The Space Needle gets all the glory (and the tourists) but I love the Smith Tower observatory. Better value, better story.

Open air observatory on the 35th floor of what used to be the tallest building west of the Mississippi. Smith Tower remained the tallest building on the earthquake-prone West Coast, until the Space Needle was built in 1962.

While the Space Needle is mod and recently renovated, the Smith Tower is old school glam. It has Mexican onyx-lined hallways and birdcage elevators. It also has carved Native heads and faux chinoiserie as decor, which probably wouldn't fly today.

Tickets are less than half the cost of the Space Needle. We came for the views, and stayed for dinner. There's a school-night deal (Sun-Thurs) where you get $10 off your $20 restaurant bill.