Take the #1 rated Seattle tour (July 2012) based on Tripadvisor.com reviews to Snoqualmie Falls and then tour the city with your arrival back at the Pike Place Market, cruise ship terminal or downtown hotel.       

This 4.5 hour tour is ideal for anyone who wants to enjoy the majestic Snoqualmie Falls and tour all the great locations in the city.    

Drive through the real Twin Peaks country of Snoqualmie, Washington in a plush bus with your small group. We then visit one of the top ten Japanese gardens outside of Japan at the Washington Park Arboretum. Here you will be in a quite setting with a large Koi pond and wonderful pathways and plants to enjoy.   

Your next stopping point is the Fremont Troll where you can take some time to get some photos of this one-of-a-kind piece of public art. As you drive through Fremont you'll see a 16 foot tall statue of Bolshevik Russian Communist revolutionary Vladimir Lenin. Your guide will share with you how this statue arrived in Seattle and the story behind its history.  

Theo Chocolate is one stop you will enjoy as you get to taste chocolate from North America's first Fair Trade Organic Chocolate company.   

Our route takes us by Fisherman's Terminal where you will see many of the large fishing boats from the Pacific Fleet.    See spawning salmon at the fish ladder of Ballard Locks, and as they navigate their way through the intricate ladder system. You may see migrating Chinook (King),  Coho (Silver), Sokeye (Red) and Steelhead.   

Next, take in the best location in Seattle for taking a photo of the skyline; the picturesque viewpoint at Kerry Park.  

Arrive back at the Pike Place Market mid-afternoon, so you can continue your sightseeing of the city with a newfound love of Seattle as well as photography composition tips to help you take postcard perfect photos during the rest of your vacation.   

Returning from a Cruise?   We can pick you up at the end of your cruise to start the tour.We have a secure luggage compartment onboard our bus. Our pickup time is between 9-9:30. Cruise departure dropoffs may be availabel. Please contact us at 425-516-8838 fro more information. 

With many sights in-between, you are sure to thoroughly experience Seattle and all the beauty and culture the city has to offer.

Additional Information

A few reminders before you arrive. 

Tipping if you are satisfied with the quality of the tour is always appreciated.

 Join us on Facebook

Make sure your batteries are completely charged and if possible, bring spares. 

Make sure you have enough memory chips if you shoot digital. 

Please dress accordingly based on the weather conditions.

Make sure you bring good walking shoes.  It's a leisurely walk, but we want you to be comfortable while on your feet.

Please contact us at 425-516-8838 to schedule your hotel pickup in the downtown Seattle area. Airport and Eastside hotel pickups are not available. Allow an additional 20-30 minutes of travel time each way for hotel pickups and drop offs.  If you do not need a hotel pickup, arrive 10-15 minutes early to meet your tour guide at the Pike Place Market information booth at 10 AM. The information booth is located on the Southwest corner of 1st and Pike in close proximity to the large market clock.

If you have additional questions, feel free to contact us at 425-516-8838

Take the #1 rated Seattle tour (July 2012) based on Tripadvisor.com reviews to Snoqualmie Falls and then tour the city with your arrival back at the Pike Place Market or downtown hotel.     

We are not a simple transportation company that only drives you around the city and point out different locations through the windows with one or two quick 5-10 minute stops. With Shutter Tours we take the time to stop and explore the locations allowing you to have a richer Seattle experience and help you with simple photos tips on your scenic tour.     

Our tour begins with either a hotel pickup or meet your tour guide at the Pike Place market at 10 AM. As we make our way through the city you'll learn the history of the city, how the Great Seattle Fire of 1889 became an important event to turn Seattle into a major city and explain the "Underground" of Seattle.      

We then make our way on I-90 over the worlds second longest floating bridge. Your guide will then share some fun facts about Bill Gates house as you cross Lake Washington and make your way to the Cascade Foothills.  

Your first experience in the Cascade foothills will be a drive through the town of Snoqualmie, the real "Twin Peaks" of the Pacific Northwest. Then you'll enjoy the majesty of Snoqualmie Falls, which is sure to be a favorite memory on your tour with us.      

Our next stop is the beautiful Japanese Gardens located at the Washington Park Arboretum. A 3 1/2 acre formal garden designed and constructed under the supervision of world-renowned Japanese garden designer Juki Iida. Rated one of the top Japanese Gardens in the world outside of Japan.     

We then wind our way back towards the city though Microsoft country, taking the earth's longest floating bridge to our next destination, the beautiful Japanese Gardens located at the Washington Park Arboretum. Time spent here will allow you to work on your landscape images, closeup shots and the opportunity to have a bit of quite reflecting time should you wish to put down your camera.   

We continue back into the city and our search for the 18 foot high troll, clutching a full-size Volkswagen in one hand, who lives under the bridge. Here we'll share with you fun portrait ideas to take while you marvel at this oddity.As we drive through Fremont you'll see a 16' tall statue of Bolshevik Russian Communist revolutionary Vladimir Lenin. Your guide will share with you how this statue arrived in Seattle and the story behind its history.   

Next make our way to some chocolate tasting at Theo Chocolate, the only Organic, Fair Trade, Fair for Life certified Bean-to-Bar Chocolate Factory in North America. When you walk into Theo, you'll get a blast of chocolate smells with the ability to taste different combinations from Coconut Curry, to Spicy Chili and many others wonderful delights.   

Ballard Locks beckon with its complex engineering and the ability to see the maritime traffic as they go throughout the locks system. Put in place to keep the waters of Lake Union from spilling into the Puget Sound, 22 feet below, they provide a vital link for recreational and commercial boats to navigate between both bodies of water.       

We'll also enjoy the fish ladder and share with you ideas on how to take photos of the wild salmon as they migrate through the ladder system. At certain times of the year you may also see Sea Lions, Herons and Eagles and other types of wildlife.   

Our second to last stop takes us to one of the most postcard perfect picture locations in all of Seattle, Kerry Park. This will be another great opportunity to get some wonderful images of the city, Space Needle, Mt Rainier and the Puget Sound.    

We then end our tour at the Pike Place Market at 2:30 PM where you can explore the market on your own or continue with us to your hotel. 

Things To Bring

A few reminders before you arrive.   

Tipping if you are satisfied with the quality of the tour is always appreciated.  

Join us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Shuttertours   Make sure your batteries are completely charged and if possible, bring spares.   

Make sure you have enough memory chips if you shoot digital.   

Please dress accordingly based on the weather conditions.   Make sure you bring good walking shoes.  It's a leisurely walk, but we want you to be comfortable while on your feet.  

Please contact us at 425-516-8838 to schedule your hotel pickup in the downtown Seattle area. Airport and Eastside hotel pickups are not available. Allow an additional 20-30 minutes of travel time each way for hotel pickups and drop offs.  

If you do not need a hotel pickup, arrive 10-15 minutes early to meet your tour guide at the Pike Place Market information booth at 10 AM. The information booth is located on the Southwest corner of 1st and Pike in close proximity to the large market clock.  

If you have additional questions, feel free to contact us at 425-516-8838

Inclusions

All entrance fees are included in the tour price. Groups of 4 or more will receive an automatic discount of 10% on the adult prices of $69 and $59.

For your convenience we also provide the following:
Bottled water
Binoculars
Umbrellas
Tripods
First aid kit
and many more items.

Exclusions

Camera's are not included on this tour. Wheelchairs are not allowed and the bus is non smoking.

Cancellation Policy

We have a 48 hour cancellation policy. We understand how difficult it is to make travel arrangements. Many tour companies will contact you the day of the tour and cancel because they have not sold enough tickets. Our policy is once a tour is booked we will fulfill our obligation to you so that you may enjoy the tour you have paid for despite the number of tickets sold.

In the event of a small groups being on the tour we reserve the right to use a more fuel efficient form of transportation such as our SUV instead of our bus, for environmental impact reasons.

Departs

10 AM Daily May thru October.

Pickup/Departure

Please contact us at 425-516-8838 to schedule your hotel pickup in the downtown Seattle area. Airport and Eastside hotel pickups are not available. Allow an additional 20-30 minutes of travel time each way for hotel pickups and drop offs.

Meet your tour guide at the Pike Place Market Information booth no later than 10 AM located on 1st and Pike Street. This is close to the sign that says "Public Market Center" with the large clock. You will see a large brass pig (Rachel) beneath this location, follow the brass hoof prints to the information booth towards 1st Avenue.

Tour starts at 10 AM and ends approximately 2:15-2:30 PM at the Pike Place Market information booth.

Drop-Off

Our final stop is the Pike Place Market around 2:30PM where you can explore the market on your own or have us take you back to your downtown hotel.

Tipping if you are satisfied with the quality of the tour is always appreciated.

Additional Locations