One of Seattle's most famous landmarks, Pike Place Market is one of the oldest continuously working public markets in the United States and one of the world's top 50 most visited attractions. Pike Place opened in 1907 as the city's first public market, expanding to keep up with its growing popularity as a convenient option for both shoppers and merchants. The market remains a veritable cornucopia of culinary and artisanal options, its crowded aisles and bustling halls thronged with customers jostled between vendors of fresh produce and gourmet eats, alongside fishmongers and craftsmen. The street level is dominated by food and produce stalls, while the lower levels house a fantastic variety of shops, including antique dealers, head shops, florists and local artisans. A whirlwind of sights, sounds and aromas, Pike Place Market is nothing short of paradise for foodies and connoisseurs of unique wares.
Chihuly Garden Glass amazes visitors with displays of colour and fine artistry. With the iconic Space Needle serving as its backdrop, this unique exhibit – conceived by artist Dale Chihuly – features glass sculptures that have to be seen to be believed. The splendour of lush gardens showcasing Chihuly's signature glass creations is a truly serene experience. Easily accessible via the Seattle Monorail, there is no excuse for not experiencing this incomparable display of nature and glass.
Located on the south slope of Queen Anne Hill, Kerry Park is a popular park in Seattle that is renowned for providing beautiful panoramic views of the city. With Mount Rainier as a picturesque backdrop, this park is popular with locals and tourists alike. At night, the view of the city from the park is breathtaking and dream-like, which makes it perfect for pictures.
Explore the history of flight from the Wright Brothers to space travel. Collections at Museum of Flight include commercial, military and civilian crafts. See a 1929 Boeing 80A-1, the sole survivor of its type. The 1926 Swallow was used as the nation's first contracted airmail service starting in April 1926. For those interested in more modern aircraft, there are the dynamic M-21 Blackbird, the fastest and highest-flying aircraft ever built, and the VC-137B Air Force One, which flew President Dwight D. Eisenhower on a historic visit to meet with Germany's Chancellor Konrad Adenauer in 1959. Take a walk through the “Red Barn,” a museum in its own right, where the Boeing Company manufactured its first aircraft. There is also a library with an extensive selection of aviation information, as well as a museum store and a cafe on the premises.
Located in Downtown Seattle, Benaroya Hall is a large 189,750 square foot (17,628 square meters) performing arts complex that takes up an entire city block. Located inside are the two performance halls, the Taper Auditorium and the Nordstrom Recital Hall, which each feature state-of-the-art sound and lighting technology. This giant complex provides ample public space and entertainment throughout the year through its various events such as lectures, musicals, festivals and more. A true highlight is the concerts put on by the Seattle Symphony, which call Benaroya Hall, home. For more information regarding venue rentals or upcoming events, visit the website.
Sitting on Capitol Hill with Volunteer Park's large grassy knoll at its entrance and a neighborhood known for its unique culture surrounding it, the Asian Art Museum is not to be missed. Have lunch in the park overlooking downtown Seattle, and then wander into the museum to be immediately engulfed in some of the world's most precious Asian art. Browse through over 23,000 objects that include African, Asian, European, Oceanic, Aboriginal, among other international art. From one of the top five US Japanese & Korean Art collections to ancient Greek and Roman artifacts, visitors are able to absorb prominent multi-cultural art. Call ahead for visiting hours.
Take the ferry from Seattle on a 50-minute trip to historic Bremerton. Located close to the ferry terminal, this "floating museum" lets you view the configuration of naval destroyers up close. Named for Vice Admiral C. Turner Joy, a leading Korean Armistice Peace negotiator, this ship was involved in the August 1964 Gulf of Tonkin incident, which helped to escalate the Vietnam War. Take an in-depth tour of this historic ship, which is maintained in its original condition.
The corporate headquarters of Weyerhaeuser, the largest timber company in America, devotes a chunk of its property to two public gardens—a rhododendron display and this bonsai collection. The tiny, gnarled trees are fantastic both in shape and age. Some are as much as 1,000 years old. Most are little pines, but there are some deciduous trees as well, and several are arranged in charming miniature landscapes. Bonsai masters give occasional weekend lectures and classes. Tours are also offered every Sunday at noon.
One of the largest academic law libraries in the West, this library has court briefs, United States government publications, an East Asian collection and a general collection. It also provides access to legal databases, including LegalTrac, LEXIS-NEXIS and WESTLAW, the World News Collection and Congressional Universe. Those not affiliated with the University of Washington should sign in at the second floor entrance. To check out materials, visitors must register at the Circulation Desk (photo identification and proof of Washington residency required).
For more than 20 years this gallery, a vital part of Seattle's art community, has focused on contemporary art in a variety of mediums including paint, glass art, jewelry, stone and bronze sculpture. The gallery, located on the edge of Pike Place Market, draws from a pool of local, national and international artists for its wide array of bold pieces. You'll find dazzling variety, from twisting bronze and granite sculptures to delicate glass vases to bright watercolors.
The Sakya Monastery of Tibetan Buddhism is the only monastery in the United States, this brightly painted building came to fruition in 1928 as a Presbyterian church. Now decorated with intricate carvings and red and yellow colors, this monastery was featured in the 1993 film 'Little Buddha' and contains gorgeous statues, meditation rooms and a library. The exterior alone is worth a visit, but several times each week the public is welcome in for meditation. Throughout the year, various memorial events and ritual celebrations take place, some open to the public, some not. Frequent classes and lectures occur in the evening, ranging from, 'Practical Tibetan' for travelers to bead-making. This little-known treasure is a feast for both eyes and soul.
Formerly known as the Rainier Beach High School Performing Arts Center, the place was renamed in 2004 to honor Paul Roberson. He was the first African American to make a mark in film and theater, a civil rights activist and a passionate sports person. The center was built in 1998, and since then is used by the school for hosting various events and programs organized by the students, especially those from their arts curriculum. However, the vision to create the best performing-arts program in the nation, has let them to take major initiatives to host special events to draw a crowd. This includes African Drum and Dance Ensemble show and the musical "Dream girls".