Seattle: Things To Do

Seattle is a city in the Puget Sound, an inlet of the Pacific Ocean in the Pacific North West. With a population of approximately 750,000 Seattle is the largest city in both Washington state and the Pacific Northwest region of North America. Seattle is known for its nature and outdoor activities strategically located near the Olympic Mountains, the Cascade Range and the sound. Seattle is home to one of the busiest ports in North America aswell as being home to many tech companies. Seattle is also know for its vibrant music and art scene.

The Seattle Underground Tour is a guided underground tour of what was once the city streets of Seattle before the 1889 fire. Following the great fire the city quickly rebuilt using brick buildings rather than wood that sat 20 feet above the original street level. At first, pedestrians climbed ladders to go between street level and the sidewalks in front of the building entrances. The city was not fond of the underground network as it became a home to “promiscuous”. In 1907, the city condemned the Underground for fear of bubonic plague, two years before the 1909 World Fair in Seattle (Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition).

Seattle Art Museum (SAM) is a major museum in Seattle with three locations, the main downtown museum, The Seattle Asian Art Museum (SAAM) and the Olympic Sculpture Park. As of 2008 the SAM collection has over 25,000 items and artifacts.

Klondike Gold Rush Museum is a free museum in the National Park Service located in the historic Pioneer Square neighborhood situated next to the The International District. Inside there are two floors of perminent exhibitions as well as space for rotating temporary exhibitions.

The Frye Art Museum is a museum opened in 1952 in the First Hill neighborhood. Origionally the museum was founded to house the collection of Charles and Emma Frye. The Fryes’ collection was first offered up to the Seattle Art Museum but it was declined because of restrictions stipulated their will which specified that the collection must be on permeant display, not be shown with abstract work, be shown under natural light, and that admission to view the works remain free of charge to all patrons. The museum remains free today. In addition to The Frye’s permanent collection their are constant temporary exibitions and events. The museum library contains more than 2,000 books mainly housing 20th century American and German art literature.

The Seattle Japanese Garden are located in Madison Park neighborhood across 3.5 acres inside the Washington Park Arboretum a large public park established in 1934. The garden is one of the oldest Japanese gardens in North America and considered to be one of the most authentic Japanese gardens outside of Asia. Some japanese officials have visited the gardens and has served as a symbol of peace and understanding between Japan and The United States.

The NEKO Cat Café is a sanctuary for adoptable cats and café with a location in Seattle and Bellingham. They also host many fun events including trivia nights, movie nights, special days for college students and service industry professionals, all of course with cats!

The Museum of Flight is a non-profit air and space museum established in 1965 originally under the title Pacific Museum of Flight. The modern location lies on the southern end of King County International Airport (Boeing Field) in the city of Tukwila, just south of Seattle. The Museum of Flight has more than 150 aircraft in its collection many of which are on view and can even be walked through by visitors.

Gas Works Park is a public park located on the site of the former Seattle Gas Light Company gasification plant. Added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2013 the park contains the sole remaining buildings and machinery from a coal gasification plant in the United States. ocated on the north shore of Lake Union at the south end of the Wallingford neighborhood the park provides beautiful views of downtown Seattle.