The Seattle Traveler

Now that Christmas is behind us, have you made your plans for New Year’s Eve?  The options narrow with each passing day, but even if you’ve waited till the last minute, here are some ideas to help you ring in 2009.

Make reservations for dinner out.  Ok, all the really great spots may be booked up (or maybe not given the economy right now).  I’d suggest taking a look at Open Table and see what is available.  (This is a great site for reservations any time of year.)
Fireworks at the Space Needle.  You may still be able to get …read more

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Given the snowy Seattle weather, it seems a little silly to post about all the fun holiday things that you can do, because many people are without power or can’t even get our of their driveway or neighborhood.
But, on the off chance that this snow melts quickly, put the Fantasy Lights at Spanaway Park (Tacoma) on your must-see holiday lights list.  The two mile lighting display along Spanaway Lake is the the largest drive-through holiday lights display in the Pacific Northwest.
With over 300 displays, including animation, the bring a smile to light up even the coldest moment.
Tune the car …read more

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Details:  Qwest Field, the home field advantage for the Seattle Seahawks, is a recognizable part of the Seattle skyline.  With a seating capacity of about 67,000, the noise generated by fans can often be heard throughout the downtown core.  Seahawk opponents claim the stadium noise make it one of the ultimate home field advantages.
Seattle is known for originating “The Wave",  a fan cheer that has the audience standing and waving their arms as the cheer rotates around the stadium.  It was invented at a 1981 University of Washington football game, with yell king Rob Weller (later a co-host of …read more

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This weekend. . .
. . . get away from the city with a drive to the Columbia River Gorge, home of the Maryhill Museum where you can catch the final days of the Andy Warhol and Other Famous Faces exhibit.
The Maryhill Museum is a castle-like structure on a 6,000 acre site overlooking the Columbia River Gorge, and is home to a collection of art ranging from early 20th century European art to more current Native American art.  The setting also includes beautiful gardens and grounds.
Famous Faces features many of the diverse personalities that Warhol captured, and many of …read more

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Details:  The Smith Tower (located at 502 Second Avenue, between James and Yesler) is right in the heart of Pioneer Square.  For nearly 50 years after it was completed, it was the tallest building west of the Mississippi.  You can take an elevator to the 35th floor observation deck for an impressive view of the city.
 
 
Photo credit:  wikimedia
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Every year, hundreds of thousands of people come to Seattle to attend a trade show, conference, or convention.  For some people, this means a drive across town or the bridge, while for others it means a trip across the country.
If you’re coming to Seattle for such an event, chances are good that you’ll be spending some time at the Washington State Convention & Trade Center in downtown.  Located right next to I-5 (in fact it goes over the freeway), the convention center opened in 1988, and later doubled in size to over 200,00 square feet of exhibit space.
Home to …read more

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Every city has  statues honoring its founders, heroes, and other special citizens of the city.  In Seattle, one of those special citizens, and a hero to many, is Chris Wedes, known to most of us as J.P. Patches.
For those of us growing up in Seattle, especially during the 60’s, J.P. Patches was “The Man.”  I remember watching him every afternoon!  He lived in the city dump, and had crazy friends like best pal Gertrude and Ketchikan the Animal Man, Sheriff Shot Badly, and Boris S. Wort (the world’s second-meanest man).  J.P.  had an I-C-U-2 TV set, and wanted me …read more

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Whenever I fly into Seattle and look out the window at its skyline I see something new.  Despite living in the area all of my life, looking down on the city gives me a new perspective on its landscape and architecture.  But you don’t need a fly over to appreciate the history and significance of Seattle’s architecture.  All you need is a little energy and some foot power.
The downtown Seattle core, and many of its neighborhoods, are quite walkable.  In fact, it’s the best way to take in the city.  Yes, there are hills, but you can go at your …read more

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If you’re looking for a little sampler of what Seattle has to offer, this video should convince you to plan a visit:
 

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Details:  A mixed bag of Seattle weather this weekend.  Moments of sun, sure, but mostly cloudy skies.  And let’s just forget about the rain!
 
Photo credit:  flickr
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