Seattle makes sense as the longstanding setting for this event, with its often dreamy board game weather and reputation as “the Hollywood of video games,” but if you haven’t visited in a while, the city has quite a few new features in addition to its classic waypoints.

If you’re coming into town for PAX West, earn some max XP with these side quests to some of Seattle’s most playful spaces.

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This week, Emerald City Comic Con returns to the Seattle Convention Center for the 16th year in a row, but even seasoned fans will notice changes in the neighborhood. Downtown Seattle is filled with new spaces for playful minds, whether you’re a cosplayer looking for a photo op or a young family exploring another world for the weekend (or both!). Combine those new spaces with the layers of the city that have stood the test of time, and adventure is calling. 

Here are all the activities Emerald City Comic Con fans should consider while visiting Downtown Seattle this year. 

The post Must-Do Adventures If You’re Going to Emerald City Comic Con appeared first on Visit Seattle.

In celebration of their anniversary, Dick’s is selling 19-cent burgers through January 25 at select locations. Whether you’re visiting now or planning for a future Dick’s Drive-In experience, we’ve rounded up 19 favorite Visit Seattle staff orders and places to indulge in them. (You might notice there are some fan favorites!)

The post Dick’s Drive-In Celebrates 70 Years 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!

The post Refract: A Glass Festival for Everyone appeared first on Visit Seattle.

Seattle—the Emerald City—sits on Elliott Bay, looking across Puget Sound toward the snow-capped peaks of the Olympic Mountains. But recently, it has turned its introspective gaze inland, away from the bay, its vibrant boat traffic, and abundant (and delicious) marine wildlife.

A revolution is underway—Seattle is in the midst of a waterfront renaissance, as a long-elevated highway has been removed, opening accessible areas all along the waterfront to visitors, whether walking, jogging, biking, or even driving. The overhead highway has been replaced by a silent tunnel buried deep underground. On the surface, a twenty-acre park is being built, with a marque promenade that will connect the fish mongers, vegetable stands, shops, and eateries of Pike Place Market to the waterfront and the Seattle Aquarium, which itself is undergoing an expansion.

Enjoying a beer on the deck at Ivar’s. Bradley Bagsahw

There are plenty of good reasons to find yourself meandering along this very accessible shoreline, taking in the spectacular views of the bay and the fresh sea air—and if that helps work up an appetite, you will be in the right place wherever you are. A long, wide concrete walkway on Alaskan Way connects multiple excellent restaurants and other waterfront attractions from the ferry terminal in the south waterfront to the north waterfront pathways of Myrtle Edwards Park—two easily accessible miles of shoreline where you can enjoy the salt air and breeze coming off Puget Sound as you seek out lunch or dinner, or just a nice glass of Washington State wine.

First up from the south, on Pier 54 is Ivar’s Acres of Clams flagship location. This full-service seafood restaurant has an expansive deck and accompanying fish bar and is named after the late Seattle icon Ivar Haglund, a character of legendary proportions. Just to the north on the same pier, for folks who want a non-seafood option, sits Great State Burgers, where one can get—no surprise—delicious burgers, fries, and milkshakes. Nearby, lest America’s other summertime staple be ignored, is The Frankfurter, a small shack akin to an oversized New York hot dog stand. It features sausages of various kinds with all the fixings.

In front of The Frankfurt, utilizing the wide sidewalks. Bradley Bagshaw

Also on Pier 54 is a new addition, the Salt District Italian Kitchen. It features a fine indoor space and a narrow deck with a good view of the Argosy Cruises tour vessels. Continuing north is the Elliott’s Oyster House on Pier 55. Elliott’s features oysters in the abundant variety available in the Northwest and other seafood and fine dining options, but you might want to check out the Happy Hour options here and elsewhere for fresh oysters whose price won’t bite back. Further north is The Fisherman’s Restaurant and Bar on Pier 56, next to the impossible-to-miss The Seattle Great Wheel. Then comes Anthony’s Pier 66 restaurant and outdoor fish bar, another fine full-service seafood restaurant. Finally, on Pier 70 at the north end of the waterfront, you’ll find AQUA by El Gaucho, a high-end seafood and steakhouse, and Pub 70 serving—you guessed it—pub fare. Don’t miss the rich clam chowder, which is actually full of clams.

Successfully navigating construction on the waterfront with the Alinker mobility aid. Bradley Bagshaw

The new waterfront will be an accessible place with broad crosswalks, long-duration walk lights, audible signaling, elevators, and more. For now, this is a work in process. While some areas are readily accessible, others are nearing completion or still under construction.

There are accessible ways to descend from the downtown heights of hilly Seattle without a car. In the south, Pioneer Square is low, and one can navigate to the waterfront from there without the bother of hills.

In the south-central waterfront, the ferry terminal sits on Piers 50 and 52, collectively called Coleman Dock. An accessible overhead bridge from First Avenue at Marion Street takes pedestrians and others on wheels of all kinds across Western Avenue and Alaskan Way directly to the ferry terminal. From there, there is also an elevator descending to Alaskan Way, turning the bridge and ramp into an accessible portal to the waterfront and ferry terminal. The terminal itself is designed with accessibility in mind. Passengers may board ferries to Bainbridge Island and Bremerton across the Sound on broad, well-marked walkways without encountering stairs or other significant barriers. But a caution here—the terminal and overhead walkway are being rebuilt and are in a state of flux. All should investigate current conditions before setting out to use the ferry system.

The central waterfront also has an elevator from First Avenue on the south side of Von’s Seattle at University Street, although the lower entrance to this elevator needs to be opened manually because it lacks an automatic door-opener. The elevator descends to Western Avenue, and from there a left turn and a half-block walk leads to Seneca Street and right to the waterfront through a newly built accessible intersection. Uphill, you can also take another elevator from Second Avenue down to the Von’s First Avenue elevator via an elevator in the Two and U Building between First and Second Avenue and University and Seneca Streets.

There is an elevator on the northern section of the waterfront at Lenora Street from Western Avenue down to Alaskan Way, and yet another elevator further north at Bell Street and Western Avenue that accesses Pier 66 via an overhead walkway. These elevators serve parking garages up the hill. Other elevators are coming with the Waterfront Project but are not yet in service.

Of course, you could circumvent the access issues by staying at one of the two hotels on the north end of the waterfront, the Seattle Marriott Waterfront or The Edgewater Hotel. Notable for several reasons, you may recall The Edgewater as the hotel where the famous photo was captured of the Beatles casting a fishing pole into Elliott Bay from their room back in 1964. While The Edgewater occasionally provides fishing poles for photo ops to certain guests, they do not encourage fishing out of their windows. Don’t worry—there’s no need, though—you can order up the delicious black cod, oysters, or even fish and chips at the beautiful Six Seven Restaurant inside The Edgewater, and the Marriott Waterfront also takes advantage of its location to serve up some tasty seafood.

Bradley heading to Argosy Cruises on the waterfront. Bradley Bagshaw

Once you’ve over-stuffed your belly, there is much you can do while digesting. Shops line the waterfront, the Seattle Aquarium is on Piers 59-60, at Pier 57, The Seattle Great Wheel offers sky-high rides, and at Pier 56, Argosy Cruises provides harbor and lake boat tours. At lower tides, wheelchair users enjoy the unique experience of having two well-toned chino-and-Izod-clad gladiators pull their wheelchair up Argosy’s access ramp, Roman chariot style, all to the envy of more mobile, but, at least in this case, less fortunate onlookers.

Moving inland from the waterfront demands a hill climb in most places, and access requires stairs or elevators in much of the central waterfront. The most straightforward way to the waterfront for wheelchair users is to drive there. Taxis and rideshare vehicles are readily available and public parking can also be found in a few places. For a real-time view of parking that is available during your visit, go to seattlewaterfront.org/free-parking-Seattle-waterfront.

The best is yet to come as construction presses on along the waterfront. Follow the progress and learn more about the Waterfront Accessibility Plan here.

The post Accessible Seattle — The Central Waterfront appeared first on Visit Seattle.

Jordan Nicholson, @jordanloves.life

We invited Seattle photographer, illustrator and designer Jordan Nicholson to share some of his favorite spots and insider tips with us. Tag along on his Seattle adventure and discover more at iknowaplace.org. Then be sure to share your own Seattle favorites by tagging #IKnowSeattle.

The post I Know a Place: @jordanloves.life appeared first on Visit Seattle.

Gurneha Neggi, @espressoandmartini

We invited travel and fashion enthusiast Gurneha Naggi to share some of her favorite spots and insider tips with us. Tag along on their Seattle adventure and discover more at iknowaplace.org. Then be sure to share your own Seattle favorites by tagging #IKnowSeattle.

The post I Know a Place: @espressoandmartini appeared first on Visit Seattle.

Rachael Jones (left) and Deanne Revel (right).

We invited Northwest creator Rachael Jones and her wife Deanne Revel to share some of their favorite spots and insider tips with us. Tag along on their Seattle adventure and discover more at iknowaplace.org. Then be sure to share your own Seattle favorites by tagging #IKnowSeattle.

The post I Know a Place: @rachaeljonesphoto appeared first on Visit Seattle.

We invited travel, style, and fashion blogger Antonio Smith to share some of his favorite spots and insider tips with us. Tag along on his Seattle adventure and discover more at iknowaplace.org. Then be sure to share your own Seattle favorites by tagging #IKnowSeattle.

The post I Know a Place: @antoniocdsmith appeared first on Visit Seattle.