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!

Sub Astra - Movies Under The Stars

There is something amazing about watching a movie outdoors.  The sounds and sights are amplified by the openness of the venue.  Add in a crowd that is unfettered by the limitations of the theater and you have a spectacle that is unlikely to be recreated at your local Cinerama.  Luckily in the Seattle area there are several locations where you can watch a film with the sky above you.  The Fremont Outdoor Cinema is the longest running of the bunch with Seattle Parks and Recreation (at both Westlake and Occidental Parks), Magnuson Park, Marymoor Park and  the Seattle Center all hosting their own movies within the last few years. With this many venues, there are movies playing 3 to 4 nights a week. As an added bonus, many of the showings encourage dressing up and several showings have movie trivia or other activities before the show starts.  Make sure to follow the link to see pre-ticket sales option and the rules and regulations of each site. Some of the locations have food trucks, beer gardens and other food and drink options. So gather up your low beach chairs, pack yourself some snacks and spread out a blanket under the stars....

Wednesday, July 6: Back to the Future – Marymoor Park

Thur. July 7: Ferris Bueller's Day Off - Magnuson Park

Wednesday, July 13: Jurassic World – Marymoor Park

Thur. July 14: Labyrinth- Magnuson Park

Friday July 15th:  Movies in the Park: Inside Out - Westlake Park

Saturday July 16th: DEADPOOL | 21+ - Fremont Studios

Wednesday, July 20: Inside Out – Marymoor Park

Thur. July 21: Star Wars: The Force Awakens- Magnuson Park

Friday July 22^nd: Movies in the Park: The Goonies - Westlake Park

Saturday July 23^rd: Pretty Woman 21+ - South Lake Union Discovery Center

Wednesday, July 27: Star Wars: The Force Awakens – Marymoor Park

Thur. July 28: The Incredibles- Magnuson Park

Saturday July 30^th: Mad Max: Fury Road 21+ - South Lake Union Discovery Center

Saturday July 30^th: The Princess Bride Quote-Along - Seattle Center Movies at the Mural

Wednesday, August 3: Aladdin – Marymoor Park

Thursday, August 4: Guardians of the Galaxy– Magnuson Park

Friday, August 5^th: Codependent Lesbian Space Alien Seeks Same - Cal Anderson Park

Saturday, August 6^th: Grand Budapest Hotel 21+ - South Lake Union Discovery Center

Saturday, August 6^th: Mad Max: Fury Road - Seattle Center Movies at the Mural

Wednesday, August 10: Singin' in the Rain – Marymoor Park

Thur. August, 11: Zootopia - Magnuson Park

Friday, August 12^th: Spaceballs - Cal Anderson Park

Saturday, August 13^th: Galaxy Quest - Seattle Center Movies at the Mural

Wednesday, August 17: Zootopia – Marymoor Park

Thur. August 18: The Sandlot– Magnuson Park

Friday, August 19^th: Dudefest V - The Big Lebowski - South Lake Union Discovery Center

Friday, August 19^th:  Barbarella - Cal Anderson Park

Saturday, August 20^th: West Side Story - Seattle Center Movies at the Mural

Wednesday, August 24: The Princess Bride – Marymoor Park

Thur. August 25: The Goonies– Magnuson Park

Friday, August 26^th: The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy - Cal Anderson Park

Friday, Aug 26^th:  Movies in the Park: Labyrinth - Occidental Square

Saturday, August 27^th: Life of Pi - Seattle Center Movies at the Mural

Friday, Sep 2^nd:  Movies in the Park: Star Wars: The Force Awakens - Occidental Square

Come Sail Away - Model Boat Sailing @ South Lake Union Park

Have you wanted to feel the wind in your hair and the sun in your face while commanding your own ship?  Every Saturday and Sunday from May to November, The Center for Wooden Boats rents out model boats for at the model boat pond.  Sailing the boats is as easy as pointing it into the wind and giving it a little push. The hard part is running around to other side after each voyage to sail it back. Pairing sailing with a visit to the MOHAI and a picnic makes for an amazing day out! Boat rentals are a $5 per hour suggested donation and the rentals are open from 11a.m. - 2p.m.

Fly On By - Martha Lake Airfield Park

Many of the parks in Puget Sound have unique origins and many of them are on land with unique histories.  Few of them, however, have the combination that the Martha Lake Airfield Park can boast.  Originally a private airfield until 1990, the land was purchased by Snohomish County in 2000 and developed into a park with the grand opening in 2010.   The park itself consists of a combination of playground, skate park, and sports and open fields.   After spending several hours exploring the ins and outs of the park we still haven’t seen all there is and plan on jetting back soon…(sorry couldn’t resist)

Sleep Under The Stars – Olympic National Park, Kalaloch Beach and Ruby Beach

One of the best things about the Pacific Northwest is the wide spectrum of outdoor locales that will take your breath away.   While some of these places are in and around urban areas, some of them require a bit more effort to enjoy them…But the travel is well worth it.  The Olympic National Park falls squarely in this category.   The Park encompasses a major part of the Olympic Peninsula and consists of a variety of locales from old-growth forest to driftwood strewn beaches.   Nestled along the coast amidst the massive trees is Kalaloch Campground.  The campground is reflective of the National Park itself with the deepest campsites surrounded by massive, majestic trees which slowly transitions to sites on beachside cliffs with spectacular views of the ocean.  A short walk from any of the sites takes you down to the long, smooth, sands of Kalaloch Beach.   For a more rugged beach experience we drove a few miles north to explore the ever changing expanse of Ruby Beach.   A visit to Ruby beach requires a check of the tide charts to get the full experience; luckily we found it posted at the beginning of the trail to the beach.   Ruby Beach is beautiful regardless of when you visit, but low tide gives you a chance to explore areas that are normally unreachable.   As the tide goes out, the rocks that were previously jutting out of the surf are slowly transformed into an exploratory playground of tide pools and secluded coves.   After devoting a few hours to exploring, the rest of the afternoon is best spent watching the tide roll in as the sun goes down.  http://www.nps.gov/olym/planyourvisit/exploring-the-coast.htm 

 

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/

Take Your Breath Away - Kerry Park

Every city has that one spot that you have to see the cityscape from.  Seattle is lucky enough to have several, although Queen Anne’s Kerry Park is probably the most recognizable and the one you are most likely to be directed to when visiting.  The spectacular, panoramic views of downtown Seattle, West Seattle, the Olympic peninsula and majestic Mt. Rainer were given to the populace in 1927 when Mr. and Mrs. Albert Sperry Kerry, Sr. donated the land “so that all who stop here may enjoy this view."   The low stone wall sits on the edge of a steep hill that leads down to the lesser known Lower Kerry Park which has areas for picnics, a playground and a basketball court, but the real draw here is the view.  No matter what day you visit, the incredible view will not disappoint, but on the right day, at the right time the view is magical and the city burns itself into your mind. http://www.seattle.gov/parks/

Historic Green Space - Kubota Garden

Few green spaces in Seattle have as interesting of a backstory as the Kubota Garden.  Initially created by Fujitaro Kubota in 1927, the gardens were a place where he could craft, design, grow and display the greenery for the Japanese-style gardens he installed in the Puget Sound area.  Since that time, the Gardens have grown to nearly 20 acres, been abandoned during WWII when the family was placed in an internment camp, restored by Fujitaro and his sons and declared a Historical Landmark of the City Of Seattle in 1981.  We arrived at the Gardens on a chilly February afternoon and as soon as we entered the gorgeous gates we realized we virtually had the entire Gardens to ourselves. The construction of the ponds and waterfalls along the walkways is somehow massive and delicate simultaneously and the winding paths constantly led us to new corners to be explored.   Of particular note were the multiple footbridges ranging from the small, hand-cut stone paths up to the large moon bridge that symbolizes the difficulty of living a good life: "Hard to walk up and hard to walk down."  Even in the slightly drifting snow, Kubota Garden kept us entranced and exploring its many pathways.   We can’t wait to return in the spring when the flowers are in bloom…and the weather is more hospitable. http://www.kubotagarden.org/visit/about-the-garden/

Explore Nature - Discovery Park

To fully experience the grandeur of Seattle’s commitment to green spaces, a visit to Discovery Park is in order.  The park’s 534 acres transition through a broad spectrum of habitats and environments ranging from heavily forested areas and large grassy fields to paths that wind through the beachfront woods to the expansive beach itself.  We began our hiking and exploring from the south parking lot, first heading to the amazing overlook with its magnificent views of Mt. Anderson and the rest of the Olympic and Cascade Ranges.   Once you arrive at the park, it’s easy to spend the entire day meandering through the area’s nearly 12 miles of trails. The large sandy patch at the head of several of the trails is the perfect meeting place, allowing you to head off in several directions each leading to its own unique locale.  We headed down the Loop Trail, taking time to explore the hollows in trees and keep an eye out for the Bald Eagles that are sometimes sighted along the tree line. One of the things that always strikes me about the park is the lack of intruding city sounds. Shortly after you leave the parking areas, the sound of traffic fades away leaving you with your thoughts.  Discovery Park has yet to fail us as an excellent place to visit amid the bustling city. http://www.cityofseattle.net/parks/Environment/discovparkindex.htm