Pacific Northwest Attractions

The Pacific Northwest

Despite the city's relatively brief history, diversity and tradition fill the streets of Seattle. This medium-sized urban hub is thriving economically with help from multinational companies like Microsoft, Starbucks, Amazon and Boeing. For many who live here, however, the lush greenery, abundant water, and picturesque mountain ranges are what make this beautiful city the perfect place to call home. For you as our visitor, September is the perfect time to enjoy all the city has to offer, as the temperatures are comfortable and it rarely rains.

Known for Starbucks Coffee and its alternative rock music scene, this progressive city offers stunning natural surroundings and dynamic city life. Situated on Puget Sound, Seattle is surrounded by the waters of Elliot Bay, Lake Union and Lake Washington, as well as by beautiful views of Mount Rainier and the Olympic and Cascade Mountains. The city's exciting districts keep the metro buzzing with hip coffeehouses, farmers markets, world-class museums, notable theaters, concert halls and innovative restaurants.

Seattle offers all the delights of an international city and the Sheraton enjoys a convenient downtown location to help you access all of it. The historic Pike Place Market, the Seattle Art Museum, the Space Needle, Experience Music Project, Mariner’s Safeco Stadium and a host of other exciting attractions are right nearby. Visit world-famous landmarks and explore quirky neighborhoods. Indulge in upscale nearby shopping. See a show at the Fifth Avenue Theater or the Paramount Theater. Experience the Opera or the world renowned Pacific Northwest Ballet at McCaw Hall. Enjoy the Seattle Symphony at Benaroya Hall. All are just a short walk from the hotel.

Places to Visit

Ballard Neighborhood

Ballard is one of Seattle's oldest neighborhoods and was settled by Danish and Finish immigrants in the mid 1800s. Today, its Scandinavian roots are reflected in its historic landmarks and attractive winding streets. Trendy cafes, neighborhood pubs and unique shops have made Ballard a favorite destination for locals and visitors alike. Stores range from home design shops that focus on "green living" to the latest in chic apparel.

Visitors can find a wide range of ethnic restaurants in Ballard, from popular Thai cuisine to upscale dining. Ballard's pubs, like its restaurants, are often known as much for their unusual settings as for their excellent fare. Converted hardware stores, historic buildings and Ballard's famous library have become settings for unique meeting places, adding to the attractive atmosphere that makes up one of Seattle's most popular neighborhoods.

Overlooking Salmon Bay, the community of Ballard is often associated with the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks, what is locally known as the Ballard Locks. This waterway at the northwest end of Seattle provides an essential link between Puget Sound and Seattle's two principal lakes, Lake Union and Lake Washington. A favorite location for strolling or for boating, the Ballard Locks are a popular summertime attraction.

Pike Place Market

Between First Avenue and Western, from Pike to Virginia Streets
www.pikeplacemarket.org

The focal point of the city, Pike Place Market is the number one tourist attraction in the area, attracting crowds of visitors and locals alike. Founded in 1907, Pike Place is the oldest continually operating farmer’s market in the country. It has 200 businesses operating year-round, 190 craftspeople and 120 farmer booths, plus street performers and musicians. Flowers by the bucketful, flying fish, fresh pastries and fruit, handmade cheeses, local honey, wine, an assortment of restaurants, import goods, antiques, collectibles and lots of surprises can be found around every corner.

Fremont Neighborhood

The self proclaimed “Center of the Universe,” Seattle's Fremont neighborhood is a bohemian district north of downtown. With a well-known motto of “De Libertas Quirkas” or, “Free to be Peculiar”, Fremont is an eclectic, artsy neighborhood located in the north-central section of Washington's largest metropolis.

Known best for its offbeat and irreverent parades, parties and sidewalk art, Fremont is home to such Seattle landmarks as the Annual Solstice Parade, the Fremont Troll Monument hidden under the Aurora Bridge, and the neighborhood's controversial 7-ton Lenin statue.

A walking tour is probably the best way to appreciate Fremont's unusual artistic character and to partake in some of its homemade microbreweries and bistros. True to its nature, Fremont's culinary opportunities are both cosmopolitan and exceptional. Choices run the gamut, from traditional Asian cuisine and western vegetarian to Italian trattorias and upscale seafood restaurants.

Capitol Hill Neighborhood

There is no state capitol on Capitol Hill despite the dreams of early Seattle leaders. However, no neighborhood in the city has a more active sidewalk scene, day or night, than Broadway, Capitol Hill's believe-it-or-not version of Main Street. And no neighborhood in the city has a more diverse population. Seattle's gay community, grunge rockers and twenty-something's of many races share the area with longtime residents ensconced in the historic mansions, elegant old homes and classic apartment houses of Capitol Hill.

Volunteer Park is the gem of Capitol Hill, original home of the Seattle Art Museum, a much-beloved building now handsomely restored as the Seattle Asian Art Museum. Educational institutions enliven this neighborhood's life, with Seattle University, Seattle Community College and Cornish College of the Arts all located here. There are movie theaters, clubs, taverns, dance steps imbedded in the sidewalk and a variety of shops from around the world.

The Space Needle and Seattle Center

400 Broad Street
www.spaceneedle.com

You can't go to Paris without stopping by the Eiffel Tower. And you can't visit Seattle without checking out the view from the world-famous Space Needle. A 41-second elevator ride takes you up 520 feet to the Observation Deck of the Space Needle, built for the 1962 World's Fair. Enjoy a meal at SkyCity, the restaurant at the top that revolves 360° while you dine. Board the monorail at Westlake Center (just two blocks from the Sheraton) and enjoy a scenic trip that drops you off right near the base of the Space Needle.

Experience Music Project (EMP)

325 5th Ave North
www.empsfm.org

The brainchild of Microsoft Co-founder Paul Allen and designed by avant-garde architect Frank Gehry, this rock 'n' roll museum is a massive, multicolored structure at the foot of the Space Needle at Seattle Center. Originally planned as a memorial to Seattle native Jimi Hendrix, the museum grew to encompass not only Hendrix, but the entire Northwest rock scene (from "Louie Louie" to grunge) and the general history of American popular music.

Experience Music Project (EMP) is dedicated to the exploration of creativity and innovation in popular music. By blending interpretative, interactive exhibitions with cutting-edge technology, EMP captures and reflects the essence of rock 'n' roll, its roots in jazz, soul, gospel, country and the blues, as well as rock's influence on hip-hop, punk and other recent genres. Visitors can view rare artifacts and memorabilia and experience the creative process by listening to musicians tell their own stories.

International District

Enticing aromas drift from Chinese, Japanese, and Vietnamese restaurants like Green Leaf, Bush Garden and Sea Garden in this primarily Asian neighborhood. Specialty shops filled with unusual treasures line the streets. Check out the inner-city oasis, Hing Hay Park, complete with a pagoda and the Wing Luke Asian Museum.

Seattle Aquarium

Pier 59
www.seattleaquarium.org

Meet Alki, the sea otter pup born at the Aquarium. Walk under the water in a glass dome as bluntnose sixgill sharks and other Elliott Bay creatures swim all around you. Touch a sea anemone. Learn about the lives of salmon at the world's first aquarium-based salmon ladder. Marvel at the impossibly bright-colored coral reef fish. And don't forget to wave to the giant Pacific octopus.

After touring the Aquarium, stroll down the Piers and explore the rest of the waterfront which is full of shops and restaurants. Make sure to stop at Ivar’s Acre of Clams restaurant for a bowl of their famous Clam Chowder.

Seattle Art Museum

100 University Street
www.seattleartmuseum.org

This large museum verges on world-class and should not be missed on a visit to Seattle. With acres of gallery space and cutting-edge exhibit designs, this is definitely not your typical, stodgy art museum. Before you even step inside the museum, you'll see the faceless silhouette of Jonathon Borofsky's shadowy Hammering Man, an animated three-story steel sculpture that pounds out a silent beat in front of the museum.

In the museum lobby, white cars go tumbling through the air with colored lights shooting out of them in Cai Guo-Qiang's sculpture Inopportune: Stage One. Once you finally get inside the museum exhibit space, you'll find one of the nation's premier collections of Northwest Coast Indian art and artifacts, and an equally large collection of African art. The museum is particularly strong in modern and contemporary art, but there are also good collections of European and American art ranging from ancient Mediterranean works to pieces from the medieval, Renaissance, and baroque periods. Of course, the Northwest contemporary art collection is also quite extensive. The downtown location also has a collection of Asian art, but the majority of the city's Asian art is at the affiliated Seattle Asian Art Museum in Volunteer Park.

Seattle Public Library

1000 Fourth Avenue
www.spl.org

It isn't often that the library is considered one of the coolest places in town, but Seattle's downtown library is such an architectural wonder that it is one of the city's highlights. In the city where the Internet rules, the building takes books into the 21st century. Named as a Time Magazine “Building of the Year”, Seattle Public Library is composed of five platforms made to resemble an uneven stack of books. Instead of being aligned directly on top of one another, the platforms are positioned off center to provide expansive views, create airy spaces, and allow more natural light into the building.

When the building opened in 2004, its design created a rift among many locals, who either loved it or hated it. Indeed, there wasn't much of a middle ground with this giant glass cube and its diamond-patterned steel girders and strange angles. Regardless of your reaction to architect Rem Koolhaas's design, you can't help but notice that in a town known for its gray skies, this library abounds with natural light. There are also colorful spongy chairs, floors of bamboo and brushed metal, carpets printed to look like plants, and an outdoor garden designed to meld with the indoor carpets. Step outside and it all amounts to something like a cubist sculpture that occupies an entire city block.

Pioneer Square and the Underground Tour

608 First Ave.
www.undergroundtour.com

If you're interested in learning more about Seattle history, visit the city's first neighborhood, Pioneer Square. Settled in the 1850s, the district is lined with historic buildings, many of which were constructed after the Great Fire of 1889 destroyed most of the original structures. Today, old-fashioned streetcars transport visitors on a tour of neighborhood landmarks. Native America totem poles, a turn-of-the-20th-century pergola and an old train station help commemorate the city's past, and attractive shops, art galleries and restaurants occupy many of the old buildings.

A small portion of the neighborhood that survived the Great Fire remains below ground and is the focal point of the fascinating Underground Tour. This guided tour takes visitors through the hidden subterranean passages that once were the main roadways and storefronts of old downtown Seattle and tells stories of the frontier people who lived and worked there.

Burke Museum

17th Avenue NE and NE 45th Street
www.burkemuseum.org

At the northwest corner of the University of Washington campus, the Burke Museum features exhibits on the natural and cultural heritage of the Pacific Rim and is the Northwest's foremost museum of paleontology, archaeology, and ethnology. Permanent exhibits include Life & Times of Washington State, which covers 500 million years of Washington history (and prehistory) with lots of fossils, including a complete mastodon. The second permanent exhibit, Pacific Voices, focuses on the many cultures of the Pacific Rim and their connections to Washington State. In front of the museum stand several modern totem poles that are replicas of poles carved in the late 19th century. Because this museum is fairly large, it mounts touring shows that often make only a few other stops in the U.S., so be sure to check the exhibition schedule when you are in town.

University of Washington Campus

www.washington.edu
The University of Washington (UW) in Seattle boasts a campus that sprawls across 643 acres. Serving over 30,000 undergraduates, it is an epicenter for learning, research, the arts and athletics. The Liberal Arts Quadrangle, nicknamed "the Quad", is an expansive grassy area framed by several intricately adorned buildings. It is a popular social gathering place in spring and early fall. The Red Square is also a popular destination. Toward its southwest side, the avenue leading from the square showcases the high upward burst of Drumheller fountain. It celebrates the centennial anniversary of the UW and can reach a symbolic height of 100 feet. On a clear day Mt. Rainer looms scenically in the distance.

On the eastern side of Red Square, the collegiate-gothic façade of Suzzallo Library beckons as one of the campus' most memorable landmarks. The building is touted as the "soul of the university". Inside on its second floor, the impressive 65 feet high, 52 feet wide, and 250 feet long Reading Room is a hallmark stop for visitors. Its oak bookcases, long tables, massive hanging lamps and hushed atmosphere provide the perfect setting for quiet study.

Tour Seattle by Water

There is no better way to see Seattle than from the water. Enjoy a narrated tour of the Puget Sound by cruise ship or a unique land-to-water vehicle. Alternatively, rent a sea Kayak or Canoe and paddle your way around Lake Union!

Ride the Ducks of Seattle

516 Broad Street
www.ridetheducksofseattle.com

Tour Seattle by land and water on a WWII amphibious landing craft. This 90-minute adventure tour will have you "quacking up" through the streets of Seattle. You'll see the major sights of the Emerald City on land before you head out to the funky Fremont neighborhood where you'll splash into Lake Union.

Argosy Cruises

Pier 56
www.argosycruises.com

Seattle's premiere cruise tour company, Argosy Cruises offers sightseeing tours, gourmet brunch, lunch, and dinner cruises in Seattle's majestic Puget Sound. Cruises depart daily year-round from downtown Seattle, Lake Union and Kirkland City Dock. All have live narration, wonderful views and feature Seattle's famous places.

Enjoy the Great Outdoors

Many say that Seattle's greatest appeal lies in its surroundings. Lush, expansive parks allow visitors access to the region's natural wonders. Below are some popular outdoor attractions:

Myrtle Edwards Park: 6 minute drive, 23 minute walk
Olympic Sculpture Park: 6 minute drive, 24 minutes walk
Volunteer Park: 7 minute drive
Washington Park Arboretum: 11 minute drive
Gasworks Park: 12 minute drive
Alki Beach: 15 minute drive
Discovery Park: 18 minute drive
Golden Gardens Park: 20 minute drive
Snoqualmie Falls: 40 minute drive
Mt. Rainier National Park: 90 minute drive

Please visit www.seattle.gov/parks/ for more information.

All photos uploaded from Flickr.