SEATTLE AREA ATTRACTIONS
(more on the Seattle Index page)
Tip: If
you are going to a number of places in a short period of time, consider
buying a City Pass. It covers admission to six attractions (Space Needle,
Pacific Science Center, Seattle Aquarium, Woodland Park Zoo, Museum of
Flight, Seattle Art Museum) for a fixed rate for each age group. Purchase
the pass at any of the six sites. It is valid for one week.
Pike Place Market
Nine decades old, Pike Place is one of Seattle's most popular
landmarks, as famous for the antics of its vendors as it is for its
merchandise. Its most popular buildings are the Main and North arcades,
with the carefully arranged stacks of produce, fresh fish, crabs and
mollusks piled high with ice. The best time to visit the market is on a
weekday morning.
Over half of the market's open-air stalls are now devoted to
locally made arts & crafts, and its lower levels are filled with small
shops, from Indian spice stalls to magicians' supply shops. The streets
surrounding Pike Place Market continue the maze of shops, with ethnic food
stalls, plant shops, galleries and gift boutiques. Pike Place Market is in
the northwestern corner of downtown, close to the waterfront.
Pike Place Market is at 1st Avenue and Pike Street. For information,
phone 206-625-4764.
Seattle Center
The 1962 World's Fair, also known as the 'Century 21 Exposition',
brought in over 9 million visitors from around the world for a glimpse of
Tomorrow, Seattle-style. What remains of the futuristic groupings of
exhibition halls, arenas and public spaces is today called the Seattle
Center.
The grounds are home to dance, theater, opera, museums and Key
Arena. The Seattle Center complex is located at 305 Harrison Street. For
more information, phone 206-684-7200.
The following are part of the Seattle Center:
Space Needle
Designed
to be the centerpiece of Seattle's 1962 World's Fair, this 605 foot
structure looming over the city is still Seattle's centerpiece. An
elevator whisks you up to the observation deck which, equipped with
telescopes, allow views of the entire region. Or, get seated in the
revolving restaurant. It revolves one full revolution over a 58 minute
period. This enables you to enjoy an excellent repast while the scenery
slowly passes before your eyes.
For more information (or to make dinner reservations, phone (toll-free)
1-800-937-9582 or visit their web site at:
SpaceNeedle.
The Bank of America Tower (formerly Columbia Seafirst Tower), at
701 Fifth Ave., offers a dramatic view from its 73rd floor. Because its
observation deck doesn't go completely around the building, the view is
less panoramic. Hours are 8:30a to 4:30p weekdays. For more information,
phone 206-386-5151.
Monorail
A 1.5 mile experiment in mass transit, is another signature piece
of the 1962 World's Fair. Today, it provides fun and frequent transport
between downtown and Seattle Center, covering the distance in only two
minutes. It runs between the Seattle Center and Westlake Center at least
every 15 minutes daily, 7:30a to 11p Monday through Friday and 9a to 11p
Saturday and Sunday.
For more information, phone 206-441-6038.
Flag Pavilion & Plaza
International Fountain
A computer-controlled fountain with jets of water that pulse to the
beat of music. This is an emphatic reminder of the cosmopolitan sympathies
of the fair.
Seattle Opera House
This splendid hall is home go the Seattle Opera, Symphony and
Ballet.
Pacific Science Center
The Pacific Science Center has hands-on exhibits for children, an
impressive new Boeing IMAX Theater and a gift shop. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5
p.m. weekdays, and to 6 p.m. weekends and holidays. Admission charged.
Also located at the Seattle Center, the Pacific Science Center
houses the Willard W. Smith Planetarium, with ever-changing shows on such
subjects as dinosaurs, space exploration and Alaska. Monday-Friday 10 am-5
pm, Saturday and Sunday 10 am-6 pm. Admission charged.
In the museum's Science Playground, you can play tic-tac-toe with a
robot or virtual basketball.
The IMAX theater has hourly screenings 10 am-8 pm. Film tickets
sold separately.
Laser light shows at the Boeing Spacearium feature music from
artists ranging from leading artists. Shows run throughout the day
(midnight show on Saturdays).
The address of the Pacific Science Center is 200 2nd Ave N. General
information, phone: 206-443-2001. For information about the Laser Light
Show, phone 1-206-443-2850. For the Planetarium, phone 206-443-2920. For
the IMAX Theatre, phone 206-443-4629. Admission charged.
Fun Forest Amusement Park
This is an amusement park for children. The rides are open noon to
midnight; daily in summer.
Children's Museum at
Seattle Center
The Center has exhibits and hands-on activities for the whole
family. Check out "Mountain Forest," which describes and shows the flora
and fauna of the Pacific Northwest, and "Discovery Bay," an infant/toddler
area designed to exercise motor skills.
Located at the Seattle Center House - 305 Harrison. For more
information, phone 206 - 441-1768. Admission charged.
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Seattle Children's Theatre
The Children's Theatre actually is two theaters and is recommended
for ages from 8 year. For more information, phone 206-441-3322.
The U District
The campus of the University of Washington is situated at the edge
of a busy commercial area known as the 'U District'. The main streets here
University Way, commonly called the Ave, and NE 45th St., are filled with
affordable restaurants and cafes, art houses, cinemas and student bars. 'U
Dub', as most people refer to the university, is a lively place that's
definitely worth touring, especially in spring, when pink and orange
flowered azaleas paint the campus in brilliant hues.
The U District is accessible by bus and is only 3 miles (5k,)
northeast of downtown Seattle.
Washington Park
Arboretum
The Washington Park Arboretum features over 5500 different plant
species within 200 acres (80ha) of mature forest and gardens. At the
southern edge of the arboretum is the Japanese Garden, a collection of koi
pools, waterfalls and manicured plantings. Bird watching is popular at the
northern end of the arboretum, as are canoeing, fishing and swimming. Free
public tours are offered. No admission is charged but donations are
gratefully accepted.
Broadway
Seattle's Broadway, with its multitudes of sweets shops and cafes,
is a great place to locate sugar and caffeine. Adjoining is St Marks
Cathedral where a chorus features a chorus that performs Gregori chants on
Sunday nights.
Pike/Pine
Corridor
For those looking for nightlife, here is the hotspot of all-night
coffeehouses, live-music clubs and rowdy, smoke-filled bars. If you're
looking for late night action, this is one of Seattle's most lively
scenes. Capitol Hill is just a mile (2km) northeast of downtown and
connected to the city center by bus.
Queen Anne
Rising above the Seattle Center is Queen Anne hill and its
neighborhood of majestic red-brick houses and apartment buildings,
sweeping lawns manicured to perfection and gorgeous views of the city and
bay. Queen Anne is not nearly as established as other neighborhoods, but
it does have cafes, trendy music clubs and some old-time Seattle
entertainment. The main reason to visit is to check out the view. The
observatory deck at 3rd Ave and Highland Drive is the best spot for it,
especially at night or sunset. Queen Anne is just over a mile (2km)
northwest of downtown and has frequent bus connections to the city center.
Experience Music
Project
The Museum of Rock ‘N’ Roll combines exhibitions of artifacts with
interactive displays that help people create and play music on their own.
A tribute to the “Seattle Sound,” the museum was financed by billionaire
Paul Allen who was inspired by Jimi Hendrix, the legendary Seattle
guitarist of the 1960’s. Memorabilia from the bands Pearl Jam, Nirvana,
Soundgarden and many other local groups are displayed along with the
history of the bands that sprang from Seattle and redefined the industry.
Seattle Art
Museum
The mammoth Hammering Man sculpture guards the museum's entrance.
Within are four floors of African, European and Northwest Coastal Native
American art.
Jonathan Barofsky's towering metal "Hammering Man" makes the museum
at 100 University St. easy to spot. Visitors pass the gift shop and climb
an impressive staircase to the main galleries.
Among the museum's most distinguished permanent collections are
African, Northwest Coast Indian and Asian art. "The Russian Decorative
Arts: The Plestcheeff Collection" offers visitors a look at Russian
porcelain and decorative arts. And "The Northwest Art/Asian Affinities"
exhibit explores the relationship between Asian aesthetics and recurring
motifs in the work of Northwest artists.
Hours are, Tuesday-Sunday 10 am-5 pm, Thursday till 9 pm. Admission
is free the first Thursday of the month. For more information, phone
206-625-8900. (Save your ticket! It will admit you to the Seattle Asian
Art Museum if you go within one week.) 100 University St. at 1st Avenue.
Phone 206-654-3100.
Seattle Asian Art
Museum
This museum houses one of the nation's most important collections
of Asian art. The building itself is a gorgeous example of art nouveau
architecture. Ample free parking. Tuesday-Sunday 10 am-5 pm, Thursday till
9 pm. Admission charged. Free the first Thursday and Saturday of the
month.
(Save your ticket! It will admit you to the Seattle Art Museum if
you go within one week.) For more information, phone 206-654-3100.
Woodland Park Zoo
The zoo is a pioneer in open-environment exhibits where animals
live in natural settings with a minimum of fences. Popular spots include
the Northern Trail of Alaska, the tropical rainforest exhibit, Elephant
Forest and the African savanna.
Butterflies and Blooms," an outdoor exhibit representing nearly
1,000 butterflies of North America, opens May 13 and runs through summer
at the award-winning zoo. Another summer exhibit (opening May 27) is the
Dragons of Komodo, where visitors can get an up-close-and-personal glimpse
of the largest lizard in the world.
The Zoo is located at 5500 Phinney Ave. N and is open 9:30 a.m. to
6 p.m. daily. Admission charged. (Discount for King County residents.) For
more information, phone 206-684-4800.
Museum of History
and Industry
This is the place to get a sense of Seattle's distant and
not-so-distant past. Exhibits of artifacts bring to life Seattle's roots
(from the Klondike Gold Rush to Boeing's early days), and a new show, "See
All About It," features 100 images of 20th-century Seattle taken by
Seattle P-I photographers.
The museum offers walking tours (to the Montlake Cut with a museum
historian and the Washington Park Arboretum with a naturalist), on most
weekends through September.
The museum is located at 2700 24th Ave. E. which is off Montlake
Boulevard just south of Husky Stadium and the Montlake Bridge. Open daily
10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission charged. For more information, phone
206-324-1126.
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