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Seattle Diary

Learn The Beauty Of Seattle Here

Seattle Sightseeing and Tourist Information

May 11, 2008 by SeattleDiary

Enjoy Seattle!
Seattle sightseeing & tourist information.

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Brought to you by:

wfseattlelogo-7185733

Waterfront Vacation Rental Homes in and near Seattle.
Visit our website at – http://www.SeattleWaterfrontRentals.com

Beautiful homes with exceptional views, able to accommodate up to eight,
within 15 – 25 minutes of downtown Seattle!

The beauty of the Pacific Northwest is captured in the many parks of Seattle, clothed in a rich greenery of the lovely plants and flowers that grow easily in the mild climate (summers of 75 – 85 degrees, winters of 35 – 55 degrees).  Many of Seattle’s parks offer view vistas, sandy beaches, grassy knolls for picnics, or trails to explore.

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Just visiting Seattle’s neighborhoods, each with the feeling of a small town, offers an array to entertain and explore.

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And about that rain rumor, Seattle’s annual rainfall of about 36 inches (less than many U.S. cities) comes typically in the form of brief showers or a light mist – mostly in winter.

Downtown Attractions:

Downtown Seattle is vibrant, constantly renewing and improving, while retaining a love for its past and a friendliness that remains true.  Many areas of downtown offer views of the surrounding sound and mountains.  Seattle’s downtown offers unique shops, sophisticated department stores, distinctive galleries, excellent restaurants, cozy cafes, and of course… a coffee shop every block or so.

Find Particular Seattle Attractions:
Pike Place Market,  Space Needle/Seattle Center,  Shopping/Art museum,
Pioneer Square,  Waterfront
Parks  |  Day-trips


 

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Pike Place Market is perhaps the most popular “must-see” downtown. Over 100 local farmers sell their produce at this, the oldest continuously operating farmers market in the U.S. 
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As well, more than 200 permanent businesses call the Market their home. Art and craft items are displayed and sold across from  prolific displays of fresh flowers in bunches as big as they are affordable.
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Bounties of fresh seafood are displayed – salmon flying through the air once purchased, with easy shipping available to just about anywhere.  Street muscians, quartets, and mimes perform nearby for passersby.


History of the Pike Place Market.


 

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Just beyond the market is a park with beautiful views of the sound, with passing ferries and freighters, and the city.
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Find Particular Seattle Attractions:
Pike Place Market,  Space Needle/Seattle Center,  Shopping/Art museum,
Pioneer Square,  Waterfront
Parks  |  Day-trips


 

Seattle’s well known symbol, the Space Needle, is located at Seattle Center.
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Surrounded by a small amusement park with a ferris wheel and roller coaster, the 605 foot tower that was built for the 1962 world’s fair, offers panoramic views of the city, sound, and mountains.  The Space Needle offers a revolving restaurant at 500 feet. 

There’s always alot going on at Seattle Center – even dancing on Saturday nights! 


 

Seattle Center hosts 
many annual summer events 
such as the Folklife Festival, the 
Bite of Seattle, and Bumbershoot.
Seattle Center is also now home of the Experience Music Project (EMP), the multi-million dollar project of former Microsoft partner, Paul Allen.  Just the outside of this “no straight lines, no
corners” building is something to see, and the inside… is a music experience! 

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The Pacific Science Center, located here as well, offers hands-on science and math exhibits where you can play virtual basketball, hang-glide, or throw your fastest pitch to be measured by radar. 

The IMAX Theater offers a 35 x 60 screen and surround sound to experience a climb of Mount Everest or a trip to Alaska.


The Seattle Opera, Pacific Northwest Ballet, and several theaters call Seattle Center home as well.

Find Particular Seattle Attractions:
Pike Place Market,  Space Needle/Seattle Center,  Shopping/Art museum,
 Pioneer Square,  Waterfront
Parks  |  Day-trips

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From Seattle Center at the north end of downtown, the Monorailwill take you back to the center of downtown and deliver you to Westlake Center, an impressive four level retail mall.

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Outside, a south facing open space attracts many for a casual lunch or afternoon break.  Nearby are several major department stores including Nordstrom and the Bon Marche.

 

The Seattle Art Museum, located in the central downtown area, offers exhibits from all over the world, with particular emphasis on Asian, African, and Northwest Native American art.  The museum is hard to miss with the 48 foot mechanical sculpture, Hammering Man, at its entrance.  SAM stays open late on Thursday evenings, with poetry readings and live music.
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symphony1-3866538 Not far from the art museum is Benaroya Hall, the new symphony hall.  With an exquisite concert hall and lovely glass sculptural works by Seattle’s Dale Chihuly, Benaroya Hall something to see.  There is a free daily tour.


Seattle holds its own for art and culture, with more quality theaters than any city in the country except New York.  Several theaters downtown host touring Broadway productions and national concert acts.  Seattle has many fine art museums and galleries in addition to the Seattle Art museum downtown.

Find Particular Seattle Attractions:
Pike Place Market,  Space Needle/Seattle Center,  Shopping/Art museum,
Pioneer Square,  Waterfront
Parks  |  Day-trips


 

Located just south of the modern business district, is Seattle’s historic downtown area, Pioneer Square.  This was the first district to be designated as historic by the city.  Pioneer Square was the site of Seattle’s original downtown before the Great Fire of 1889.
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History of Pioneer Square.


 

The Underground Tour is conducted from this 
part of town and takes participants through the original streets to view the old storefronts of downtown Seattle, now below street level.  The Pioneer Square area was settled by pioneers in 1852, having been a Native American village before that time.
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This area’s most recognizable landmark, a Victorian iron and glass pergola, is located at Seattle’s earliest intersection, 1st and Yesler. 


In the mid-1800’s, trees were skidded through this intersection over small greased logs paving the street to Henry Yesler’s saw mill at the waterfront – earning it the nickname of “skid road”, which later changed to the nickname, “skid row”.

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History of Downtown Seattle.


 

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Pioneer Square is now home to a variety of galleries, gift stores, antique shops, cafes, and nightnightspots – from jazz clubs to sports bars to romantic eateries.

On the 1st Thursday of every month, art appreciators turn out, as the galleries stay open late for evening Gallery Walks.

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This area is also home of the renowned Elliott Bay Book Company, one of Seattle’s favorite bookstores, with a reputation for being one of America’s best.  Open quite late in the evening, offering a relaxed atmosphere for book lovers, with book signings and free readings of works, by writers from all over the world.

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Not far from Pioneer Square is Seattle’s baseball stadium, Safeco Field.
With its retractable roof, this stadium is ready rain or shine.  Nearby is the new Seahawks Stadium.

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Find Particular Seattle Attractions:
Pike Place Market,  Space Needle/Seattle Center,  Shopping/Art museum,
Pioneer Square,  Waterfront
Parks  |  Day-trips


 

From Pioneer Square, take a Waterfront Streetcar, a wood-trimmed vintage trolley, to the Seattle Waterfront. Among the various piers is the Ferry Terminal, where Washington State Ferries depart for Bremerton, Bainbridge Island, and Vashon Island. 
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The Seattle Aquarium is located at the waterfront with a 400,00 gallon fish tank that surrounds visitors, the Underwater Dome. 

Nearby, is the 
Imax-dome Theater, a dramatic cinema-in-the-round, showing the eruption of Mount St. Helens among other special features.


 

There are also harbor tours, dinner cruises, shops to explore, fish & chips counters, and boardwalks with nice views of Elliott Bay.

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Seattle Tours:
Small Van Tour – Show Me Seattle Tours
Fun, Wacky Tour – Ride the Duck Tours
Bus Tour – Grayline
Walking Tour – Walking Tour of Seattle

Sound / Lake Cruises:
Argosy Cruises
Waterways Cruises

Seaplane tours:
Kenmore Air


Find Particular Seattle Attractions:
Pike Place Market,  Space Needle/Seattle Center,  Shopping/Art museum,
Pioneer Square,  Waterfront
Parks  |  Day-trips

Brought to you by:

wfseattlelogo-7185733

Waterfront Vacation Rental Homes in and near Seattle.
Visit our website at – http://www.SeattleWaterfrontRentals.com

Beautiful homes with exceptional views, able to accommodate up to eight,
within 15 – 25 minutes of downtown Seattle!

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