Activities

Calendar of Events

The Seattle Convention and Visitors’ Bureau maintains an up-to-date calendar of events at www.seeseattle.org/cultural/festivals.asp.

January

Chinese New Year

www.cidbia.org

Based on the lunar calendar, this festival is held sometime in ­January or February in the International District. Festivities include a parade with dragons, dancers, great food, and fireworks.

February

Chilly Hilly Bike Ride, Bainbridge Island (third Sunday in ­February). Hop aboard the early morning ferry to Bainbridge Island for this 33-mile (53km) ride sponsored by the Cascade Bicycle Club.

Northwest Flower and Garden Show

www.gardenshow.com

Tel: 253-756 2121

On almost 5 acres (2 hectares) of the Washington State Convention and Trade Center, landscape architects, nurseries, and gardeners try their best to outdo each other at over 300 booths. Admission charge.

March

Dine Around Seattle (March and November)

www.dinearoundseattle.org

For a great opportunity to try out some of the city’s best restaurants, three-course prix-fixe meals are offered throughout the month on Sundays through Thursdays; lunch is $15, dinner $30.

Irish Week Festival, includes a film festival, dancing, a parade (see below), and events such as the St Patrick’s Day Dash, an easy 3.5-mile (6km) run or walk from lower Queen Anne to Safeco Field. www.irishclub.org

St Patrick’s Day Parade

www.irishclub.org

Tel: 206-223 3608

The parade travels from City Hall (600 4th Avenue) to Westlake Center (1601 5th Avenue), featuring bagpipes, Irish dancers, marching bands, and the laying of the green stripe down 4th Avenue.

Whirligig

Seattle Center

www.seattlecenter.com

Tel: 206-684 7200

The Seattle Center hosts this indoor carnival with bouncing and inflatable rides for kids from about mid-March to mid-April. Free entertainment; small fee for rides.

April

Daffodil Festival and Grand ­Floral Parade

Tacoma

www.daffodilfestival.net

Tel: 253-840 4194

One of the largest floral parades, it travels through Tacoma, Puyallup, Sumner, and Orting in one day, making creative use of the daffodils grown around Puyallup.

Skagit Valley Tulip Festival

www.tulipfestival.org

Tel: 360-428 5959

Held on 1,500 acres (600 hectares) of colorful tulip fields, this spectacular scene is like a slice of Holland, but with the backdrop of majestic mountains. Bicycle and bus tours are popular.

May

Northwest Folklife Festival

Seattle Center

www.nwfolklife.org

Tel: 206-684 7300

Music, dancing, ethnic food, and crafts over Memorial Day weekend from more than 100 countries. Many people unpack their instruments and join some of the many jam sessions that spring up all around the Center’s lawns.

Opening Day of Boating Season

www.seattleyachtclub.org

Tel: 206-325 1000

Held first Saturday in May. Yachting clubs bring out a parade of boats from Lake Union to Lake Washing­ton, stopping traffic on the bridges. Also features a ­rowing regatta.

Seattle International Film ­Festival (SIFF)

www.siff.net

Tel: 206-324 9996

This three-week long, huge film festival screens more than 400 local, national, and international independent films at venues throughout the city.

University Street Fair

University Way

www.udistrictstreetfair.org

Tel: 206-547 4417

Held the third weekend in May, the fair features over 350 artists’ booths and food stalls in a 10-block area. Mimes, clowns, street enter­tainment, and children’s events draw the crowds.

June

Festival Sundiata

Seattle Center

www.festivalsundiata.org

Tel: 1-866-505 6006

Held during Black Music month, this two-day celebration includes African-American and African food, music, dancing, and cultural events.

Fremont Solstice Paradeand Street Fair

www.fremontfair.org

Tel: 206-547 7440

A well-known neighborhood fair, featuring live music, local crafts, jugglers and mimes, along with a zany street parade on the Saturday closest to summer solstice.

Seattle PrideFest

www.seattlepride.org

Tel: 206-322 9561

Usually at end of June. The Northwest’s largest Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Transgender (LGBT) Pride Parade is a lively celebration through Downtown, with creative costumes, music, and dancing. Other activities include block parties, feasts, and Pride Idol events on Capitol Hill.

July

Bellevue Arts Museum Artsfair

510 Bellevue Way, Bellevue

www.bellevuearts.org/fair/index.html

Tel: 425-519 0770

Sponsored by the Bellevue Arts Museum, the Artsfair features exhibits and booths throughout Bellevue Square shopping center and the Museum, including artists-at-work demonstra­tions, concerts at the fountain outside Macy’s and entertainment for kids.

Bite of Seattle

Seattle Center

www.biteofseattle.com

Tel: 425-295 3262

A taste-tester’s delight in mid-July, with over 60 local restaurants participating.

Family 4th at Lake Union

Gas Works Park

www.family4th.org

Tel: 206-673 5060

Independence Day fireworks event, with picnics, entertainment, and a spectacular fireworks display from Lake Union after dark.

Fourth of July Parades

Downtown, Bothell, Issaquah, Bainbridge Island and other neighborhoods; check newspapers for listings.

Lake Union Wooden Boat ­Festival

1010 Valley Street, south end of Lake Union

www.cwb.org

Tel: 206-382 2628

Features rowing, sailing and boat building competitions, workshops, food, crafts, and water taxis from the Center for Wooden Boats.

Seafair

www.seafair.com

Tel: 206-728 0123

Seattle’s largest ­summer festival is a series of events, parades, and celebrations that take place over a 2½-week period (usually the third weekend in July to first week in August) in different parts of the city. Highlights include: the milk carton derby races at Green Lake, the Blue Angels Air Show (aerobatic flights with dynamic maneuvers that take your breath away), Hydroplane Races on Lake Washington, Chinatown Seafair Parade, a Dragon Fest in Hing Hay Park, the Torchlight Parade, and a grand, nighttime parade through Downtown.

Seattle International Beerfest

www.seattlebeerfest.com

Three days of music, food, and beer tasting from national and international breweries. Held at the Seattle Center.

Summer Celebration

www.mercergov.org/summercelebration

The downtown Mercer Island area overflows with display booths of local artists. Sponsored by the Mercer Island Visual Arts League.

August

King County Fair

Enumclaw Exposition Center, Enumclaw.

Begins third Wednesday in July and continues for five days of music, rodeos, logger compe­titions, crafts, and food in celebration of the county’s agricultural heritage. The oldest county fair west of the Mississippi.

Evergreen State Fair

Monroe

www.evergreenfair.org

Tel: 360-805 6700

Held third week in August–Labor Day weekend. A country fair with big-name country stars, plus rodeos, logging competitions, carnival rides, and a chili cook-off.

Hempfest

www.hempfest.org

Tel: 206-364 4367

Elliott Bay Park, Myrtle Edwards Park, and Olympic Sculpture Park. The nation’s leading cannabis policy reform event. Live music acts, food, and vendors.

Seattle Tennis Club Washington State Open

Tel: 206-324 3200

During first week in August (order tickets well in advance).

Snoqualmie Railroad Days

Snoqualmie

www.trainmuseum.org

Tel: 425-888 3030

Steam trains from the late-19th century. A 10-mile (16km) ride from the Snoqualmie depot takes visitors up to the historic depot and quaint town of North Bend.

Summer Village Festivals

Camlann Medieval Village, 10320 Kelly Road NE, Carnation

www.camlann.org

Camlann recreates the everyday experiences of a 14th-century rural village in Somerset, England. It hosts lots of medieval festivities every weekend from May through September.

September

Bumbershoot

Seattle Center

Tel: 206-673 5060

www.bumbershoot.org

Music and arts festival over the Labor Day weekend, featuring big names and local acts. The entry fee entitles guests to attend hundreds of concerts in all styles throughout the complex.

Festa Italiana

Seattle Center

www.festaseattle.com

Tel: 206-282 0627

Around the end of September; Italian arts, dancing, and, of course, food to celebrate the roots of Italian Americans.

Fremont Oktoberfest

Under the Aurora Bridge, Fremont

www.fremontoktoberfest.com

Tel: 206-633 0422

Sample from more than 80 brews at this three-day street fair with craft vendors, a kids’ area, music, etc.

Greek Festival

St Demetrios Church, 2100 Boyer Avenue E

www.seattlegreekfestival.com

Tel: 206-325 4347

Held in late September at this Byzantine church, with folk dancing, arts and crafts, and Greek cuisine.

Puyallup Fair

www.thefair.com

Tel: 253-841 5045

Western Washington’s largest state fair, about 35 miles (55km) south of Seattle. A 17-day long extravaganza with fairground rides, food, chainsaw pumpkin carving, animals, rodeos, and fun for the entire family.

October

Halloween

Parades, festivities, and pranks at nightclubs and bars. Many shopping centers offer free candy for children in costumes.

Issaquah Salmon Days Festival

Main Street, Issaquah

www.salmondays.org

Tel: 425-392 0661

The street is closed to traffic and open to arts and crafts booths with artists from all over the Northwest. Street entertainment, mimes, clowns, and musicians are here, as well as the salmon jumping up to the hatchery. Big salmon cookout.

November

Seattle Marathon

www.seattlemarathon.org

Tel: 206-729 3660

Starts east of the EMP Museum and loops through Downtown and along Lake ­Washington, ending at the ­Memorial Stadium.

December

Christmas ships

www.argosycruises.com

Tel: 1-888-623 1445

Illuminated and decorated boats parade around Lake Union and Lake Washington, making stops at public parks while choral groups entertain. Check news­papers or the website for updated schedules.

Christmas tree-lighting and ­caroling

Leavenworth

www.leavenworth.org

Tel: 509-548 5807

A picturesque Bavarian-style town in the ­Cascade Mountains is the setting for traditional Christmas activities.

Community Hanukkah ­Celebration: Hanukkah Under the Stars

Stroum Jewish Community Center

3801 E Mercer Way, Mercer Island

Tel: 206-232 7115

Arts and crafts, live music, children’s games, and candle-lighting.

Jingle Bell Run/Walk for Arthritis

www.seattlejinglebellrun.org

Tel: 206-547 2707

A 5km (3-mile) run and walk; festive costumes and jingle bells welcome.

New Year’s at the Needle

www.spaceneedle.com

Tel: 206-905 2100

The 605ft (184-meter) landmark offers a traditional fireworks show, and parties on the restaurant and observation deck levels.

The Arts

Art Galleries

On the first Thursday of every month, Pioneer Square art ­galleries host ‘First Thursday.’ Visitors may gallery hop, view new works, sip wine, and nibble cheese from about 6–8.30pm. Maps are available at most of the ­Pioneer Square galleries.

The local news weeklies (Seattle Weekly and The Stranger) offer information on gallery shows, as does the Seattle Times. Other good sources include the online Art Guide Northwest (www.artguidenw.com) and Art Access (www.artaccess.com). Many galleries are closed Mondays.

Seattle Galleries

Bluebottle Art Gallery and Store

415 E Pine Street

www.bluebottleart.com

Tel: 206-325 1592

This gallery on Capitol Hill displays and sells arts and crafts from up-and-coming artisans.

Carolyn Staley Fine Japanese Prints

2003 Western Avenue, Suite 107

www.carolynstaleyprints.com

Tel: 206-621 1888

Japanese woodblock prints and better quality old prints.

Center On Contemporary Art (COCA)

2721 First Avenue

www.cocaseattle.org

Tel: 206-728 1980

Displays innovative and avant-garde works. Stages large exhibits off-site, and performance art on-site.

Davidson Galleries

313 Occidental Avenue S.

www.davidsongalleries.com

Tel: 206-624 7684

Features antique and contemporary prints from around the world.

Daybreak Star Indian Art Gallery

Daybreak Star Cultural Arts Center

Discovery Park, 3801 W. Government Way

www.unitedindians.com/daybreak.html

Tel: 206-285 4425

An exquisite collection of works by highly respected Native American artists from Canada and the US.

Foster/White Gallery

220 3rd Avenue S

www.fosterwhite.com

Tel: 206-622 2833

Exhibits ceramics, sculpture, and paintings by established Northwest artists and work in glass by artists of the Pilchuck School.

Francine Seders Gallery

6701 Greenwood Avenue N

www.sedersgallery.com

Tel: 206-782 0355

Seders represents a large group of minority artists including works by Jacob Lawrence, Robert Jones, and Gwen Knight.

G. Gibson Gallery

300 S. Washington Street

www.ggibsongallery.com

Tel: 206-587 4033

Contemporary photography by both well-known artists and young Northwesterners.

Greg Kucera Gallery

212 3rd Avenue S

www.gregkucera.com

Tel: 206-624 0770

Showcases nationally recognized, established Northwest artists and hosts an exhibit once a year on a controversial topic.

Ming’s Asian Gallery

519 6th Avenue S

www.mingsgallery.com

Tel: 206-748 7889

Asian art and imports, including rugs, silk wall hangings, vases, bamboo furniture, and fine wooden and lacquer cabinets.

Patricia Rovzar Gallery

1225 Second Avenue

www.rovzargallery.com

Tel: 206-223 0273

Shows representational art in all mediums, with a focus on Northwest artists.

Woodside/Braseth Gallery

2101 9th Avenue

www.woodsidebrasethgallery.com

Tel: 206-622 7243

Contemporary paintings by Northwest artists.

Wikstrom Brothers’ Gallery

5411 Meridian Avenue N

www.bromwikstrom.com/wikart.html

Tel: 206-633 5544

Features regional sculp­tors, photographers, and painters.

William Traver Gallery

110 Union Street, Suite 200

www.travergallery.com

Tel: 206-587 6501

Works by Pilchuck Glass artists. Second floor displays paintings, photographs, and sculpture by regional artists.

Eastside Galleries

artEAST and UP Front Gallery

95 Front Street N, Issaquah

www.arteast.org

Tel: 425-996 8553

This artists’ co-operative in Issaquah exhibits local art and offers ­workshops.

East Shore Gallery

12700 SE 32nd Street, Bellevue

www.eastshoreunitarian.org

Tel: 425-747 3780

Gallery in East Shore Unitarian Church represents the burgeoning local arts scene with watercolors, jewelry, pottery, and more.

Howard/Mandville Gallery

120 Park Lane, Suite D, Kirkland

www.howardmandville.com

Tel: 425-889 8212

Regional and international artists.

Movie Theaters

Thanks, in part, to SIFF, Seattle has a thriving art-house theater culture. On any given night, you can catch independent, classic, and foreign films around town. Some of the best venues include:

Egyptian

805 E Pine Street

Tel: 206-781 5755

Grand Illusion

1403 NW 50th Street

Tel: 206-523 3935

Guild 45th

2115 N 45th Street

Tel: 206-781 5755

The Harvard Exit

807 E Roy Street

Tel: 206-781 5755

The Historic Admiral Theater

2343 California Avenue SW

Tel: 206-938 0360

Majestic Bay

2044 NW Market Street

Tel: 206-781 2229

Northwest Film Forum

1515 12th Avenue

Tel: 206-267 5380

Seven Gables

911 NE 50th Street

Tel: 206-781 5755

SIFF Cinema at The Uptown

511 Queen Anne Avenue N

Tel: 206-285 1022

Sundance Cinemas at the Metro

4500 9th Avenue NE

Tel: 206-781 5755

Theatre Off Jackson

409 7th Avenue S

www.theatreoffjackson.org

Tel: 206-340 1049

Varsity

4329 University Way NE

Tel: 206-781 5755

For a dine-in (and drink-in) movie experience, try these theaters:

Big Picture

2505 First Avenue

Tel: 206-256 0566

Central Cinema

1411 21st Avenue

Tel: 206-686 6684

Music and Dance

Pacific Northwest Ballet

301 Mercer Street

www.pnb.org

Tel: 206-441 2424

When Marion Oliver McCaw Hall is not in use for operas, you can enjoy performances here by the Pacific Northwest Ballet. There are at least six productions from October to May and a beloved annual production of The Nutcracker, with set designs by Maurice Sendak.

Seattle Opera

321 Mercer Street

www.seattleopera.org

Tel: 206-389 7676

This is also the place to find out about tickets and upcoming performances, which are held in the acoustically rich McCaw Hall.

Seattle Symphony

200 University Street

www.seattlesymphony.org

Tel: 206-215 4747

The Seattle Symphony Orchestra schedules a wide variety of ­concerts 11 months of the year. Most performances are here at the Benaroya Hall, Downtown. Ludovic Morlot is the conductor.

Spectrum Dance Theatre

800 Lake Washington Boulevard

www.spectrumdance.org

Tel: 206-325 4161

This exciting dance company performs at the Moore Theatre and the 5th Avenue Theatre.

Buying Tickets

You can purchase theater tickets at most of the venues directly; some offer a discount for purchases on the day of the performance.

Full-price tickets to most larger shows in town are available through Ticketmaster (tel:1-800-745 3000; www.ticketmaster.com) and for smaller shows at Brown Paper Tickets (www.brownpapertickets.com).

Theater

Seattle has a thriving theater scene, both classical and fringe. In fact, for such a small city, it attracts a fine group of performers, both professional and amateur. Major Seattle theaters are:

ACT

700 Union Street

www.acttheatre.org

Tel: 206-292 7676

Located in the beautiful Kreielsheimer Place, ACT puts on cutting-edge contemporary theater.

Book-It Repertory Theatre

Seattle Center House, 305 Harrison Street

www.book-it.org

Tel: 206-216 0833

Book-It creates stage adaptations of classic and modern literature with simple and sensitive productions.

Fifth Avenue Theatre

1308 5th Avenue

www.5thavenue.org

Tel: 206-625 1900

Hosts touring Broadway shows, musicals, and plays in an ornate and historic building.

Freehold Theatre

2222 Second Avenue, Suite 200

www.freeholdtheatre.org

Tel: 206-323 7499

A center of practice for amateurs and professional actors alike, the studio and lab provide space for exploration and developing new work.

Intiman Theatre

Seattle Center Playhouse

201 Mercer Street

www.intiman.org

Tel: 206-441 7178

Meany Theater

University of Washington

15th Avenue NE at 41st Street

www.meany.org

Tel: 206-543 4880

The Moore Theatre

1932 2nd Avenue

www.stgpresents.org/moore/

Tel: 206-812 3284

The Neptune Theatre

1303 NE 45th Street

www.stgpresents.org/neptune

Tel: 206-682 1414

Converted from a single-screen film house into a live-performance venue, the historic Neptune Theatre hosts all manner of events and performances.

On the Boards

100 W Roy Street

www.ontheboards.org

Tel: 206-217 9888

Cutting-edge performance art.

The Paramount Theatre

911 Pine Street

www.stgpresents.org/paramount/

Tel: 206-682 1414

Presents well-known entertainers.

Seattle Repertory Theatre

155 Mercer Street

www.seattlerep.org

Tel: 206-443 2222

Located in the Bagley Wright Theater in Seattle Center, this is Seattle’s flagship professional theater with productions of classic and contemporary works. Some shows are staged in the smaller Leo K. Theatre in the same building.

Seattle Shakespeare Company

www.seattleshakespeare.org

Tel: 206-733 8222

Classic Shakespeare plays are performed year-round at the Seattle Center House, and during the summer there are free outdoor ‘Wooden O’ productions in the area’s parks.

Theater Schmeater

1500 Summit Avenue

www.schmeater.org

Tel: 206-324 5801

Housed in a former parking garage, this space offers a fun mix of serious theater and goofball late-night shows like the popular Twilight Zone – Live!

The University of Washington School of Drama

University of Washington

UW Arts Ticket Office

http://depts.washington.edu/uwdrama

Tel: 206-543 4880

Theatrical Roots

Washington state’s theatrical roots go back to the 19th century, when two local impresarios set up a series of theaters in the 1880s and 1890s. John Considine, who ran the nation’s first vaudeville circuit, had theaters from Victoria to Portland. His chief competitor was a Greek man called Alexander Pantages, who returned from the Alaskan goldfields having made pots of money, not by panning, but by running a playhouse. When the two teamed up, they had a theater empire that stretched up and down the West Coast.

Nightlife

Seattle has an active nightlife, with clubs and music venues throughout the city. Most central are Pioneer Square and the more upscale Belltown, but there’s a large gay/lesbian and hipster scene in Capitol Hill. Students flock to the University District and Fremont, while Ballard and Queen Anne are a little more sophisticated.

Gay Scene

Neighbours

1509 Broadway

Tel: 206-324 5358

Everyone comes to this longtime Capitol Hill gay club to dance, dance, dance.

Pony

1221 East Madison Street

Tel: 206-324 2854

Wildly popular gay dive bar with a large outdoor patio.

Purr Cocktail Lounge

1518 11th Avenue

Tel: 206-325 3112

Strong cocktails, Mexican-themed food, and DJs in this chic, largely gay bar.

R Place

619 E Pine Street

Tel: 206-322 8828

A cool crowd descends on this place to dance upstairs, join in Thursday’s amateur strip show, or catch Friday’s cabaret show.

Wild Rose

1021 E Pike Street

Tel: 206-324 9210

This popular lesbian bar and restaurant has pool tournaments, trivia nights, karaoke, and live music.

Live Music

Baltic Room

1207 Pine Street

Tel: 206-625 4444

A lounge where the live music is piano jazz and the words hip and cool come to mind.

Chop Suey

1325 E Madison Street

Tel: 206-324 8005

Stylish dance club on Capitol Hill with great live acts – including some big names.

Conor Byrne Pub

5140 Ballard Avenue NW

Tel: 206-784 3640

Irish pub with live Irish, Folk, Bluegrass, Alt Country, Blues, and acoustic music most nights.

Crocodile Cafe

2200 2nd Avenue

Tel: 206-441 7416

Legendary Seattle rock club where grunge bands once featured heavily; it now showcases local and international alternative rock bands.

Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley

2033 6th Avenue

Tel: 206-441 9729

Presents the top names in jazz in a sophisticated atmosphere.

Kells Irish Restaurant and Pub

1916 Post Alley

Tel: 206-728 1916

Irish restaurant and pub with inspiring Irish sing-alongs.

Murphy’s Pub

1928 N 45th Street

Tel: 206-634 2110

Irish pub with a great selection of brews and folk music.

Neumo’s

925 E Pike Street

Tel: 206-709 9467

Capitol Hill rock club that often books popular music acts and offers a good live music experience.

New Orleans Creole Restaurant

114 1st Avenue S

Tel: 206-622 2563

Features creole, ragtime, and jazz, along with spicy foods.

Owl ’N’ Thistle

808 Post Avenue

Tel: 206-621 7777

An Irish pub with Celtic folk bands.

The Pink Door

1919 Post Alley, Pike Place ­Market

Tel: 206-443 3241

Live music and burlesque shows entertain the winers and diners at this fashionable Italian joint.

Showbox at the Market

1426 1st Avenue

Tel: 206-628 3151

This venue has two huge dance floors, plus a live stage.

The Tractor Tavern

5213 Ballard Avenue NW

Tel: 206-789 3599

Draws in country and rockabilly bands, and occasional square dancing.

Triple Door

216 Union Street

Tel: 206-838 4333

This former vaudeville theater is beautifully reborn as a classy music venue and cocktail bar with live music.

Nightclubs

Century Ballroom and the Tin Table

915 E Pine Street

Tel: 206-324 7263

This classy Capitol Hill joint has different dance styles each night, from swing to salsa, to tango. Arrive early for the beginners’ lesson, join the dancing, or take a break and dine at the Tin Table.

Heaven Nightclub

172 S Washington Street

Tel: 206-622 1863

Club located in Pioneer Square.

Trinity Night Club

111 Yesler Way

Tel: 206-447 4140

Multilevel Pioneer Square club offers three clubs in one, with local and national DJs.

Comedy Clubs

Comedy Underground

109 South Washington Street

www.comedyunderground.com

Tel: 206-628 0303

This Pioneer Square club has been presenting local and national talent nightly for decades. It’s a cash-only venue.

Laughs Comedy Spot

12099 124th Avenue NE, Kirkland

www.laughscomedy.com

Tel: 425-823 6306

Sightseeing Tours

Air Tours

Helicopters Northwest

8500 Perimeter Road S, at ­Boeing Field

www.helicoptersnw.com

Tel: 206-767 0508

An on-call, round-the-clock charter service with flights throughout the US and Canada that also offers sightseeing tours.

Kenmore Air

6321 NE 175th Street

www.kenmoreair.com

Tel: 1-866-435 9524

Daily flights to British Columbia, Kitsap Peninsula, San Juan Islands, and other regional destinations, along with day excursions and overnight packages. Great scenic tours of Seattle.

King County International Airport/ Boeing Field

www.kingcounty.gov/airport

Tel: 206-296 7380

Get in touch for the latest information on com­panies that operate from this airport.

Northwest Seaplanes

860 W Perimeter Road, Renton

www.nwseaplanes.com

Tel: 1-800-690 0086

Scenic flights along with scheduled and charter services from Lake Washington and Lake Union to the San Juan Islands and BC.

Peninsula Airways

www.penair.com

Tel: 1-800-448 4226

Daily flights and charters from Seattle to Alaska.

Seattle Seaplanes

1325 Fairview Avenue E

www.seattleseaplanes.com

Tel: 1-800-637 5553

Offers extensive tours of the Seattle area or destinations such as Mount Rainier, and charters to fishing camps in Canada.

Wings Aloft Charter Service

8467 Perimeter Road S, Boeing Field

www.wingsaloft.com

Tel: 206-762 9464

Daily flights and charters.

Beer and Wine Tours

Pyramid Ale House

1201 1st Avenue S

www.pyramidbrew.com

Tel: 206-682 3377

Offers daily tours and tastings.

The Redhook Ale Brewery

14300 NE 145th Street, Woodinville

www.redhook.com

Tel: 425-483 3232

Where one of Washington’s more popular micro­brews is born. (Call ahead for tour times.)

Seattle Wine Tours

321 Third Avenue S

www.seattlewinetours.com

Tel: 206-444 9463

Specializes in guided tours to the outstanding wine regions of Washington state.

Boat Tours

Argosy Cruises

1101 Alaskan Way, Pier 55, Suite 201

www.argosycruises.com

Tel: 206-623 1445

Offers differ­ent narrated cruises, from one-hour trips along Seattle’s waterfront and shipyards, to longer tours that pass through the Chittenden Locks into Lake Union, or take in the homes of the wealthy on Lake Washington.

Emerald City Charters (Let’s Go Sailing)

Pier 54

www.sailingseattle.com

Tel: 206-624 3931

Runs tours in view of down­town Seattle on Elliott Bay aboard a 70ft (21-meter) racing sloop, from May through October. A 2.5-hour sunset trip sails daily and 1.5-hour day sails are also offered.

Gray Line Land and Water Tours

Pier 55/56

www.graylineseattle.com/sightseeingtours.com

Tel: 206-626 5200

Hop-on, hop-off bus and boat excursions.

Northwest Outdoor Center

2100 Westlake Avenue N, Lake Union

www.nwoc.com

Tel: 206-281 9694

Offers sightseeing tours of Lake Union houseboats, sunset tours, and San Juan Island cruises. Kayak and canoe rentals available on Lake Union. Open all year.

Ride The Ducks of Seattle

www.ridetheducksofseattle.com

Tel: 1-800-817 1116

Tours aboard refurbished amphibious World War II vehicles go driving on the roads through Seattle before splashing into Lake Union.

Bus Tours

Bus companies that offer tours in the area (Mount Rainier, Mount St Helens, wineries, Whidbey Island, and San Juan Islands) include:

Gray Line of Seattle

4500 W Marginal Way SW

www.graylineseattle.com

Tel: 1-800-426 7532

Gray Line offers a range of tours, including Double Decker Tours. Tickets are good for a day and allow visitors to hop off or on the bus at any of the seven centrally located bus stops. Buses depart every 30 minutes.

Greyhound Travel Services

811 Stewart Street

www.greyhound.com

Tel: 1-800-231 2222

Hesselgrave International

1268 Mount Baker Highway, PO Box 30768

Bellingham

www.hesselgravetours.com

Tel: 360-734 3570

Puget Sound Coach Lines

809 W Main Street, Auburn

www.pscoachlines.com

Tel: 253-939 5811

Children’s Activities

Seattle has some fun, educational, and adventurous activities that both kids and their parents will enjoy.

The Seattle Center is a wonderland for children. The Pacific Science Center (for more information, click here), a hands-on museum with displays that children can manipulate to learn scientific principles, offers planetarium shows, laser-light shows, and nature/adventure films in the dramatic IMAX theater. Inside the Armory, with its plethora of places to grab quick bites, is the arts- and culture-oriented Children’s Museum (for more information, click here).

The elevator up to the Space Needle is a treat, as is the view if it’s not cloudy. From the Armory, take a ride on the Monorail to the heart of Downtown’s retail stores. Children will also enjoy the EMP Museum (for more information, click here).

Springbrook Trout Farm, 19225 Talbot Road S, Renton (tel: 253-852 0360; call for hours), is a place where anyone can catch a fish. The farm provides rods and bait and also cleans and wraps the fish for guests to take home and cook. The price depends on the size of your catch.

Also at the Seattle Center, the Seattle Children’s Theatre (tel: 206-441 3322; www.sct.org) puts on productions for children of all ages on two stages from September through June.

The Museum of Flight, approximately 10 miles (16km) south of Seattle, is one the kids won’t want to miss. The central room, called the Gallery, contains 20 airplanes including an early 1900 Wright Brothers’ model, fighter jets, and ultra-light gliders hanging from the glass ceiling (for more information, click here).

For outdoor entertainment, the Woodland Park Zoo (for more information, click here) has natural habitats for the animals, and Ride the Ducks (for more information, click here) is fun for kids of all ages. Designed for the child in all of us is Wild Waves Water Park and Enchanted Village (36201 Enchanted Parkway South, Federal Way; exit 142B off I-5; www.wildwaves.com; tel: 253-661 8000; May–Sept variable hours, call or see website for details), approximately 17 miles (27km) south of Seattle. There are two parts to the park: Wild Waves contains heated pools, including one that makes waves, and many water slides and pools, while Enchanted Village has a farm, cafés, a merry-go-round, a Ferris wheel, boat rides, train rides, and more. The store inside Wild Waves sells bathing suits and any other equipment – rafts, towels, T-shirts – you may need.

The Snoqualmie Valley Railroad (www.trainmuseum.org; trains run Apr–Oct on weekends) provides a living history adventure. The late-1800-vintage steam trains travel between North Bend and Snoqualmie for a half-hour trip through forests and farmlands, and over streams.

While in Snoqualmie, 30 miles (48km) east of Seattle, a trip to Snoqualmie Falls (for more information, click here) is recommended. The Salish Lodge next to the top of the falls has a restaurant with a deck overlooking the falls and splendid (though pricey) accommodations.

Themed Tours

Bill Speidel’s Underground Tour

608 1st Avenue

www.undergroundtour.com

Tel: 206-682 4646

A three-block, one-hour walking tour of Pioneer Square, including passage through a number of basements where subterranean sidewalks and storefronts were missed by the 1889 fire before being covered by new constructions. Stairs are involved and strollers not allowed.

Boeing’s Future of Flight

8415 Paine Field Boulevard, Mukilteo

www.futureofflight.org

Tel: 1-800-464 1476

Located about 30 miles (48km) north of Seattle, at exit 189 off I-5 and 3.5 miles (5.5km) west on Highway 526. Visitors can observe the manufacture of 747s, 767s, 777s, and 787s on 90-minute tours. In the summer, tickets for the day’s tours can be gone by 9 or 10am. Arrive early or book tickets online in advance. Children under 4ft (122cm) in height are not permitted.

Chinatown Discovery

www.seattlechinatowntour.com

Tel: 206-623 5124

Choose from a 90-minute Touch of Chinatown Tour, or a three-hour Taste of Chinatown Tour, which includes a six-course dim sum lunch at a local restaurant.

Private Eye on Seattle ­Mystery and Murder Tour

www.privateeyetours.com

Tel: 206-365 3739

Narrated tour of Seattle’s more publicized and gruesome crime scenes. The company also runs Haunted Happenings: A Seattle Ghost Tour of haunted locations. Not for the faint-hearted.

Seattle Architectural Foundation’s Tours

www.seattlearchitecture.org

Tel: 206-324 1126, ext. 66

Narrated walking tours in and around downtown Seattle on different themes. There is also a series of ‘lunchtime tours’ offering vantage points on the city or one of its new constructions.

See Seattle Walking Tours

www.see-seattle.com

Tel: 425-226 7641

Walks take in popular Seattle sites, including Pike Place Market, the waterfront, ­Pioneer Square, and the International District.

Tillicum Tours

Depart between Piers 55 and 56

http://www.argosycruises.com/tillicum-village/

Tel: 206-623 1445

A four-hour tour combines harbor sightseeing with a trip to Blake Island Marine State Park. The park is host to Tillicum Village, featuring the Northwest Coast Indian Cultural Center and Restaurant. Tours include an Indian-style salmon dinner and traditional tribal dances. Tours run daily Mar–Oct and on weekends the rest of the year. Reservations recommended.

Whale-watching Tours

Island Mariner Cruises

www.orcawatch.com

Tel: 360-734 8866

Tours start from Bellingham. The 70–90-mile (110–150km) round trip takes about seven hours and tours are scheduled mid-May to mid-Sep. ­Spotting whales is a chance endeavor but Island Mariner boasts an 85 percent success rate with the help of professional spotters.

San Juan Excursions

www.watchwhales.com

Tel: 1-800-809 4253

Offers four-hour tours out of ­Friday Harbor. The office is 200ft (61 meters) from the ferry dock, which makes it convenient for those who don’t want to bring their car on the ferry.

Sports

Participant Sports

Golf

Reservations to the following public golf courses are recommended as they are very popular:

Ballinger Park

23000 Lakeview Drive, Mountlake Terrace

Tel: 425-697 4653

Nine-hole, par: 34-men, 36-women.

Bellevue Municipal

5500 140th Avenue NE, Bellevue

Tel: 425-452 7250

Eighteen-hole, par: 71 men and women.

Foster

13500 Interurban Avenue S, Tukwila

Tel: 206-242 4221

Eighteen-hole, par: 69-men, 71-women.

Green Lake

5701 W. Green Lake Way N

Tel: 206-632 2280

Nine-hole, par: 27 men and women.

Interbay Golf Center

2501 15th Avenue W

Tel: 206-285 2200

Nine-hole, par 28; with the added bonus of heated tee stations.

Jackson Park Golf Course

1000 NE 135th Street

Tel: 206-363 4747

Eighteen-hole, par: 71-men, 73-women.

Jefferson Park Golf Course

4101 Beacon Avenue S

Tel: 206-762 4513

Eighteen-hole, par: 70 men and women.

Seattle Golf Club

210 NW 145th Street

Tel: 206-363 5444

Eighteen-hole, par: 72 men and women.

Tyee Valley

2401 S 192nd Street, Seatac

Tel: 206-878 3540

Eighteen-hole, par: 71-men, 73-women.

West Seattle Golf Course

4470 35th Avenue SW

Tel: 206-935 5187

Eighteen-hole, par: 72-men, 74-women.

Spectator Sports

Basketball

Seattle Storm

Key Arena, Seattle Center

www.wnba.com/storm

Tel: 206-217 9622

Seattle’s WNBA (Women’s National Basketball League) team plays at Key Arena.

University of Washington, Husky Basketball

Hec Edmundson Pavilion

www.gohuskies.com

Tel: 206-543 2200

The basketball season begins in November and ends in March.

Football

Seattle Seahawks

CenturyLink Field, Seattle

www.seahawks.com

Tel: 1-888-NFL-HAWK

Seattle’s NFL (National Football League) team, The Seahawks, play at state-of-the-art CenturyLink Field.

Husky Football

Husky Stadium, University of Washington

Tel: 206-543 2200

This newly revamped stadium hosts the UW’s football team. The stadium has the added attraction of offering views of Lake Washington and the Cascade Mountains.

Hockey

Everett Silvertips

Comcast Arena, Everett

www.everettsilvertips.com

Tel: 425-252 5100

The season runs from September to March.

Seattle Thunderbirds

ShoWare Center, 625 West James Street, Kent

www.seattle-thunderbirds.com

Tel: 206-239 7825

The season runs from late September to March (or May if they make the playoffs).

Hydroplane Racing

During the annual Seafair festival, hydroplane races take place north of Seward Park on Lake Washington. Boats reach speeds of over 150mph (240kmh) on the top of the water and follow a 2-mile (3km) oval course. Tickets are available in advance or (more expensively) at the gate to prime viewing spots along the beach. There are very privileged seats available for large sums of money at the Captains Club, tel: 206-728 0123; www.seafair.com.

Soccer

Seattle Sounders FC

CenturyLink Field, Seattle

www.soundersfc.com

Tel: 206-682 2800

The 2005 USL First Division champions play their season from April to October. They share CenturyLink Field with the Seahawks football team.

Outdoor Activities

Bird-watching

Audubon Society

8050 35th Avenue NE

www.seattleaudubon.org

Tel: 206-523 4483

The society offers a checklist of birds in the area and information on where to purchase birdseed mixed for native species. It also con­ducts field trips in Seattle’s parks.

Boating

Canoeing, kayaking, rowing, sailboarding, and sailing are all available around Lake Union and Lake Washington. In addition, Green Lake offers paddleboating.

University of Washington ­Waterfront Activities Center

Tel: 206-543 9433

Offers canoe rentals.

Agua Verde Cafe and Paddle Club

1303 NE Boat Street

Tel: 206-545 8570

www.aguaverde.com

Sea kayak rentals Mar–Oct. The Arboretum and Gas Works are all within paddling distance of Agua Verde. The café has live music in the evenings.

Green Lake Boathouse

7351 East Green Lake Drive North

Tel: 206-527 0171

Offers rowboats and paddleboats. Apr–Oct.

Ledger Marine Charters

1836 Westlake Avenue N

Tel: 206-283 6160

www.ledgermarinecharters.com

Charter a ‘bare’ boat or a fully crewed one.

Moss Bay Rowing Club

1001 Fairview Avenue N. Suite 1900

Tel: 206-682 2031

www.mossbay.net

Rent kayaks and paddleboards, tour, or take lessons. Open 8am–8pm in ­summer, 10am–dusk the rest of the year.

Wind Works Sailing Center

Shilshole Bay Marina, 7001 Seaview Avenue NW

www.windworkssailing.com

Tel: 206-784 9386

Full fleet of sailboats for hire; lessons and skippers available.

Cycling

Despite the hills, Seattle is a great city for biking.

The Burke-Gilman Trail, a paved road on an aban­doned railroad bed, leads from Golden Gardens to Seattle’s north city limits at NE 145th Street, then continues on all the way to Marymoor Park as the Sammamish River Trail. The 15.2-mile (24.5km) stretch within Seattle follows Lake Washington down by the University and is popular with people of all ages, whether ­bicycling, jogging, or walking.

The Sammamish River Trail follows the Sammamish River from ­Bothell, through Woodin­ville farmland and ends at Mary­moor Park at the north tip of Sammamish Lake. This trail runs for 9.5 miles (15km) and connects with the Burke-Gilman trail.

Another popular bicycle route is the 2.8-mile (4.5km) paved trail around Green Lake. It can be busy on sunny days, especially on week­­ends, with strollers, joggers, inline skaters, and cross-country roller-skiers. From Green Lake, cyclists may choose to take the Ravenna Park Trail to the university.

Most Sundays from May to September, a 6-mile (9.5km) stretch on Lake Washington Boulevard is closed to cars (from Mount Baker Beach to Seward Park). Beautiful lakefront parks and scenery can be enjoyed on this paved road for family bicycling and hiking. Tel: 206-684 4075.

Marymoor Park in Redmond has a velodrome for racing. Tel: 206-957 4555, www.velodrome.org.

Numerous bicycle rides and races are held throughout the year. For information on current events telephone the Cascade Bicycle Club, tel: 206-522 3222 or visit www.cascade.org.

For bicycle rentals near these trails, contact the following:

Alki Bike and Board

2606 California Avenue SW

www.alkibikeandboard.com

Tel: 206-938 3322

Counterbalance Bicycles

2943 NE Blakeley Street

www.counterbalancebicycles.com

Tel: 206-922 3555

Gregg’s Greenlake Cycles

7007 Woodlawn Avenue NE

www.greggscycles.com

Tel: 206-523 1822

Sammamish Valley Cycle

8451 164th Avenue NE, ­Redmond.

www.sammamishcycle.com

Tel: 425-881 8442

Hiking

A good pair of walking shoes, some snacks, and a drink are all you need (but binoculars and a camera are nice to have along) to explore the area and see what the land looked like before construction took over.

Carkeek Park

950 NW Carkeek Park Road

Tel: 206-684 0877

Offers wooded trails leading to Puget Sound beach. There’s a playground, picnic, restrooms, and high bluff views of the Sound.

Discovery Park

3801 W Government Way

Tel: 206-386 4236

Open daily 6am–11pm; visitors’ center open daily 8.30am–5pm. Guided tours are available.

A 534-acre (216-hectare) park of deep wooded ravines, forest, grassy meadows, and two miles of beach at the base of Magnolia Bluff. Nature trails wind their way throughout the park. The US Coast Guard’s West Point Light Station is accessible by a 1.5-mile (2.5km) trail and open for tours from noon–4pm Sat–Sun, and Wed–Fri by appointment. The Daybreak Star Cultural Center (tel: 206-285 4425), which includes the Daybreak Star Indian Art Gallery, features Indian arts and crafts (open daily 10am–4pm; admission free).

Foster Island Trail

From McCurdy Park or the Arboretum

An easy, level hike over wooden bridges and pontoons over Lake Washington to Foster Island.

Marymoor Park

North end of Lake Sammamish, Redmond

Extensive playing fields, playgrounds, trails, a bicycle velodrome, model plane airport, and historical museum are all contained in this park.

Meadowdale Park

North Edmonds

A wooded hiking trail leads down to a level, grassy picnicking area and a sandy Puget Sound beach.

St Edward’s Park

Juanita Drive, Bothell

Some open grassy grounds for picnicking, soccer, or baseball are available on the site of this old Catholic seminary. Wooded trails lead down to still more trails along the east shores of Lake Washington.

Tiger Mountain

Issaquah

There are numerous trails leading to alpine lakes and mountain vistas. Many of the trails also allow mountain biking.

Volunteer Park

1247 15th Avenue E (on Capitol Hill)

Tel: 206-684 4075

Open 6am–10pm; conservatory open Tue–Sun 10am–4pm.

Home of Seattle’s Asian Art Museum (for more information, click here). A conservatory has collections of cacti, orchids, and exotic tropical plants and is surrounded by extensive formal gardens. A 75ft (23-meter) water tower with a steep spiral stairway provides, on a clear day, a panoramic view of downtown Seattle, and the surrounding lakes and mountains.

For hiking trails that take up an entire day or more, try the parks in the Cascade Mountains, especially Mount Rainier and Olympic National Park (for more information, click here).

Hiking Maps and Information

The Mountaineers

7700 Sand Point Way NE

www.mountaineers.org

Tel: 206-521 6000

An outdoor recreation club that runs hiking, biking, and climbing trips.

Mountain Madness

3018 SW Charlestown Street

Tel: 206-937 8389

www.mountainmadness.com

Offers personalized outdoor adventure tours, including mountain biking, fishing, mountain climbing, and hiking.

REI (Recreational Equipment Inc)

222 Yale Avenue N

www.rei.com

Tel: 206-223 1944

Outdoor recreational equipment retailer that sells maps and organizes trips.

Sierra Club/Cascade Chapter

180 Nickerson Street, Suite 202

www.cascade.sierraclub.org

Tel: 206-378 0114

Environmental organization with information on outings and conservation.

Washington Trails Association

705 2nd Avenue, Suite 300

www.wta.org

Tel: 206-625 1367

Provides up-to-date information on trails and hiking regions in the state.

Horseback Riding

Some ranches offer guided tours through parks, like Bridle Trails State Park, or on mountains, like Squak and Tiger. Lengths of tours vary from one hour to all day. Call for details.

Lang’s Horse and Pony Farm

21463 Little Mountain Road, Mt Vernon

www.comeride.com

Tel: 360-424 7630

Pets Galore Horse Rides

13659 Cedar Glen Lane SE, Olalla

www.petsgalorehorserides.com

Tel: 253-857 7506

Tiger Mountain Stables

24508 SE 133rd, Issaquah

Tel: 425-392 5090

Scuba Diving

Brackett’s Landing in Edmonds has a sandy beach, next to the ferry landing, which is especially designed for scuba diving. The underwater park features a sunken 300ft (90-meter) dock and five floating rests.

Skiing

Crystal Mountain Resort

Highway 410, 40 miles (75km) east of Enumclaw

www.skicrystal.com

Tel: 360-663 2265

The site of the 1972 World Cup Championships. Offers a vertical of 3,100ft (945 meters) and 50 trails, from beginner to advanced. There’s weekend night skiing, too.

Stevens Pass

www.stevenspass.com

Tel: 206-812 4510

Seventy miles (110km) northeast of Seattle, 37 ski trails and a 1,800ft (550-meter) drop.

Summit at Snoqualmie

www.summitatsnoqualmie.com

Tel: 425-434 7669

There are four ski areas atop Snoqualmie Pass – Alpental, Summit West, Summit Central, and Summit East – offering extensive choices of trails, linked by a free shuttle bus available Fri–Sun, and all accessible with a single lift ticket. Night skiing is also available.

White Pass

Near Yakima

www.skiwhitepass.com

Tel: 509-672 3101

A vertical of 1,500ft (460 meters) plus night skiing.

Whistler

www.whistlerblackcomb.com

Tel: 1-800-766 0449

This internationally renowned resort, home to the 2010 Winter Olympics alpine events, is a four-hour drive from Seattle, north of Vancouver in British Columbia, Canada (don’t forget your passport).