BIOPHILIA...Sponsored by PRIME.... never heard of it till…read morestumbling across this place. Located in the heart of downtown Seattle, an Amazon Company satellite office (i guess where Amazon Corporate employees can go when the need to connect with nature arises during work day)...cool concept, wish my job offer a green house. -lower level open to the public. Cool display of frogs and crystal shrimp. -Staff was knowledgeable and seem like they like their job and sphere concept. -Verdict: worth checking out when in the area....BIOPHILIA for LIFE......

Worth popping in for a few minutes. Saw some rare frogs and interesting architecture. Nearby a free…read morebanana stand. Hostess was friendly.

James was amazing. Had lots of great suggestions for things to do. We did alll of them and did…read morenot regret one decision. Give that man a raise!!!!!!

Perfectly located just in front of Seattle's largest tourist attraction, the Pike Place Market…read more This kiosk is filled with travel guides and coupon books. It is also open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m with a concierge to help you maximize your time in the Emerald City. The staff member covered all the bases from transportation to restaurants to tours of the city (walking, bus and boat). They will even help you book reservations for certain activities. He pointed out a few random things to see at the market (gum wall, ewwww) and the surrounding area and was great all around welcome wagon for the city. Make sure you pick up both a Seattle Deals and Seattle Premier Attractions booklet which contain coupons for tours, restaurants and shopping. We used several during our trip.

What a wonderful way to learn about the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the issues they're…read moretackling. Everyone working there was so friendly and welcoming. The exhibits are interactive and fun for both adults and children. I attended one of their scheduled talks on the toilets and it was eye opening to learn about the issue and also the prototypes that have been built. Definitely worth a stop if you're in the area! Pro tip: If you're making a quick-ish visit, you can park at the QFC a block away after you do your groceries ;)

Small visitor center that is free and open to the public. It is staffed by very knowledgeable…read morepersonnel (take the tour) and offers interesting insight into the history and efforts of the foundation. It is interesting to see what causes they have chosen to focus on, and the strides that they've been able to make. There is some debate as to whether a private citizen should be dictating global policy, but there's a lot worse things that the Gates could be doing with all their money. I enjoyed the visit and thought it was worth the education.

This is the absolute worst place to go "number two" I have ever been in the entirety of my life,…read moreboth childhood and adult. The stalls have cutouts in them at the top, not glory hole ones, manufactured cutouts... To, I guess, stop drugs...? I guess? Jenny Durkan needs to get down here immediately because this is disgraceful and inhumane. I can't imagine letting a child use this bathroom alone, they would literally be completely exposed. People deserve privacy when they use the restroom at the VERY LEAST

When my husband and I travel one of our first stops is usually the visitor center. But not in…read moreSeattle because we were here over a weekend and guess what? ... SEATTLE's VISITOR CENTER IS CLOSED ON SATURDAY AND SUNDAY! Why in the world would a VISITOR CENTER be CLOSED on weekends??? Do they think people only visit here Monday thru Friday. Extremely disappointed that we could not talk to a local advisor to plan our activities and get advice about purchasing tickets to city venues.

We just got back from a wonderful Alaska experience coordinated by Alaska Active Travel. The…read morelogistics were flawless. They coordinated all lodging and all of the tours. We really enjoyed our time and highly recommend using this group.

Thoughtful and thorough travel prep! I enjoyed working with Andrea, who responded quickly to…read moreseveral of my inquiries about Alaska travel. We traveled in August to Glacier Bay National Park, leaving from Juneau. Logistically, everything was taken care of. With a ferry or flight option to Gustavus, the jumping-off point, we opted for the ferry. Once we arrived we got on a bus to the Glacier Bay Lodge, for an included overnight. The next day's boat ride to explore the park was a spectacular treat. Having been in SE AK for a rainy week, I was hoping against hope for a glimmer of blue sky as we traveled to see the glaciers. Amazingly, the sun burst through the clouds as we began our day, bringing out sunglasses and sunscreen. It was a party atmosphere as people reveled in the full daylight. We got back to the lodge in time to be bused to the airport for a flight back to Juneau, with the sun showing off the mountains and waters from above. I was thankful for a window seat! I would highly recommend Alaska Active Travel as they are detail-oriented and can provide many options to customize your trip. P.S. - On cue - the rain resumed in Juneau the next day. We were very lucky!

10/3/26 The Olympic Sculpture Park is an excellent place to…read morevisit on a nice day. I took a nice stroll though this park and enjoyed looking at the artistic creations and learning about the artists. The first thing that caught my eye was the zodiac sign animals. Then I noticed an area that was an abstract art putt putt course. People seem to come here to picnic and let the little ones run off some energy. There is plenty of open space and gravel paths to walk on as well. I had a nice time here and I would definitely come back.

The Olympic Sculpture Park has been on my list to visit since it was built in 2007 and I finally…read moredid! It is a free oasis of calm, a view of the Sound, the Olympics on a clear day, and an opportunity to wander among world class contemporary sculptures. It is the free part of the Seattle Art Museum along with the original Volunteer Park building and the downtown Venturi-Cloepfil building which charge admission. Like most all museums, the work has been donated by Seattle families. It was a brownfield. The site is sloped and difficult to design to, with roads and rail going under it. It connects to the Eliot Bay Trail. The shoreline by the trail was extensively rebuilt in a natural way. The design is a success. The usual entry is from Western and Broad. Seattle has done well building apartments in the area, so parking can be fierce. The main entry has a large, clean, indoor pavilion with a minimal cafe, restrooms, some tables and chairs, artworks, and events. In rain it could be good for children, but may not have activities. To the Northwest is a narrow amphitheater. The backdrop to the amphitheater stage is a significant Serra. It is a great introduction to the artist, created in 2004, and the first piece installed in the park. The Eagle by Calder is the icon of the park often seen in photos. Seattle has a romance with Calder usually associated with his indoor hanging mobiles. Louise Bourgeois has a fountain and stone benches. A Roxy Paine stainless steel tree holds its own against the sea and mountain backdrop. A favorite artist of mine, Louise Nevelson, has a steel sculpture. They have an artist mini golf. I was especially excited to see Ai Weiwei's Circle Of Animals / Zodiac Heads on loan from the artist. I've seen other variations. Each head is a Chinese zodiac animal. I think kids would love it, but no climbing. The story of the originals is fascinating as is Weiwei's autobiography, 1000 Years of Joys and Sorrows. With all the art, to me it is primarily a park. People just walk, sit and read, decompress, and children play. It's easy to visit, except for parking, is open 24 hours, has significant contemporary artists, you don't need to know anything about art to enjoy it, and it is free!

Beautiful little park Perfect for a light stroll…read moreTwo levels you can walk Easily stay away from the steps and steeper levels Quiet Walk toward the salmon ladders and watch the seals even on off seasons Free parking

I think most people neglect this park in their hurry to get to the locks and the fish ladder. This…read moreis a nice park with benches and paved walkways. Immerse yourself in watching the boats from afar, and maybe even have a small picnic. You won't be competing for space even if the near by attractions are packed with people like sardines. The park is well maintained and very accessible to everyone of all ages and abilities.

We were recently traveling with our dog in the area so we had to take her on the pet friendly Mt…read more Rainier Gondola. Even though the weather didn't agree with us, we still had an enjoyable time. We purchased our tickets online a few days ahead because you get a better price that way. Each ticket is good for two separate rides. We arrived just after 10 in the morning and it was grey and overcast. The sky was very cloudy and there was a foggy mist over the mountains. It was lovely but not the best weather for sight seeing. We went ahead and rode up the mountain and back and it was fun but as you can guess the views weren't great from the gondola. About half the ride it was just like being inside frosted glass and all we could see was grey. We stayed at the top for a while but the winds were to fierce for our pup so we headed back down and spent some time eating, shopping and enjoying the area. We were hoping the weather would clear up later in the afternoon. Unfortunately for us, Mother Nature had other plans and it was cool, foggy and totally overcast all day. I wasn't even really that disappointed though because it was just so beautiful being there. It was honestly my favorite kind of weather. On our second ride, we did try riding the famous "Green Gondola". We had seen other people waiting for it on our earlier ride and asked a staff member what it was all about. They said it was just a replacement gondola so it didn't match the others exactly and we kind of laughed at how silly it is but people love things that are unique. There was no line, so we gave it a go and I'm here to tell you that it didn't part the clouds and I haven't won the lottery since riding it :) Sorry to say it is just like the red ones. Even with the weather, we made a really nice day of it and if you haven't seen this area, I would definitely recommend giving the gondola a try. I think next time we will probably risk the higher prices at the gate to make sure the weather is cooperating for the ride.

Came for the day while friends skied. Beautiful, sunny and gorgeous! Snow already melting - this…read moreis the last day of the season. Gondola tickets $54 each and you get 2 round trips.

One of the coolest places to visit in Seattle. There are year round attractions like MOPOP, IMAX,…read moreSpace needle, Chihuly museum plus yearly events like Bumbershoot, beer festivals and the Seattle Kraken. Something for everyone here.

Seattle Center is where you want to be to pass some time. Whether you are a tourist taking in the…read morenotable sights or a local looking for a place to spend some off time. Definitely a spot for culture. The area contains the Space Needle, Pacific Science Center, Climate Pledge Arena, Museum of Pop Culture and McCaw Hall (hosting both the opera and ballet). This is also where you will find a stop for the monorail. Don't forget the Armory either. Most notably, this area served as the World's Fair site. What us out-of-towners don't know about this place is that David Denny, founder of Seattle, donated the land with a stipulation that it be of "public use forever." You can spend the day here and never get tired of what is around you. There area loads to see and just when you think you are done, nope. I had my camera with me and was able to fill my memory card with hundreds of pictures. Quite the tranquil place. Even if there might be tons of people milling about.

Alaska, Juneau to Juneau cruise this year. Fabulous experience. Crew was awesome, knowledgeable,…read morefriendly, fun! Food was top notch. Two new adventures every day. Comfortable (though not luxurious) quarters. Would definitely recommend! Smaller ships allow for getting up close and personal with glaciers and deep into fjords. So. Much. Fun.

The pluses: Amazing food. Amazing food. And amazing food. Also, some talented naturalists and…read moreoutdoor guides. BUT, a few big drawbacks: The boat, the Safari Endeavor, was very old and not as advertised. The sales literature said it was renovated 11 years ago. Patently untrue. The boat was built in 1984 and looks and vibrates like it was built 40 years ago, too. I also felt I was patronized constantly as an older person. I'm 65, in terrific shape, hike regularly and bike 20 miles daily. I was told ridiculous things like, "Let's give the seal lions room," as if they don't know how to swim, or "let's step back from the edge" of a viewing platform as if I were a toddler. Just not my vibe. Also, excursions that were advertised as two hours were cut short to 80 minutes at least three times. Our trip also had many people whose tickets were comped, including the large family of the cruise director, which lent an odd air of missed privilege to the adventure. It didn't help that Alaska is melting; for the money, I would recommend Patagonia 100 times to Alaska. It's much more beautiful with exquisite blue glaciers that are still visible. Or for old spruce trees, visit the Boundary Waters of Northern Minnesota. If you do go to Alaska, I'd find another small ship operator with vessels that are worth the dollar charged. The Endeavor needs to be retired.