Create Your Own Adventure - Free National Park Days

Mount Rainier National Park, Olympic National Park, Fort Vancouver National Historical Site, and Lewis & Clark National Historical park are all have free entry (along with all other National Parks) on Monday for MLK Day.
So go outside!

If you can't make it on Monday, National Parks will have free entry on the following dates in 2017:
February 20: President’s Day

April 15-16 and 22-23: Weekends of National Park Week
August 25: National Park Service Birthday
September 30: National Public Lands Day
November 11-12: Veterans Day Weekend

Beneath Us Something Stirs - Fremont Troll

Beneath Highway 99, at the end of the Aurora Bridge, something lurks in the dark.  The creature has called the north abutment of the bridge home since 1990.  The Fremont Troll was created by a group of 4 artists who won a contest to revitalize the area beneath the bridge.  

Approaching the Troll from Troll Ave. 

The Fremont Troll stands 18 feet tall and holds an actual VW Beetle under it's left hand. The shoulders are by far the most popular area to pose for a quick photo.  The area around the Troll can be full of of people, so if you're looking for a more private audience head there before lunch or after dinner. 

Armchair Traveler - Atlas Obscura: An Explorer's Guide to the World's Hidden Wonders

I am definitely more of a get out and go type traveler. (to the chagrin of my family!)  On vacation, and in my daily life, I am in constant motion. I want to see everything, taste the local food and take all of the pictures (we are especially fond of tourist traps and odd locations)...to the point that I need a vacation to recover from my vacation.  However, there are some limitations to my explorations: Money and time.  That's why I love Atlas Obscura.  Not only have I gotten new travel locales for future trips, but i have learned about hidden, unique places that are in far flung places that maybe hard for me to visit.  Which is why I was so excited to see that they have compiled a book with amazing, crazy, strange places and activities from around the world.  Broken into regions, the book reads like an encyclopedia of wonders and curiosities that makes you want to go and explore the world.  So sit back, open the book and explore!

Under The Needle - Seattle Center

 If you are going to venture to see the view at the top of the Space Needle, don't neglect the bounty of experiences available to you throughout the Seattle Center.  

 Beyond being home to the Space Needle, Pacific Science Center and EMP, the Seattle Center has a personality all it's own. 

Originally built for the 1962 World's Fair, the Seattle Center serves locals and visitors alike as a major green space downtown as well as hosting annual events such as Bumbershoot, the Folklife Festival, Bite of Seattle and Pridefest. 

The best place to begin is the Armory.  The Armory building was built in 1939 for the 146th Field Artillery unit. It was reconfigured for the World's Fair and became the Food Circus, the first vertical mall.  It's name has changed to the Center House and currently The Armory.  Inside the armory you will find over a dozen restaurants providing a wide variety of food and snacks.  

Located near the restaurants a piece of the Berlin Wall is on display.  

The Armory is also home to the Seattle Children's Museum. Covering 22,000 square feet in the lower level of the Armory, the Children's Museum provides wide assortment of hands-on activities ideal for kids ages 10 months to 10 years old. 

Outside of the Armory, the Next 50 Plaza is home to an incredible play structure that is suitable for kids of all ages.  The structure rises two stories above the ground with a rope webbing surrounding the lower section and two giants slides.  

Check out the interactive art as well!

Down the way from the Next 50 Plaza is the International Fountain. With over 20 spouts, the fountain puts on an amazing show, synchronizing water and music, that makes it a great place to visit year-round, but it is an ideal oasis in the hot summer months. Built for the World's Fair, the International Fountain is a true landmark within the Seattle Center.  When you visit, run the gauntlet by running down and touching the fountain in the pause between displays.  The possibility of the fountain starting up again makes it more fun than it should be. 

The Key Arena sits to the West of the International Fountain.  Also built for World's Fair, the Key Arena is the current host to the Seattle Storm, the Rat City Roller Girls and the Seattle University men's basketball team as well as hosting a variety of concerts and events throughout the year. 

To the northeast of Key Arena lies the Vera Project. The Vera Project is an all-ages music and arts venue.  Established in 2001, the Vera Project moved to the Seattle Center in 2007.  The space includes an incredible music venue, art gallery and screen printing studio along with offering various classes. 

Circling back to the Space Needle, Sonic Bloom reaches to the sky. Installed in 2013, Sonic Bloom is a solar-powered art installation that incorporates sight and sound to provide an interactive experience.

Just remember,  if you're heading to the Space Needle take some time to explore the Seattle Center too...It's just as spectacular. 

Race To The Top – Space Needle Alternatives

If you talk about Seattle landmarks there is one pointy feature that people think of first.  As a striking contrast to the city skyline and providing unique views of the area, the Space Needle is as synonymous with Seattle as salmon. Thousands of people are drawn to the flying saucer shaped viewing deck every year.  But what if I told you there are a couple of amazing alternatives to the Space Needle that will give you much different views with a less expensive ticket cost to boot!

View of the first viewpoint from the second

The first observation deck is also the oldest.  The Smith Tower, once the tallest building west of the Mississippi River, has been providing amazing views of the ever changing Seattle Skyline for over 100 years.  Walking through the front doors of the Smith Tower takes you back decades with elaborate woodworking and marble.

 To get to the observation deck you will be whisked up the original, manually-operated, brass and copper elevators.  The Chinese Room is the landing point for the observation deck. 

  From this 35^th floor perch you have a unique view of downtown Seattle including a peek-a-boo view of the Space Needle.  

The outdoor walk almost runs completely around the perimeter, giving incredible views of the area.  The Smith Tower has been under renovation since 2014, but will be reopening August 25th, 2016. The new renovations brought two options for getting to the observation deck: An interactive tour that shows the history of the area starting in the roaring 20's and a "Straight Up" option that takes you directly to the observation deck.  The Straight Up option is about half the price of the tour. So if you are looking to save some money (and don't mind being your own history professor) it is a great option to get directly to the views.

The second viewpoint is the tallest.  Standing on the 73^rd floor of the Columbia Tower, the Skyview Observatory gives unobstructed, 360° views of the entire Puget Sound region. 

The modern elevator banks whisk you up to the observation room in two stages, giving you a chance to grab a beverage and snack at the Starbucks between elevators.  Once you arrive at the top, the area is open with spectacular views at every turn.

Hamilton Viewpoint Park also gives you the chance for a Puget Sound Trifecta: Space Needle, Ferry and Seaplane

The third alternative doesn’t sit high in the sky, but gives an incredible view of the entire skyline all at once.  Hamilton Viewpoint Park in West Seattle is an excellent alternative to the traditional top of the city view.  The panoramic skyline reveals the city from the Space Needle to the stadiums.  It’s well worth the drive, especially from the twilight and well into the night.

The fourth location gives you an spectacular view of the cityscape featuring the Space Needle front and center. Kerry Park, located near the top of the Queen Anne neighborhood, has amazing views of the city, Puget Sound and Mt. Rainier.

Early evening and night are the most crowed and parking can be tricky so walk, ride a bike or park a few blocks away to avoid the crowd.

Cost Per Location -

(2016 Prices)

Space Needle  -

Adult -  $22

Senior  65+ $19.00

Child 5-12 $14.00

Columbia Tower –

Adults: $14.75

Children Ages 6-12: $9.00

Children Ages 5 & under: FREE

Students & Military with ID: $9.00

Seniors 55+: $9.00

Smith Tower –  
Guided Tour-

Adults: $19.14
Seniors (60+): $17.00
Children (5-12): $14.00
Children (4 & under): FREE
Straight Up Ticket- $10.00
Hamilton Viewpoint Park and Kerry Park - FREE!

A Bit Of The Mountains In The City - Waterfall Garden Park

Hidden in the heart of the city is a park that allows you to take a break in the mountains...if only for a brief moment.  The Waterfall Garden Park was created at the location where UPS had it's first headquarters.  Now the park (technically a pocket park) is lined with tables and chairs for those who use it as an escape on their lunch breaks.  One of the best parts about the park is that, even with it's proximity to the busy streets around it, it still has an aura of tranquility around it.  

MUSIC! MOSTERS! ROBOTS! - Experience Music Project/ SciFi Museum

Since the 1950's Science Fiction and Rock-N-Roll have gone hand-in-hand.  From the 1950's portrayal of the Greaser and Rock-a-billy stereotypes to the amazing sci-fi soundtracks of the 70's and 80's(Queen's soundtrack for Flash Gordon comes to mind) the two pop culture branches have been firmly entwined.  Which is why the EMP/ Science Fiction Museum is such an amazing place.  One half of the museum is dedicated to music with a special focus on the musical history of the Northwest (including great exhibits on Jimi Hendrix and the Grunge Era).  There are also oportunities for hands on exploration in the Sound Lab which features a variety of instruments and private recording room to experiment with.  The Science Fiction Museum contains a large collection of sci-fi memorabilia ranging from early pulp novels to current film and television.  Supplementing the permanent exhibits are rotating exhibits at both the EMP and Science Fiction Museum.  Past exhibits have included The Muppets, AC/DC, The Beatles and Alien Encounters.  Admission to one museum gets you into both.   http://www.empsfm.org/

Shop For the Obscure - Archie McPhee

Do you often find yourself in need of a zombie torso, a pink Gorilla costume and alien finger puppets, but you don’t know where to go?  Then you haven’t been to Archie McPhee.  Since 1983 Archie McPhee has been Seattle’s and, through mail-order, the World’s supplier of oddities, unique gifts and little Devil Ducks.  Whether you are looking for the perfect compliments for your Zombie Apocalypse party (Brain-flavored mints, Zombie Finger Puppets for impromptu Apocalypse Theater, Brain gelatin mold, and so much more!) or you just need underwear for the squirrels in your neighborhood, Archie McPhee has you covered.  http://www.archiemcpheeseattle.com/

Side Trips - Market Theater Gum Wall

Each region has its locations and events that are common knowledge, but some of the more interesting locales fall off the beaten path with only the local population reveling in their quirky, uniqueness.  The Market Theater Gum Wall is one of Seattle's hidden, albeit slightly gross, gems.  The wall, located mere footsteps from Pike Place Market,  began around 1993 when Seattle theater goers began to stick gum to the wall and press coins into it.  The wall was initially seen as a problem and scraped clean twice only to have the city change gears in 1999 and declare it an official tourist attraction. The wall continues to grow as new visitors add their slightly masticated mark on one of Seattle's walls. Pike Place Gum Wall

Drive up to the past – Dick’s Drive-in

Nothing is as ubiquitous to American cuisine as burgers, fries and shakes.   Since the 1940’s, billions of people have dined on this trifecta of goodness.  In Seattle you can get great burgers and shakes all over the city, but there is only one place where they are still serving it up the way they did when they opened in 1954: Dick’s Drive-In.  Dick’s has been a favorite of Seattleites for over 50 years for good reason.  Every item on the menu is handmade everyday: that’s right, the patties are hand-pressed, the fries are fresh-cut, and the shakes are from real ice cream.  This is one of the myriad reasons that people will go out of their way to visit one of the five (soon to be six) Dick’s locations scattered around the city. Another is the seldom changing menu.  Dick’s menu has only changed twice since it was first printed and the prices reflect the simplicity…in fact there isn’t an item on the menu over $2.50!   A trip to Dick’s is like a trip to a different era: handmade, fresh and affordable…the perfect mix for a quick bite to eat. http://www.dicksdrivein.com/

Enjoy the Variety – Carkeek Park

Generally a city park consists of a single defining feature.  There are forested hiking parks, beachfront parks and even parks primarily consisting of large open fields ideal for frolicking.  Carkeek Park has it all in its 220 acre expanse: large open fields, endless trails through the forest canopy, a beautiful Pacific Northwest beach and an ocean themed play structure that includes a large salmon with a slide running its length.  At the entrance to the park is the Carkeek Park Environmental Learning Center.  The Center was designed and built with the environment in mind and is the first building in Seattle to achieve the Gold level of the US Green Building Council's LEEDs rating system.  Piper’s Creek, which runs through the park, provides a fantastic natural backdrop to the lower fields but is most alive during the late fall – early winter with chum salmon returning to spawn. Overall, Carkeek Park is a perfect respite from the hustle and bustle of the city. http://www.seattle.gov/parks/environment/Carkeek.htm

Never Say Die – Astoria to Cannon Beach

 If you can instantly identify the Truffle Shuffle and have an urge for Baby Ruths, a trip to the Oregon coast is a must.  At the end of a 3 hour drive south of Seattle lies the city of Astoria, Oregon.  Astoria is probably best known as the filming location for the cult film Goonies.   The city has embraced its film locales by turning the jailhouse from the beginning of Goonies into the Oregon Film Museum. 

Scattered throughout the rest of the city are various other film locales such as the bowling alley where Chunk smeared the window and  the Captain George Flavel House Museum where Mikey’s dad supposedly worked, but the pinnacle of locations to visit is definitely the Goonies House itself.  The Victorian Style house sits at the top of a short gravel driveway with a sign that not only lets you know you’ve found the right place, but that Goonies are welcome to walk up but not drive.  The house hasn’t changed much since the movie, but then again that’s the beauty of it. 

From the Goonies locations we headed up to the Astoria Column which was built in 1926 and was refurbished in 1995 and 2004.  The Column rises up 125 feet above the hilltop and, after climbing to the observation platform at the top, it has the most amazing views of the ocean, Columbia River and the surrounding hills and valleys. 

The final location to cap off the Goonies theme to our trip was a stop at Cannon Beach to take in Haystack Rock.  The large stone monolith juts out the ocean leaving no doubt that you have found what you were looking for.  The only thing missing is a galleon sailing out to sea.  http://www.thegoonies.org/