Columbia Tower—73rd Floor Observation Deck

On weekdays, express elevators lead visitors to the 40th floor—if you need caffeine now, visit the 40th-floor Starbucks, the viewing from 33 floors up is the real high. Travel from the 40th floor in a second set of elevators might include a peek at Oxford- or khaki-clad business tower denizens. Admission to the observation deck—$5 adult, $3 kids and seniors—reveals the area’s natural and urban landmarks, and Metro Traffic controllers keep watch on the city’s auto-congestion. From the windows of Seattle’s tallest building, travelers marvel at Seattle’s unique urbanism—life among arterial highways and railways, industry cranes, office towers, and hilly, arboreal neighborhoods in stunning natural landscapes.