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Things To Do
Seattle, home to Microsoft and Starbucks, features an outdoor lover’s paradise: lakes, snow-capped mountains and ocean. Seattle residents take culture, fitness and history seriously. The rainy season lasts from October to March, so schedule a trip to the Emerald City during the summer months and enjoy the sunny weather.
Sports & Outdoors
Arts Museums & Landmarks
Immediately recognizable landmarks dot the downtown area of Seattle, creating a convenient venue for visitors.
The most expensive stadium in history, Safeco Field, is the home of baseball’s Seattle Mariners. From behind second base, the Olympic Mountains are visible in the distance. A retractable roof protects fans, players and the field from wind and rain. For more information, call 206-346-4000. 1250 First Ave. South, Seattle.
The Seattle Center serves as the site of the Space Needle, the Pacific Science Center, Experience Music Project, Key Arena, Seattle Repertory Theatre and the Children’s Museum. The Center House features ethnic festivals and a food court. Three large outdoor festivals take place here each year: Folklife Festival, Bite of Seattle and Bumbershoot. For more information, call 206-684-7200. 305 Harrison Street, Seattle.
Seattle’s primary venue for professional sports, musical concerts and family entertainment is the Key Arena at Seattle Center. The Key Arena hosts basketball’s Seattle SuperSonics and Storm, and hockey’s Thunderbirds. For more information, call 206-684-7200. 305 Harrison Street, Seattle.
The city’s most famous attraction, the Space Needle, was built for the 1962 World’s Fair and showcases 360-degree-views of Seattle. A revolving eatery, the Space Needle Restaurant, looms at 500 feet in the tower. For more information, call 206-628-0888. 219 Fourth Ave. North, Seattle.
Culture and commerce are big hits in Seattle, and a variety of art galleries, museums and exhibits make for a fun escape from less-than- pleasant weather.
The Seattle Asian Art Museum currently houses more than 7,000 works of art from China, India, the Himalayas, Korea, Japan and Southeast Asia, including Chinese jade carvings, bronze Buddhist sculpture and Korean ceramics. Admission is free on the first Thursday and first Saturday of each month. For more information, call 206-654-3100. 1400 E. Prospect Street, Seattle.
Glistening gold-leaf decor, 2,800 comfortable seats and 218 original chandeliers make the Paramount Theatre Seattle’s ideal choice to view Broadway shows, musical concerts and dance troupes. Silent movies are shown on Monday evenings. For more information, call 216-982-1414. 911 Pine Street, Seattle.
Dining
Seafood lovers will delight in the classy eateries in Seattle, but any tastebud can find a favorite from the variety of restaurants that punctuate each neighborhood.
Dark crimson walls, Chinese hanging lanterns and an open kitchen characterize the warmth of one of Seattle’s premier restaurants, the Dahlia Lounge. Choose delectable items from the sea bar, meats from the grill or a treat from the dessert menu. For reservations, call 206-682-4142. 2001 Fourth Ave., Seattle.
Gourmet fare and regional wines are selected for each of Herb Farm’s nine courses, where culinary feasts last approximately five hours, amid candles and guitar music. Reservations are absolutely required, usually months in advance, but the fantastic experience is worth the effort. For reservations, call 425-485-5300. 14590 N.E. 145th Street, Woodinville.
Shopping
Shopping malls abound in the city, but the true gems are the markets found in the center of Seattle: Pike Place Market and Pioneer Square.
Pike Place Market, the country’s oldest operating farmers market, features fresh fish, fruit, spices and vegetables, as well as international wares, jewelry and arts and crafts. For more information, call 206-682-7453. 85 Pike Street, Seattle.
Antique shoppers flock to Pioneer Square, a historical area filled with boutiques, antique shops, cafes and galleries, where shoppers and horse-drawn carriages tread on the cobblestone streets. A variety of bookstores, a vintage streetcar and the Klondike Gold Rush National Historic Park all add depth to the world of yesteryear. For more information, call 206-667-0687. 119 First Ave. South, Seattle.
Events
Seattle’s summers swell with activity, with events including the popular Bite of Seattle, the Pride Festival and Seafair.
The Seattle Pride Festival, the largest gay pride festival in the Northwest, attracts more than 100,000 festival patrons each year. The Pride parade makes its way to the Freedom Rally in Volunteer Park. Additionally, the festival sponsors dances, sporting events and forums, along with vendors and eateries. The Seattle Pride Festival takes place on June 24 and 25, 2006. For more information, call 206-322-9561. 1254 15th Ave. East, Seattle.
Seafair, an annual July and August festival, hosts ship tours, air shows, hydroplane races, parades and street performances on the banks of Puget Sound. Visitors can find crafts, music, triathlons and cultural festivals throughout the fair, running from July 1 to Aug. 6, 2006. For more information, call 206-728-0123. 2200 Sixth Ave., Suite 400, Seattle.
Bite of Seattle, held at the Seattle Center, hosts more than 60 booths of the city’s restaurants, selling their specialties to hungry Seattle residents. Musical entertainment lasts all day at five outdoor stages, and a comedy club is located in the Fisher Pavilion Building. For more information, call 425-283-5050. 305 Harrison Street, Seattle.
Gay Pride Events and Gay Parades in Seattle
Neighborhoods
1. Downtown
Downtown Seattle hosts the business and government hub, as well as Pike Place Market, Paramount Theatre and the Bank of America building. The eight- by 10-block area is bordered by Elliott Bay on the west and Lake Washington on the east, with views of the Olympic Mountains.
2. Seattle Center
The booming tourist attraction in the center of the city features festivals, the Seattle Opera, Intiman Theater, the Space Needle and the area’s major sporting event venues.
3. Queen Anne Hill
A melting pot of culture, elegance and commerce coexist in Queen Anne Hill, a rolling neighborhood with upscale residences, trendy cafes and one of the city’s most photographed views, Kerry Park. Queen Anne, named for its style of 19th-century architecture, surrounds the Seattle Center.
4. University District
This area is home to the collegiate youth of the University of Washington, inexpensive restaurants and bars. Affectionately known as “The Ave,” the district is the place for music shops, coffeehouses and specialty boutiques.
5. NW Area
Northwest Seattle boasts country living, gated communities and suburbs, including the neighborhoods of Fremont, Ballard and Shoreline.
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