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Browsing Seattle
5th Avenue Theatre
This gorgeous historic theater first opened in 1926 as a vaudeville venue and silent picture theater. The theater's interior features an ornate Chinese-inspired design that echoes the brilliance of Beijing's Forbidden City. Today, the theater is Seattle's premier showcase for musicals, concerts, lectures, and films.
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Alki Beach
This two-and-a-half-mile strip of sandy beach is one of the most popular beaches in the area, and it was also where Seattle's first non-Native American settlers spent their first winter. In warm weather, the beach is crowded with sunbathers, swimmers and families. For athletic types, there are volleyball games. The beach is also lined with a path, great for walking, jogging, biking and skating. Across the street there are several cafes and restaurants where you can stop in for a bite after a day in the sea air.
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Art/Not Terminal Gallery
Since it started in 1989, this entirely volunteer/artist-run, non-profit gallery has offered artists a non-critical atmosphere in which to display works. And it offers the art-viewing public an eclectic, not to say chaotic, variety of paintings, drawings and sculpture to browse and buy, often at bargain prices. Shows change monthly, down with the old on first Thursday, up with the new on first Friday in a cordial free-for-all. Artists pay nominal hanging fees and volunteer their time. The gallery takes a modest 10 percent from sales.
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Bainbridge Island
For a relaxing day trip, take the Ballard
Northwest of downtown, west of Fremont and Green Lake, sits the ever-interesting town of Ballard. Unlike other working-class neighborhoods-turned-fashionable, Ballard still attracts folks looking for no-nonsense venues, where you can eat a greasy breakfast, drink cheap beers, and listen to good folk or rock n' roll. Settled principally by Swedes, Norwegians, and Danes in the 1900s, Ballard has a distinct Nordic flare, with specialty shops like Olsen's Scandinavian Foods selling Scandinavian favorites. A historic designation helps protect Ballard from over-commercialization or other undesirable growth: any proposed development has to be approved by a board of locals, and the locals are pretty picky about who they'll let in. There's a good collection of galleries, shops, restaurants, and bars.
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Bank of America Tower
This building doesn't have the tourist cache of the>Space Needle, but it is higher by almost 100 meters and cheaper to enter by several dollars. The 941-foot building is the second tallest west of the Mississippi. Take in spectacular views of the Cascade and Olympic Mountain ranges, Puget Sound and area lakes, plus educational views of the freeway system and the downtown area. Take one elevator to the 40th floor, another to the 73rd floor.
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Bellevue Arts Museum
This art museum specializes in the work of Northwest artists but also explores national and international influences on local art. The museum's new facility, designed by architect Stephen Holl, has 5,800 square feet of gallery space on three floors, plus an art school, studio space for visiting artists, and the interactive Explore Gallery. The museum offers lectures and classes regularly.
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Bellevue Botanical Garden
Bellevue is best known for its captains of industry and its many resident millionaires, but nestled in its heart, in Bellevue Municipal Golf Course
This busy city-owned course provides a good round for beginning and intermediate golfers, with a fair number of hazards for a municipal course. The fairways and greens survive poor drainage, heavy traffic and active waterfowl. Weekend crowds can make for long rounds. The course is par-71, 5,535 yards.
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Belltown
Once a decaying stretch of soup kitchens, parking lots and warehouses, this northern half of downtown is now peppered with outposts of chic. Nightclubs like Crocodile Cafe and Sit 'n' Spin rival the noisy glory of Benaroya Hall
Home to the Seattle Symphony Orchestra, stunning Benaroya Hall surrounds you with the feeling of luxury the minute you walk in. Symphony goers can take in excellent views of Elliott Bay from the glass-enclosed lobby of the performance hall; on sunny days you see clear across to the snowy peaks of the Olympic Range. Even if you're not attending the symphony, you can walk through the foyer and galleries, marveling at the art, created by such masters as famed Tacoma glass maker Dale Chihuly.
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Blake Island
The only way to get to Blake Island, a state park, is by boat. This made it a safe place for the 1993 APEC conference, where President Bill Clinton met with 14 Asian leaders. The most popular facility on the island is Tillicum Village, which features the Northwest Coast Indian Cultural Center & Restaurant. Half-day boat trips depart from Pier 55 in Seattle and include a traditional Indian salmon bake, dancing, and a film about Northwest Native Americans. After the meal, you'll have time for a short hike or a bit of souvenir shopping.
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Bloedel Reserve
This sprawling 150-acre forest and garden was once home to the Prentice Bloedel, the vice-chairman of a lumber company. Located on Bainbridge Island, the nature conservatory features the private home and gardens of the family in addition to the varied gardens and altered landscapes scattered throughout the tranquil setting. The once private estate is now open to the public, although visits are through reservation only and are time limited so each visitor may experience the peaceful woodlands and gardens to their full potential. The Reserve is complete with the Bird Refuge, Reflection Garden, Moss Garden, and notably the Japanese Garden. To schedule a visit to the Reserve, reservations can be made online or by phone.
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Blyth Park
About 10 blocks down from the Park at Bothell Landing is this favorite park with those who have been in the neighborhood for a while. The 41-acre park offers a generous picnic area, complete with slides, swings, sand diggers, and other necessities for the kiddies. It is also joined with trails leading to the Sammamish River Slough for those adults in search of a little playtime for themselves.
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Bremerton Historic Ships Association
Take the ferry from Seattle on a 50-minute trip to historic Bremerton. Located close to the ferry terminal, this "floating museum" lets you view the configuration of naval destroyers up close. Named for Vice Admiral C. Turner Joy, a leading Korean Armistice Peace negotiator, this ship was involved in the August 1964 Gulf of Tonkin incident, which helped to escalate the Vietnam War. Take an in-depth tour of this historic ship, which is maintained in its original condition.
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Burke Museum
Located right on the Burke-Gilman Trail
The intensely popular Burke-Gilman Trail winds for 16.5 miles, from Ballard to Kenmore on Seattle's east side. Initially planned in 1885 as a railway that would allow trains to cross Washington State and connect to rail lines in Canada, the route never made it across the border, but it was a busy regional route until the 1970s. Thanks to citizen groups, the City of Seattle, University of Washington, and King County, the trail was transformed into the incredible walking, cycling, and recreation trail it is today.
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Camp Long
West Seattle may be the most unjustly neglected part of the city, and this park is a case in point. It is unknown even to many residents, but its 68 acres of forest are among the most breathtaking in the area. Visitors should plan a day trip or stay for the night in one of the cabins. Staff naturalists are available for rock climbing classes and interpreted nature walks.
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Capitol Hill
One of Seattle's oldest and most prestigious neighborhoods, Capitol Hill is also the center of the city's gay life and home to disaffected young hipsters sporting tattoos and piercings. In short, this is a wildly mixed neighborhood. Pubs and cafes are ubiquitous and make good vantage points for people-watching. A counterculture oasis, there are probably more nose rings, tattoos, and poetry readings on Capitol Hill's Broadway St than anywhere else in the Pacific Northwest. Both trendy young students and urban homeless street kids share the sidewalks and cafe tables. East of Broadway, on 15th Ave, you'll find a more subdued commercial area that serves some of the city's wealthiest residents, who live in the grand old mansions that line the lovely treed streets.
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Carkeek Park
Way off in the residential northwest corner of Seattle, this is a strange bit of wilderness. Paths through the forest cut the park off from the city then open onto a long meadow by babbling Piper's Creek. Marshland with wooden footbridges cuts the meadow off from the beach, but if you climb to the spacious children's play area, you can walk across the metal footbridge for spectacular views and access to a calm, splashing beach. Be careful because trains run though here loud and fast. The winds here are great for kite flying. The meadows are filled with picnic tables, and the winding trails on the woodsy hillside are often too enticing to resist.
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Center for Wooden Boats
The exhibits at this museum are not hidden behind glass. Instead, the wooden boats that make up this museum are out on the water, waiting to be touched and boarded. More than 100 historical boats are docked here, and you can climb aboard and learn all about their history from a well-informed staff and dedicated volunteers. Talk to craftspeople currently restoring many classic wooden boats. Ask questions. Who knows, you may want to volunteer yourself.
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Center on Contemporary Art
Focusing on contemporary art, this center has everything from more or less traditional theater to performance art to visual art installations. Count on the shows, which change every two months or so, to maintain the reliable curatorial insistence on pushing, rather than playing with, viewers' minds. Expect to be surprised, pleased and intrigued. For a complete list of shows for the year, please check the Web site. A donation is requested for admission.
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Chapel of Saint Ignatius
This Seattle University chapel is designed to be entered. It is very modern from without, and once inside you are cast into an otherworldly atmosphere of reflecting light, which filters down from above and mingles with the pool and the beeswax that is woven into the walls. The church also hosts an annual convention of over 40,000 people from diverse backgrounds, who gather to discuss theological matters. Liturgy takes place at 12:05pm Mon-Fri, 11am and 9pm Sun (when school's in session).
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Chateau Ste. Michelle
Located in Woodinville, 40 minutes from downtown Seattle, the state's oldest winery continues to produce award-winning wines that appear on the wine lists of many top restaurants. The 87-acre winery grows its own grapes and uses only French oak barrels. Forty-minute tours leave on the hour and the half-hour (hourly only on winter weekdays), and include a wine tasting. Afterward, you can picnic on the beautiful grounds. The property also features an amphitheater, which hosts top performers and cultural events. Also visit the gift shop. You can also take a wine appreciation class at the winery.
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Children's Museum
This is a fun place for kids and the whole family. Enter the world of the imagination, where kids can explore a mountain forest, sail the seven seas to exotic lands and test their creativity at an Imagination Station. Wander through a child-sized neighborhood complete with supermarket. Then you and your kids can learn about the lives of children in other lands.
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Children's Museum of Tacoma
Located 30 minutes from Seattle in the city of Tacoma, this museum offers an exciting adventure for kids of all ages. The museum allows families to explore and play together as they learn about science, the arts and more. Many of the exhibits offer hands-on fun, in which a child becomes a part of an enjoyable and playful learning experience. Exhibits range from traditional viewing exhibits to unique interactive ones.
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Chism Beach Park
On the tumbling slopes of one of Bellevue's older residential neighborhoods, this park combines a lake beach with winding roads and hilly trails. The beach is the focus, with plenty of space for parking (this is the car-loving Eastside, after all), picnics, sand castle building and diving into the water. The leisurely drive through the upper reaches of the park is pleasant, too, with occasional sudden lake views and quiet hiking trails. You'd never know you were five minutes from downtown Bellevue.
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Columbia Winery
Started in 1962 and moved to its current Woodinville location in 1989, this is not the state's oldest winery, but it is the oldest premium winery. About 40 minutes from downtown Seattle, the winery is now a Northwest landmark. Tour the magnificent house and see how wine is pressed and aged, then move on to the wine-tasting bar, the state's largest. The winery also has facilities to accommodate up to 240 guests for receptions of all kinds.
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Cornish College of the Arts
Are you interested in the goings-on of the next generation of Seattle artists? If so, don't bypass this little college on Capitol Hill, one of the most prestigious art schools in the country. Works by current students are displayed on the walls, and more formal showings are held regularly. The college also puts on around 60 performances each year, which are open to the public and include The Cornish Music Series and shows from the dance and theater departments. Call or check the Web site for information about the school or its incredible performances.
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Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park
If you are located on the Eastside, it is time to put your SUV to use and head out to this wonderful, somewhat-neglected park. Its 3,000-plus acres include hikes through old growth spruce, cedar and fir forests. If you are heading out into more remote areas of the park, though, you do need to keep an eye out for local wildlife....the park doesn't have its name for nothing.
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Cougar Mountain Zoological Park
This zoo is dedicated to caring for threatened and endangered species. The zoo is home to such unique animals as the Formosa sika, the red-ruffed lemur, rare Bengal Tiger Cubs, and cougars for which the park is named after. Cougar Mountain Zoological Park, which is operated by the Washington Zoological Society, has a general admission from Wednesday through Sunday, but tours, outreach programs, and Tiger Cub encounters all occur outside regular hours.
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Coulon Beach Park
This popular park draws thousands of visitors every year to its beach, picnic area with tables, tennis courts and green areas for games and lounging. If you forget food, you can feast on fish-and-chips from Ivar's Seafood Bar. Or if you are more of a carnivore, try Kidd Valley where you can get big, sloppy burgers. To escape the crowds and developed areas, take a stroll along the quieter boardwalk where signs give information about local birds and vegetation. During the summer, come here for free concerts on Wednesday nights.
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Denny Park
This park has the double distinction of being both the city's first cemetery and its first park. Fortunately, when the city turned the cemetery into a park in 1884, it thoughtfully replaced the graves with rhododendrons and azaleas. The terrain is actually 60 feet lower than it once was, due to great Denny Regrade project, which began in 1889 and leveled some of the hills in the area. Still, the city kept the park, and today the parks department has its headquarters here.
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Discovery Park
Although this park has a beach, it is not a prime spot for sunbathing or swimming as the water's a little cold and the beach a little rocky. Most visitors hike the miles of trails, which offer great bird-watching opportunities. One of the trails extends to Puget Sound, and after a lengthy downhill walk, you will find tide pools and a lighthouse. The park offers free nature walks on Saturdays from 2p-3:30p. Call to register.
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Downtown Park and Rose Garden
Compared to Seattle, Bellevue does not have an economically diverse urban area. As a result, this downtown park is not so much a refuge from the pressures of the big city. Instead, it is a 19-acre oasis of greenery in what is already a nice neighborhood. The park contains a beautiful waterfall, a lovely meadow and a whole range of carefully tended plants and flowers that will delight the senses.
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Elk Run Golf Club
This nice if remote golf club opened in 1989 and recently expanded from nine to 18 holes. General improvements make this a top public course. The front nine challenges even low-handicap golfers with sand, water and narrow fairways. The back nine eases up a little. The club welcomes tournaments and offers new restaurant and banquet facilities.
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Elliott Bay Book Company
Elliott Bay Book Company, on the corner of south Main St. and 1st Ave., is Seattle's premier bookstore and literary gathering place. This rambling bookstore, which opened in 1973 in the 1890 Globe Hotel building, takes up an entire block of historic storefronts in Pioneer Square. The interior, all exposed red brick, cozy nooks, and high ceilings, is absolutely stuffed full of books and browsing customers. Downstairs is a popular cafe. Elliott Bay is the local leader in author appearances, with writers giving readings or signings almost nightly.
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Experience Music Project
It's supposed to look like a broken guitar but "heart" and "lung" have also been used to describe this 140,000 square foot music museum. Conceived by Paul Allen and designed by Frank Ghery, the museum takes you through music history by immersing you in nearly 80,000 artifacts including photos, sound archives, costumes and musical instruments from notable artists. The Northwest Passage exhibit examines how musicians and groups from the Northwest, such as Jimi Hendrix, Soundgarden, Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Screaming Trees and the rest, helped to shape rock music. The onsite Turntable restaurant serves basic fare, and the Liquid Lounge has a full bar and hosts concerts.
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Fairmont Olympic Hotel
One of the classiest remnants of Seattle's early-20th-century heyday is this fine hotel at 5th Avenue and University Street. This block-square building is sober and un-revealing on the outside, but journey through the revolving doors to discover a sumptuous lobby dominated by chandeliers, marble walls, and exotic carpets--testimony to a distant, more glorious era. Peek into the Georgian Room to see a dining room right out of a stylish 1930s film. Interestingly, University Street got its name because the original building of the University of Washington once stood on the location of the hotel.
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Fall City Farms
This wonderful organic farm opened in 1986 and is in the lush fields just east of Redmond. It offers tours from spring through autumn. Visitors take a trip around the grounds, learn what organic gardening is all about, and at the end of the day take pies, jams or jellies home with them. The farm also hosts a petting zoo and an apple orchard with 15 varieties of apples.
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First Hill
With its commanding position directly to the east and above downtown, First Hill became the foremost status neighborhood for early Seattleites. Throughout the area you'll still find traces of the early glory, including a few magnificent old mansions and some excellent examples of early Seattle architecture. Now known to many as "Pill Hill," First Hill is home to three major hospitals and their accompanying research and support facilities.
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First Thursday Gallery Walk
The beloved social event and the pinnacle of all art walks, the First Thursday Gallery Walk takes place--you guessed it--on the first Thursday of the month from 6-8pm. This artsy, fun event is focused in Pioneer Square, Seattle's premier gallery district, and spills into nearby downtown. Many galleries time their newest exhibits for unveiling on First Thursdays, so you'll catch the freshest shows in town.
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Fisherman's Terminal
At more than 80 years old, this waterfront conglomerate is still home to the North Pacific fishing fleet. Buy fresh fish in bulk straight off the boats at bargain prices. Tourists unwilling to commit to an entire tuna dine at the nearby restaurants, which offer everything from fish-and-chips to sushi. Near Chinook's, a bronze pillar decorated with sea fauna memorializes the local fishers lost at sea in the 20th century.
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Fort Casey State Park
Fort Casey rounds out a quartet of decommissioned forts built to guard against the threat of attack during the 1904 Russo-Japanese War. Eventually the forts became state parks. On a sunny day, the breeze blows off the water over the cliffs at the fort. Kids clamber over the gun emplacements, and teenagers explore the dark, empty bunkers. Grassy meadows are perfect for picnicking and kite flying, and trails lead down to the sandy beach. The fort's buildings are now dorms for a variety of kids' summer camps.
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Fort Worden State Park
From its 30-acre lake and pristine meadows to the gun bunkers, this park operates as an informative exploration area and a fully functioning conference center. The park also includes beach camping, a marine science center, a boat launch and Blackberries Restaurant. A separate cafeteria hosts up to 400 diners, and inexpensive lodgings are available. With summer music events, four different museums and acres of trails, this park gets crowded on summer weekends. Make reservations well in advance if you plan to stay overnight.
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Foster Golf Links
Just south of Seattle sits this relatively short golf course (par 69, 5071 yards). Its string of modest par-four holes won't frustrate even the most inexperienced golfer. Two trickier holes and a sturdy bridge cross the Duwamish Slough on the back nine. The nearby freeway and airport make the course a little noisy. It underwent remodeling in the late 1980s to improve drainage. The clubhouse includes a restaurant and a complete pro shop.
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Foster Island Walk
If you need a break from visiting museums and shops (or from work) and would like to take in some of Seattle's famous natural scenery, head just north of the Foster/White Gallery
This Pioneer Square gallery exhibits a range of exceptional quality contemporary paintings, sculpture, ceramics, and glass. You'll find pieces from some of the Northwest's favorite artists, including Mark Tobey, Morris Graves, Kenneth Callahan, and George Tsutakawa, plus works from Pilchuck glass artists such as Dale Chihuly, William Morris, and Benjamin Moore. The gallery has a second location downtown on Rainier Square.
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Francine Seders Gallery
Francine Seders has nurtured and showcased talented local painters, printmakers, photographers and sculptors for more than three decades. The shows in her quiet gallery, which is off the beaten track in Greenwood but worth the hike, alternate between up-and-coming artists like painter Alfonse Borysewicz and well-established artists like local celebrity Jacob Lawrence. The gallery represents about 35 artists at a time, and it maintains a complete library of slides and documentation on the artists and their works.
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Freeway Park
If the words "freeway" and "park" jar you when used together, then you've understood the point of this wonderful space. This urban concrete park is littered with green spaces, trees and a waterfall. It is a haven for businesspeople who escape from the chaos of the day by finding tranquility here. It's also an ideal detour for those who are touring the city on foot. The only proviso is to avoid the park at night. As with any urban park, crime is a nocturnal danger.
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Fremont
A fun-loving neighborhood known for its untraditional public art, junk stores, boutiques, outdoor movie festivals, and general good spirit. Fremont's motto, "De Libertas Quirkas," encourages its residents to embrace the "Freedom to be Peculiar." The neighborhood is peppered with excellent restaurants, pubs, and coffee shops.
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Frink Park
Originally designed by the Olmsted Brothers at the turn of the century for Model-T automobile owners, this park is still largely a woodsy ravine, beribboned with leisurely roads. Since the roads are quiet and the trails that wind through the forest even more so, they've become a favorite of joggers, cyclists and strollers. The park descends down the hill toward Lake Washington in tiers, with unexpected treats such as elegant stone bridges and rolling lawns. It ends at Leschi Park's tennis courts.
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Frye Art Museum
Charles and Emma Frye arrived in Seattle in 1888. Throughout a 25-year period, they amassed a large collection (eventually more than 230 pieces) of fine art painted by both American and European artists, mostly from the 19th and 20th centuries. A trust in Charles Frye's will made provisions for a free public art museum, and today anyone can view the collection at no charge. Located on First Hill, the museum also includes the Gallery Cafe.
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Future of Flight Aviation Center and Boeing Tours
The Future of Flight Aviation Center is a must for anyone who's ever looked up as a jet passed overhead, and wondered how it stayed in the air. Open since December 2005, the $23 million dollar project features interactive exhibits, graphics, and videos to educate and entertain all ages. Take a ride on the multi-passenger XJ5 Flight Simulator, or digitally design your own jet. Try out the next generation of in-flight entertainment centers, or just read the interactive exhibits to learn about the technology that keeps these finely tuned crafts flying. Afterward, don't miss a tour through the 472,000,000 cubic feet Boeing Everett factory to see the technology in action, and follow the production of a jetliner from design to take-off.
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G. Gibson Gallery
A big, gorgeous space flooded with natural light, Gail Gibson's second-floor gallery emphasizes photography and sculpture, often in combination. Themes vary at the whim of the artist and the gallery owner. You might see a retrospective on the history of baseball or a series of "shadow" photographs in which the images look like faint scraps of ghosts. The creaky floorboards add a nice bit of atmosphere to such mysterious shows.
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Gas Works Park
This is an example of urban renewal at its best. Take an old gas-processing plant that has outlived its usefulness, and transform it into something everyone can enjoy. Located on the north shore of Lake Union (opposite downtown), the park has excellent water views and a spectacular, unobstructed view of the city skyline. It is a popular spot for concerts, bikers, kite flyers, families on picnics and just about everyone else. This is also a prime spot from which to view the Glass Eye Gallery
A whole subset of artists prefers to work with "found objects," and within that group is a still smaller group that works with objects found at volcanos. These artists fashion the glass produced by volcanic eruptions like the one at Mount St.Helens into iridescent wonders. This gallery, run by Rob Adamson and Dale Leman, features the work of these skilled (and unusual) craftspeople. You will find a huge variety of Christmas ornaments, plates and vases, stunningly wrought and available for purchase at reasonable prices. Your most troubling decision will not be whether to buy things, but how to transport them once you do.
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Golden Gardens Park
Walk, stroll or simply sit at this beautiful beach overlooking Shilshole Bay in North Seattle. It is a great place to watch the sunset or frolic in the water. During the day, families and couples walk their dogs or play volleyball, basketball or Frisbee on the sandy beach. On cooler evenings, bonfires can be lit in park-owned concrete pits. The park is conveniently located near some fabulous waterfront restaurants like Green Lake Park
This artificial lake is home to a variety of geese, ducks and other wildlife. It is also popular with swimmers, runners, crew teams and cyclists. One lap around the lake is a mere 2.8 miles, and you can rent in-line skates or beach cruisers at nearby Gregg's Greenlake Cycle. Rowboats and paddleboats can also be rented during the spring and summer months. Dogs are most welcome, as long as owners clean up after them. The park is conveniently located in one of North Seattle's quiet neighborhoods with great restaurants, cafes and supermarkets nearby.
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Greg Kucera Gallery
The Greg Kucera Gallery has been featuring the best in contemporary artists since it quietly opened its doors in a dilapidated warehouse in 1983. Since then, it has become one of Seattle's favorite galleries for showcasing both emerging local artists and international artists in painting, drawing, and photography. The galley staff puts much effort into fund raising and supporting political and cultural initiatives. In 2004, the galley went under massive renovations to add even more exhibit space.
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Grover/Thurston Gallery
This two-storied gallery is run by Susan Grover and Richard Thurston. Decorative painting sales to exhibitions contribute to the art-scene buzz in Seattle. The popular Northwest artist Fay Jones' works are exhibited very often. Also featured are other Northwest artists, and the strong regional collection makes this one of the best galleries in town. The Pioneer Square gallery gets packed on First Thursdays. Other days, ask to view more economical prints. It's possible to dress your rooms in good-looking art without paying the shock prices of top-name originals.
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Gunnar Nordstrom Gallery
The artists who show here tend to produce works that seem innocuous, assemblages of paper flowers, nudes in chicken wire. But take a closer look. Those paper flowers? They are only acrylic paintings, with nothing three-dimensional about them. Those wire bodies? Look at the shadows on the walls behind them to see how the crosshatched wire casts what look like softly brushed pencil drawings. This place is a treat for the mind, as well as the eye.
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Henry Art Gallery
This contemporary art gallery is located on the University of Washington campus and is a great place to check out what's new on the modern art scene. They not only feature great local artists, but also works from artists around the world, creating an intriguing mix of exhibits. The museum was founded in 1927, making it the first public art museum in Washington state. In addition to showcasing some of the finest new art, the museum is focused on developing dialogue about issues in modern culture, society, and politics using visual art. Since the museum is located on the U of W campus, they have been successful in fostering a wonderful relationship with students and faculty and have become a great resource for everyone on campus.
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Hiram M. Chittenden Locks
Conceived as soon as the first white settlers came in the 1850s and finished in the 1930s, these two locks go up and down on a regular basis, letting pleasure craft, fishing boats and tour vessels through. Crowds come here to see the boats, to watch the salmon using the fish ladder (and the sea lions that come to eat them) and to stroll through the adjacent gardens.
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Hoh Rain Forest
With an average annual rainfall of 150 inches, this lush temperate rain forest requires waterproof shoes. Trees soar more than 300 feet into the sky, while mosses, lichens and mushrooms cover the ground. Three nature walks, including the trek through the Hall of Mosses, are easy enough for the entire family, while more adventurous hikers can load up the gear and spend the weekend along the Hoh River or on the slopes of Mount Olympus. The folks at the ranger station happily provide suggestions and maps to various points of interest. No matter which path you take, chances are you'll spot some wildlife: Raccoons, hares, elk and cougar all make their homes here. Nature lovers staying overnight will appreciate nearby Howard/Mandville Gallery
Dan and Pat Howard opened their Seattle frame shop in 1972 and have steadily increased their involvement in the Northwest art scene since, opening this 4,000-square-foot gallery in 1990. The open space behind the vast windows holds mostly representational paintings, sculpture and limited edition prints by regionally and nationally known artists. Call or check the Web site for current information on artists and shows. The gallery still offers high-quality framing services.
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Howell Park and Beach
Many small plots of unused land throughout Seattle are actually owned by the city. Waterfront wedges have become neighborhood secrets, where the locals go in summertime to splash around. A few of these plots have been marked as parks. Howell Park requires a walk down a driveway and a dirt trail before you reach a grassy expanse and a rocky beach between fancy mansions. It's lovely in an austere way in winter. In summer, it's usually taken over by sunbathers and families who come with floatation toys in tow.
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International District
East of Pioneer Square is the International District, Seattle's Chinatown, where Asian groceries and restaurants line the streets. Though much smaller than Chinatowns in San Francisco or Vancouver, Seattle's Chinatown represents an important part of the city's heritage. Chinese were among the first settlers in Seattle, followed by Japanese, Filipinos, Vietnamese, Laotians, and others. Later immigrants settled just to the east of the older Chinatown of the early 20th century, in an area known as Little Saigon. The International District is located between Second and 12th Avenues running east-west, and Washington and Weller Streets running north-south. Many Seattleites refer to the area as "Chinatown" or simply "the ID."
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Jackson Park Golf Club
At Washington State's busiest golf course, foursomes go off every six minutes, and there's always an audience for a nervous golfer's first drive of the day. The fairways and greens show a little wear under the heavy traffic. The course is par 71, 6482 yards. There's also a short 9-hole course. Make reservations up to one week in advance, especially recommended for weekends. Singles can usually walk on. Rental clubs are available. Check for junior, senior, twilight, early morning and winter discounts.
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James Harris Gallery
New on the local art scene, this tiny, ivory-toned gallery is full of carefully curated contemporary art, with an emphasis on European artists. The pleasure of it comes from the selection, which is intriguing and thought-provoking in a subtle, unthreatening way. A recent highpoint was an unprepossessing series of photos taken during a crossing of the English Channel and then pasted together to show the entire Channel. Now that's a photograph.
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Jefferson Park Golf Club
This is one of Washington State's busiest golf courses, with more than 100,000 rounds played here annually. Views of Puget Sound, Lake Washington and the Cascade Mountains provide breaks from challenging tree-lined holes. The course is par 70, 6015 yards. There's also a short 9-hole course and a driving range. Check for junior, senior, twilight, early morning and winter discounts. Make reservations up to one week in advance. Singles can usually walk on.
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Jimi Hendrix Gravesite
Although Jimi Hendrix's relatives have plans to re-inter his body in a larger and more ornate memorial, the legend currently lies in a rather austere gravesite, the headstone adorned only with the basic information and an engraved guitar. However, his grave is always nicely decorated with fans' flowers, notes, pictures, and drawings. For those who want to make the pilgrimage, Jimi is buried in the Greenwood Cemetery in the town of Renton.
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Kirkland Arts Center
Artworks displayed here are usually for sale, but you may have trouble finding anyone to sell them to you. As a priority, sales come after display and art community development. Art class tuition, memberships and fundraising events pay most of the bills. As a result, the center provides a low-key place to view contemporary art. Classes range from the original ceramics courses to bead making and even writing. Call for start dates and tuition rates. Also call to get on the mailing list for information on upcoming classes, events and installations.
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Kirsten Gallery
This family-run gallery in a converted house features Northwest art, including sub-genres such as Alaskan art, maritime art, sculpture and glass. If you're looking for a rainy landscape or an abstract that captures the spirit of the area, this is the place. Regular artists include Nathan Arnold (Northwest landscapes), Byron Birdsall (Alaskan landscapes) and Dan Bergsma (glass). Rotating exhibits include maritime art from June to August, mystical art in September and Asia-inspired works by proprietor Richard "Daiensai" Kirsten every May. Park behind the gallery.
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Klondike Gold Rush - National Historical Park
When gold was discovered in the Alaskan Klondike, thousands of miners tramped through Seattle on their way to seek their fortunes. Some stayed and made fortunes in other ways including John W. Nordstrom, the founder of Nordstrom department stores. Seattle played a big role in the Gold Rush of 1898, and this little museum tells the story. Located in historic Pioneer Square, the museum depicts the Gold Rush and the impact it had on the fledgling city. Admission is free, but donations are welcome.
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Lake Sammamish State Park
It's no secret that Seattle residents have a love for water sports that to some newcomers borders on mania. One of the most popular places for hydrophiles to gather is this vast park, which has the usual array of barbecue pits, slides, and long stretches of beach. Here you will find sailors, swimmers, and jet skiers, who mingle in startlingly close proximity to each other. Nearby Issaquah offers numerous dining options.
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Lake Union
Visitors to Seattle are usually stunned by the abundance of water surrounding the city. Just north of downtown lies Lake Union. Surrounded by houseboat communities, marinas, shipbuilders and glitzy restaurants, the lake is a hub of activity. Seaplanes take off and land, sharing the 600-acre lake with kayaks, canoes, powerboats, sailboats and tugboats. While the lake can be explored any time of year, Lake Washington
Although usually too cold for swimming, Lake Washington still provides fun for joggers, walkers, and cyclists along its shoreline paths and boat rentals for those who want to get out on the lake without actually getting in. The lake is 18 miles long and nearly 3-and-a-half miles wide, and the water is largely free of pollutants, thanks to a clean-up campaign launched in the 1960s. Follow Lake Washington Boulevard alongside the coast for some great views not only the lake but also of some of Seattle's most interesting, and upscale, domestic buildings.
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Lakeview Cemetery
With sweeping views embracing north Seattle, Lake Union and Lake Washington, this burial ground is probably the most spectacular graveyard in the city. There aren't too many trees to obstruct the view, just a few to shelter mourners. Many of Seattle's pioneers are buried here, including Princess Angeline (daughter of Chief Sealth), Dexter Horton, Doc Maynard and his wife, Catherine, who outlived her liquor-loving husband by more than 30 years. Kung fu fans also flock to the graves of movie hero Bruce Lee and his son, actor Brandon Lee. Even if the dead do not intrigue you, this is a lovely spot for a stroll.
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Langston Hughes Cultural Arts Center
This ornate building was once a synagogue, as is revealed by its Romanesque windows and symbolic stone tablets. Today, it's a temple to the arts, named for African-American poet Langston Hughes. The center offers a varied roster of activities, workshops and classes in such skills as marimba, African dance and self-defense. The well-produced high school musicals and literary readings have extended the center's reach beyond the immediate neighborhood.
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Linda Hodges Gallery
The regional artists Hodges prefers tend to excel in surreal and hyper-real figurative works. Often her artists combine painting with sculpture (although painting usually is the focus), as Robert McCauley does by placing his odd Victorian animal portraits behind unrelated pieces of junk. Depending on your tolerance for this kind of thing, it's either delightful or irritating--or both. Environmental issues are a prevailing theme, and each artist portrays his or her point of view differently.
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Lisa Harris Gallery
Vivid, expressionistic landscapes and figurative oils, such as Brian Chapman's action-packed series of wild animals and Royal Nebeker's Grieg-inspired portraits of lovers, predominate here. Most of the art shown here is conservative, offering a timelessness that cannot be challenged by trends. Founded in 1984, this gallery is an aesthetic oasis literally above the fray of the Log House Museum
Located one block from Luther Burbank Park
Named for the great naturalist Luther Burbank, this park has trees and vegetation from all over the world. Located on Mercer Island in Lake Washington between Seattle and the Eastside, this island is highly accessible and only minutes from downtown. The park is the administrative headquarters for King County Parks. Park amenities include tennis courts, picnic grounds and a swimming beach with seasonal lifeguards. There is an off-leash area for dogs, and a marsh with red winged blackbirds, marsh wrens, even eagles and osprey.
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Madison Park & Beach
At the end of East Madison Street, just past the quaint boutiques and gourmet restaurants, this long, sloping expanse of lake beach has a fishing dock, a diving dock, tons of sand, a bathhouse and towering retirement homes, which are built out over the water. In summer, only the hasty departure of the afternoon sun (the beach faces northeast) and the aggressive Canada geese get in the way of a perfect day at the beach. Even the ice cream truck makes regular calls. This is a favorite spot of Madison Park families.
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Madrona Park
A narrow strip of lawn and trees along Lake Washington, this park is best known for its spectacular views of the Eastside and for its beach, where a city grant funded an elaborate play area with driftwood, a "stream" powered by a hand pump, and mosaic-embedded rocks. But, there's also the Spectrum Dance studio (a converted 1926 bathhouse), a fishing dock and, across the boulevard, the steep ramble of the Madrona Woods, beloved of dirt-bikers and wanderers. Lounge on the beach's rolling lawn, get muddy in the woods or just enjoy the view.
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Marina Park
A short stroll from booming downtown Kirkland, which has benefited enormously from the cash flow brought in by Microsoft, is this winning little park. Ice cream shops and restaurants are just up the street, while the park itself includes a very nice Lake Washington beach and a picnicking facility. An open-air pavilion, home to concerts and other events, sits next to the lake and public art statues decorate a grassy area.
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Marion Oliver McCaw Hall
This $127 million, 295,000 square-foot center was completed in June 2003 with grandiose results: a 17,800 square-foot plaza serves as an entry way to the center's 2,900 seat auditorium, lecture hall, cafe, and five-story glass Grand Lobby. Not only was the hall built to be one of the best of its kind in design, convenience, and state-of-the-art technology, but it is also one of the few performance halls constructed with Green principles in mind; in fact, it is comprised of 25% recycled content materials, and 75% of the construction waste and debris were recycled. The center is now the home of the Seattle Opera and the Pacific Northwest Ballet, as well as many other festivals, productions, performers, and even weddings.
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Marymoor Park
Administered by King County, this park really is a merry moor of wilderness. At 640 acres, it's a huge expanse of overgrown fields, alder woods, marshes, and a bubbling river. The large dog run gets crowded on weekends. Humans head for the running trails, horse paths, tennis courts, velodrome and climbing wall. Take kids on the interpretive nature trail, or to the playgrounds, or to the community garden plots. The whole area can fill up with cars and people and still feel empty. But in the summertime, when the annual ethnic heritage festival and WOMAD come, then things get truly crowded. Bring a picnic and don't sweat it.
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Mercer Slough Nature Park
Out on the southeast edge of Bellevue sits one of the city's largest and most spectacular parks. At about 300 acres, it is home to the largest natural wetland on Lake Washington. This makes it a natural attraction to a variety of species that you probably would not run into otherwise. More than 100 hundred bird species call it home and coyotes, beavers and muskrats sometimes reveal themselves. Guided tours are provided throughout the year.
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Ming's Asian Gallery
A combination art gallery and antique furniture shop, this is a unique gem hidden on the Eastside. Representing 5,000 years of history and tradition, journey through the Imperial Dynasties of Japan, China, Korea, Myanmar, Cambodia, Tibet, Thailand and Nepal. From historical treasures to accents, Ming's offers a collection of unique antiques, fine furniture, mineral carvings, porcelains, netsuke, snuff bottles, paintings, textiles, Peking glass, jade and so much more. Appraisals and design services are offered. Cultural exhibitions, lectures and symposiums are presented throughout the calendar year. Call for current schedule.
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Mount Rainier National Park
This sublime park contains seemingly endless hikes and trails around the mountain. You can come back dozens of times and still find much to explore. If you're a practiced rock or mountain climber, this park has unbeatable climbs. Longmire Museum and the Jackson, Ohanapecosh and Sunrise visitor centers have varying summer and winter hours.
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Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument
While a trip to Mount St. Helens from Seattle makes for a long day, the sights here are absolutely unique. For anyone interested in geology and natural history, this trip is well worth the effort. For most people in the Pacific Northwest, the events of May 18, 1980 are welded into memory. That's when Mt. St. Helens erupted, leveling hundreds of square miles of forest and spreading volcanic ash across the Northwest. After the smoke cleared, Mount St. Helens, once a symmetrical 9,677-foot mountain covered with glaciers, had blown 1,300 feet off its peak and deposited a mile-wide crater on its north side. In 1982, 172 square miles around the mountain were included in the Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument.
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Mount Zion Baptist Church
This church, which boasts one of the largest congregations in the city, was led by the beloved activist Reverend Samuel McKinney until his retirement last year. The church seats over 1,000 and fills up every week. The 100-member choir has several critically acclaimed recordings to its credit. If you're looking for something to do on a Sunday morning, feel free to drop in, as the visitors that pour in from all over Western Washington every week are all always welcome.
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Museum of Flight
Explore the history of flight from the Wright Brothers to space travel. Collections here include commercial, military and civilian crafts. See a 1929 Boeing 80A-1, the sole survivor of its type. The 1926 Swallow was used as the nation's first contracted airmail service starting in April 1926. For those interested in more modern aircraft, there are the dynamic M-21 Blackbird, the fastest and highest-flying aircraft ever built, and the VC-137B Air Force One, which flew President Dwight D. Eisenhower on a historic visit to meet with Germany's Chancellor Konrad Adenauer in 1959. Take a walk through the "Red Barn," a museum in its own right, where the Boeing Company manufactured its first aircraft. There is also a library with an extensive selection of aviation information, as well as a museum store and a cafe on the premises.
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Museum of History & Industry
The Museum of History & Industry offers an engaging journey through the history of Seattle in its core exhibit, "Essential Seattle," which traces the arrival of settlers up through the present, with films, oral histories, stirring images and fascinating artifacts. MOHAI also offers traveling exhibits from around the country, including John James Audubon, American Artist and Naturalist and Lincoln: the Constitution and the Civil War from the National Constitution Center. MOHAI offers lectures, walking tours, family programs and other events. With 2 million historic images, MOHAI is an important resource to the community.
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Myrtle Edwards Park
Technically, the northern half of this park is Elliott Bay Park, but the whole waterfront strip runs so seamlessly together that no one ever refers to it as anything but Myrtle Edwards. The park is just out of the main downtown drag, which makes it a bit obscure but also pleasantly quiet, filled only with joggers and cyclists enjoying just over one mile of winding bike and pedestrian paths that run along Elliott Bay. The views over the bay are spectacular, especially at sunset in wintertime, and the white columns at the northern end (grain silos, actually) lend an eerie industrial feel to the park.
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Newcastle Beach Park
This wonderful 29-acre park is popular with families. It should probably be better known than it is, but as a result of its obscurity, its relatively few visitors have it largely to themselves. In addition to its waterfront swimming and fishing areas, it has truly beautiful paths that wind through a broad range of rare wildlife and flora. It is everything a park should be with something for everyone to enjoy.
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Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge
About an hour and a half from Seattle, this 3,000-acre wildlife refuge plays host to an incredible number of birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians and fish, about 100 species in all. There are seven miles of open trails, a fishing area, a new mile-long wheelchair-accessible boardwalk and a visitor's center. A dike separates salt water from freshwater, so you can view a variety of habitats. In autumn, the bird population swells as migratory birds stop off to eat and rest before continuing south.
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Nordic Heritage Museum
Unique in the Seattle area, this museum is a tribute to the cultures of the many immigrants who came here from Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Iceland and Finland. It is aptly located in the Ballard area, Seattle's most Scandinavian neighborhood. Explore the heritage of the Nordic peoples and their contributions to the growth of this region. Visit five different ethnic rooms representing each of the different cultures. The museum also features various traveling international exhibits.
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Northwest Craft Center
Stretched out on the west side of the International Fountain plaza at Northwest Puppet Center
Nestled in Maple Leaf, one of Seattle's northern neighborhoods, this center showcases local and international puppeteers. Owners Chris and Stephen Carter have studied with master puppeteers from around the world and have given shows in five different languages. The center opened in 1986, and in 1993, a church was renovated to create an imaginative venue, which hosts more than 250 performances per year. The center mixes magic and fantasy for entertaining and educational family programs.
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Occidental Square
Less crowded than nearby Pioneer Square, Occidental Square offers pedestrians a tree-lined walk surrounded by many of Seattle's best cafes, galleries, and Victorian homes. This square also holds four totem poles, carved by Northwest artist Duane Pasco, featuring important figures from Native American legends. Additionally, there is a memorial to Seattle firefighters who died in the line of duty.
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Odyssey: The Maritime Discovery Center
Visit this attraction before or after visiting the Olympic National Park
This park encompasses mountains and the sea, with temperate rain forests and largely undisturbed ecosystems. It is 95-percent wilderness, with virgin old-growth forests and untouched land. There are few roads or services, and accommodations are mostly limited to campsites with fireplaces and rest rooms, but walking the trails is well worth the effort.
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Olympic Peninsula
The trip around this heavily forested peninsula is a magical experience. P-Patches
True to the conscientiously arty nature of Pacific Place
Located at 6th and Pine Streets downtown, Pacific Place is Seattle's upscale shopping, dining, and entertainment center. Retailers include Tiffany & Co., MaxMara, and Coach, along with J. Crew, Ann Taylor, Helly Hansen, Pottery Barn, and Williams-Sonoma. There's also an 11-screen AMC Theaters complex, plus a Skybridge connection to the flagship Nordstrom store.
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Pacific Rim Bonsai Collection
It may seem weird that the corporate headquarters of Weyerhaeuser, the largest timber company in America, devotes a chunk of its property to two public gardens - a rhododendron display and this bonsai collection. But neither type of plant is threatened by the logging saw, so perhaps it makes sense. The tiny, gnarled trees are fantastic both in shape and age. Some are as much as 1,000 years old. Most are little pines, but there are some deciduous trees as well, and several are arranged in charming miniature landscapes. Bonsai masters give occasional weekend lectures and classes. Tours are also offered every Sunday at noon.
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Pacific Science Center
Located at Pantages Theater
Inspired by Versailles, this opulent theater was constructed in 1918. Fully restored in 1983, the 1,182-seat theater showcases events ranging from national touring acts to the Tacoma Philharmonic. A surprising number of local acts appear here as well, including live music, film festivals, and avant-garde theater. Superb acoustics and reasonable ticket prices make this a theater well worth visiting. Backstage tours include the neighboring Rialto Theater.
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Peter Kirk Park
Though it measures a modest 12 acres, this park, located right in the heart of downtown Kirkland, is a marvel. Aside from the playgrounds and tennis courts, the landscaping is wonderful and there are several commissioned sculptures that could easily find a place in any museum. In front of the senior center stands George Lundeen's "The Valentine," a touching bronze sculpture that depicts an older couple sharing a bench. The park also includes the