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Seattle Gold Rush Quest: Race to the S.S. Portland

25 Reviews 3.92 out of 5 stars Based on 25 reviews collected by City Balloon Tours and TripAdvisor | Seattle, USA
Book online or call us

from $8.60 per person

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Seattle Gold Rush Quest: Race to the S.S. Portland Image 1
Seattle Gold Rush Quest: Race to the S.S. Portland Image 2
Seattle Gold Rush Quest: Race to the S.S. Portland Image 3
Seattle Gold Rush Quest: Race to the S.S. Portland Image 4
Seattle Gold Rush Quest: Race to the S.S. Portland Image 5
Don't miss out!
On average, this is booked 28 (0) days in advance.
1 hour 30 minutes (approx.)
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English
Instant confirmation

Overview

You're standing in Pioneer Square holding a ticket for the S.S. Portland. The Klondike Gold Rush is calling and the ship won't wait. But something is wrong. People pass right through the space where you are. The city feels familiar and utterly foreign at the same time. And nobody, not one person seems to see you at all.

In this self-guided mystery quest through Seattle's most historic streets, follow clues from Pioneer Square to Pike Place Market to the waterfront, solving puzzles rooted in the real history of the 1897 Gold Rush. Use the free Questo app to navigate 10 stops through old Seattle.

Stand at the site of the Great Seattle Fire, look up at Smith Tower (the tallest building on the west coast for half a century), wander through Pike Place Market before the crowds, and reach the waterfront where the S.S. Portland once docked with two tons of Klondike gold.

Every stop pulls you deeper into a story with a twist you won't see coming.

What's Included

  • Flexible scheduling — start anytime, play at your own pace
  • A story with a twist ending — something strange is happening, and you'll find out what
  • The real history of Seattle's 1897 Klondike Gold Rush woven into every stop
  • Live tour guide (self-guided via the app)
See 4 moreSee 3 more

Meeting Location

Meeting point

319 2nd Avenue South
Seattle, WA 98104, USA

Show on Google Maps

Detailed check-in instructions, including the exact address, are provided with your booking confirmation.

End point

1401 Alaskan Way
Seattle, WA 98101, USA

What To Expect

Book Online

Our secure website provides real-time availability, instant confirmation, and free, no-hassle cancellations up to 24 hours before your tour begins.
Read more

Safe & secure Easy breezy Hassle‑free

Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park (pass by)

Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park is a national historical park operated by the National Park Service that seeks to commemorate the Klondike Gold Rush of the late 1890s.Here you will have to look around to find the answer to our challenge to advance to the new location and learn the story of this place.
Read more

Occidental Park (pass by)

The park's totem poles and woodcarvings are by Duane Pasco (1970s). They were donated by art gallery owner Richard White and installed in the 1980's. "The tallest totem, Sun and Raven, tells the story of Raven's theft of the moon and was created for the 1974 Spokane World's Fair. The nearby Man Riding on Tail of Whale was carved in 1971. The westernmost of the two facing figures is Tsonoqua, a mythological giantess and 'nightmare bringer' invoked by exasperated North Coast mothers to frighten their children into obedience.Here you will have to look around to find the answer to our challenge to advance to the new location and learn the story of this place.
Read more

Pioneer Square (pass by)

Art galleries, coffee shops and trendy bars fill Pioneer Square’s late-1800s Romanesque Revival buildings. Tourists explore subterranean streets on the guided Underground Tour, and learn about Seattle’s roots at the Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park. Office workers unwind in secluded Waterfall Garden Park or grab lunch from food trucks at Occidental Square, a plaza with bistro tables and bocce courts.Here you will have to look around to find the answer to our challenge to advance to the new location and learn the story of this place.
Read more

Smith Tower Visitor Experience (pass by)

Smith Tower is a skyscraper in the Pioneer Square neighborhood of Seattle, Washington, United States. Completed in 1914, the 38-story, 484 ft tower is the oldest skyscraper in the city and was among the tallest skyscrapers outside New York City at the time of its completion.Here you will have to look around to find the answer to our challenge to advance to the new location and learn the story of this place.
Read more

Federal Office Building (pass by)

Constructed in 1933, the Seattle Federal Office Building (FOB) was the first building in Seattle specifically designed for offices of the federal government. The designer of record was James A. Wetmore, the Department of the Treasury's Supervising Architect. Among its first tenants were 52 federal agencies, the largest of which was the Department of the Treasury.Here you will have to look around to find the answer to our challenge to advance to the new location and learn the story of this place.
Read more

Eyes On You Seattle (pass by)

Eye care professionals specialize in understanding how the human eye really works, as well as diseases and conditions that affect your vision – many of which do not have obvious symptoms. The Eyes on You medical center has a professional team and a history you will want to know.Here you will have to look around to find the answer to our challenge to advance to the new location and learn the story of this place.
Read more

Seattle Art Museum (pass by)

SAM traces its origins to the Seattle Fine Arts Society (organized 1905) and the Washington Arts Association (organized 1906), which merged in 1917, keeping the Fine Arts Society name. In 1931 the group renamed itself as the Art Institute of Seattle. The Art Institute housed its collection in Henry House, the former home, on Capitol Hill, of the collector and founder of the Henry Art Gallery, Horace C. Henry (1844–1928).Here you will have to look around to find the answer to our challenge to advance to the new location and learn the story of this place.
Read more

Pike Place Market (pass by)

Pike Place Market is a special community within the heart of Seattle’s downtown. More than the city’s beloved public market, Pike Place Market is a vibrant neighborhood comprised of hundreds of farmers, craftspeople, small businesses and residents. Each group is an important and vital makeup of the Pike Place Neighborhood.In addition to preserving and protecting the historic buildings and character of the nine-acre historic district and serving as an incubator and supporter of farmers, artisans and small businesses, the Pike Place Market was chartered by the City of Seattle to provide services for low-income individuals.Here you will have to look around to find the answer to our challenge to advance to the new location and learn the story of this place.
Read more

Victor Steinbrueck Park (pass by)

Victor Steinbrueck Park is located at the north end of Pike Place Market. On a summer afternoon, the park bustles with a lively combination of neighborhood residents, visitors, tourists, and people who work in the area - all enjoying picnics, sunbathing, playing and relaxing on the park's lawn, benches, and tables.Here you will have to look around to find the answer to our challenge to advance to the new location and learn the story of this place.
Read more

Beneath the Streets (pass by)

Beneath the Streets focuses on factual, historical information that details the birth of our city, 1890’s architecture, and several other stories including the Klondike Gold Rush, Skid Row, and the Coast Salish Peoples that first inhabited the area.
Read more
Show 9 more stops

Additional Info

  • Confirmation is instant and will be received at time of booking
  • Service animals allowed
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller

Frequently Asked Questions (7)

Q: What is the cancellation policy for the Seattle Gold Rush Quest: Race to the S.S. Portland?

A: You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund. For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the tour start time.If you cancel less than 24 hours before the tour start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.Any changes made less than 24 hours before the tour start time will not be accepted.Cut-off times are based on the tour local time (PST). Read more Apr 2025

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund.

Still have questions?

We're here to help.
Activity code: C-107194P83

Traveler Photos

Reviews

3.92
25 reviews

Average 3.92 out of 5 stars based on 25 traveler reviews collected by City Balloon Tours and partner sites such as Cool Destinations and TripAdvisor

5 stars
13
4 stars
6
3 stars
0
2 stars
3
1 star
3
Don't miss out!
On average, this is booked 28 (0) days in advance.
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Frequently Asked Questions (7)

Activity name

The answers provided below were previously given in response to questions from City Balloon Tours customers.

Filter by:

Q: What is the cancellation policy for the Seattle Gold Rush Quest: Race to the S.S. Portland?
A:
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund.
  • For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the tour start time.
  • If you cancel less than 24 hours before the tour start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
  • Any changes made less than 24 hours before the tour start time will not be accepted.
  • Cut-off times are based on the tour local time (PST).
Apr 2025
Q: What's included in the price?
A:
The following is included:
  • Flexible scheduling — start anytime, play at your own pace.
  • A story with a twist ending — something strange is happening, and you'll find out what.
  • The real history of Seattle's 1897 Klondike Gold Rush woven into every stop.
  • Play as a team (up to 3 per device) or solo.
  • Puzzles at Pioneer Square, Pike Place Market, Smith Tower, and the Gold Rush sites.
  • Freedom to pause anytime, explore Pike Place Market, or grab coffee.
  • Self-guided mystery quest through Seattle's historic waterfront.
The following is NOT included:
  • Live tour guide (self-guided via the app).
Apr 2025
Q: What is the minimum age for this tour?
A:

The minimum age to participate is 1..

Apr 2025
Q: My date is not available in the calendar, I am just checking to see if it is available?
A:

If a date or time is not listed on the calendar, it’s sold out or unavailable for another reason. Support cannot assist further if a date or time is not on the calendar.

If you find a date and time that works for you, book it NOW because things always sell out at this time of year.

Apr 2025
Q: Is this an accessible tour?
A:

Accessibility information for the Seattle Gold Rush Quest: Race to the S.S. Portland is as follows:

  • Service animals allowed
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Apr 2025
Q: Where is the meeting point for this activity?
A:

Detailed check-in instructions – including meeting point address, Google map, and parking information – for Seattle Gold Rush Quest: Race to the S.S. Portland will be included in your confirmation email from City Balloon Tours. Please be sure to double and triple check your email address is correct at checkout so this important email makes its way to you!

 

 

Mar 2024
Q: How long does a refund take to reach my card, and can I get it faster?
A:

Once your refund is processed, it usually shows on your card statement within 5–10 business days. The exact timing depends on your bank or card issuer.

Want it sooner? When you cancel, choose Receive a refund to my wallet instead. The credit is in your Wallet straight away and is applied automatically at checkout on your next booking when you’re signed in with the same email. You can see your balance any time in My Wallet.

If you paid part of your booking with Wallet credit, that part always goes back to your Wallet. Trip protection isn’t refundable.

Oct 2026

What's Included

Activity name

  • Flexible scheduling — start anytime, play at your own pace
  • A story with a twist ending — something strange is happening, and you'll find out what
  • The real history of Seattle's 1897 Klondike Gold Rush woven into every stop
  • Play as a team (up to 3 per device) or solo
  • Puzzles at Pioneer Square, Pike Place Market, Smith Tower, and the Gold Rush sites
  • Freedom to pause anytime, explore Pike Place Market, or grab coffee
  • Self-guided mystery quest through Seattle's historic waterfront
  • Live tour guide (self-guided via the app)

Additional Info

Activity name

  • Confirmation is instant and will be received at time of booking
  • Service animals allowed
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller

Report Product Issue

Activity name