You can go to as many museums as you like during your stay, and up to four people staying in the hotel room are eligible to use the discount, so it’s perfect for trips with friends or family. You’ll find the entire list of museums on seattlemuseummonth.com – but how to choose? Let’s dive in and I’ll try to make some suggestions according to your interests.

Today’s topic is: history & heritage! Here are some of my recommendations if you want to discover the stories behind the people and places of the Northwest.

In these museums you’ll find fascinating looks at aviation history, a deep dive into Seattle’s innovative roots, stories of the Alaskan Gold Rush, and more.

A great first stop is the Museum of History & Industry (MOHAI). Housed on the south shore of Lake Union in a restored historic Naval Reserve Armory, this Smithsonian affiliate boasts a collection of more than 4 million objects, documents, and photos that trace the history of the Puget Sound region. MOHAI’s award-winning exhibits are engaging, enlightening, and entertaining. And their focus on innovation explores the global influences that all began here: Microsoft, Amazon, Starbucks, Costco, Nintendo, Boeing and more. My tip: don’t miss the musical telling of the 1889 Great Seattle Fire, complete with heart-tugging solo by the guilty glue pot that started it all, and two current special exhibitions. Roots of Wisdom: Native Knowledge. Shared Science. explores stories from four Indigenous communities in real-world examples of how traditional knowledge and cutting-edge science can be blended together to provide solutions to contemporary concerns. And Pulling Together: A Brief History of Rowing in Seattle is perfectly timed to the national release of the new film The Boys in the Boat, based on the bestselling book by Seattle author Daniel James Brown, and directed by George Clooney. In 1936, the University of Washington men’s rowing team did the unthinkable: despite injuries and illness, they defeated British, German, and Italian crews and brought home a gold medal at the Berlin Olympics. MOHAI is proud to display a selection of rare artifacts and photographs related to the 1936 champion crew which offer a look into the rich history of rowing in Seattle.

courtesy of MOHAI

While you’re in the neighborhood, see if you can spot any of the historic ships that are typically docked at the Historic Ship Wharf adjacent to MOHAI: the Virginia V, Arthur Foss, Swiftsure, and the Duwamish. You might also want to visit The Center for Wooden Boats next door, and the Wagner Education Center.

The Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture is a favorite of all ages. Washington’s oldest museum (dating from 1899) is now one of our newest, in a dynamic purpose-built building (opened in 2019) that brings the collections and the research to the forefront, allowing visitors to see the conservation and discovery in action. From contemporary native culture to ancient dinosaur fossils, this museum will inspire and delight.

Burke Museum. Photo: Dennis Wise.

Another don’t-miss: one of Seattle’s most popular museums, The Museum of Flight. Located in south Seattle, it’s the largest independent, non-profit air and space museum in the world! With over 175 aircraft and spacecraft and tens of thousands of artifacts, the museum brings the incredible history of flight to life. A handy visit planner on their website can help you focus your time depending on your age and interests.

In the historic heart of Seattle’s Pioneer Square neighborhood, a visit to the free Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park located in the restored 1889 Cadillac Hotel offers an absorbing look at a time when anyone with about $600 ($20,000 in today’s dollars) could dream of traveling to the Yukon Territory in northwestern Canada, to strike a claim, mine the gold, and try to change their fortunes. This branch of the National Park Service is a key link to understanding the impact on Seattle from the Klondike, and how modern day global and regional companies such as Nordstrom and Filson got their start in the explosive growth of the gold rush period.

Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park Wayne Bressler

A beautiful ride on the Seattle-Bremerton ferry will bring you to Bremerton, home of the USS Turner Joy Naval Destroyer Museum Ship. You can walk on for the hour long ferry ride, saving money and time. The Turner Joy is located on the Bremerton boardwalk, an easy walk from the ferry terminal. To fully explore the ship, allow 1-2 hours and wear flat or rubber-soled shoes, dress in layers (the ship is cold in February!), and keep your hands free for safe ladder climbing. Or, take the scenic ferry ride to Bainbridge Island instead, walk a  short distance into town and visit the small but engrossing Bainbridge Island Historical Museum. Fun fact: pickleball was invented on Bainbridge Island in 1965, and you can learn about the roots of this popular national sport in the “Our Community” exhibit.

Learn more about Seattle Museum Month and find your perfect hotel at seattlemuseummonth.com.  See my other posts for suggestions for arts & culture lovers, families, and those seeking one-of-a-kind experiences. With more than 25 participating museums, we’ve got something for every interest. See you in February!

Banner image: The first big rowing event of the 1916 season was an April race against Stanford. University of Washington and Stanford fans crowded the shores of Lake Washington to cheer for their teams. The UW crew won by seven boat lengths, and afterwards started preparing for a May race against the University of California at Berkeley. This photo shows the 1916 men’s varsity crew, in uniform, at the University of Washington boathouse. Credit:  MOHAI, PEMCO Webster & Stevens Collection, 1983.10.10267.

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Today’s topic is: one-of-a-kind places. This post highlights unique experiences, to be found only here in the Seattle region.

Located in Seattle’s Chinatown-International District, The Wing Luke Museum is a National Park Service affiliate and the first Smithsonian affiliate in the Pacific Northwest. As the only pan-Asian Pacific American museum in the nation, it offers an authentic and unique perspective on the American story. Be Water, My Friend is a popular exhibition exploring the life, teachings and legacy of international icon Bruce Lee, who had deep roots in Seattle. Another exhibit on view in February, Sound Check!: The Music We Make allows you to discover the role music has played in Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander lives & communities.

Wing Luke Museum Sundberg Kennedy Ly-Au Young Architects

Nearby you’re in for another treat: Seattle has a pinball museum! The Seattle Pinball Museum offers about 50 playable games from the 1960s to the present. Your admission allows you unlimited play, although please note that kids must be 7 or older to play the games and must be supervised by an adult. One tip: this can be popular and crowded, so my advice is to choose a non–peak time for your visit if possible, so you can enjoy the games and maybe even talk with the owners, who are passionate pinball fans.

Courtesy Seattle Pinball Museum

If you haven’t filled up on snacks at the Pinball Museum, you’re in luck because you’re right in the Chinatown-International District, home to delicious dumplings and noodles to take a fuel break from your busy day of museum hopping.

Located at Seattle Center, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Discovery Center offers the opportunity to explore interactive exhibitions, global health innovations, and powerful stories of community. You can also discover ways to take action on causes that you care about. Admission is always free.

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Discovery Center Courtesy of Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

A few miles north, Seattle’s Ballard neighborhood drew significant numbers of Scandinavian immigrants in the early 1900s, drawn by jobs in fishing and lumber mills, and this neighborhood still bears traces of their cultural traditions. So it’s the perfect place for the National Nordic Museum, an internationally recognized museum and cultural center that collects and preserves the values, traditions, art, and spirit of the Nordic peoples. It’s the largest museum in the United States to honor the legacy of immigrants from the five Nordic countries, and the stunning new building, which opened in 2018, was recognized by Architectural Digest as one of the 15 most noteworthy museums opening in the world that year. As an extra bonus, the museum is home to Frankie Feetsplinters, one of five oversized recycled material trolls in the NW Trolls Project. The trolls were built and installed in late summer of 2023 by internationally known artist Thomas Dambo, along with his pro crew and hundreds of community volunteers.  Tip: If you didn’t eat in the C-ID, this would be a good spot to have a lunch break at the museum’s Freya Café, or venture a couple blocks west for some classic fish and chips at the Lockspot.

Rachael Jones

For an entirely different sort of museum experience, head south about 24 miles to the Pacific Bonsai Museum. Set in a forest of towering conifers, the outdoor museum connects people to nature through the living art of bonsai. This unique place stewards more than 150 bonsai and the most diverse public collection in North America with trees from Canada, China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, and the United States. Featuring 60 trees at a time, this cultural gem offers contemporary and traditional exhibitions, group tours, and education.

Courtesy Pacific Bonsai Museum

Learn more about Seattle Museum Month at seattlemuseummonth.com and see my other posts for suggestions for arts & culture lovers, history & heritage buffs, and families. With more than 25 participating museums, we’ve got something for every interest.  See you in February!

Banner Image: Courtesy of The Wing Luke Museum

The post Seattle Museum Month: Uniquely Northwest appeared first on Visit Seattle.

You can go to as many museums as you like during your stay, and up to four people staying in the hotel room are eligible to use the discount, so it’s perfect for trips with friends or family. You’ll find the entire list of museums at seattlemuseummonth.com – but how to choose? Let’s dive in and I’ll try to make some suggestions according to your interests.

Today’s topic is: arts & culture! Here are some of my suggestions if you enjoy art.

Seattle Art Museum, or SAM, has been the center for world-class visual arts in the Pacific Northwest since 1933. In the heart of downtown Seattle, light-filled galleries invite you to wander through permanent collections and special exhibitions. SAM’s diverse holdings include Asian, African, Islamic, European, Oceanic, modern and contemporary art, and decorative arts and design. Visitors especially enjoy the remarkable Native American galleries and the charming Porcelain Room. In February you can see Calder: In Motion, an exhibition of the iconic American artist who revolutionized sculpture, including more than 45 works shown publicly for the first time.

Fish, 1942, Alexander Calder. Photo: Nicholas Shirley

The renovated Seattle Asian Art Museum is not to be missed. Housed in a beautiful art deco building in Volunteer Park, the expanded Asian Art Museum breaks boundaries to offer a thematic, rather than geographic or chronological, exploration of art from the world’s largest continent. February highlights include a solo exhibition of international artist Anida Yoeu Ali.

Asian Art Museum Jacob Foltz

Olympic Sculpture Park is SAM’s free outdoor art experience. In summer, it’s packed with dog walkers and joggers and strollers (both kinds), but in winter you can enjoy the art with more solitude. The collection includes large works by Richard Serra, Roxy Paine, Jaume Plensa, Louise Bourgeois, and Alexander Calder. While it might be brisk weather in February, you also might get to enjoy some beautiful clear views of Elliott Bay and the snowcapped Olympic Mountains.

One of Seattle’s top visitor attractions is also one of its most artful. Located at Seattle Center, Chihuly Garden and Glass is bursting with color and light and offers a comprehensive look at the work made by Dale Chihuly, one of the world’s living glass art masters. It never fails to delight with its rooms upon rooms of glass, impressive suspended sculptures, and colorful garden. On view through February, Winter Brilliance is an original light and music installation, using innovative video projection technology.

Art enthusiasts will also want to plan a short trip south to Tacoma. In addition to interesting special exhibitions, a highlight of visiting the Museum of Glass is the chance to watch glass artists at work in the Hot Shop Amphitheatre, located inside the 90-foot tall steel cone.

From the downtown Seattle waterfront, a 30-minute ferry ride to Bainbridge Island (tip: walk on as a foot passenger for ease and savings) and a short stroll will bring you to BIMA, the Bainbridge Island Museum of Art. Admission is always free, but even without the promise of saving on your admission cost this small gem of a museum is a worthy excursion for an engaging look at the art and craft of the Puget Sound region, in an impressive LEED Gold building.  An onsite café is great for a lunch break, or walk a bit further into town for numerous tasty choices. The ferry ride is another iconic Northwest experience, offering fantastic views of the Seattle skyline and Elliott Bay.

courtesy of Bainbridge Island Museum of Art

Also free, the Frye Art Museum is another gem, located just east of downtown Seattle. Established in 1952, the museum is now known for contemporary art exhibitions that explore the issues of our time, and thought-provoking programming.

Courtesy Frye Art Museum

A bit further to the east, in downtown Bellevue, the Bellevue Arts Museum is one of few museums in the nation with a focus on art, craft, and design. On view in February, Positive Fragmentation: From the Collections of the Jordan D. Schnitzer and His Family Foundation features more than 200 works by contemporary women artists. Opening February 2, Washi Transformed presents a traditional medium of Japanese paper in the hands of present day innovative artists.

And not least, Washington State’s oldest art museum, the Henry Art Gallery, beckons you to the University of Washington campus. Don’t let its age fool you, the Henry specializes in presenting world-renowned contemporary artists and nurturing emerging talent. My tip: don’t miss Light Reign, the Skyspace by acclaimed artist James Turrell. This immersive installation is one of my favorite contemplative spots in the city.

Find your perfect hotel and learn more about Seattle Museum Month at seattlemuseummonth.com.  You’ll also find more suggestions for history & heritage buffs, families, and those seeking one-of-a-kind experiences on our blog. With so many participating museums, we’ve got something for every interest.  See you in February!

Banner Image: Courtesy of the Frye Art Museum

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You can go to as many museums as you like during your stay, and up to four people staying in the hotel room are eligible to use the discount, so it’s perfect for trips with friends or family. You’ll find the entire list of museums at seattlemuseummonth.com – but how to choose? Let’s dive in and I’ll try to make some suggestions according to your interests.

Today’s topic is: family fun! Here are some of my recommendations if you have kids in the mix.

First up, the Burke Museum. Re-opened in late 2019 in a newly constructed, purpose-built facility, the Burke offers a new kind of museum experience, making the research and scientific discovery accessible to visitors. With amazing fossils, dinosaur bones, minerals, cultural artifacts, and an engaging team of scientists and researchers to welcome you, the Burke is a must-see!

Courtesy Burke Museum

At Seattle Center, the colorful Museum of Pop Culture (MoPOP) is eye-popping inside and out, and will thrill older kids and their parents too. Music fans can dive deep into exhibits on Seattle icons Nirvana and Jimi Hendrix, while fans of Harry Potter or The Wizard of Oz will delight in Fantasy: Worlds of Myth and Magic. Indie Game Revolution offers an immersion into contemporary video game culture. Maybe zombies, vampires and other things that go bump in the night are more your speed? Then Scared to Death: The Thrill of Horror Film is for you! (Note that this one is for the age 13+ crowd, due to high scare factor & graphic content.) Sound Lab invites you to get hands-on and explore the tools of rock ‘n’ roll through electric guitars, drums, samplers, mixing consoles, and more.

Indie Game Revolution exhibit at MoPOP Courtesy MoPOP

Also at Seattle Center, the Pacific Science Center has been a family favorite since 1962. From the Tropical Butterfly House, to the Planetarium, from Beyond Human Limits to Dinosaurs: A Journey Through Time, a variety of exhibitions and experiences are ready to delight and inspire.

Pacific Science Center Rachael Jones

Seattle Children’s Museum is also located at the Seattle Center, offering hands-on exhibits and daily programs for kids from birth to age 10, sparking imagination and discovery through exploratory play.

Seattle Children’s Museum Megan Ching

Seattle Aquarium delights visitors young and old on the Seattle waterfront. A leader in hands-on marine experiences and conservation education, the Aquarium makes learning about Puget Sound and our world’s one big ocean fun and engaging. Daily diver shows in the Windows On Washington Waters exhibit introduce the fish that you can find in our Washington waters. Wearing specialized masks, the divers are able to talk back and forth with Aquarium interpreters on the outside of the exhibit, and answer your questions.

courtesy of Seattle Aquarium

From the waterfront, you can walk on a Washington State Ferry for a 30 minute crossing to Bainbridge Island, where a short stroll up from the dock leads you to Kids Discovery Museum, which is geared for little ones from 6 months to 8 years.

courtesy of Kids Discovery Museum

A few minutes north of Seattle Center is Woodland Park Zoo, another perennial favorite for all ages. Established in 1899, the Zoo has been an urban oasis and is now a leader in animal conservation efforts. Its 92 acres are divided into bioclimatic zones, featuring natural habitats ranging from humid tropical rainforests and coastal deserts to temperate rainforests like those of the Pacific Northwest, housing a wide range of interesting animals.

bear, bear cub, brown bear, juniper, living northwest trail
Woodland Park Zoo

Find your perfect hotel and learn more about Seattle Museum Month at seattlemuseummonth.com. See our other blog posts for more suggestions for arts & culture lovers, history & heritage buffs, and those seeking one-of-a-kind experiences. With more than 25 participating museums, we’ve got something for every interest.  See you in February!

Banner image: Courtesy of Seattle Aquarium

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Cloudbreak started in 2022 and was such a success that we’ve brought it back for year two! The festival features artists in diverse genres at stages all across the city: in Beacon Hill, the Central District, Columbia City, Downtown, Belltown, Fremont, Capitol Hill, Ballard, and more.

Sir Mix-A-Lot opened the 2022 Cloudbreak Festival at El Corazon. Photo: Niffer Calderwood Photography.

Stay in one of our partner hotels to receive access to the shows for free, so you can experience the vibrancy of Seattle’s music scene. Get the scoop and discover participating hotels at cloudbreakmusicfest.org.

Cloudbreak started as a partnership of King County Creative and Visit Seattle, and this year we’re delighted to welcome in our new partner, the City of Seattle. We can’t wait to welcome you to our amazing city of music!

2023 artists include Mudhoney, Rocky Votolato, Barrett Martin, Mala Suerte, Sera Cahoone with Mat Brooke and Molly Sides, The A-Frames, The Fall of Troy, Alex Guy’s Led to Sea, Shaina Shepherd & Tomo Nakayama, Biblioteka, Kuinka, Smokey Brights, The Dusty 45s & Christy McWilson, Enumclaw, Grace Love, Andy Coe Band, Country Dave and the New Fallen Angels Tribute to Gram Parsons,  Jenn Champion, King Youngblood and soooo many more.

Smokey Brights at the Tractor Tavern, Cloudbreak 2022. Photo: Mike R. Mitchell

NEW this year: your music pass (available at your hotel) has the access link for our new advanced registration system. If there’s a show you ABSOLUTELY have to see, get your name on the list. (Details and restrictions will be listed at the link site.)

Coinciding with Cloudbreak is the 11th anniversary of Freakout Festival, running November 2-5 at seven stages primarily in the Ballard neighborhood. This festival is an amazing success story, growing from humble beginnings to now featuring more than 100 bands and artists from Seattle, the Northwest, the US, and the world. Some of the shows highlighting Seattle artists are included in Cloudbreak access, so check that schedule!

The Black Tones at Freakout Festival 2021. Photo by Jake Hanson.

So, we’ll see you out and about for music, right? Follow along and share your experience with us on social by using the hashtag #CloudbreakMusicFest and tagging @visitseattle.

The post The Return of Cloudbreak Brings Free Music Shows to Seattle this November appeared first on Visit Seattle.

The Pacific Northwest has long been known as one of the top centers in the world for glass art. More than 700 glass artists, from emerging artists to master glassmakers, live in Washington state, and more than 100 glass art studios have made their home in the greater Seattle region. Refract allows you to explore this fascinating art, meet artists, tour studios, see special demonstrations, mingle at art parties, and more. Bonus: many of the events are free.

10 reasons why you don’t want to miss this event:

1. Opening night party at Chihuly Garden and Glass

Chihuly Garden and Glass, the exhibition of one of the world’s best known living glass artists, is one of Seattle’s top visitor attractions. On Thursday night (October 12), you can immerse yourself in the museum’s stunning displays while attending the opening party for Refract, Gather. This event allows you to meet and mingle with the region’s artists, tour the installations, enjoy great food and drinks, and talk with helpful staff to plan your Refract festival activities. Author’s note: Get your tickets soon; this event is popular!

Photo: Chihuly Garden and Glass

2. Closing Party at Pratt

Pratt Fine Arts Center is a beloved Seattle institution where numerous glass artists got their start. They offer classes for all levels in varied forms of glassmaking and other art forms. They are hosting the Refract closing party on Sunday (October 15), with open studios, artist demonstrations, food trucks, and more.

Photo: Pratt Fine Arts Center

3. Artist Open Studios

Saturday (October 14) and Sunday (October 15), put on your comfortable walking shoes and hit the neighborhoods because 16 Seattle artists are opening up their studios to welcome you. These are all extraordinary artists—and this is your chance to meet them in person, see their studios, and learn more about how they create their vision in glass. Find the full Refract Open Studios list here.

Visiting without a car? New this year, a free shuttle service will take you on a loop of all the studios. Learn how to reserve your spot here.

Misoda Glass Open Studio. Photo by Megan Swann.

4. Pilchuck Auction

If you’re already a glass aficionado, there’s a good chance you know about Pilchuck. The legendary school in the woods north of Seattle is one of the leading global centers for education in all forms of studio glass: glassblowing, kiln glass, fused glass, flameworking, neon, and more. Their annual gala and auction (October 14) is a hot ticket for supporters of the school and glass art collectors, and this is your chance to attend one of the premier auction events of the year.

Photo: Pilchuck Glass School

5. See it Live & Up Close

Watching live glassmaking is mesmerizing, and you’ll have many chances to see the magic in progress at hot shop venues like Seattle Glassblowing Studio, Museum of Glass, Blowing Sands, Pratt Fine Arts Center, Glasshouse-Studio, Avalon Glass Works, Schack Art Center, City of Shoreline and glassybaby. Author’s note: Find these by selecting the “Demos, Talks & Lectures” category on the Refract Programs page.

Photo: Museum of Glass

6. Outstanding Museum & Gallery Exhibitions

We’re fortunate to have major museums and galleries with a dedicated focus on glass art. Explore the work of globally-known glass artist Jay Macdonell during his residency at the Museum of Glass. Nearby at Tacoma Art Museum (TAM), the Benaroya Wing showcases TAM’s expansive glass collection, one of the top five public collections of studio glass nationwide. Leading glass art gallery Traver Gallery presents an exhibition of Ginny Ruffner‘s work, Bainbridge Arts & Crafts Gallery presents Kait Rhoads, and Gallery Mack explores the work of Chuck Lopez. Group exhibits include Luminosity at Stonington Gallery, focusing on Indigenous artists in glass, and a special glass show at Northwest Designer Craftartists. Author’s note: Find more by selecting the “Exhibitions” category on the Refract Programs page.

Photo: Traver Gallery

7. Special Tours & Access

If you’ve flown through SEA Airport, you may have noted that it has an extensive art collection, including impressive works in glass. Or maybe you were running to the gate and missed it. Here’s your chance to tour the works with a curator, without toting your carry-on around! Or maybe you’ve always dreamed of seeing the extraordinary Chihuly Boathouse (not open to the public), or of taking a guided walking tour on glass architecture, or raising a glass at the maestro Lino Tagliapietra’s showroom. Yes, these all happen as part of Refract! Author’s note: Find more and reserve your space by selecting the “Tours” category on the Refract Programs page.

Lino Tagliapietra showroom. Photo: Ian Lewis.

8. Get Hands-On

Are you happiest when learning something yourself? Refract offers something for you, too! Check out the classes and workshops to blow your own glass or make a fused glass piece. Author’s note: Find more by selecting the “Hands-On” category on the Refract Programs  page.

Photo: Seattle Glassblowing Studio

9. Find Unique Glass Art to Take Home – From Affordable to Splurgeworthy

The options are almost endless, from dozens of artisans at Pike Place Market to the numerous galleries, shops, and studios. Our Glass Art Guide is a helpful resource.

Avalon Glass Gallery. Photo: Ian Lewis.

10. It’s Seattle!

We couldn’t be more proud that all this activity is taking place in and around Seattle, with regional events stretching from Tacoma to Everett to Bainbridge Island and Issaquah. We love our city and can’t wait to show it off to you. You’ll find hotel packages and travel information on the Refract website, and lots more inspiration at visitseattle.org.

Photo: Sun Chan

If you need more inspiration, take a peek at last year’s Refract, and the State of Glass series on VISITSEATTLE.tv.

See you at Refract!

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Link light rail Oran Viriyincy

Flying in to SEA airport? We’ve got great news for you. The Link light rail system connects the airport to Seattle’s downtown. Running about every 10 minutes most of the day, the train will connect you from the SEA/Airport Station on the fourth floor of the airport parking garage to Westlake Station, located in the heart of downtown at 5th & Pine. The trip is about 40 minutes and fares are less than $4 per person.

From Westlake Station, you are within a short walk to thousands of hotel rooms in Seattle. This map will help you locate nearby lodging. The green dotted line is the underground light rail route. Draw a line up with your finger from Pike Place Market about 4 blocks to find Westlake Station.

Seattle/Bainbridge Ferry Joenevill via Flickr Creative Commons

Many Seattle attractions are within a 1-mile walking radius in downtown, including Pike Place Market, the flagship Nordstrom store, Seattle Art Museum, the Central Library and the Seattle waterfront including the Seattle Great Wheel, Seattle Aquarium, Argosy Cruises and Washington State Ferries. From the top floor of the Westlake Center shopping center above the Westlake light rail station, a 3-minute ride on Seattle’s iconic 1962 monorail brings you to Seattle Center, home to the Space Needle, Chihuly Garden and Glass, MoPOP, Climate Pledge Arena, KEXP, Seattle Rep, Seattle Children’s Museum, Pacific Science Center and more. Starting from Westlake Center again, it’s a 1.3-mile walk or quick ride back south on the light rail to Pioneer Square, Chinatown International District, Lumen Field, and T-Mobile Park.

Downtown Seattle also has numerous performing arts and music venues: ACT Theatre, Benaroya Hall, The 5^th Avenue Theatre, The Paramount Theatre, Jazz Alley, The Crocodile, The Triple Door, The Showbox, Unexpected Productions, the Can Can and The Moore Theatre are all walkable from many hotels.

A relatively flat 1.2-mile walk heading north from Westlake Center will bring you to the south shore of Lake Union where you can visit the Museum of History & Industry (MOHAI), The Center for Wooden Boats, and find various ways to get out on the water in kayaks, vintage vessels, sailboats, electric boats or even hot tub boats. If you’d rather ride than walk, you can add the Seattle Streetcar to the mix and take the South Lake Union line from the Westlake hub at McGraw Park to South Lake Union Park next to MOHAI.

Alki Kayak Tours

Numerous tour companies will take you out and about from downtown hotels to Seattle’s further flung destinations, from Mt. Rainier to a tour of the Boeing Factory.

But, you say, you really wanted to get out hiking on your own? Well, then perhaps Trailhead Direct is for you! Ride Link light rail to the Capitol Hill Station and let King County Metro take you from there to popular trailheads in the region. Make sure you’re prepared in advance with supplies and schedules.

Looking to escape to the islands for a day or two? Charter a seaplane to fly to Lopez, Orcas, or San Juan Island. Or hop on the West Seattle Water Taxi from Pier 50 on the downtown waterfront to the shores of Alki Beach, where you can rent a kayak from Alki Kayak Tours to explore Elliott Bay.

And of course, Seattle has a number of rideshare and taxi services too, as well as bike and scooter share. Here’s a guide to get you started: visitseattle.org/visitor-information/getting-around.

This Lonely Planet article has great advice, too!

Still have questions? Find lots more answers here, and we’ll see you soon in Seattle!

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Chances are, you are confined to your home like the rest of us as we all adjust to this crazy new normal of social distancing that is sweeping across the nation. Chances are, you are using Zoom as a way to connect with co-workers, friends, and family – anybody, really. Chances are, you wouldn’t mind hiding your personal space from those on the other side of the camera. And chances are, you would rather be anywhere else but your home right now anyway.

Have no fear – we have you covered. We have created a selection of Seattle-themed Zoom backgrounds that you can download for your virtual conference calls, happy hours, and family reunions. Who knows? It might just make you feel like you are out and about in Seattle, if only for the duration of your call.

Graffiti art displaying Seattle’s area code

Flower stalls at Pike Place Market

The Fremont Troll in his residence under the Fremont Bridge

Houseboats floating on Lake Union

A mural of Ken Griffey Jr. in SODO near T-Mobile Park

West Point Light in Magnolia’s Discovery Park

The interior of Oddfellows Café + Bar in Capitol Hill

A detail of a mural by local artist Angelina Villalobos (a.k.a. 179), located in Seattle Center.
Part of Visit Seattle’s SODO Motive

Street signs at the corner of Pike Pl and Pine St near Pike Place Market

Looking up at the Space Needle through the interactive Sonic Bloom structure at Pacific Science Center

A calming forest scene from the Pacific Northwest

Seattle’s infamous Gum Wall that everybody loves to hate and hates to love

A Washington State Ferry in Elliott Bay with the stunning Olympic Mountains backdrop

Miners Landing with the Seattle Great Wheel adorned with a heart in the midst of a global pandemic

The T. A. Wilson Great Gallery at the Museum of Flight displays 39 full-size historic aircraft

An aerial view of Snoqualmie Falls and a snow-dusted Snoqualmie Valley, just east of Seattle

Along the banks of the Snoqualmie River, looking up at the majestic Snoqualmie Falls

A Washington State Ferry heading into the sunset across Puget Sound

Seattle skyline with The Space Needle

The iconic Pike Place Market sign

Gas Works Park

Gate at the entrance of Seattle’s Chinatown-International District

City view from West Seattle

Sunset at Seattle Waterfront

The post Downloadable Seattle backgrounds for Zoom appeared first on Visit Seattle.

Photo: LoadedAaron

Seattle is good at a lot of things, including 1) scarf weather and 2) excellent food. And fall is the perfect time to visit for both.

You can start your culinary appreciation tour at the city’s outdoor farmers markets. While some are seasonal — those in the neighborhoods of Magnolia and Columbia City end in October — others are open year-round, like the ones in the U-District, Capitol Hill/Broadway, Ballard, and West Seattle. In the fall, you’ll find markets big and small all over the city, all with an incredible display of the fresh produce the region has to offer this time of year — think Chinese broccoli, yams, pumpkins, apples, and Jerusalem artichokes.

And then you have the fall restaurant menus. Expect local, seasonal ingredients and the sort of dishes that feel better than a warm hug. A case in point is the yuzu shio ramen at Capitol Hill’s Kizuki Ramen; its hot burst of citrus broth is the perfect complement to a crisp, fall day spent dashing across the city.

2. Pumpkin spice pints

Photo: Seattle Cider Company

I have three magical words for you: Pumpkin. Spice. Beer. And nowhere does this seasonal treat quite as well as Seattle. Ideal hop-growing conditions (about 70% of American hops are cultivated in Washington), plus a serious approach to brewing, multiplied by Seattle being pumpkin spice ground zero, equals a drink that will make you say, “Latte? What latte?

The whole Seattle area is home to a sea of breweries, but Two Beers Brewing Co. makes one of the more popular renditions. Their sister company, Seattle Cider Co., also puts out a rocking pumpkin spice cider.

And you can find plenty of alternatives on tap at most of the bars around the city. If just trying one variety sounds like a taste-bud letdown, hit up The Beer Junction‘s “Pumpkin Junction” festival in West Seattle for 25+ additional options in mid-October.

3. Football (and fútbol)

Photo: Philip Robertson

You don’t need to be a Seahawks fan, a Sounders fan, or even a sports fan — just come to Seattle for the sheer experience of a game. We don’t mess around in supporting our teams. In fact, our dedication is known for causing actual earthquakes. Standing in the crowd at CenturyLink Field, when everyone around you comes together to create an ocean’s roar of sound, really is a singular experience. It’s equally as awing as seeing Mt. Rainier for the first time.

Plus, going to a game is a great excuse for trying a cream-cheese-laden Seattle-style hot dog. It’s tradition!

4. Smaller crowds

Photo: Rachel Samanyi

Word has definitely gotten out that our city is full of “unrivaled natural beauty” and “incredible, unique experiences” — which means that on summer days the downtown streets can feel like a constant party, vibing with locals, travelers, jamming musicians, and everyone in between.

But we also liked Seattle before it was cool, and if you’re into the “see local bands at a tiny venue and explore hidden galleries and cafes” kind of trip, coming during fall. You get all of the upsides, but everything will be just that tiny bit less busy.

5. The fall culture

Photo: Mark Kitaoka for Teatro Zinzanni

We Seattleites might spend half the year climbing mountains and paddling the water, but when the fall days get cool… well, we’ve built up a city that lets us hang out indoors and still have an awesome time. Catch a show at Teatro Zinzanni (part cabaret, part circus, part gourmet dinner, all awesome), duke it out over beers and board games with your friends at Cafe Mox, or catch a professional football, baseball, or soccer game.

6. Oktoberfest

Photo: James Hillyerd

Lots of cities do an Oktoberfest these days, but there aren’t many that look like they’re set in a real Bavarian mountain village. Leavenworth is an easy day trip from Seattle, entailing a beautiful drive through the foothills of the Cascade Mountains. Over three weekends in October, you’ll find fantastic food — aka, giant sausages and hot, salty pretzels — even better beer, a special beer-tapping ceremony, and German parties at venues across town (without the cost of a ticket to Munich).

7. The music scene

Photo: Johan Broberg

The music scene here in Seattle is not a summertime thing. It’s January through December, every day of the week. If anything, since the days are cooling off and we’re getting out of the water and off the hills, the music scene explodes even more in the fall.

Check out The Triple Door (in the historic Mann building, which dates to the ’20s) for local and national acts that span genres. Bonus: You can order from the epic cocktail and food menu from the restaurant upstairs, Wild Ginger, one of the most popular in all of Seattle. Then there’s The Crocodile, which is grittier and more rock ‘n roll — Pearl Jam, Nirvana, and Yoko Ono have all played here. And for something a bit more indie and in between, head to the Tractor Tavern. It’s the kind of place where you’ll stumble on subversive square dancing or “folk popgrass.”

8. The Instagram potential

Photo: Rachel Samanyi

Whether it’s the exquisite design and plant life of the Japanese Garden, the Luminata Lantern Parade on Green Lake for the equinox, or the fall-colors-on-steroids of the Washington Park Arboretum, Seattle in fall will provide you with plenty of camera fodder. No filter needed.

9. The Halloween festivities

Photo: Daniel Stockman

Halloween might just be the perfect time to visit — there are so many seasonally appropriate goings-on. For example, you can check out the Georgetown Morgue Haunted House, set in an actual historic morgue. The most common description from reviewers is “genuinely terrifying,” and it is, as spooks, clowns, corpses, and blood-stained morticians stalk you as soon as you enter the mortuary’s depths.

Also make sure to hit up the Bollywood Thriller party in downtown Seattle — it involves the typical dancing to great music, but also learning a Bollywood version of Thiller and taking part in a flash mob, if you dare.

For something a little more kid-friendly, make your way to the Seattle Center for the city’s Dia de Muertos celebration. You’ll see live performances, get your face painted, make sugar skulls and paper skeletons, and learn about Mexican culture to boot.

The Puget Sound region also hosts a number of corn mazes and pick-your-own pumpkin patches, like Bob’s Corn. It’s home to a 10-acre maze, 60 types of pumpkins for the picking, and sits less than an hour north of Seattle. Pro tip: Bring a jar and you can bottle your own honey here.

Find more amazing Seattle discoveries at VISITSEATTLE.tv

This post was produced in partnership with the Matador Network.
Read the original article here.

The post 9 Reasons You Need to See Seattle in the Fall appeared first on Visit Seattle.

Emily Adams

Visiting Seattle is an adventure any day of the year. Getting to see some of Seattle’s greatest attractions is something your family will never forget! Recently, our family used Seattle CityPASS to see seven of the most sought after stops in the city. MANY of these can be done in the same day. Bring a sack lunch or swing by a local food truck to make sure you and your family are fueled for a full day(s) of fun!

What is a CityPASS?

CityPASS is a handheld booklet filled with coupons and tickets to seven hot attractions in the city. Each attraction was specifically picked for the program to enhance your experience at an unmatched value. In nine consecutive days, you have access to a handful of local attractions in your CityPASS booklet. Starting on your day of purchase, you can visit each attraction in any order that you choose. (We will share what we found to be easiest to see multiple locations in one day!)

Emily Adams

Spend less and experience more with CityPASS

Why opt for a CityPASS instead of seeing Seattle on your own watch and dime? The truth is, the CityPASS’s goal was to give everyone the opportunity to spend less and experience more. To spend less time researching and digging through brochures, and quit worrying about what will work for kids in different phases. Instead, to feel confident in their plan without second guessing, and gain more time connecting instead of directing a group in the city. With all the hype that CityPASS gets, you’d expect their sticker price to be astronomical. Luckily, this isn’t the case. Each Seattle CityPASS ticket saves travelers 46% or more on combined admission to Seattle’s top attractions. You’ll see your CityPASS pay off in the first three to four visits.

Explore the City with a Plan

We opted to drive up and explore the city in three different “time blocks.” Many of the attractions are in walking distance of each other and make it easy to hit multiple stops in one day! We will give you the scoop on what worked for our family and hopefully that will simplify your trip to Seattle with (or without!) the kids.

Seattle Space Needle

Emily Adams

First things first, one of the things we learned at the gate while using our CityPASSes at the Space Needle was that you get TWO visits included to ride up to the top! (One during the day and one at night.) Our recommendation would be to start your day early at the Needle. Get there when they open and soak in the morning views.  It might sound scary to let your toddler “toddle” around the Needle, but it actually is one of the best places to let your kids roam! Every floor of the Space Needle is completely safe, so instead of worrying about their safety, you’ll just have to work on keeping a brave face (if you’re afraid of heights!)

Emily Adams

Emily Adams

You have to leave your stroller at the bottom, so pack a backpack full of snacks and treats to enjoy and encourage the kids to sit still (for a second!) so you can enjoy the view! If you’re bringing an infant with you, bring along your favorite baby carrier so you can be hands free. The Space Needle has snacks and food available for purchase at the top, and CityPASS has a coupon for the gift shop inside. A recent addition to the Space Needle experience is their virtual reality bungee jumping down in the gift shop. Its free, but I definitely recommend doing it AFTER you’ve taken the elevator down from the top!

Emily Adams

Emily Adams

Chihuly Garden and Glass OR Pacific Science Center

Seattle’s CityPASS gives you the option to choose between the Chihuly Garden and Glass exhibit OR the Pacific Science Center. We opted to visit both to share our experience, but in all honesty we will share what works best for different age groups! If you’re visiting the city and don’t want to miss an attraction, inside your CityPASS are coupons to make your visit more affordable. (Both are at the base of the Space Needle so you can save time and money on your day in the city too!)

Chihuly Garden and Glass

Emily Adams

Right next to the Space Needle, Chihuly’s Garden and Glass exhibit is a beautiful spot in the middle of downtown. You feel like you’re in a whole other world because the indoor and outdoor glass sculptures, flowers, plants and treasures created by Dale Chihuly feel whimsical and enchanting.

Emily Adams

Emily Adams

The exhibit has done a great job of keeping the glass directly out of arms reach (which was a relief with a busy three year old!) In our honest opinion, it is the perfect place for a date with your loved one, to enjoy with your older kids while reading Dale Chihuly’s history and inspiration, or to enjoy solo while your baby sleeps soundly in a carrier or being pushed in the stroller along the way.

Emily Adams

Emily Adams

The Pacific Science Center

Emily Adams

The Pacific Science Center is a complete 180 experience from the Chihuly exhibit. Depending on which day of the week that you visit, the Pacific Science Center is a hot spot for school field trips and fun family days. It is the place you go to let the kids be KIDS! From prehistoric dinosaur exhibits, to virtual reality and outer space, the Pacific Science Center’s ideal audience is kids of all ages or adults ready to play like kids!

Emily Adams

Emily Adams

The Science Center has a total of 20 exhibits to keep your family engaged and entertained. They even have a TOTS exhibit if you’re worried your crawler/toddler won’t have anything to do! Truthfully, you could spend an entire day just at this stop alone, so start early if you want to hit a few stops in one day. Bring lunch and camp out, or buy tickets to an IMAX movie to break up the day and kick up your feet and enjoy some R&R. The Pacific Science Center’s IMAX movie theater shows different movies throughout the day.

Emily Adams

Museum of Pop Culture (MoPOP) OR Woodland Park Zoo

Museum of Pop Culture (MoPOP)

Emily Adams

If you’re wanting to continue with your epic downtown Seattle Center day, hit the Museum of Pop Culture (MoPOP) last! Just like Chihuly and the Science Center, Seattle’s CityPASS gives you the option to choose between the MoPOP or the Woodland Park Zoo. We’d never visited the MoPOP before so this was a completely new experience for us- but WOW it was worth the wait! Head to the MoPOP and explore “some of the most significant moments in rock music, science fiction and pop culture with hands-on experiences, iconic artifacts and award-winning exhibits featuring music, literature, television, and video games.”

Emily Adams

Emily Adams

The Fantasy and Music exhibits were my kid’s favorite stops. When you enter into the Fantasy exhibit you are welcomed with iconic pieces from the Wizard of Oz, Harry Potter, Zorro and Narnia. It was exiting and shocking for all of my boys to see pieces from the actual movies right in front of them. The music exhibit was fun because it stirred up their creative instincts and encouraged all of my kids to work together. In part of the music exhibit you can learn to play guitar, drums, and keyboard in different sound proof booths. The best part was, you can connect them all to make your own band. In our case, our very own boy band! I definitely recommend checking out the MoPOP if you haven’t before. There is a lot to see and explore for families and kids of all ages, and if you’re like us, to try a new place maybe you wouldn’t have thought of without your CityPASS.

Emily Adams

Emily Adams

Woodland Park Zoo

Emily Adams

The Woodland Park Zoo is a Seattle staple. Their mission is to save wildlife and inspire everyone to make conservation a priority in their lives. What a cool lesson for kids to learn, right? We have been visiting the Woodland Park Zoo since my nine-year-old was a tiny baby! After almost a decade of visiting and enjoying Seattle’s home zoo, there is still always something new being dreamt up to keep interests high. The zoo welcomes visitors to join in and enjoy feeding and volunteer experiences to connect with the wildlife. One of our favorite things to do at the Woodland Park Zoo is feed the giraffes! Its always a hightlight – but its seasonal. (Check which feeding experiences are available when you arrive.)

Emily Adams

Emily Adams

We save the indoor Zoomazium as a final reward for our kids at the end of a long day. Inside you can kick back and watch the kids climb inside a three-story tree house, build puzzles and craft, or let your toddlers and crawlers hop inside the TOT-friendly area separate from the big kids. The Woodland Park Zoo is so big that is it nearly impossible to add the zoo to another stop on your bucket list on the same day. In our opinion, carve out a day just for the zoo and let your kids lead the way!

Emily Adams

Argosy Cruises Harbor Tour

Emily Adams

Carve out a day at the waterfront and start with Argosy Cruises and the Harbor Tour! This was the highlight of our week! Our family has visited the Seattle waterfront many times, but NEVER have we been out on the water. Seattle’s CityPASS helped us financially make it work to take a family of six. Surprisingly when we got to the ticketing booth we actually found out that most of Arogsy Cruises sales are based off of sales directly through CityPASS!

Emily Adams

Emily Adams

The Harbor Cruise was unlike any other experience on the list of CityPASS attractions. As you walk aboard the boat, you are greeted by their friendly staff who are ready to help load your stroller and direct you where to experience the tour depending on your needs and the group you are traveling with. You can hang down below and watch the views go by through large bay windows, find a table on the middle deck and head outside to enjoy the breeze, or climb up top and find a seat in the sunshine and enjoy 360 degree views of the water and Seattle sightseeing as your tour guide shares history and facts about our favorite city.

Emily Adams

Emily Adams

The Harbor Cruise is only an hour long and its packed with amazing views and sightseeing. If you’re from the Seattle area or are traveling in from out of town, I would definitely recommend adding Argosy Cruises to your bucket list and splurging for a CityPASS to get the best bang for your buck!

Emily Adams

Seattle Aquarium

Emily Adams

The Seattle Aquarium is one of our favorite stops on the waterfront. Down past Argosy Cruises and the Great Wheel (also a must do!) the Seattle Aquarium welcomes families and friends any day of the week. We wrapped up our CityPASS visits at the aquarium with our Argosy Cruises stop as an epic day on the waterfront. It’s great to be downtown in the city but it’s even better to smell the fresh sea breeze! The Seattle indoor and outdoor aquarium gives you those great sightseeing views of Seattle and also welcomes you to spend time with some beautiful wildlife beneath the sea!

Emily Adams

Emily Adams

The aquarium really has thought of everything. They have a huge glass wall aquarium right as you enter that sets the stage for the tone of your visit. Around every corner is an opportunity for learning or play! They have a full room of touch and feel tide pools, kiddy activities for toddlers, a prek (or older) dress up area, and different exhibits full of wildlife!

Emily Adams

Emily Adams

Emily Adams

My kids loved the underground aquarium that hosts many large species of fish! They do a feeding every day at 1 PM that is fun to come watch! You can listen to their guided tours and talks or roam around the aquarium and soak it all in at your own pace. I’ve been by myself with girlfriends and our babies, and I’ve also been with our big kids as a large family affair. I can honestly say the Seattle Aquarium welcomes all different types of groups and serves everyone equally! They really hit the nail on the head by getting looped in with the CityPASS deal.

Summer is for Seattle CityPASS

Summer is officially here and families are busy in the city! As school wraps up and schedules open wide, I can’t express enough how valuable a CityPASS can be for your family! If you’re from Seattle or planning a trip to the city, make CityPASS part of your summer plans!

This post was produced in partnership with Teeter Totter Mom.
Read the original article here

The post 
Seeing Seattle with CityPASS appeared first on Visit Seattle.