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The
Emerald City: Seattle and Puget Sound Beauty
and brains have combined to make the Seattle region one of the nation's most dynamic
centers of exploration and invention. The natural wonders of land, sea and sky
invite outdoor discovery year-round. But all that fresh air also stimulates clear
and original thinking. The result is a long tradition of entrepreneurial creativity
in Seattle. From Boeing (1917) to the Space Needle (1962) to Microsoft (1975)
to the Experience Music Project (2000), the Puget Sound region is known for being
at the leading edge of corporate and cultural innovation.  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 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 Ballard
Swimming Pool (206)
684-4094
1471 NW 67th Street
Hours: Public Swim: Sun 2:00 p.m. - 3:00
p.m., Wed. 5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m., Fri 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Family Swim: Sun
4:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m., Tues 7:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Cost: Adults $2.50, Children
(1-18) $1.75 Queen
Anne Swimming Pool (206)
386-4282
1920 1st West Howe & Crocket
Hours: Public Swim: Tues, Fri
& Sat 1:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m., Tues, Thurs & Fri 7:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Family Swim: Sat 3:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Cost:
Adults $2.50, Youth $1.75 | 
Copyright © 2001