As the largest city in the northwestern United States, Seattle makes a strong statement about its uniqueness. The local natural beauty blends perfectly with the bold creations of modern engineering. 

If you want to explore grandiose structures, or just enjoy unique constructions, Seattle is a great place to spend a weekend or even an entire vacation. You can rent a car for easy access to all of these locations. 

Don’t know how old do you have to be to rent a car in Washington? No worries! The minimum age is 21, so you can feel free to start planning your trip. In turn, we will tell you which grandiose buildings you can visit in Seattle.

Space Needle Tower

The Space Needle Tower has long been considered a recognized symbol of the Emerald City. Reaching the height of 184 meters, it’s among the tallest object in the city. Its revolving observation tower sits 160 meters above the ground and offers views of the city's surroundings, including Puget Sound and the mighty Olympic Mountains. 

The revolving restaurant, which is no less popular with travelers, is located just below. Come to the tower at sunset and enter the high-speed elevator that takes you to the very top at 10 miles per hour for amazing views of the shimmering Seattle.

Boeing Factory 

Those interested in aeronautics or simply want to learn a little more about aircraft manufacturing should definitely visit the Boeing factory. It’s located in Everett, about 40 kilometers north of Seattle, so be sure to rent a car in advance to get there easily. 

The local Future of Flight Aviation Center offers unique tours of the commercial aircraft factory - you won't find another similar experience in all of North America. In addition to visiting the Pine Field factory, you will get the opportunity to design your own aircraft model.

Seattle Great Wheel

The scale of this grandiose structure strikes imagination. The giant Ferris wheel at Pier 57 is the tallest construction of its kind on the entire west coast. Its height is over 53 meters. Even if you are not a fan of such rides, you should still try it at least once. 

The landscapes opening from the cabins are simply mesmerizing, while they themselves are closed, which is very helpful on rainy days or cold nights. Also, the cabins don’t swing even in the windiest weather. On Friday and Saturday evenings, the Ferris wheel runs until midnight. 

If you prefer extra comfort, there’s a special VIP cabin with a glass floor and leather seats, which can be accessed out of turn.

Smith Tower 

Smith Tower is the next stop on your rental car trip. The neoclassical building was the tallest construction in Seattle before appearing the Space Needle. This 38-story, 148-meter-high building on Pioneer Square was the city's first true skyscraper and one of the tallest towers outside of New York.

Almost 60 years have passed since this building lost its proud title of the major city skyscraper, but a visit to its observation deck on the 35th floor is still a must for any self-respecting guest of Seattle. There are several reasons for this. First, it’s one of the last buildings on the US West Coast to still employ elevator operators. Secondly, the interior of the tower uses a lot of vintage details, such as latticed doors on elevators, onyx railings and carved teak ceilings in the bar near the observation deck.

Columbia Center 

When approaching the Columbia Center in a rental car, it's hard to believe that this is the tallest building in the entire state of Washington. However, this is true. With the height of 295 meters, the Columbia Center was the tallest building on the entire West Coast at the time of its construction in 1985. 

Since then, it has dropped just three places in this ranking. In the 2010s, the Sky View Observatory, located on the 73rd floor of the building, underwent significant renovations, so you now have the opportunity to enjoy a 360-degree city panorama. Also, for the convenience of visitors, two new high-speed elevators were installed in the building. Although the Columbia Center is not as popular as Space Needle, the views opening from it are equally spectacular.

Pop Culture Museum 

It was designed by Frank Gehry who took architecture to the next level. It seems that this huge structure is melting under the soft Seattle sun, but this is far from the case. The sheet metal building was inspired by the rock music and the energy it embodies. Gehry even was preparing for its creation by buying and putting together pieces of guitars to come up with a shape for the future Pop Culture Museum. 

Today, a variety of audio contests, film festivals and exhibitions are held on its territory. So, in will be a great idea to rent a car and visit in even if you’re not interested in architecture. 

Here you will find science fiction and horror, video games and sci-fi literature, and, of course, a lot of music. In addition, the museum contains numerous rare artifacts from the world of pop music and sculptures made from over 500 guitars.