, Sunflower lanyards, and TSA Cares) to sensory spaces, wheelchair services, service animal relief areas, and social stories, SEA is fully equipped to get your trip off to a great start (and send you home in style).
Seattle Express will take all of the stress out of navigating the city upon your arrival. They offer airport transfers (partnering with Premier Airport Shuttle for transport with lift access for wheelchair users), and also a range of shuttle services (including to the Port of Seattle for cruise departures) and tours. Seattle Express can accommodate motorised scooters with advance notice (additional charges apply) and offers military and AAA discounts.
Accessible accommodation
Hyatt Regency Seattle is the largest hotel in Seattle and offers a range of accessible accommodation options. Take your pick of bed configurations (1 king, 2 queen, or suite) and bathroom amenities (accessible shower or tub), with each option offering widened doorways, lowered switches and peephole/latch, and a mini fridge. The spacious guest rooms offer room to circulate and natural light through oversized windows.
Travellers with sophisticated tastes will appreciate the timeless elegance of the Mayflower Park Hotel, one of the Historic Hotels of America. The spacious, accessible guest rooms have traditional Queen Anne style décor that incorporates a queen-size bed and ADA-compliant accessibility features (including a roll-in shower with grab bars).
For something a little different, head to The Edgewater Hotel, Seattle’s only over-water hotel, located on Pier 67. It’s been the preferred accommodation of musical legends over the years, including The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, and the Foo Fighters (and they offer complimentary instrument rentals and record players if you want to rock’n’roll yourself). Choose from a range of accessible rooms and suites with views of the city on one side and the waterfront on the other. All accessible guest rooms have lowered peepholes and thermostats, accessible toilets and sinks, roll-in showers and/or bathtubs, lowered towel racks, and grab bars.
In the heart of downtown Seattle, Hotel Theodore promises an authentic Emerald City experience, with a museum-curated collection of art and artefacts on site inviting you to immerse yourself in local history and culture. The accessible guest rooms offer up to 23sq.m of space, with a queen bed, accessible roll-in shower, grab bars, lowered peep hole, and strobe fire alarm.
If you want to squeeze a lot of Seattle landmarks into your itinerary, it’s best to stay as close to them as possible to minimise your transit time. Inn At The Market is the perfect choice, the only Seattle hotel located within the famous Pike Place Market. At the end of each action-packed day, you can relax in a newly remodelled, city-side, accessible guest room with a king bed and freshen up in the spacious bathroom with a roll-in shower, grab bars, and a sturdy movable shower bench.
Amazing attractions
Start with the most recognisable icon of the Seattle city skyline: the Space Needle. The accessibility of this landmark has improved significantly in recent years, and it’s a Seattle must-do with jaw-dropping views of the city. It’s open from 8AM to midnight in peak season (summer), so visitors can choose to visit after dark and appreciate the gentle illumination of the city at night if the bright light of day is over-stimulating. Pre-purchase your ticket online or via a travel agent to avoid wait-times on the day of, and take advantage of the valet parking with accessible drop-off if you’re driving. The Space Needle has large lifts to transport guests all the way up to the observation deck and rotating glass floor. Mobility aids, including wheelchairs, scooters, and service animals are permitted, and Team Members are on hand to assist with guiding you through the building. For a fun preview of what to expect on your visit, check out the live webcam of the view from the top online.
If you’re looking for a budget-friendly way to see the sights of Seattle while making the most of its waterfront location, Argosy Cruises has everything you need. With day cruises of varying lengths and routes, as well as private charters and special events, you can choose the option that’s best suited to your needs and your itinerary. The accessibility of vessels and docks varies, but each is comprehensively described on the Argosy Cruises website so you can make an informed choice before booking. All crew members are trained to assist people with disabilities in boarding and navigating the vessels, so help will always be on hand. Electric scooters cannot board the vessels, but Argosy Cruises provide company wheelchairs to use on board and an area to store your electric scooter during the tour if needed.
Combine a fun day out with learning opportunities at the Pacific Science Center (PacSci), a science and technology centre that hosts engaging and interactive exhibits year-round. From the Tropical Butterfly House to Laser Dome shows, and from Augmented Reality exhibits to a journey through the past with dinosaurs, PacSci has broad appeal and is sure to please the whole crowd. The campus building is wheelchair accessible, with lifts between levels and accessible restrooms and drinking fountains throughout. Wheelchairs are available to loan from the Information Desk (first come, first served). The Sensory Lounge provides a safe space to decompress, and there are sensory kits available for use during your visit. If over-stimulation is a concern, check out their Exploration For All experiences that are more sensory-friendly than general admission sessions, and the social narrative resources available on the PacSci website.
Head down to Pier 57 to find the largest Ferris wheel on the West coast, The Seattle Great Wheel. The 53m tall wheel has 42 enclosed climate-controlled gondolas and offers some of the best views of the city, Puget Sound, and surrounding mountains including the imposing and spectacular Mount Rainier. Each ride lasts 10-20 minutes and proceeds at a slow and steady pace. There are lifts and ramps to allow wheelchairs to roll directly into the gondolas (door width 30”/76.2cm), and service animals are permitted to accompany people with disabilities.
Transport enthusiasts will want to make a beeline for The Museum of Flight, the largest independent air and space museum in the world with more than 175 air- and space-craft, thousands of artefacts, millions of rare photographs, and dozens of exhibits. The museum is wheelchair-accessible (including restrooms), and courtesy wheelchairs are available to loan, as are noise-reduction earmuffs. Audio guides are offered in multiple languages, and tours for visitors who are blind or have low-vision offer a curated experience with specially trained guides and opportunities to interact with the exhibits by touch. Social narrative resources are available via the museum’s website, and Sensory Days offer pre-registered guests access outside of general opening hours for a more sensory-friendly experience.
When planning your Seattle itinerary, be sure to check out what’s on at the Seattle Art Museum. With global collections, powerful exhibitions, and educational programming, it’s an experience that welcomes everyone to engage. There is a comprehensive range of supports in place for access needs, including: ASL interpretation (with advance notice), maps and social narratives, magnifiers and colour-blind glasses, Braille labels and audio guides, courtesy wheelchairs and accessible restrooms, closed captioning and transcripts for videos in the permanent collection, foldable stools for loan, and more. Support workers and carers are offered free admission when accompanying their care recipients.
Eat and drink
Seattle’s foodie scene is second-to-none, so make room in your Emerald City itinerary for long lunches and delightful dinners.
Sample some classic American fare–burgers, fries, and milkshakes – with a side of Seattle history at Dick’s Drive-In. It’s fast food in its purest form, served the same way since 1954. At any of Dick’s eight drive-in locations, you can get your meal fresh and fast, and eat it right there in your vehicle or take it with you to your next stop. The order windows are easy to access from the parking areas. For a more traditional dine-in experience, head to their Queen Anne location that has indoor tables. Dick’s doesn’t permit customisation of their menu items, but they do provide comprehensive allergen information on their website so you can ensure it suits your needs before you go.
With more than 320km of shoreline, seafood is a Seattle speciality. Head to The Crab Pot on Pier 57 for a fun and casual ‘Seafest ’– a seafood meal with a twist. A giant steamed bucket of goodies is dumped directly onto the table, to the delight of all diners. (There are standard entree options available too, if that’s your preference.) The restaurant is wheelchair accessible, located inside the main mall entrance of Miner’s Landing, and offers waterfront views while you dine from the large outdoor patio.
For a more traditional taste of Seattle’s seafood, head to Anthony’s Pier 66. This family-owned restaurant offers fresh catches prepared simply to let the flavours shine, in a sophisticated setting with panoramic views of the Seattle skyline, Mt Rainier, and Elliott Bay. Both floors of the spacious restaurant are wheelchair accessible (with a ramp alternative to steps at the entrance, and an elevator between levels), including the outdoor patio deck. There are large accessible restrooms, too.
Alternatively, take the time to treat yourself to a traditional Italian dining experience at Barolo Ristorante. The restaurant’s handmade pasta is carefully crafted with organic free-range eggs, and the elegant decor (including sparkling Italian chandeliers and gauzy drapes) only enhances the Italian ambience. The restaurant is wheelchair accessible, with a step-free entrance, plenty of room to manoeuvre around tables, and large, accessible restrooms.
Find more for free
Make your travel budget stretch even further by filling your itinerary with Seattle’s free activities and attractions.
- Pike Place Market is “the soul of Seattle”, serving fresh farm produce and artisanal products to Seattle locals and visitors alike for over a century. It’s free to wander and soak up the ambience, and there’s free public seating available when you need to take a break. Accessible parking and bathrooms are both available on-site.
- Take time out from the bustling city at Waterfall Garden Park, a man-made waterfall in the heart of Pioneer Square. Bring a picnic lunch or enjoy a quiet coffee in the soothing green space, with plenty of shade and paved areas for comfort.
- History buffs should head to Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park, commemorating one of the most pivotal periods in the region’s past. Daytime visits are free. Head to the Visitor Center when you arrive, and rangers can direct you to accessibility supports for your visit (including assistive listening devices, audio-described tours, quiet spaces, and wheelchair-accessible routes).
- See a collection of monumental sculptures on Seattle’s waterfront at the Seattle Art Museum’s Olympic Sculpture Park. It’s free to visit, and open 365 days a year. Learn more about the art with free audio tours and interactive content that you can download to your own smartphone. Courtesy wheelchairs are also available to borrow from the Information Desk at the PACCAR Pavilion.
For more information, head to the Visit Seattle website.