Seattle from above
(73rd Floor)
Seattle, WA 98104
+1 206 386 5151
Review © 2007, Wcities
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Seattle from above |
701 Fifth Avenue (73rd Floor) Seattle, WA 98104 +1 206 386 5151 |
This building doesn't have the tourist cache of the>Space Needle, but it is higher by almost 100 meters and cheaper to enter by several dollars. The 941-foot building is the second tallest west of the Mississippi. Take in spectacular views of the Cascade and Olympic Mountain ranges, Puget Sound and area lakes, plus educational views of the freeway system and the downtown area. Take one elevator to the 40th floor, another to the 73rd floor. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: D Bund |
 Photo: Rich |
 Photo: Gary Lund  |
 Photo: Elena |
 Photo: meestagoat |
 Photo: Bernie Zimmermann |
 Photo: mrklaw79 |
 Photo: Wesley Sabugo |
 Photo: Matt Keoshkerian |
 Photo: Rodefeld |
 Photo: Dennis Dietrich |
Go ride a bike |
Lake Washington Boulevard Seattle, WA 98112 |
Do you want to go for a bike ride? Does Seattle's merciless traffic keep you and the kids off the streets? Every second Saturday and third Sunday of the month from May to September, Lake Washington Boulevard is open to bicycles only (no automobiles) from 10a-6p. This is a great opportunity to gather friends and family for a bike trip down a shaded winding road along the lake from Mount Baker to Seward Park. Review © 2007, Wcities |
Woodsy beach park |
950 Northwest Carkeek Park Road Seattle, WA 98117 +1 206 684 4075 (Information Center) |
Way off in the residential northwest corner of Seattle, this is a strange bit of wilderness. Paths through the forest cut the park off from the city then open onto a long meadow by babbling Piper's Creek. Marshland with wooden footbridges cuts the meadow off from the beach, but if you climb to the spacious children's play area, you can walk across the metal footbridge for spectacular views and access to a calm, splashing beach. Be careful because trains run though here loud and fast. The winds here are great for kite flying. The meadows are filled with picnic tables, and the winding trails on the woodsy hillside are often too enticing to resist. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: Judith |
 Photo: acanyc |
 Photo: pfly |
 Photo: Justin Martin |
 Photo: Skyler D |
 Photo: Kai Wang |
 Photo: scot conrad |
 Photo: Tim |
 Photo: Kelsey Scherler |
 Photo: Mike Dole |
 Photo: kate sawyer |
 Photo: John Moyer |
 Photo: adriapont |
 Photo: Jon Stahl |
 Photo: Gilbert Basilio |
 Photo: C. Snow |
 Photo: royafork |
 Photo: Steve Hulet |
 Photo: royafork |
Beautiful biking trail |
1717 Maple Valley Highway Renton, WA 98055 +1 206 296 4232 (King Country Parks and Recreation) http://www.metrokc.gov/parks/t... |
This 16-mile trail system rolls next to the Cedar River through two of King County's southern communities. The trail is a scenic journey through the Renton and Maple Valley areas, including a branch that leads to the Lake Wilderness Park. The trail also comes out near the Boeing plant, and cyclists ride past one of the fields where plant workers build the planes and test various sections. Sections of the trail are paved and a map is available on the Web site. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: Kaushik Sridharan |
Fort on Whidbey Island |
1289 South Fort Casey Road (Whidbey Island) Coupeville, WA 98239 +1 800 233 0321 (State park information) http://www.parks.wa.gov/ |
Fort Casey rounds out a quartet of decommissioned forts built to guard against the threat of attack during the 1904 Russo-Japanese War. Eventually the forts became state parks. On a sunny day, the breeze blows off the water over the cliffs at the fort. Kids clamber over the gun emplacements, and teenagers explore the dark, empty bunkers. Grassy meadows are perfect for picnicking and kite flying, and trails lead down to the sandy beach. The fort's buildings are now dorms for a variety of kids' summer camps. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: Ricardo Martins |
 Photo: Ricardo Martins |
Lake in the middle of Seattle |
North of downtown, south of Fremont Seattle, WA 98109 +1 206 684 4075 http://www.pan.ci.seattle.wa.u... |
Visitors to Seattle are usually stunned by the abundance of water surrounding the city. Just north of downtown lies Lake Union. Surrounded by houseboat communities, marinas, shipbuilders and glitzy restaurants, the lake is a hub of activity. Seaplanes take off and land, sharing the 600-acre lake with kayaks, canoes, powerboats, sailboats and tugboats. While the lake can be explored any time of year, Fireworks Over Lake Union are an annual highlight, bringing thousands of people to the lake's shores. For a day out with children or friends, Lake Union never disappoints. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: Mark Byrne |
 Photo: adriankelly23 |
 Photo: Christopher Chen |
 Photo: Susie Moore |
 Photo: Eli Black-Mizuta |
 Photo: Kerry Bischoff |
 Photo: Matthew Kershner |
 Photo: James Tate |
 Photo: Marty Portier |
 Photo: Joe Young |
 Photo: Liz Hoffman |
 Photo: Robert Lucero |
 Photo: Kathy Admire |
 Photo: Jeff Henshaw |
 Photo: Bob Bailey |
 Photo: Jarvis Cochrane |
 Photo: Matthew Johnson |
 Photo: Aidan Marc |
 Photo: Paola Thomas |
 Photo: Rohit Sharma |
 Photo: Lauren Elyse Lynskey |
 Photo: John Keyes |
 Photo: Art Bromage |
Spacious beach park |
E Madison Street & E Howe Street Seattle, WA 98112 +1 206 684 4075 http://www.seattle.gov/parks/p... dewey.potter@seattle.gov |
At the end of East Madison Street, just past the quaint boutiques and gourmet restaurants, this long, sloping expanse of lake beach has a fishing dock, a diving dock, tons of sand, a bathhouse and towering retirement homes, which are built out over the water. In summer, only the hasty departure of the afternoon sun (the beach faces northeast) and the aggressive Canada geese get in the way of a perfect day at the beach. Even the ice cream truck makes regular calls. This is a favorite spot of Madison Park families. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: Tom Harpel |
 Photo: Kristina Druin |
 Photo: James Nichols |
Beach on Lake Washington |
853 Lake Washington Boulevard (at Madrona Drive) Seattle, WA 98122 +1 206 684 4075 http://www.seattle.gov/parks/p... |
A narrow strip of lawn and trees along Lake Washington, this park is best known for its spectacular views of the Eastside and for its beach, where a city grant funded an elaborate play area with driftwood, a "stream" powered by a hand pump, and mosaic-embedded rocks. But, there's also the Spectrum Dance studio (a converted 1926 bathhouse), a fishing dock and, across the boulevard, the steep ramble of the Madrona Woods, beloved of dirt-bikers and wanderers. Lounge on the beach's rolling lawn, get muddy in the woods or just enjoy the view. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: sunrisesoup |
 Photo: Jenna Udren |
 Photo: sonoazure |
Downtown waterfront park |
3130 Alaskan Way West (between West Bay and Thomas Streets) Seattle, WA 98119 +1 206 684 4075 (Seattle Parks) http://www.cityofseattle.net/p... parksinfo@ci.seattle.wa.us |
Technically, the northern half of this park is Elliott Bay Park, but the whole waterfront strip runs so seamlessly together that no one ever refers to it as anything but Myrtle Edwards. The park is just out of the main downtown drag, which makes it a bit obscure but also pleasantly quiet, filled only with joggers and cyclists enjoying just over one mile of winding bike and pedestrian paths that run along Elliott Bay. The views over the bay are spectacular, especially at sunset in wintertime, and the white columns at the northern end (grain silos, actually) lend an eerie industrial feel to the park. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: Eldan Goldenberg |
 Photo: Glicerio_m |
 Photo: Judy B. |
 Photo: MaLora Ann |
 Photo: Linda Rodriguez |
 Photo: tehpov |
 Photo: KellyFX |
 Photo: Jeff Brownell |
 Photo: BackyardBirderWA |
 Photo: _shu |
 Photo: Michael Cleveland |
 Photo: DeeAnna K. Duffield |
Fun festivals and forests |
US Highway 101 Sequim, WA 98362 http://www.northolympic.com |
The trip around this heavily forested peninsula is a magical experience. Olympic National Park encompasses most of the land and includes Hurricane Ridge, Lake Crescent and Hoh Rain Forest. Winding Highway 101 passes through the mid-sized towns that dot the coastline and that offer seasonal festivals, great dining, historical parks and superb lodgings. Sequim has some of the sunniest weather in Western Washington, while Port Townsend celebrates with a summer-long music festival. Port Angeles lies minutes from great fishing, and Lake Quinault offers a real chance to commune with nature. For a shorter excursion, the Hood Canal Bridge brings you to the southeastern corner and the Port Ludlow Resort, hotel of choice for visitors to the Olympic Music Festival. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: Chas Redmond |
 Photo: Chas Redmond |
 Photo: Jeremy Chrysler |
 Photo: Allison Davis |
 Photo: HappyMonty |
 Photo: Mike Taylor |
 Photo: Tom Zellers |
 Photo: Joe Weibler |
 Photo: John Caldwell |
 Photo: Alison Kerr |
Sylvan flower garden |
700 West Highland Drive (at Seventh Avenue) Seattle, WA 98119 +1 206 684 4075 (Seattle Parks) http://www.pan.ci.seattle.wa.u... |
Formerly the family garden of Reginald H. Parsons, whose children donated the land to the city after his death, these lush, flowery gardens are secured by small gates and cloistered under protective trees. Weddings often take place here, providing a burst of extra beauty, but the gardens are most lovely in the blue light of a long summer dusk. Stroll under the trees and breathe in the flowers. The swank mansions along the drive add to the illusion of being on a country estate. Finally, step across the street to Marshall Viewpoint for the view across Elliott Bay to the Olympics. The Highland Drive carriage drive, now an elegant vista road lined with lampposts, winds away to the north. Review © 2007, Wcities |
Fun weekend getaway |
Washington Street at Quincy Port Townsend, WA 98368 +1 360 385 2722 (Information) / +1 888 365 6978 http://www.ptguide.com |
On the northwestern corner of the Olympic Peninsula, this city offers delightful scenery and fascinating history. A season-long Arts Festival makes summer an especially popular time to visit, but the early fall Wooden Boat Festival brings maritime enthusiasts in droves. Year-round parks include historic Fort Worden and lovely Chetzemoka. Blackberries Restaurant at Fort Worden presents terrific local cuisine. Ann Starrett Mansion and the Old Consulate Inn offer quality accommodations. Architecture buffs enjoy the home tours, and the downtown area offers great shopping and entertainment. Bring plenty of film. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: alapoet |
Waterfront neighborhood |
Alaskan Way From South Main Street to Denny Way Seattle, WA 98101 |
With numerous fun-but-tacky tourist shops and the Alaskan Way Viaduct thundering overhead, it's a wonder any natives visit here. But the views are spectacular; the Bainbridge Island ferry leaves from Colman Dock; and the popular Summer Nights at the Pier concerts play at sublime Pier 62/63. The Seattle Aquarium and the Odyssey Maritime Discovery Center are also here. The old streetcar clangs along the length of the waterfront, and the green spaces of Myrtle Edwards Park take over from the concrete mayhem at the northern end. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: www.Tomsimages.com |
 Photo: Cara Codekas |
 Photo: Brad Sweeney |
 Photo: Dale Chase |
 Photo: Christopher Hansen |
 Photo: e44e33 |
 Photo: Netwoman |
 Photo: Jusitne Reyes |
 Photo: Matt N Johnson |
 Photo: joe_milkman |
 Photo: Penny Leach |
 Photo: Jake Khuon |
 Photo: Walt Flood |
 Photo: Antonio Silveira |
 Photo: Guy Creese |
 Photo: Alister McPherson |
 Photo: Shawna Scott |
 Photo: gepark |
 Photo: Mark Taylor |
Higher than Niagara Falls |
6501 Railroad Avenue Southeast (Cascade foothills, off Interstate 90) Snoqualmie, WA 98065 +1 425 888 2556 |
Located 30 miles east of Seattle, this is one of the state's top natural attractions. Although more than 100 feet taller than Niagara Falls, Snoqualmie Falls is far less famous. Located in the beautiful foothills of the Cascade Mountains, this dramatic torrent of water drops 268 feet. At the crest you will find Salish Lodge, where you can get good food or stay the night. This is where the TV series Twin Peaks was filmed. The lodge lights the falls at night. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: Shannon Vetter |
 Photo: Zoe |
 Photo: Stephen Wilder |
 Photo: Rohit Mordani |
 Photo: Stefan Weidt |
 Photo: Roger Menezes |
 Photo: Frank Hänsel |
 Photo: Nick Walker |
 Photo: Paulie Gee |
 Photo: Andy Goergen |
 Photo: S. Michele Smith |
 Photo: DavidHT |
 Photo: Matthew Mitchell |
 Photo: Lucy Shen |
 Photo: christy gordon |
 Photo: Kristine A. Coco |
 Photo: Xiening Dai |
 Photo: jasonleigh |
 Photo: Lacey Ubaldi |
 Photo: Lawrence Luk |
 Photo: skamath@sbcglobal.net |
Gourmet food; beautiful scenery |
625 South Fourth Street Renton, WA 98055 +1 206 227 7245 / +1 800 876 7245 http://www.spiritofwashingtond... |
For more than five years this roundtrip excursion along Lake Washington from Renton to Woodinville has been a romantic favorite. The train stops for about 45 minutes in Woodinville for a wine tasting at the Columbia Winery. Dinner trips run Tuesday through Sunday year-round. There are also Saturday lunch and Sunday brunch trips. For the holiday season, the train is decked in lights, and holiday music fills the air. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: Asa Bour |
 Photo: Victoria Shephard |
 Photo: butterflysunshine |
 Photo: Asa Bour |
 Photo: butterflysunshine |
 Photo: John Rudolph |
 Photo: Ning Zhang |
Home neighborhood to the UW |
4114 University Way NE and 45th Street Seattle, WA 98105 +1 206 526 9000 |
The neighborhood immediately to the west of the University of Washington attracts students and locals for shopping, snacking and strolling. The main thoroughfare, University Way (formerly 14th Avenue) is usually referred to by its nickname, "the Ave." Neptune, Varsity and Grand Illusion cinemas are located here, as are numerous coffeehouses: Cafe Allegro and Perkengrüven among them. Shops sell futons, trendy shoes and cheap clothing. The large University Bookstore anchors the neighborhood. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: Ryan Shaw |
 Photo: Josh Larios |
 Photo: Marc Palm |
 Photo: Claire Miccio |
 Photo: Michael Hornung |
 Photo: michele33 |
 Photo: Steve Madsen |
 Photo: Elias Grey |
 Photo: Jill Henriksen |
 Photo: Kyle Fox |
 Photo: Kristen Chopra |
 Photo: Erik Andersen |
Home of the Huskies |
022 Odegaard UW Information & Visitors Center Seattle, WA 981095 +1 206 543 9198 http://www.washington.edu uwvic@u.washington.edu |
With nearly 700 acres, the university's well-manicured grounds are essentially the biggest park in the city-a park with 35,000 students, that is. On a clear day, you can soak up views of Mount Rainier from Drumheller Fountain. Central Plaza (or Red Square) is the heart of the campus, where students flow in and out of Suzzallo Library and ordinary citizens head for the concerts and lectures at Meany and Kane halls. The entire campus has a cohesive brick look, thanks to the university's insistence on making additions blend in. Trees are tall and stately, and the winding roads force drivers to cruise slowly. The school was founded in 1861 in downtown Seattle and moved to its current location in 1895. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: Ryan Mattson |
 Photo: pdoyen |
 Photo: Bass_Ash |
 Photo: Phylaxer |
 Photo: SEIYA SUZUKI |
 Photo: Amanda Kirchhoffer |
View park at the market |
2000 Western Ave (at Virginia Street) Seattle, WA 98101 +1 206 684 4075 (Seattle Parks) http://www.pan.ci.seattle.wa.u... |
Named for the mid-century Seattle architect and artist who fought to preserve the Pike Place Market, this park is minuscule but beloved. The grassy knoll provides a much needed rest and lunch spot for market visitors and workers. The view of Elliott Bay (over the admittedly horrendous Alaskan Way Viaduct) is fabulous. Steinbrueck's son, Peter, is now a member of the city council, and is fighting to preserve the park's views from a hotel developer who wants to block them. The Seattle tradition of liberal politics lives on. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: Brennen Birch |
 Photo: Marc Tremblay |
 Photo: Lydia Heard |
 Photo: Chris Antes |
 Photo: John Campos |
Century old Capitol Hill park |
1247 15th Ave E (at Prospect St) Seattle, WA 98102 +1 206 684 4555 http://www.pan.ci.seattle.wa.u... |
Built between 1904 and 1912, this park displays the Olmsted brothers' late-Victorian urban style of park design. Vistas of rolling lawns, carefully clumped shrubbery, tree-lined drives and carp ponds almost make you feel like you're strolling with top hat and cane in hand. The Kew Gardens-style glass conservatory, filled with humid tropical and arid desert environments, is free to all. Also visit the Seattle Asian Art Museum. Outside the museum sits Isamu Noguchi's stone sculpture "Black Sun," beloved of clambering children and tourists appreciative of its view of the Space Needle across the park's reservoir. At the southern end of the park stands a 75-foot brick water tower with a spiraling staircase and a 360-degree view of the Seattle area, from the Olympics to the Cascades. The view is a bit obstructed by the bars on the windows, but it's lovely in late afternoon sunlight. The park's name commemorates Seattleites who volunteered for the Spanish-American War. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: Matthew Bodaly |
 Photo: Bright Spider |
 Photo: J.S. Epperson |
 Photo: Lenny Zimmerman |
 Photo: Joe Wheeler |
 Photo: Elizabeth Rose |
 Photo: Patrick I Taylor |
 Photo: rebecca tolley-stoke |
 Photo: Matthew Bodaly |
 Photo: Jon Lasser |
 Photo: Paul O'Connell |
 Photo: Ike van de Ven |
 Photo: Scott Meyer |
 Photo: Jon Lasser |
 Photo: Tom Harpel |
 Photo: Donielle |
Invigorating day hike |
1 and 1/2 miles off of Highway Gold Bar, WA 98251 +1 360 793 8784 / +1 888 337 7492 http://www.wallacefallslodge.com lodging@wallacefallslodge.com |
This popular destination for hikers and bikers lies just an hour northeast of Seattle. Two different hiking trails lead to the falls: the shorter 2.5-mile trek follows the Wallace River and gets pretty steep at times. The longer 3.25-mile, bicycle-friendly railroad grade is considerably flatter and worth the extra length for more leisurely walkers. Stunning trees, mushrooms and ferns line both paths, and wildflowers grow in the brighter areas. The falls are stunning any time of year. Bring plenty of film for suitable-for-framing souvenir photos. The 56-spot parking lot can fill up early on summer weekends, but a local entrepreneur uses her large grass lot for overflow; $2 gets you a full day of parking located only a short walk from the park entrance. Six overnight campsites for tent campers are available, as are several picnic spots at the trailhead. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: Jenna Stahl |
 Photo: Joe Morris |
 Photo: Aishvarya Sharma |
 Photo: Jan Kirchner |
Largest ferry system in United States |
2911 Second Avenue (mailing address) Seattle, WA 98121 +1 206 464 6400 / +1 206 515 3400 http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries comments@wsdot.wa.gov |
In an area surrounded by water, travel by boat makes sense. This is the largest ferry system in the United States, serving nearly 18 million commuters and visitors a year. Eight routes service 20 terminals, including the downtown Seattle ferry docks at Piers 50 and 52, Fauntleroy Dock in West Seattle, Bainbridge Island, Vashon Island, Bremerton and others. Operating 365 days a year, the ferries allow passengers to experience the magnificent Puget Sound scenery. The schedule changes seasonally and varies by day of the week, with adjusted schedules on holidays. Call or visit the Web site for schedules, terminals and fares. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: Eric Weaver |
 Photo: Nemo's great uncle |
 Photo: Santy Piet, BELGIUM |
 Photo: Steve Worbs |
 Photo: sounderfan |
 Photo: Tomas Koska |
 Photo: Michael |
 Photo: Brock Tice |
 Photo: Marta Nimlos |
 Photo: Liem Bahneman |
 Photo: Allen Mason |
 Photo: Antonin Rezny |
 Photo: Paul Phillips |
 Photo: Joe Quinn |
 Photo: Rachel Johnson |
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