Washington Travel Guide
Washington State, in the north-western extremity of the United
States bordered by Canada and the Pacific Ocean, offers a unique
opportunity for visitors to blend the fun of a vibrant city
vacation with an exciting wilderness experience, all within a
relatively short distance of each other.In the scenically set young city of Seattle, hugging the shores
of the Puget Sound, high-tech attractions both educate and
entertain at the foot of the city's famous landmark, the soaring
Space Needle. It is just a step from the waterfront of this dynamic
metropolis onto a ferry, which transports you to the wild windswept
Pacific beaches, or the emerald green islands of the Sound.Travel inland to explore national parks, three within easy reach
of Seattle, most set around the peaks of the volcanic Cascades
Mountains and sporting forests, rivers, lakes and glaciers. In
summer the green western wilderness areas draw thousands of hikers,
climbers and cyclists, while in winter the skiers head for the
slopes.The north-eastern part of the state, across the barrier of the
Cascades Mountains, is desert-like with warm, dry air and a
landscape befitting the gateway to the Rocky Mountains. The
southeast is carpeted with wheat fields and dotted with historic
towns while the central Columbia River Plateau is a rugged area,
sculpted by glaciers and ice age flooding, characterised now by
wheat fields, lakes and orchards.Washington is a diverse and beautiful state that can truly claim
to offer 'something for everyone'.
Washington Travel Guide
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Washington Travel Guide
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Description:
Rachel, a giant piggy bank, stands guard over the Pike Place
Farmer's Market in downtown Seattle, placed there to raise funds to
preserve this National Historic District founded in 1907. The
bustling market has provided the local people with producer-priced
goods for decades, and continues to do so today as about 100
farmers and fishmongers tout their wares. They have been joined by
more than 150 local craftspeople and artists who have also set up
shop here, along with street performers, dozens of restaurants and
numerous speciality shops. The world's first Starbucks coffee shop
opened here in 1971, and is still brewing up its famous beverage on
the original site. At the north end of the market Victor
Steinbrueck Park provides a popular grassy place to sit in the sun
and escape the milling crowds.
Address:
First Avenue, between Pike and Pine Streets
Postcode:
Telephone:
(206) 682 7453
Email:
info@pikeplacemarket.org
Website:
www.pikeplacemarket.org
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Description:
Anyone who has seen a picture of the Seattle skyline will be
familiar with Seattle's internationally recognised symbol, the
futuristic Space Needle building. From afar it looks like a
spinning top, with the needle pointing skywards. The Space Needle
was built for the 1962 World's Fair to showcase upcoming
architectural development, and proved itself by withstanding an
earthquake in February 2001 measuring 7.6 on the Richter scale.
Visitors can ascend the 607-foot (185m) building as far as a
revolving observation deck 520 feet (158m) above the city, where
high-powered telescopes are positioned to allow you to pick out the
city sights. There is also a restaurant on top of the tower.
Address:
400 Broad Street
Postcode:
Telephone:
(206) 905 2100
Email:
info@spaceneedle.com
Website:
www.spaceneedle.com
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Description:
One of Seattle's most popular attractions is the Experience
Music Project, basically a rock 'n roll music museum with a
difference, housed in a colourful psychedelic building designed by
Frank Gehry at the base of the Space Needle. The museum was planned
originally by Microsoft entrepreneur Paul Allen as a memorial to
Jimi Hendrix, the superstar guitarist who was born in Seattle and
died more than 30 years ago. The Hendrix exhibit, featuring
artefacts associated with the rock legend, remains the biggest
drawcard at the museum, but the collections and interactive
exhibits have been expanded to include the general history of
American popular music, and another exhibition dedicated to
Seattle's other famous musician, Kurt Cobain. Exhibits range from
the first electric guitars of the 1930s to a rock 'n roll thrill
ride akin to a roller coaster. In interactive rooms visitors can
try their hands at mixing on DJ turntables or playing various
instruments. The museum is also the venue for numerous
concerts.
Address:
Seattle Center, 325 Fifth Avenue North
Postcode:
Telephone:
(206) 770 2702
Email:
Website:
www.emplive.com
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Description:
Seattle's downtown Art Museum is landmarked by the animated
thudding massive steel sculpture by Jonathon Borofsky called
'Hammering Man' that stands outside. Inside the remarkable
building, designed by Robert Venturi, are a large range of exhibits
covering European and American art, from ancient art through to a
vast 20th-century collection devoted to Northwest contemporary art.
Free guided tours of the different collections are offered.
Address:
1300 First Avenue
Postcode:
Telephone:
(206) 344 5275
Email:
Website:
www.seattleartmuseum.org
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Description:
Billed as 'where Seattle begins', the historic district of
Pioneer Square features more than 20 city blocks of historic
buildings, more than 30 galleries, a vibrant retail sector and the
city's most exciting nightlife. The district is south of the main
downtown area, and encompasses two major attractions. The Klondike
Gold Rush National Historical Park recalls the days when Seattle
was a jumping off point for hopefuls heading for the goldfields.
Another visitor favourite is the unique Underground Tour, taking in
the sunken storefronts of the original 'Skid Road', where timber
used to be slid down to the steam-powered mills on the shores of
Elliott Bay.
Address:
Postcode:
Telephone:
Pioneer Square Community Association: (206) 667
0687
Email:
Website:
www.pioneersquare.org
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Description:
Next to Boeing Field, south of downtown Seattle, the Museum of
Flight consists of a six-story glass and steel construction, which
was the original Boeing factory. Inside is a collection of more
than 130 aircraft, some suspended from the ceiling, which includes
some of history's most famous airplanes. There is, for example, a
replica of the Wright Brothers' first glider and the original Air
Force One presidential plane used by Eisenhower. The museum covers
the entire history of flight right up to the space programme. The
Museum's most recent acquisition is a British Airways Concorde -
the only one on America's West Coast. Concorde arrived in true
style setting a new world record time from New York to Seattle.
Address:
9404 East Marginal Way South
Postcode:
98108
Telephone:
(206) 764 5720
Email:
Website:
www.museumofflight.org
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Description:
About an hour's drive into the Cascades Mountains east of
Seattle is the resort of Snoqualmie Falls, where the Salish Lodge
and Spa is famous for having been the setting for many scenes from
the hugely popular television series,
Twin Peaks. The dramatic falls plunge 270 feet (82m) down
a precipice into a pool of deep blue water, close to the town of
North Bend. The world's first underground electric generator still
operates behind the falls. There are several hiking trails in the
area and picnic sites with a view of the waterfall. Snoqualmie also
boasts four ski slopes: Alpental, Snoqualmie Summit, Ski Acres and
Hyak. In the town of Snoqualmie is the Northwest Railway Museum and
the historic Snoqualmie Valley Railroad, which runs steam train
trips to North Bend between May and October.
Address:
Postcode:
Telephone:
Email:
Website:
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Description:
Washington State Ferries depart regularly from the Seattle
waterfront piers carrying passengers to and from the many islands
in scenic Puget Sound. Visitors generally favour Bremerton, about
20 miles (32km) west of the city, actually on the tip of the Kitsap
Peninsula. Here stands the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard Museum, and
visitors can also explore the historic destroyer, USS Turner Joy
that is tied up at the ferry dock. A popular island destination is
Bainbridge, just 10 miles (16km) west of Seattle, which has its own
winery. Winslow, the main town on Bainbridge Island, is a pretty
historic town with some fine restaurants and shops and a great view
of Seattle. Vashon Island, 10 miles (16km) southwest of the city is
an artist's colony. A little further afield are the San Juan
Islands boasting miles of unspoilt beaches, state parks,
whale-watching opportunities and primeval forests.
Address:
Postcode:
Telephone:
Email:
Website:
www.gonorthwest.com/Washington/puget/Puget_Sound.htm
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Description:
Wilderness lovers revel in retreating to the wild Pacific Coast
with its glacier-capped mountains, magnificent stands of ancient
forest, fascinating biological diversity, and wild Pacific
coastline. About 95 percent of the park has been designated a
wilderness area, which protects a unique ecosystem on the Olympic
Peninsula that encompasses eight kinds of plants and 15 species of
animals occurring nowhere else on earth. The Peninsula separates
Seattle from the Pacific Ocean.
Address:
Postcode:
Telephone:
(360) 565 3130
Email:
Website:
www.nps.gov/olym
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Description:
One of the oldest national parks in the United States, Mount
Rainier National Park was founded in 1899 to preserve the lofty
volcano, Mount Rainier, known to the Native Americans as Tahoma.
The snow-capped peak is visible from Seattle, 90 miles (145km) away
and dominates the region, drawing thousands of climbers every year
to dare the dangerous ascent to its summit. The rest of the park is
a beautiful wilderness containing glaciers, rivers, deep forests,
lush alpine meadows and over 240 miles (380km) of maintained
trails.
Address:
Postcode:
Telephone:
(360) 569 2211
Email:
Website:
www.nps.gov/mora
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Description:
One Sunday morning in May 1980, Mount St Helens, one of the
snow-covered peaks of the Cascades Mountains, lying about 168 miles
(271km) south of Seattle, erupted, causing a massive landslide and
devastating a vast area of forest. The volcano continued erupting
intermittently for six years. Today the area is being preserved as
the Mount St Helens National Volcanic Monument, being left to
revive naturally from the experience while scientists continue to
monitor the volcano and the environment of the surrounding
landscape. The Monument has become a fascinating tourist attraction
equipped with numerous viewpoints and miles of trails enabling it
to be explored by car or on foot. Forest Interpreters host visitors
during the summer months, organising activities like walks and
amphitheatre presentations, while in winter the mountain slopes
provide cross-country ski and snowmobile trails. Climbers take on
the journey to the crater rim and five visitor centres operate on
State Road 504 on the west side of the mountain providing
information about the volcano and the environment. A gift shop at
the Hoffstadt Bluffs Visitor Center offers hand-crafted items made
from Mount St. Helens ash.
Address:
Postcode:
Telephone:
(360) 274 0962 (Mount St. Helens Visitor
Center)
Email:
Website:
www.fs.fed.us/gpnf/mshnvm
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Description:
Located on Seattle's waterfront, the Aquarium provides fun and
exciting ways to see amazing sea creatures and colourful coral life
of the Pacific, and includes touch pools with animals like sea
stars and urchins from Puget Sound and Washington's outer coast.
The Window on Washington Waters is a huge exhibit that is filled
with native marine life, where dive shows take place three times
daily, while the Marine Mammal exhibit features sea otters and
seals viewed from both above and below the water. The Underwater
Dome is one of the largest exhibits, an undersea room that provides
360 degree views of the fish and sharks as they swim.
Address:
Pier 59
Postcode:
Telephone:
(206) 386 4300
Email:
Website:
www.seattleaquarium.org
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Description:
As riding the mechanical bull is to Dallas, so is the ferry ride
to Seattle - a quintessential part of experiencing the city. Coffee
mugs are adorned with ferries, little model ferries are offered to
tourists as trinkets to remember their visit by. Ferrying is a
culture and a way of life to Seattle residents, many of whom
commute to work across the Union Lake and Elliot Bay areas. Ferries
are operated by Washington State Ferries and a schedule is
available on their website. Wake up early and drink your morning
coffee (Seattle's other cultural pastime) on the water with the
friendly locals.
Address:
Postcode:
Telephone:
Email:
Website:
www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries/
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Description:
Large cruise ships regularly travel to major ports in Alaska but
a better, smaller option is the Alaskan Ferry. Departing from
Bellingham Washington, these large ferries bounce against the major
coastal towns of Canada, The Gulf of Alaska and stretching to the
Alaskan Peninsula. The landscape is staggering, revealing hundreds
of craggy forest-dense islands and coastlines. Eagles, killer
whales, bears and other hardy wildlife are all part of the view.
The months of operation are May to September, when the weather is
bearable and sunshine illuminates most of the 'night' hours. Costs
vary greatly on length of voyage and accommodation. Most ferries
rent cabins but those in tune with Alaska's pioneer spirit can
pitch a tent on deck or just use a blanket.
Address:
Postcode:
Telephone:
(360) 676 0212 for Bellingham office
Email:
dot.ask.amhs@alaska.gov
Website:
www.dot.state.ak.us/amhs/index.shtml
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Description:
The San Juan Islands and the Canadian Gulf islands form one of
the best boater paradises in the world. The hundreds of islands are
separated by nationality but are part of the same scenic and rugged
archipelago, located off the northwest coast of Washington State.
Much of the area is in a rain shadow behind Vancouver Island,
making a surprisingly dry and sunny reprieve in the northwest.
Little island communities, great wildlife and the open water
provide a real and intuitive disconnect from the mainland. Frequent
government ferry services connect the mainland and larger inhabited
islands to each other, but scores are only visitable by smaller
shuttle boats and yachts. Friday Harbour is San Juan's largest town
and an enchanting tourist destination, seemingly out of a Norman
Rockwell painting. Anchorages are bustling throughout summer, but
largely empty in other seasons. Yacht charters are available out of
Bellingham.
Address:
Postcode:
Telephone:
Email:
Website:
www.visitsanjuans.com
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Description:
High on the cliffs above the Colombia River, The Gorge is one of
the best music venues in the country. A natural ravine coalesces at
a cliff edge where a large stage hosts the biggest acts on tour in
the Northwest. The 20,000-seat venue is privy to both the stunning
view and sound quality resulting from the natural theatre-like
setting. Visitors usually spend the night at Gorge campground in
front of the venue. Here, all manners of cars, campers, RVs or
simple tents are scattered across for an often rowdy night of
celebration. Vehicles are charged $40 for access and individual
campers an extra $10. The Gorge is in George, Washington, an easy
three hour drive east from Seattle on the I-90 highway. There is
very limited motel accommodation nearby and the isolated nature of
the area means it's better to pack your own. The venue is the host
of the annual Sasquatch Festival each May.
Address:
Postcode:
Telephone:
Email:
Website:
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Description:
Located in the Green Lake neighbourhood of Seattle, the Woodland
Park Zoo is a great place to take the kids for a day out exploring
and meeting the animals. Kids can enjoy animals such as African
elephants, Arctic foxes, sloth bears and red pandas, or birds like
snowy owls, parrots, Chilean flamingos and golden eagles as well as
a fantastic variety of invertebrates such as spiders and
butterflies. For families on holiday in Seattle, a trip to the
Woodland Park Zoo is not to be missed.
Address:
601 No. 59th Street, Seattle
Postcode:
Telephone:
206 548 2500
Email:
webkeeper@zoo.org
Website:
www.zoo.org
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Description:
Kids will absolutely love the Seattle Children's Museum, located
in the Seattle Center. With constantly-changing exhibits and
programs ranging from the corner grocery store to a Ghanaian
village, families are guaranteed to see something fresh and new and
children will constantly be challenged and will have fun
learning.
Address:
305 Harrison Street
Postcode:
Telephone:
206 441 1768
Email:
Website:
www.thechildrensmuseum.org
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Description:
A must for little girls and doll lovers of all ages, the Rosalie
Whyel Museum of Doll Art contains one of the largest doll
collections in the world, with more than 3,000 dolls on display,
including 17th-century wooden dolls, 19th-century china dolls, and
the original Barbie. A fascinating day out for the whole family, or
just for mothers and daughters.
Address:
1116 108th Avenue NE, Bellevue
Postcode:
Telephone:
425 455 1116
Email:
dollart@dollart.com
Website:
www.dollart.com
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