Resting on the shore of Elliot Bay near Lake Washington with Mt. Rainier off in the distance, the Emerald City has a truly gorgeous setting. Its emphatically modern skyline of new skyscrapers is reflected in the bay, the result of thirty years of energetic urban renewal.
The Space Needle and Seattle Center
Rising more than 600 feet above Seattle Center, the Space Needle is the city’s best-known landmark, and you can get a 360-degree view of the scenery, even while dining at SkyCity, a rotating restaurant. On the observation deck, you can experience the high-tech Sky Q, which is equipped with high-definition screens and cameras. The Woodland Park Zoo, an award winner, successfully reproduces an elephant habitat from Asia, a tropical rain forest, and an African-style savanna, along with other special exhibits, and you can also visit the nearby Rose Garden while you are there.
The Seattle Art Museum
The Seattle Art Museum has received worldwide recognition for its outstanding collection of African, Asian, and Native American works, along with Modern Art produced by artists in the Pacific Northwest and many impressive visiting exhibits. The Pacific Science Center offers laser shows, IMAX movies and ever-changing exhibits that focus on insects, butterflies, dinosaurs, robots, and whales รน to name just a few subjects that both children and their parents will learn about and enjoy.
Washington Park Arboretum
The 200-acre Washington Park Arboretum features a spectacular Japanese Garden, lush green areas and a vast array of rare plants, trees and flowers, and visitors can journey through the park by following a path that has the fanciful name of Azalea Way. Alki Beach, which is a popular spot, is a Mecca for families, swimmers and sunbathers in the warm weather. Sports lovers can also play volley ball, hike, jog or skate here, and there are several restaurants and cafes nearby.
As a step toward improving the environment, Seattle took an old gas-processing plant that was no longer needed and transformed it into Gas Works Park. This 21st century facility provides excellent views of Lake Union and the city skyline, and it is often the venue for concerts, family picnics, and viewing the annual Fourth of July fireworks display.
At Seattle Center, the Experience Music Project/Science Fiction Museum & Hall of Fame is one of the most interesting facilities in the city. The music museum immerses visitors in thousands of artifacts that include sound archives, photographs, musical instruments and costumes that belonged to famous performers. To honor the experts in the field, the science fiction museum provides visitors with an opportunity to participate in its many educational and interactive exhibits.
The Washington State Ferry, the largest system of this type in America, carries about 18 million passengers annually, and riders have an opportunity to view the magnificent scenery of Puget Sound as they travel across the water. Among the city’s top restaurants and located at the top of Pike Place Market, 94 Stewart is a stylish bistro that features natural, organic and free-range cuisine along with an extensive wine list, various fresh cheeses and several options for junior diners.