
A Space Needle Employee’s Guide to Seattle
A Space Needle employee gives her insider tips on visiting the Seattle icon and the best of the rest Seattle has to offer.
Located on Blake Island, a state park in the middle of Puget Sound, Tillicum Village offers visitors an opportunity to learn a bit about Northwest Native American tribes. Surrounded by trees, the venue is made up of a large restaurant and performance hall, which is designed as a traditional Northwest Coast longhouse with totem poles out front.
Tillicum Village can only be reached by boat; most visitors opt for the 4- to 5-hour Tillicum Excursion that departs from the Seattle waterfront. The tour includes a greeting outside the longhouse; a meal of fire-roasted salmon, stew, and side dishes; and a live stage performance that incorporates traditional native storytelling. Afterward, visitors have time to browse the gift shop or walk along the beach before the return boat ride to Seattle.
Boats to Tillicum Village depart from Pier 54 or 55 in downtown Seattle. If you have your own boat, you can make your own way to Blake Island and still participate in the meal and show or explore the trails or beach.
The Tillicum Excursion operates from April to September; the frequency of boats depends on the time of year, with more departures in the summer.
In addition to Tillicum Village, Blake Island offers an escape from the city and a chance to experience a bit of the Pacific Northwest’s bountiful natural beauty. Kayaking is a popular activity off the island’s 5 miles (8 kilometers) of shoreline, or go biking or hiking into the middle of the island to look for birds or other wildlife. Camping is also available.