This was my first ever tour, and I will admit I was nervous about everything. However, looking back on it all, I had nothing to worry about. The Shutter Tour of Snoqualmie Falls and the City of Seattle went absolutely amazing. From start to finish, we had a wonderful experience. Dale was our tour guide and he was THE BEST! He was hilarious and entertaining, making a ton of jokes and providing insightful commentary. He's also a photographer, so he showed us many tips and tricks on how to get amazing photos at our different stops. He even offered to take photos, had water bottles and granola bars, and was just so kind. The tour in itself, showcased and highlighted the many attractions and wonders of Seattle. There were a bunch of stops and you really get your money's worth visiting everywhere. My partner and I's favorite stops were Snoqualmie Falls and Kerry Park. Both were just breathtaking and made us fall more in love with the city. I highly suggest booking this tour, it was such a smooth and fun experience! read more

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We did the half day Snoqualmie Falls and Seattle tour. Terry was our driver, he is personable, informative and really made the trip interesting! Terry is a photographer and taught us some tricks on how to take good pictures We had a blast!!! read more

**Tulip Festival Tour** We left the Hyatt Regency Seattle promptly at 7:30am in a clean, comfortable bus. Terry gave us lots of Seattle and tulip info on the long drive as well as ample time for bathroom breaks. He dropped us off right at the doorstep of the gardens, gave us photography tips and orchestrated the schedule where we would be ahead of the other big bus groups. What an absolute blast we had on the tulip farms we went to! The weather cooperated beautifully, the gardens are AMAZING, the lunch recommendation by Terry at La Conner was outstanding and we were able to return to Seattle before 4:30pm. Thank you Shutter Tours for an unforgettable tulip festival experience, thank you Terry for driving us safely, we look forward to going on your other Seattle tours and maybe on your Tanzania safari, God-willing! read more

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this was an amazing tour. I would recommend individuals who are coming to travel for vacation or even locals who live in the Seattle area. I think it's really nice to learn a little bit about the history and then also see the outskirts my partner and I had one on this tour it was our very first tour in the city and it was on our day one and we really appreciate it. Thank you Terry for all of your hard work and thank you for educating read more

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The Shutter Tour's half day adventure was quite a pleasant and informative experience. We felt comfortable from the moment we met our tour guide - Dale, who was a courteous and alert driver (which is important to us!), as well as a through, knowledgeable and interesting guide. Dale really added pizazz to each section of the tour, with his witty and colorful anecdotes about the Seattle region. He was appreciated by the diversity of cultures on our bus, as he smoothly immersed each person into his talks. Needless to say, the Falls were absolutely gorgeous!! The ride through various areas of the city was delightful and informative. The tour bus was very comfortable, clean and well maintained. We highly recommend this 1/2 day tour of the Snoqualmie Falls and Seattle area. The highlight of our tour was spending the day with Dale!! His authentic personality really shone through at each tour stop. Thanks for sharing your love of the Emerald City - Dale. read more

This tour was amazing! As a first-time visitor to Seattle, we saw so much in a half day (only 4 hours). Bottled water and snacks like granola bars and peanuts were provided. We traveled in an air-conditioned minivan. We met the tour guide at Pike Place Market and then walked to the minivan which was up the block. The minivan was full! On the drive, we passed by Pioneer Square, CenturyLink Field, T-Mobile Park where the guide/driver provided information. Yes, he was both! Our first stop was Snoqualmie Falls. He informed us about the history and places where we can take photos. He also offered taking photos for groups. The next stop was Fremont Troll. We saw a 16' tall statue of Bolshevik Russian Communist revolutionary Vladimir Lenin and Fishermen's Terminal on the way. I was so excited to see the Fremont Troll because of its appearance in the show called Once Upon A Time. There was also a little park called Troll's Knoll Park a few steps away where you can pour water on a moss turtle for good luck. The next stop was Hiram M. Chittenden Locks. Unfortunately, we did not see the migrating salmon going through the locks system since it is usually only during the summer months. We did however see a boat enter the locks, the gates close and the water rise and fell to the level of the destination waterway. The last stop was Kerry Park where we were able to take photos of the city skyline. This small neighborhood park offers breathtaking panoramic views of the Space Needle, downtown, and on a clear day, the majestic Mount Rainier. The tour guide did not rush us at all. Overall, this was such a great tour because we saw so much. The tour guide was very knowledgable and very friendly. read more

Dale was an amazing tour guide! Full of information and super helpfull! I would definitely recommend this tour. read more

Shutter Tours - Waterfall. - Tours Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Terry is a great tour guide and very informative about Seattle. We started at Pike Market Center, on to Snoqualmie Falls, then the Fremont Troll. Ballard Locks and Kerry Park were next. My favorites were Snoqualmie Falls and Kerry Park. Terry even shared how to take better photos with our phones, took pictures of us, and shared great stories of Seattle. Highly recommend this 4 hour tour. read more

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Since it was our first time to Seattle, we wanted to get the lay of the land along with some of the history of the area. We also wanted a taste of both the city and the natural wonders that lay just outside the city. This tour does not disappoint and gives you a great chance to see both the natural and cultural beauty of the Snoqualmie people along with the history of the downtown Seattle area. Terry was a fantastic guide who is very knowledgeable about both the Snoqualmie people and the Seattle area since he is a local that grew up here. We also found out that he orchestrates other adventures abroad that we may have to check out. read more

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I love this tour! My favourite part is the Snoqualmie Falls! It is a must visit when in Seattle. Short drive from the city and its really worth the visit! My husband and I were thankful for Terry (our guide), he is so friendly and humble. He has a good history of everything in Seattle, plus he will also teach you how to get the perfect photograph! He's also willingly taking our pictures on the stops that we took. This tour made our stay worthwhile and grown love to Seattle. Thanks Terry! We want to be back for the Skagit Flower Tour! read more

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As a stop-over tourist in Seattle, Space Needle and Pike Market were of course at the top of our sightseeing program. On the tour with Terry we got to know Snoqualmie Falls, which was another highlight of our Seattle trip, and we got to beautiful places that we would never have found on our own. Great tour with Terry. Thank you very much. Eva & Ralf from Germany read more

We recently went on the Snoqualmie Falls tour and loved it. Terry was very nice and knowledgeable of the Seattle area. The drive didn't seem long at all and we enjoyed visiting areas we wouldn't have seen otherwise. My favorite was walking to Kerry park and seeing Seattle's skyline for the first time. It was breathtaking. We would love to do another tour when we return to the area. Terry recommended ways to capture better photos and our shots came out even better than expected. Thank you for a great morning! read more

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My first time visiting the city and of course I looked up a tour. I found this company on trip advisor. It had most of the places we wanted to visit. The tour is from 10am-2pm The morning started out kind of rough. Tracy, our tour guide was tuck in traffic and was not going to be on time. NO PROBLEM. The owner, Terry asked us if we could walk to pike market. However, we had arranged it so that we would be picked up. So I said no, sorry we needed to be picked up. Terry picked us up. He was nice and helpful. I felt bad that he had to pick us up but I did not want to walk. He gave us tips on how to take pictures which really helped. The tour started off late but it was not a big deal. Tracy was very informative and happy. There was about 12 of us. I liked the size of our group. The group was mostly older people. The places we visited: Snoqualmie Falls- so beautiful. The thing about Washington is that its SO FREAKIN GREEN! 3 different levels to see the falls. A lot of people , so it was kind of hard to take some pictures but it was still amazing. The ride there was kind of long but the whole way there and back, Tracy had some fun facts to talk about. Fremont troll- Like i said, tracy had the information and history about this place. It was so interesting. I did not even notice the VW and the hubcap in the troll's eye. she explained why the troll was made and how. Ballard locks- not my fav but it was part of the trip. It was different from anything i've seen. Kerry park- VIEWS! it was iconic. it was clear and sunny. a lot of people were there , but we made do. I loved how beautiful the view was and to see a different angle of seattle. They also had cold water and health snacks. The only cons: - I wanted to stay longer at the troll and kerry park but we had older people in our group that stayed in the van. I felt bad staying longer and holding the tour. -if you are on the bigger size, I suggest you sit in the front. It might be hard for you to get to the back. I highly recommend this tour if you plan to go to 3 out of the 4 places. Its about 70+ per person but considered uber and all the fun facts you get, I think its worth it if it's your first time in Seattle. read more

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This was such a great experience and fantastic way to spend the morning. Terry was fantastic and offered helpful tips for a better photo. The Snoqualmie Falls were beautiful, as were the locks and park. The Troll is pretty funny. Terry was very informative and entertaining. I highly recommend this tour! read more

I loved this tour! Terry (our driver) Took us to a few different spots on my bucket list and then even some extra hidden gems I wasn't aware of, such as driving by the house that inspired the Disney movie 'Up'. As a huge Disney fanatic this gave them even more brownie points! I primarily picked this tour as it went not only to the waterfall, but to a couple of spots from the movie '10 things I hate about you'. Definitely a nostalgic tour if you are as big of a fan of the movie as I am. Terry was a great and informative driver and I learned a lot about the city from him. I will probably do this tour again when my sister comes to the States next year. read more

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We took the 4 hour tour from terry yesterday and we can't stop talking about all we saw and learned! Terry was an excellent guide, and really made it feel like he was sharing knowledge and experience, as opposed to just reciting lines he's said a million times. He taught us about this beautiful city, and helped us capture the sites on camera better than we ever would have without his quick photo technique suggestions. I highly recommend taking this tour if you want to learn more about Seattle in an intimate setting. read more

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These folks have been in business just a little while and I went on one of the early tours. It's a nice combination of sight-seeing and education, as the guide gave us information both about the places we visited and suggestions on how best to capture what we were seeing. I'm a photographer, so I can tell you the coaching was right on the money, and several of the folks on the tour talked about how much better the pictures were they were taking. The tour starts in pike place market, winds down through post alley to harbor steps, then up to SAM, benaroya hall, and the wamu building. Down from there to the waterfront (this is the less-interesting part of the tour, but folks suggested it'd be a good time for a coffee break, and I think they're likely to have taken that advice), and out onto the pier where they used to have the concerts under the stars. Up the elevator to the western edge of the market, then photos of the buskers and other things in the market itself. A nice 3 hour tour with good information, a great guide, and a nice variety of spaces to shoot. read more

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You can book an impersonal Gray Line tour of the city .... or you can choose a better option and call Terry, the owner and operator of Shutter Tours. Born and bred in Seattle -- he'll introduce himself by telling you he was born on Terry Avenue in town -- Terry is full of information, history and anecdotes. If you ask a question and he doesn't have the answer, no problem; he'll find out. An accomplished photographer -- thus the name of his business -- Terry will provide tips, making even cell phone photos look professional. My group contracted Shutter Tours for two days. The first day we toured Seattle. The second day Terry guided us to the tulip farms outside of town. Pull up his website and see where he's going (based of course, on seasonal availability.) No doubt you'll have a good time. read more

This is an amazing tour! Terry is knowledgeable about so much of the history and current events happening in the area. He even has great photo taking tips if you may need them. Well worth your time, fit it into your schedule. The bus is comfortable and he narrated during the entire tour. read more

Great way to see Seattle. This is an excellent way for photographers to see a variety of Seattle hot spots and popular areas, such as the falls, Japanese gardens, amazing lookout areas, and more... The guides, Chandler and Terry, were knowledgeable and fun. I own a photographer-oriented business, MCP Actions (www.mcpactions.com), so I was not in need of basic photography lessons. But for the beginners in the group, they provided photography advice such as the rule of thirds, exposure triangle, and more. Definitely consider Shutter Tours if you are visiting Seattle and want the best opportunities to capture the city. My husband, who is not a photographer, also exjoyed just seeing the sights and talking with the guides. read more

What a great way to spend a day. It didn't hurt that the weather was perfect. It was my first time to Seattle and I had already done a lot of the tourist attractions, so I was looking for something a bit different.Terry was our driver/ tour guide. Very friendly and informative. Photography tips were awesome, I saw a immediate improvement in my photos. Snoqualmie Falls were spectacular...even threw in a rainbow! read more

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If I could give this tour 10 stars, I would! The weather was gorgeous and it made everything PERFECT as far as the day went. As a fairly recent NYC transplant to Seattle, I had a long bucket list of local sites I wanted to check out. The Tulip Tours were #1 on my list. After reading great reviews about Shutter Tours, I decided to buy a ticket! I am so glad that I did! Terry, the owner and guide, was FANTASTIC! He was incredibly knowledgable as a guide and shared all kinds of interesting tidbits and facts about the local areas we were visiting. His voice was also very pleasant to listen to- it was like listening to a professional voice over artist give a tour! I really enjoyed learning the facts about the bald eagles and how they build their nests. He is also a photographer and gave excellent tips about how to shoot the flower landscape. The van was extremely comfortable with large windows for viewing the flowers and sites. It was nice to sit back and let someone else lead tour! There was plenty of time at each stop ( Tulip town, La Conner, Roozengrade). I had such a fantastic day and will definitely book again with this company! read more

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We decided to take the tour on 9/14/22. We called that morning and they got us right in since there was cancellation. The lady on the phone was super helpful. Terry was our guide. He is excellent, very pleasant, helpful and knowledgeable. Tour was the best and worth the price. read more

Terry was a great, patient and informative tour guide! We were not prepared for the weather and he was kind enough to offer us umbrellas. Grateful for all his photo tips and driving us to all the amazing spots. read more

This tour was really awesome. We love the tour guide Terry. He was informative and helpful. This tour was good for adults and kids. Definitely would recommend it! read more

Last weekend (mid April) we had an amazing day with Terry! He was very professional, fun, and knowledgeable and gave great photography tips. Also on time and accommodating with water and snacks. Definitely one of the better tour experiences we've had... wouldn't hesitate to recommend Shutter Tours and would do their Tanzania trip if we make it to Africa one day. read more

Shutter Tours - Tours Near Me - Seattle, Washington

I took a Shuttertours tour and found it's fun to play tourist in Seattle! Shuttertours offers a fun sightseeing tour, and also a highly interactive photography lesson. Whether you're a local or a tourist, this is a unique and worthwhile way to see the city in a new light. On a bustling Saturday afternoon, we were treated to an abbreviated 1.5 hour tour that included the Post Alley gum wall, Harbor Steps, the Hammering Man (who's on vacation right now), the rear and front of the Lusty Lady (really -- both sides!), and Pike Place Market. The full 3-hour tour also includes the waterfront and piers. Wear your walking shoes and make sure your camera batteries are charged! Our guide was the informative and enthusiastic Ms. Valentina, who provided guidance on composition, and encouraged to get close, look for patterns, and tell stories with our photos. Along the way she explained a particular concept and then raised her own camera for a shot to show us examples. Her photo book also provided more examples and helped me see each concept more clearly. I see lines and curves where I never paid much attention to them previously. Who knew that Post Alley could be such an alluring subject? More experienced photographers received tips on how to take their photos up a notch with perspective, depth of field and other concepts that were beyond my little Elph. Regardless of my skill level and equipment, I felt encouraged to try new things and see my shots with new eyes. Pike Place is the perfect backdrop for endless photo opportunities, and I can understand how every tour is different - the light, the people, the graffiti, the smells. Grab your camera and go take a tour - you'll "see" what I mean!! read more

A recent (i.e 5 minutes prior to this review) talk thread post reminded me I've never reviewed this. ..which was a huge MISTAKE on my part. I went on a Shutter Tour with a group of Yelpers, as led by the amazing Valentina. What a fantastic and fun way to see Seattle as well as learn the most basic tips to increase the quality of any photos you take. Using only my cell phone (in attendance were a variety of digital cameras, all the way up to some seriously amazing equipment), I was able to take fantastic pictures, and really impress some of the group with what I could make my phone do. Thanks all to Valentina's tips. The walk through Pike place and around the surrounding area provided an untold number of possible photo ops and a chance to really test our "eye" and see what we could do. A really fun part of it was comparing our photos to each other and being able to see how a group of people could hear the same tip, and then interpret it through our lenses, and even when we all photographed the *exact same thing* our pictures turned out differently. I would recommend this to anyone: whether a lifelong resident or a newly arrived tourist. And the next time you have someone come into town and ask what's a fun thing to do in Seattle....absolutely sign them up for one of these. They will see some great Seattle landmarks and the fantastic pictures they take will only enhance their memories of their trip to town. read more

What an amazing time! I booked this trip for me and my mother for a little getaway in Seattle and as a chance to actually see some sights without having to drive all over creation myself, and miss out on things! We did the Snoqualmie Falls tour and it was great. The falls are amazing and was the location of "Twin Peaks" in the opening credits. We went all over Seattle and Terry, who is also the owner, I believe, was a great tour guide. He made sure everyone saw something of interest and was genuinely interested in how much fun you were having and answered any question you had. I had some great shots because of his encouragement and I'd love to go back and do the walking tour. I highly recommend this tour for anyone wanting to see sides of Seattle they might not see on their own. read more

So many tours, so little time....but we sure did pick right on this one! We wanted to see a bit of "Fall in the NW". and we did! Mt. Rainier even popped out for us on the way to Snoqualmie Falls. We were met promptly at Pike's Market by Terry, then led to our 12 seat, comfortable van. Terry is a wealth of information and enthusiastic about his city and what he does. When you think he repeats this stuff hundreds of times, but he sounded like a friend in my living room! The time flew by. We visited The Fremont Troll, Kerry Park, for incredible views back toward The Space Needle and The Ballard Locks. We had just enough time at each place. He also knows how to avoid the crazy Seattle traffic - we were not impacted at all! Photo tips, refreshments, and a great tour - A good choice for an all round Seattle Introduction! read more

Great tour! Would definitely recommend to others! Very informative and great personality!!

As a local, I still enjoy being a tourist in my own town, tagging along on tours when company visits from out of town. I recently took one with Shutter and Terry was our guide. We went to Snoqualmie Falls, Fremont, the Locks and Kerry Park. He even dropped us off at the Space Needle when we made that request. It's a small shuttle -- there were about 12 of us -- and Terry made the whole trip enjoyable. He has a really easy going manner and is full of great stories about the history of Seattle. I'd recommend this for anyone who wants an easy going day at some of the area's biggest tourist attractions in a comfortable, pleasant ride. read more

This was an awesome tour! I totally recommend it! It's a 4 hour tour - 10:00 am - 2:00 pm. Starts and ends at Pikes Place Market. When we met Terry, we knew it was going to be a great day! Such a great guy! The day started out cold and rainy. But Terry says not to worry, that means the falls will be roaring. We started off on our tour going around downtown Seattle getting awesome facts about the city from Terry. Then it's off to the falls. All the way Terry is telling stories and giving us great information. We get to the falls and Terry gives us some really great tips on taking photos and some examples of where to take great pics. A short walk gets us to the falls and boy, Terry was right. It was roaring with a bunch of mist in the air. So beautiful and powerful! We stayed for about 30 minutes. Just enough time to take great pics from the lower and upper observation areas, warm up by the fire in the lodge and grab a hot cocoa. Then we are off to the Ballard Locks. We got to see a few floating homes on the way. Once we got to the locks Terry gave us a few more pointers on great shots to take here. We saw a boat going thru the lock, pretty cool how it raises and lowers the water level as the boat travels thru the different bodies of water. There was no salmon running, that would have been cool to see. We spent 30 minutes here. Then we were off to the Troll. It was pretty crowded here. I loved the story about how the Troll came to be. Then we headed to the Queen Anne district on the way to Kerry Park. So many beautiful homes with amazing views. We get to Kerry Park and the skies have cleared. We were blessed with beautiful blue skies and clear views. Breathtaking!!! Then it was back to Pikes Place Market. Terry told us about great places to eat, shop and visit. You have got to take this tour if you are in Seattle. A must do for sure! read more

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What can I say? My family has taken many great day tours in US and foreign cities over the years. This one is the best of the best. I'd rate the tour 6 stars if that was a choice. Terry, the owner, did the tour. He is not only delightful and entertaining, he has an incredible knowledge of Seattle and vicinity. The 4 hours went by very quickly because the tour was so good. It was a very rainy, cold, and miserable day but that didn't matter, that's how great Terry and the tour were. Terry didn't give us too much or too little information-just the right amount. The tour was well-planned and thought out. Every stop was great and we also got to go thru several of the city's neighborhoods to see what they were like. Snoqualmie Falls was nothing short of spectacular; well worth the trip out of the city. And, seeing the areas outside the city where the scenery is also spectacular was wonderful. We also really liked the Freemont neighborhood. Terry's tour was the perfect blend of in and outside the city. I highly recommend taking this tour. read more

Awesome tour you will not be disappointed! Terry (Owner, Guide and Driver) was more than what i had expected. We had a party of 10. He worked with my sister via emails and texts. Able to custom our tour to our interest. He even gladly made last minute changes to accomadate our schdule. Included were photography tips with visuals, group picture taker, cold water and snacks. Mahalo Terry read more

Terry was a fantastic guide. We got to see things off the beaten path. Really enjoyed it.

Very, very awesome tour. Terry was very gracious and knowledgeable, even gave us tips on great photos with our Canon. Highly recommend.

Excellent tour! We spent our day with Amanda who was informative, friendly, great driver, wonderful demeanor. She gave great tips for taking photos including this of us who are cellphone photographers. Tour a bit pricy, but worked out well, included well maintained bus, knowledgeable guide/driver and snacks. Would do it again. read more

I joined the Skagit Valley tulips tour. Terry is the owner of the company and the guide for the day. The tour was wonderful, we got to see the beautiful tulips and daffodils. Terry gave us pointers how to take great pictures. The amount of time that's allocated for each site is good, long enough to see each place. We had great food at La Conner, a small town not far from the tulips town. Terry is very knowledgeable about photography and interesting things about Seattle. Great tour and worth the money! read more

This was a bucket list item for me and being local to the Seattle area was a must. Was a wonderful day. No sun but not rain and just the right amount of time for each stop. Everything was just as promised. Terry and his team do an amazing tour and helped with some great advice on taking great pictures even with my iPhone. Thanks so much Patti read more