A fun and family-friendly activity to do in Seattle, WA...The Ballard Locks!! And, it's FREE!…read more It's a popular spot to watch boats pass between the saltwater of Puget Sound and the freshwater of the Lake Union/Lake Washington, using a system of chambers to raise or lower them. The locks help boats move between the higher freshwater lakes and the lower Puget Sound, adjusting the water levels to let them pass smoothly. Watching the water levels rise and fall to guide boats through is very cool to watch! There's a Fish Ladder with a subterranean viewing area that allows you to watch salmon and sometimes seals and sea lions as they migrate upstream. Best viewing times mid-June to September. Unfortunately, we were there too early but I saw a sea lion. Lots of green trees and beautiful botanical gardens. There's a small marina. There's paid self parking. I would definitely want to come back!

Nice public free park and watching the locks in action is very interesting. There is also a place…read moreto see the Salmons as the sweam up the current and there are a few seals around too. It's a short walk from the Sunday farmers market

Cool Landmark in Seattle, Washington…read more.. I've had "The Center of the Universe" bookmarked for a while. It's a good thing to look at the bookmarked items on the Yelp app once in a while. I totally forgot about this novel and unique piece of Public Art! I should have visited it when I saw the Troll and the blue Fremont Bridge yesterday... darn! Anyway... I parked across the street and got a good shot of this directional sign! As I drew closer, I saw places on the sign that I would like to see - such as Machu Piccu and Rio de Janeiro. Other interesting places include The North Pole and The Milky Way. What a fun tourist stop! Check it out when you have time! It's free, quick, and a good break from daily routine!

One of the few photo ops (like the Rocket, dinosaurs, the Troll, etc) in Fremont…read more I saw the sign. It opened up my eyes. Life is demanding without understanding. To reiterate, I saw the sign and it opened up my eyes I saw the sign. No one's gonna drag you up To get into the light where you belong But where do you belong? Now if you excuse me, all that she wants is another baby, and she's gone tomorrow, boy.

We unexpectedly found ourselves here as a result of needing something to do later at night. We…read morearrived 30 minutes before the cut off for that night at 7:30pm. We rode up to the 73rd floor with a few other people and an "elevator operator" who was friendly. When the doors opened we were greeted with spectacular views of the entire city! We arrived before sunset and we were able to take our time moving around the 73rd floor as it wasn't crowded at all. We were able to take tons of photos at a leisurely pace and we got to see some great sites such as Mt Rainier, Space Needle and the stadium where the big FIFA game was playing. A few days later, we went to the Space Needle which is a completely different vibe. We enjoyed both experiences ultimately but the Columbia Observation Deck was especially nice because it wasn't crowded and the sunsets views were just breathtaking. We also like the relaxed feel of having drinks and bites at the observatory. The Space Needle was so crowded and much louder and more rushed. Definitely plan to come here to watch the sunset when you're in town.

My visit to the Columbia Tower Observatory on the 73rd floor was nothing short of amazing. The…read moreviews are absolutely breathtaking--truly one of those experiences where you find yourself stopping just to take it all in. Seeing Seattle from that height gives you a completely new appreciation for the city and its surroundings. What made the visit even more enjoyable was the staff. Every employee I encountered was incredibly welcoming, friendly, and genuinely pleasant. Their warmth made the experience feel even more special, and it was clear they take pride in creating a positive atmosphere for visitors. One observation I did have relates to the elevator experience. It has been two years since my last visit, and unfortunately, the elevator's video system is still not functioning. I remember when the observatory first opened, and the video played during the ride up--it added an engaging and memorable element to the experience. Without it, the ride feels noticeably less enjoyable. Interestingly, others seemed to feel the same way. I mentioned how long the video system has been out of service while riding up, and a couple riding up with us--visiting from Australia--commented that it would have been nice to have something to watch during the ascent. As an alternative, it might be a wonderful opportunity for the elevator operator to share a few interesting facts during the ride up. A brief, engaging introduction--highlighting that this is the tallest building in Seattle, along with a bit of history about when it was built and facts about its tenants--could really enhance the experience and help pass the time in a meaningful way. Additionally, with all three video screens currently not working and visibly cracked, addressing this issue would make a noticeable difference. Either repairing or replacing the screens--or even temporarily covering them--would create a much more polished and welcoming feel for visitors and help elevate the overall experience.

Ever get tired of seeing neat older buildings in once one-house neighborhoods razed and boring…read morecondos and townhouses replace them? Wonder why the City of Seattle does so little to protect them? You have not be familiar with it, but Historic Seattle shares your concern(s) and been saving buildings of historic/aesthetic value for some time now: (1) Queen Anne High School (now condos, but they saved the outside and preserved the integrity of the interior), (2) the oddly modernist Egan House (which I saw as part of a Historic Seattle-sponsored tour) above I-5, (3) Cadillac Hotel (now the Klondike Gold Rush Historical Museum run by the U.S. Parks Service), (4) Church of Christ (now Town Hall!), and (5) the Good Shepherd Center in Wallingford. Both the Egan House and Good Shepherd Center are actually owned by HSP. Sometimes to save a historic building, HSP has had to actually move them! For example, it was instrumental in moving a group of 1890s-era workers' cottages from Chinatown to the Ballard Avenue Historic District. The beautiful Italianate house near Half Price Books on Capitol Hill, now an attorney's office, was originally at Pike and Boren. Washington Hall was one of the focus of its efforts (and was as of mid January 2009 was designated as a Historic Landmark by the Seattle Landmarks Preservation Board), thus hopefully being saved from the demolition ball. Currently the organization is trying to save bungalow courts on Capitol Hill from being razed. The non-profit organization is housed in the 102-year-old Dearborn House mansion on First Hill and sponsors tours and lectures throughout the year. There is a library in the basement that is open to the public (which I have not had the opportunity to visit). Late this month, an exhibition on the Arts and Crafts Movement in the Pacific Northwest at MOHAI will open. One of the major annual events its sponsors is the Bungalow Fair (the next one, in late September 2009, will offer a tour of Ravenna bungalows as well as a contemporary Arts and Crafts exhibition and related lectures at Town Hall). Other events include tours of notable houses ("tea and tour") in the area. I am not sure how large a membership base it has, but there are a number of volunteer openings, apparently, at this very active but not very well-known--to the general public--civic organization. http://www.historicseattle.org/default.aspx http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/thearts/2009197262_historic100.html http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/pacificnw/2008609127_pacificpbuilt11.html http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/landmark-theater/Content?oid=813227 http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2009/01/09/washington_hall_is_now_a_histo

I really enjoyed coming here, and I'm convinced that arriving right at sunset (aka golden hour)…read moremade the experience even better! The lighting truly added to the beauty of the scenery Parking was super easy to find in one of the nearby neighborhood streets. From there, it was just a short walk and quick street crossing to reach the tower. Even from the outside, it's so pretty, with lots of flowers, greenery, and plants surrounding it. Great photo spots already! Once you head inside, there are two staircases you can choose from, but both lead to the top. I won't lie, climbing them felt like quite the workout, so you might be a little out of breath once you reach the top lol. At the top, the inside itself is pretty plain, not much going on. But looking out the windows, completely different story!! The views are stunning. From the window closest to the stairs you can see Seattle's skyline and even the Space Needle. Another window gives you a beautiful view of all the greenery, trees, and the nearby park. Simple but still so pretty :) Overall, I'd definitely recommend visiting at least once, especially during golden hour!

Landmark in Seattle, Washington…read more.. The Volunteer Park Water Tower was 106 steps up... Inside the tower... It was chilly in the morning and I was by myself. Haha! It was quiet and deserted. I went quickly because I was getting scared... I don't remember how I found out about this free attraction. I do remember that it had a beautiful view of the city... Yes - through the metal gratings on the windows I could see the Space Needle and downtown Seattle! There were informative signs on the walls at the top floor of the Water Tower, including the history and the goals for Volunteer Park. I was happy to complete a Bucket List item! It was interesting, scenic, and helped me to burn off some calories!

The first time I ever visited Seattle was to see friends who live here about a decade ago and the…read moreentire 5 days we visited our friends, the weather was crappy. I swore to myself I would never return as I hate dark, cold, gloomy and damp weather. I told myself if I returned, it would be because I was suicidal. Fast forward many years later and I return to Seattle for work reasons. I've been back several times and most recently, the last couple of times, the weather has been good. So, the trick is, come visit in the summer, you're more likely to see sun in that season. I do love this town and I like how they have some really neat architecture, but also the waterfront is gorgeous. And I would be lying if I told you I didnt enjoy Pike's Market, so much hustle and bustle here! This visit brought me jogging early morning on the waterfront and I fell in love with the place. Early enough that the tourist were still asleep except for this nutter that likes to begin the day with a nice run to clear her head. The ferris wheel is a wonderful and romantic sight to see and on a clear day, you can see far on the Sound. There's a ferry terminal here too, and I have yet to take any, but one day I will. So much rich history in Seattle and they also have one of my favorite map stores here, Metsker's Maps. Definitely come for a visit, feel the cool and laid back vibe here (unlike any other place I have ever visited). Seattle has the highest rates of college grads in all of the US, interesting. I have a hard time describing the Seattle cool, but it's part Asian cool but also part Europen sleek too. This city feels like a really satisfying long drag from a cigarette after mindblowing sex is the best way I can describe it. Definitely my kind of city, but the weather would kill me faster than any other place, so occasional visits here are the best I can do. Kind of like taking a good drug, only on certain and special occasions, that's what Seattle feels like for me.

For one day, the city united and celebrated a 2nd SuperBowl Title by the Seattle Seahawks…read more It was a big bourbon street all over Seattle, a big Mardi Gras, elation, cheers, tears, screaming, and bliss. A Beautiful day for sure to display the 12's pride and joy parading down 4th St on foot, bus, trucks, convoys and so on. Alcohol free flowing on the streets :) without malice and only good vibes. Win or Lose, we love our Seahawks, wish everyday, everywhere could have the same vibe everyday. It doesn't cost anything to be kind, spread the love. These moments give hope to humanity, in a most f'ed up world we live in right now, a day like this reminds us to always stay positive and look forward.

"What Goes Up Must Come Down" by Catherine Mayer is a public art piece located in front of the…read moreFederal Reserve Building on the intersection of 2nd Avenue and Spring Street. It is essentially a large paddleball sculpture, which evokes a similar feeling to my thoughts on the Giant Red Twin Popsicle sculpture in Belltown. Both seem to bring a whimsical vibe to its otherwise dull surroundings. This is a nice piece of pop art that is worth checking out. Also, walk further down the block on 2nd Avenue as there is a Botero "Adam" statue on the other side of the building to view.

Off season for salmon but still a nice visit Great stroll…read morealong the water way The seals and sea lions entertained us The leaves are changing colors and the walk was mild Easy to avoid steps Strollers can be here even the underground look is accessible to wheel chairs Saw many dogs on leashes with their owners

A super amazing experience for the Seattle area. This was such an amazing thing to be able to watch…read moresalmon climb to return to their spawning grounds. The journey they make is impressive, given all the challenges to get there. I watched seals hanging out near the ladders for easy, quick meals of delicious salmon. The salmon were really large, too, and seemed to swim in packs, which helped protect them from the seals. They offer educational lessons about the salmon migration and journey while you are able to watch them jump or climb to get to their destination. You can also watch the fishing boats come into the river after salmon fishing. This place is just majestic and a beautiful display of nature. You must go when in Seattle; no disappointments.