Spectacular Seattle

f you have chosen to vacation on the West Coast of the US the best place to start is Seattle, Washington. This city is the capital of culture in the Pacific Northwest. It has grown and developed so that there is plenty to do and to see for visitors. Its skyline, as always, is easily recognizable by the Space Needle rising high into the sky.

The place to start is the Seattle Center with its iconic Space Needle as well as the Monorail, which was built for the 1962 World's Fair. Today this is an entertainment complex and park area with restaurants, theaters, and sports facilities.

Take a heart-stopping ride to the top of the Space Needle and get a 360-degree view at the Needle Observation Deck overlooking the city, Elliot Bay, and Mt. Rainier.

Another attraction not to be missed at the Seattle Center is The Museum of Pop Culture MoPOP. It is housed in a colorful and fluid-like building. Exhibits are spread over three levels. There are hundreds of artifacts, among them costumes, guitars, and memorabilia. The permanent collection includes the world of horror movies, the sci-fi universe, and the rise of the 1990s grunge band Nirvana. There are rotating new exhibits on display. You'll also find interactive displays. The museum hosts event such as movie nights from their list of "100 Horror Films to See Before You Die."

For a truly unique and one-of-a-kind shopping experience, explore Pike Place Market. The market offers two floors of items for sale, It is a popular tourist spot sitting right near the waterfront. There are plenty of fish, fruit, vegetables, and other edible items on sale, You'll also find specialty food stores, bakeries, and restaurants to enjoy good food. Besides food, you can find over 200 shops selling anything from antiques to collectibles to books and unusual specialty shops. There is also a crafts market featuring 225 local and regional creators.

You can take an exciting ride on the Seattle Great Wheel just minutes from the market. This 175-foot-tall Ferris Wheel sits on Pier 57 on the downtown waterfront. Each ride on the wheel takes 20 minutes, and you can get amazing views over the city and the water.

For more attractions on the same pier, there is Miners Landing. You can enjoy a classic carousel and a unique “flying theater” called Wings Over Washington.

Discovery Park is the largest park in the city and has one of the top beaches. The park is located on a point that protrudes into the sound from the Magnolia neighborhood, west of downtown. The park includes coastlines, forests, and meadows and is a habitat for wildlife.

West Point Lighthouse marks the westernmost vantage in the park. The park also has great views of the Olympic Mountains. To be able to see all the views and enjoy nature, you can choose between two trails, the Loop Trail and the Beach Trail.

There is an environmental learning center that offers interactive exhitibs and information about the park. Educational programs are available.

The Chihuly Garden and Glass is one of the best museums in Seattle and the Seattle Center. Here you can see the artwork of innovative glassblower Dale Chihuly who is a native of Tacoma, Washington. There are eight art galleries, and visitors can see one of his largest works in the Glasshouse, where the installation colors and the appearance change with the moving sunlight from above. The museum also offers a video presentation about the life of the artist and his craft. There are daily talks and tours.

Pioneer Square is marked with a 60-foot totem pole and is located in the historic heart of the city.

Among the Victorian-era buildings towers the Smith Tower at a height of 42 stories. On the 35th floor is an observation deck to get great views of the city.

Seattle Aquarium is located on the waterfront. The Window on Washington's Waters has a massive 120,000-gallon tank with a 40-foot wide window and bench seating,

You can watch all the fish swimming by. The tide pool touch tanks let kids and adults get close to sea anemones and other colorful invertebrates. The aquarium is home to various marine mammals, like different kinds of seals and otters.

Woodland Park Zoo is home to many threatened and endangered species from around the world. 300 species range from Asian to African elephants, snow leopards, jaguars, lemurs, and grizzly bears. The zoo offers daily programs, animal feedings, and educational lectures. Visitors can enjoy the solar-operated carousel. You can book an animal experience tour to let you get close to the wildlife and even feed and touch animals. You can have the opportunity to get up close with giraffes, penguins, lemurs, and others.

The Museum of History and Industry MOHAI celebrates the city of Seattle as a leader in innovation and industry, The True Northwest exhibit takes visitors on a journey through the history of the region. You'll find out about Native American cultures and learn about the Klondike Gold Rush. In the Maritime exhibit, you can enjoy 360-degree views of the city through an authentic WW II-era periscope, The third major gallery focuses on local inventors. There are interactive exhibits to enjoy, The permanent collection in the main gallery has a wide range of historical objects.

Alki Beach Park is a popular tourist destination. This was where the first white settlers landed in 1851. There is plenty of sand to relax upon and soak in the sun rays, There are volleyball nets stretched out for games on the sand. When visiting at low tide, you can explore the world of tide pools. A 2.5-mile concrete pathway runs parallel to the beach, and there are benches to relax on and some local businesses.

The Seattle Art Museum SAM is a block from Pike Place Market. There are four floors of expansive gallery space. Rotating exhibits and pieces from the permanent art collections can be found on the bottom three floors. The permanent art collection includes Native American art, European art, and Islamic art. There is also a collection of contemporary and modern art.

The Seattle Art Museum also maintains the Olympic Sculpture Park located at the edge of Elliott Bay, Here you can see some amazing sculptures like the Eye Benches and a glass bridge called Seattle Cloud Cover, This has become an ecologically balanced green space with a salmon habitat and employs sustainable practices like rainwater collection, The park follows a “Z” trail down to the waterfront, The trail takes you past the PACCAR Pavilion with more artwork inside, There is also a cafe on the premises.

Whale watching is an exciting thing to do when visiting Seattle. Whales, particularly orcas, enjoy the waters of Puget Sound. The best time for watching is between mid-July and early September. You can see the whales from the western banks like Alki Beach and Golden Gardens/ To get even closer, you can take a whale-watching boat tour.

The Washington Park Arboretum is a great way to get back to nature. It is a large green space with gardens. There are paths to take, among them Rhododendron Glen and Azalea Way. You can enjoy Japanese maples and New Zealand native plants. Self-guided and guided tours are available. There are also Tram Tours that will take you through the entire park in an hour. At the Graham Visitors Center near the northern border, you can get trail maps and information.

Green Lake is a 260-acre lake north of downtown, A 2.8-mile multi-use paved trail circles the lake.

East Green Lake Park has a sandy shoreline and plenty of green space for picnics, You can enjoy swimming, volleyball, and relaxing by the waterside, Boat rentals are available.

On the opposite side is West Green Lake Beach for relaxing and swimming.

And finally, take the time to meet the Fremont Troll. This is the result of a public art competition three decades ago. The troll wound up under the Aurora Bridge and has been there ever since, known as the Fremont Street Troll, Everyone wants to have a photo with him.