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
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
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)
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
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
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
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
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
Seattle Center
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
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)
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
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
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
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
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.
Seattle Center
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
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
Tel: 206-382 2628
Features rowing, sailing and boat building competitions, workshops, food, crafts, and water taxis from the Center for Wooden Boats.
Seafair
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
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
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
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
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
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
Seattle Center
Tel: 206-673 5060
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
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
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
Tel: 206-325 4347
Held in late September at this Byzantine church, with folk dancing, arts and crafts, and Greek cuisine.
Puyallup Fair
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
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
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
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
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
Tel: 206-547 2707
A 5km (3-mile) run and walk; festive costumes and jingle bells welcome.
New Year’s at the Needle
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
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
Tel: 206-621 1888
Japanese woodblock prints and better quality old prints.
Center On Contemporary Art (COCA)
2721 First Avenue
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.
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
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
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
Tel: 206-587 4033
Contemporary photography by both well-known artists and young Northwesterners.
Greg Kucera Gallery
212 3rd Avenue S
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
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
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
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
Tel: 425-996 8553
This artists’ co-operative in Issaquah exhibits local art and offers workshops.
East Shore Gallery
12700 SE 32nd Street, Bellevue
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Tel: 206-625 1900
Hosts touring Broadway shows, musicals, and plays in an ornate and historic building.
Freehold Theatre
2222 Second Avenue, Suite 200
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
Tel: 206-441 7178
Meany Theater
University of Washington
15th Avenue NE at 41st Street
Tel: 206-543 4880
The Moore Theatre
1932 2nd Avenue
Tel: 206-812 3284
The Neptune Theatre
1303 NE 45th Street
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
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
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
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
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
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
Tel: 425-823 6306
Sightseeing Tours
Air Tours
Helicopters Northwest
8500 Perimeter Road S, at Boeing Field
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
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
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
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
Tel: 1-800-448 4226
Daily flights and charters from Seattle to Alaska.
Seattle Seaplanes
1325 Fairview Avenue E
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
Tel: 206-762 9464
Daily flights and charters.
Pyramid Ale House
1201 1st Avenue S
Tel: 206-682 3377
Offers daily tours and tastings.
The Redhook Ale Brewery
14300 NE 145th Street, Woodinville
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
Tel: 206-444 9463
Specializes in guided tours to the outstanding wine regions of Washington state.
Boat Tours
1101 Alaskan Way, Pier 55, Suite 201
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
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
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.
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
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
Tel: 1-800-231 2222
Hesselgrave International
1268 Mount Baker Highway, PO Box 30768
Bellingham
Tel: 360-734 3570
Puget Sound Coach Lines
809 W Main Street, Auburn
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
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.
8415 Paine Field Boulevard, Mukilteo
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Tel: 206-543 2200
The basketball season begins in November and ends in March.
Football
Seattle Seahawks
CenturyLink Field, Seattle
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
Tel: 425-252 5100
The season runs from September to March.
Seattle Thunderbirds
ShoWare Center, 625 West James Street, Kent
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
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
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
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
Charter a ‘bare’ boat or a fully crewed one.
Moss Bay Rowing Club
1001 Fairview Avenue N. Suite 1900
Tel: 206-682 2031
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
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
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
Tel: 206-523 1822
Sammamish Valley Cycle
8451 164th Avenue NE, Redmond.
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
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
Offers personalized outdoor adventure tours, including mountain biking, fishing, mountain climbing, and hiking.
REI (Recreational Equipment Inc)
222 Yale Avenue N
Tel: 206-223 1944
Outdoor recreational equipment retailer that sells maps and organizes trips.
Sierra Club/Cascade Chapter
180 Nickerson Street, Suite 202
Tel: 206-378 0114
Environmental organization with information on outings and conservation.
Washington Trails Association
705 2nd Avenue, Suite 300
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
Tel: 360-424 7630
Pets Galore Horse Rides
13659 Cedar Glen Lane SE, Olalla
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
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
Tel: 206-812 4510
Seventy miles (110km) northeast of Seattle, 37 ski trails and a 1,800ft (550-meter) drop.
Summit at Snoqualmie
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
Tel: 509-672 3101
A vertical of 1,500ft (460 meters) plus night skiing.
Whistler
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).