First-timers to Seattle will surely want to nosh at the iconic Pike Place Market, wander the stunning Chihuly Garden and Glass museum and embark on an intriguing underground tour that explores what were once the main streets of downtown before the fire of 1889. Since my traveling companion and I have enjoyed these experiences on prior visits, we turned our attention to other activities.

VIPs at the Space Needle

After a $100 million renovation that finished in 2018, which added 176 tons of glass to the iconic Space Needle, guests can now enjoy panoramic views from two levels: the observation deck, with open-air glass walls and “floating” benches, and the Loupe, the world’s only rotating glass floor. Located 500 feet in the air, the Loupe is also the setting for a dramatic bar in the sky. The nearly 1 million annual visitors initially dissuaded me from going, but then I found an option that includes VIP access, along with drinks and a “Tower” of food. Skipping the long line, we rode a private elevator up. Our table stood directly on the rotating glass floor, affording a disconcertingly clear view of the tower beneath our feet. But the spectacular 360-degree views of Puget Sound, the Olympic Mountains, the Cascade Range and Lake Union quickly cured any sense of acrophobia.