The Emerald City: Seattle and Puget Sound

Seattle is the best place on Earth in the Summer time. You have lakes, beaches, parks, and mountains all within close proximity. What more could you ask for. Below is a list of highlights to get you started, but the best way is to make friends with the locals to learn about the city. I'll have to update this when I have more time.


Washington State Ferries (206) 464-6400
The Washington State Ferry System is the largest in the nation. While riding a ferry is part of the daily commute for many Washingtonians, it is also an excellent way for visitors to get out on the water and see some of Washington's beautiful scenery. To ride a ferry as a walk-on passenger, be at the ferry terminal 10-15 minutes before departure, buy a ticket and walk on when the ferry is ready. Passenger's pay only on the Seattle side. To go with a vehicle, allow more time (loading is first come, first serve). Call for departure times and costs.

Pike Place Market (206) 682-7453
The Pike Place Market has been a unique Seattle institution since it opened in 1907. It is the oldest continuously operating farmer's market in the United States. In addition to meat, fish and produce stalls, it has arts and crafts, flower shops, bakeries, entertainers, small restaurants, a movie theatre, and many shops on the lower floor. An information booth is located on the corner of Pike Place and First Avenue near the clock. They have maps and information about the Market. Hours: Mon-Sat. 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m., Sun. 11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

The Waterfront
Seattle has many waterfronts, but "The Waterfront" refers to a mile and a half stretch along Alaskan Way between Main Street and Broad Street. The piers, built at the turn of the century, are full of restaurants featuring fresh Northwest seafood, souvenir shops packed full of treasures, and many attractions. Tour boats, the Washington State ferries, and the Victorian Clipper docks are located along here.

The Waterfront Streetcar (206) 553-3000
These vintage Australian streetcars run along Alaskan Way on the South Main Street making several stops in between. A ticket is good for 1 1/2 hours allowing passengers to get off and on while sightseeing along the waterfront. Streetcars run about every 20 minutes.
Cost: $1.00 non-peak hours, $1.25 peak hours, reduced fare $0.25

Omnidome (206) 622-1869
Pier 59, Waterfront
This amazing Omnimax 70mm theatre combines the world's largest film projector and one of the largest film formats. Whether soaring through space, diving amount the sea creatures of the world's undersea depths or feeling the power of a volcanic eruption, the Omnidome adventure is an unparalleled cinematic experience with movies running every 30 minutes.
Hours: Daily 10:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.

Seattle Aquarium (206) 386-4320
Pier 59, Waterfront
Waterfront Park has the distinction of resting on the doorstep of one of the richest and most diverse aquatic habitats on Earth. Visit the touch tank, underwater dome, fish ladder, mammal tank, and hundreds of exciting exhibits.
Hours: Daily 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Cost: Adults $8.50, Seniors $7.50, Youth $5.75, Children $3.75, Children under 2 are free.

Argosy Cruise Tours (206) 623-4252
The Argosy Locks Tour at Pier 57 is the most extensive of the water sightseeing tours. The tour begins with a brief cruise around Elliot Bay, then goes out into Puget Sound and heads north, up through the Locks, and docks at Chandlers Cove on Lake Union while Deli-type food and beverages are available on board. These two and a half hour tours leave at 12 noon, six days a week. Argosy also offers several other tours at varying prices. Three cruises daily. Call for more tour information.
Cost: Adults $30.00, Children $16.00, Senior $28.00

Pioneer Square
Pioneer Square, at the south end of the city, is "old Seattle" where Seattle grew and flourished in the late 1800's. The broad, tree-lined sidewalks make browsing along the shops delightful. Many art galleries, boutiques, antique shops, theatres, bookstores and restaurants are nestled in this area. There are also small parks and sidewalk cafes to enjoy in good weather. Brochures for self-guided walking tours are available at shops in the area.

Underground Tour (206) 682-4646
610 First Ave.
Experience some of the most entertaining historic moments of your life as you stroll above and below ground in Seattle's old Pioneer Square district. Hear about the colorful people and events that shaped a city which literally rebuilt itself atop its own ruins. Call for reservations and specific tour times. Tour is 90 minutes.
Cost: Adults $8.00, Seniors $7.00, Students $7.00, Children (7-12) $4.00, Children 6 and under are free.

Safeco Field (206) 346-4000
Safeco Field, completed in 1999, is located on 1st Avenue on the south side of Pioneer Square. Home of the Seattle Mariners (baseball), Safeco Field features an 11-ton retractable roof which rolls closed in less than twenty minutes. Tours are offered on days that the Mariners are playing (home or away). Call the number listed to arrange for group tours.

The Locks (206) 783-7059
The Hiram M. Chittenden Locks are located on the west end of Lake Washington Ship Canal. Completed in 1916, the Locks are used by pleasure boaters and commercial vessels going between saltwater Puget Sound and freshwater Lake Union and Lake Washington. The present Salmon Ladder was built in 1976 to facilitate the salmon migration back to freshwater spawning groups. The visitor's center is located on the north side and has interesting displays and a narrated slide show. Snack carts and restaurants are located nearby and the Carl S. English, Jr. ornamental gardens the terraces of the north side are perfect for taking in the action or relaxing with a picnic lunch. Free tours are offered at 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. daily from June 1 to September 30. Tours last approximately 1 hour and begin at the visitor's center.

Seattle Center (206) 684-7200
The Seattle Center is located just ten minutes from Seattle Pacific University's Campus. The Seattle Center features year-round entertainment and events including the Symphony, Ballet, Opera, theatres, Children's Museum, Pacific Science Center, Space Needle, Fun Forest Amusement Park, International Fountain and Seattle Center Monorail.

Seattle Children's Museum (206) 441-1768
305 Harrison (At the Seattle Center)
Hands-on exhibits and fun for the family.
Hours: Daily 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Sat. 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Cost: Adults $5.00, Children under 1 are free.

Pacific Science Center (206) 443-2001
200 Second Ave. North
The Pacific Science Center located within the Seattle Center includes such exciting adventures as Body Works, Kid Works, Science Playground, the Salt Water Tide Pool, and Sea Monster House which all await your curious and adventurous exploration. It is a place where science isn't a subject, but an experience!
Hours: Mon-Fri 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Sat-Sun 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Cost: Adults $8.00, Children 6-13 & Seniors $5.50

IMAX
Hours: 11:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. shows every hour on the hour.
Cost: Adults $6.75, Children $5.75, $4.50 with P.S.C. admission ticket.

Space Needle (206) 443-2100
Built for the 1962 World's Fair, the Space Needle boasts an incredible view of the city and the Sound from the Observation Deck.
Hours: Sun-Thurs 8:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m., Fri-Sat. 8:00 a.m. - Midnight
Cost: Adults $11.00, Seniors $9.00, Children $5.00

Experience Music Project 1-877-I-LISTEN
140,000 square foot building includes interactive exhibits, unique artifacts and space for extraordinary live performances all created to celebrate the past, present and future of music. You don’t need to be a rock star to appreciate EMP, but you might leave here feeling like one.
Summer Hours (5/31/05 to 9/5/05)
Open Daily 10:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Adults $19.95, Youth $14.95

The Monorail (206) 441-6038
The Monorail, also built for the 1962 World's Fair shuttles between downtown Seattle and the Seattle Center. It departs every 15 minutes from the Center House next to the Space Needle or from the Monorail station on the third floor of the Westlake Center in downtown Seattle. It takes 90 seconds to travel from Seattle Center to downtown Seattle.
http://www.seattlemonorail.com
Hours: Mon-Fri 7:30 a.m. - 11:00 p.m., Sat-Sun 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.
Round trip fares are: $2.50 for adults, $1 for youth (ages 5-12), $1 for senior (65+) and disabled. Children 4 and under are FREE.

Seattle Funplex
1541 - 15th Ave. West
Seattle Funplex is Seattle's only year round family recreation and sports center. Indoor minigolf, jungle bouncer, laser tag, indoor air pistol shooting range, softball batting cage, video games, bumper cars, gravimetric motion theatre, and a full concession stand make for an exciting evening out. All games are priced individually. Group prices available.
Hours: Sun-Thurs 11:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m., Fri 11:00 a.m. - Midnight, Sat 10:00 a.m. - Midnight

Woodland Park Zoo (206) 684-4800
5500 Phinney Ave. North
Escape to the wide open areas of the zoo designed to recreate the animals' natural habitat.
http://www.zoo.org/
Hours:
March 15 to April 30: 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily
May 1 to September 14: 9:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. daily
September 15 to October 14: 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily
October 15 to March 14: 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. daily

Admission: (*kc: king county resident; non: non-king county resident)
Adult (18-64) $8.00 (kc) $9.00 (non)
Senior (65+) $8.25 (kc) $7.25 (non)
Youth (6-17) and Disabled $6.50 (kc) $5.75 (non)
Preschool (3-5) $4.25 (kc) $3.75 (non)
Toddler (0-2) Free

Parking: $3.50

Henry Art Gallery (206) 546-2280
University of Washington Campus
Hours: Tues-Sun 11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Thurs 11:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Cost: Adults $5.00, Seniors $3.50, Children under 13 are free, with college/school ID free

Burke Memorial Washington State Museum (206) 543-5590
University of Washington Campus
Hours: Daily 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Cost: Adults $5.50, Seniors $4.00, Students $2.50

Museum of Flight (206) 764-5720
Boeing Airfield, 9400 E. Marginal Way S.
Experience aviation history at the Museum of Flight. Look in the cockpit of the first US mail plane, walk right up to a Blue Angels jet, or examine the rivets on a B-47 bomber.
Hours: Daily 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Thurs 10:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Cost: Adults $9.50, Seniors $8.50, Youth (5-17) $5.00

Frye Art Museum (206) 622-9250
704 Terry Ave.
Hours: Tues-Sat. 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Thurs 10:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m., Sun 12:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m., closed Mondays
Cost: free admission, free parking

Museum of History and Industry (206) 324-1126
2161 East Hamlin Street
Permanent Northwest history collection; Alaska and Puget Sound maritime history.
Hours: Daily 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Cost: Adults $5.50, Children (6-12) & Seniors $3.00, Children (2-5) $1.00

Seattle Art Museum (206) 654-3100
100 University Street
Hours: Tues-Sun 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Thurs 10:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Cost: Adults $7.00, Seniors & Students $5.00

Seattle Art Museum Pavilion (206) 625-8900
Volunteer Park
Hours: Tues-Sun 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Thurs 10:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Cost: Adults $6.00, Seniors & Students $4.00, Children under 12 are free

Greenlake Boat Rentals (206) 527-0171
7201 E. Green Lake Dr. North
Rent a rowboat, paddleboat or sailboard.

Northwest Outdoor Center on Lake Union (206) 281-9694
2100 Westlake North
Kayak rentals on Lake Union

University of Washington Water Activities Center (206) 543-9433
Rent canoes and rowboats and boat on Lake Washington.
Hours: Daily 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Cost: $6.50 / hour

Moss Bay Rowing and Kayaking Center (206) 682-2031
Rowing, kayaking and sailing for children and adults at south Lake Union. An unblemished 15 year safety record!
1001 Fairview Avenue North #1900

Interbay Family Golf Center (206) 285-2200
2501 15th Ave. West
Driving range and miniature golf coarse located five minutes from SPU.
Daily 7:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.

Greenlake Golf Course (206) 632-2280
5701 W. Green Lake Way North

Jackson Park Golf Club (206) 363-4747
1000 NE 135th Street


Interested in Hiking? REI (888) 873-1938
Hit REI for maps and suggestions for hikes. Friendly experts will help you navigate your way to the nearby mountains for easy to hard trails. Snoqualmie is only 40 minutes away!
222 Yale Ave N
Seattle, WA 98109
Store Hours: M-F: 10 am - 9 pm, Saturday: 10 am - 7 pm
Sunday: 10 am - 7 pm

Agua Verde! (206) 545-8570
1303 NE Boat St. Seattle, WA 98105
Creative, healthy Mexican food in a casual, waterfront setting. Sea kayaks are available for hourly rental downstairs. Paddle past eclectic floating homes with vistas of the Seattle skyline in the background.
Monday - Saturday
11am - 4 pm Lunch
5 pm - 9 pm Dinner
Happy Hour
4 pm - 6 pm
Sunday
Closed


Mesob Ethiopian Restaurant (206) 860-0403
1325 E Jefferson St, Seattle 98122
The restaurant's name, Mesob, describes a traditional Ethiopian table setting where a large woven basket is used as the base on which a large platter of food is set. You eat family-style, with your hands. The vegetarian dishes are the jewels of the menu, though beef, lamb and chicken are offered in many tasty varieties. This is down the street from school so keep it quiet. I don’t want this great place to be overrun with students.

Mama's Mexican Kitchen (206) 728-6262
2234 2nd Ave, Seattle 98121
Big servings of reasonably priced, American-style Mexican food, great margaritas and that elusive quality that makes the place a clubhouse keep people coming back. One of my favorite Mexican restaurants.


And right next door is the Noodle Ranch! (206) 728-0463
2228 2nd Ave, Seattle 98121
“Noodle Ranch serves a multinational lineup of inexpensive, unpretentious Asian noodle specialties (“Pan Asian Vittles,” reads the menu logo) with generous, bountiful execution. Craft artists Diane Stevenson and Billy Hughes, along with their Vietnamese chef, Nga Bui, have put together a winning little institution.”
The Seattle Times


BBQ Peco’s Pit 2260 First Ave. S
This barbecue joint, located in an industrial area south of Pioneer Square, looks like an old gas station with picnic tables out front, and the first thing you'll notice is the line of about 30 people standing at the walk-up window. The second thing you'll notice is that the bag they give you comes with five napkins and a spoon. Yep, this joint is both popular and a great place to ruin a good shirt, but those sandwiches sure are tasty. Unless you're a confirmed fire-eater, don't go beyond "mild" unless you want to feel your lips burning long after you've finished eating. Pecos Pit BBQ may be out of the way, but it's worth the drive. Sandwiches $3.20-$5.85 CASH ONLY.
Hours Mon-Fri 11am-3pm (until 4pm in summer)

Salumi (206) 621-8772
309 3rd Ave S, Seattle 98104
The pig sign hanging outside this Pioneer Square hot spot could have come from the Middle Ages--appropriate, as owner Armandino Batali cures meats and makes sausages the way Italians have been for centuries. Crowds of regulars make the communal dining table an entertaining experience, but there are a few smaller tables that offer slightly more privacy. Sausages come in sandwiches on artisanal bread, or can be cooked at home.


Clubbing

PIONEER SQUARE boasts the most accessible cluster of late-late ass-to-ass, but if you must sample Belltown's Friday and Saturday skin shows, Medusa (2218 Western Ave., 206-652-0981) is the crème de la crème. A friendly cross-cultural mix grinds beneath catwalks populated by undulating babes in halters and hot pants. Complementary go-go imagery shines on flat screens, and multiple VIP areas are guarded by nattily clad behemoth bouncers. The bang nearly justifies the buck, which escalates to $15 on weekends after 11 p.m.

Wallet willing, Medusa's a rousing preamble to catapulting through First Avenue's fine assortment of strip joints, crackheads, and lepers en route to Pioneer Square, still the only neighborhood in the city in which one can experience firsthand the disquieting, almost palpable tragedy of a Girls Gone Wild infomercial. Luckily, Mantra Lounge (210 S. Washington St., 206-652-0981) offers tasteful, minimalist refuge from the tongue-wagging throngs of 24 Hour Party People. The dance floor is sometimes beset by shoe-shufflers crowding the perimeter, but hey, the operative word is "lounge." A slew of couches and "love seats" behind the bar engender an endearingly intimate atmosphere, but should you choose to cut it up, house rages on until 5 a.m.

If you're seeking something more visceral, i.e., vintage P-Square, tromp westward back to the Fenix Underground (109 S. Washington St., 206-405-4313), where Trent Von handles weekend wax until 4 a.m. The labyrinthine basement setup resembles Silence of the Lambs slayer Buffalo Bill's dungeon, but in lieu of "putting the lotion in the basket," you're rewarded with an abundance of ready-and-willing oglers and multiple, shadowy make-out nooks. Only buzzkill: Monitors sternly warn, "It's almost 2 a.m. Staff must remove all alcohol," well after 2 a.m., nullifying that perceived hand-in-the-cookie-jar sensation that after-hours merriment is all about.

On the outskirts of the Pioneer Square solar system is Contour (807 First Ave., 206-447-7704), open on weekends until 5 a.m. With the front window wide open, the club is half diorama, half peep show. The perspective is far more favorable from the dance floor, almost always inundated with writhing bodies and comfortably nestled far in back, safe from the junkies and streetwalkers beckoning just a few feet away. Contour's video screen is as adeptly employed as Medusa's; shadows of clustered freestylers flap up against swirling psychedelic imagery, a modern-day appropriation of Gremlins about to tear through the fabric of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.

Other Clubs:

Last Supper Club (206) 748-9975
124 S Washington St, Seattle 98104
LSC has two floors with varying music formats, from house to acid jazz to drum 'n bass, bolstered by superior sound and lighting. Local video artists add extra input for sensory overload. Need to calm down? Two bars staffed with some of the city's best are ready to medicate you. Weekend nights fill up quick- get in here early and get a seat. Sit back in a red crushed velvet chair and watch the eye candy roll by.

Ibiza Dinner Club 206-381-9090
528 2nd Ave, Seattle, WA 98104
Leave the Gore-Tex and Birkenstocks in the closet and opt for Prada and Manolos when dining at Ibiza -- this is a see-and-be-seen destination. Massive mirrors make the large space even larger, and shimmering sheers in coppery gold and cloud white drape from the high ceiling, creating a rippling passageway between dining and cushion-strewn lounge areas, leading straight to the circular bar.

Tini Bigs 206 284 0931
100 Denny Way Seattle, WA 98109
Dark, smoky trendy spot for young crowd of party-loving drinkers and partner-seeking singles looking to chat up and charm the chiquitas. The name comes from the trademark over-sized martinis and they do 27 varieties here in everything from lemon to apple. But there are over 100 other types of liquor on the menu so you're sure to find a favorite. The interior is all dark wood and dim lighting and there are counter-high bar stools and tables to take time out in. The design killer though is the single hot-pink neon light that outlines the ceiling of the bar. Food includes salads, sandwiches and satays while cigar smokers will feel at home with a selection of faux-Havanas as thick as dynamite sticks.

Right next door is Watertown (206) 284-5003
106 1st Ave N, Seattle 98109
Style-conscious singles (many Eastsiders) flowing in on Wednesday for house music; and a more nostalgia-leaning crowd on Sunday for old-school funk. The dance floor is ample; one wall is flanked by a montage of bubble mirrors, providing a dizzying view of the action.


The Premier (206) 382-7870
1700 First Ave S, Seattle, WA 98134
Providing a much-needed alternative venue for touring bands, this 1,500-capacity venue is a welcome addition to the music community. Booked by veteran talent buyer Jason Fitzgerald, the club hosts a wide range of alt-rock, metal and hip-hop acts. The high ceilings and a sprawling bar (separated from the main showroom) are well-suited to the often sold-out shows, and the plethora of free parking spots make the drive just south of downtown worth the effort.


The music changes constantly from night to night, look at the clubs calendar on their websites or the Stranger.

This site has a bunch of info for Seattle and will fill in the blanks where I left off:
http://seattle.citysearch.com

Enjoy,

Steve Tanijo