Tillicum Village
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.
The basics
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.
Things to know before you go
- Tillicum Village is ideal for those interested in seeing more of the Puget Sound area.
- The boat ride to Blake Island is roughly 45 minutes.
- Tillicum Village strives to use sustainable fish, with a combination of wild Alaskan salmon when available and farmed, all-natural steelhead.
How to get there
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.
Trip ideas
When to get there
The Tillicum Excursion operates from April to September; the frequency of boats depends on the time of year, with more departures in the summer.
Blake Island
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.
- Seattle Waterfront
- Washington State Ferries
- Seattle Great Wheel
- Seattle Art Museum (SAM)
- Pike Place Market
- Seattle Aquarium
- Original Starbucks
- Hard Rock Cafe Seattle
- Sky View Observatory
- Capitol Hill
- Waterfall Garden Park
- Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park - Seattle Unit
- Seattle Chinatown-International District
- Pioneer Square
- Seattle Cruise Port