I mean, what can be said about this strange abandoned art installation that hasn't been said…read morealready. It's not a great area, there's currently a homeless encampment right behind it. It has a chain link fence surrounding it giving it a 'We haven't torn this down yet' vibe. Being from the Bay Area and having seen pieces created at The Crucible I personally would call it exceptionally lazy art - if you're generous with the word 'art'. It's a sign, with some pointed cylinders around it. In my opinion the painted pieces at Gas Works are more interesting. I personally think it's only a matter of time before they tear it out and make it into another park so all in all, it's an easy skip.

At one point, I'm sure The Wall of Death was a very cool public art installation in Seattle. It's a…read morepermanently sited installation located along the Burke-Gilman Trail under the University Bridge along NE 40th Street. It was designed and built by Mowry Baden and his son Colin in 1993. While the exhibit sounds ominous, it's neither a memorial or some gothic art piece. Instead, it's a tribute to the structure used to perform "the wall of death," a motorcycle and miniature automobile stunt. While it looks like it was initially quite amazing, The Wall of Death has largely fallen victim to time and graffiti and it's really that graffiti that negatively impacts the appeal of the exhibit. The exhibit includes the cylinder itself on the south side of the Burke-Gilman Trail, as well as a concrete ramp to the north of the trail, which includes a "series of stylized metal chairs mounted to the existing concrete bridge columns and serves as the stands from which the stunts were viewed. The exhibit was originally intended as interactive with skateboarders intended to use it. However, after several skateboarding accidents including one involving a head-on collision between a skateboarder and a cyclist the exhibit was adapted, by Baden himself, to include 25 concrete parking stops. At this point, the exhibit is somewhat fenced in and much more difficult to access. However, it remains one of the more intriguing public art exhibits in Seattle and is still free to see. It's listed in Atlas Obscura. The exhibit was also reportedly damaged on 11/15/20 when a homeless camp tent caught fire. The exhibit is made of concrete, steel, and aluminum and measures 16' x 65' x 30'. It's easy to access the exhibit from the Burke Gilman Trail in the University District. It's near University of Washington housing and only a few blocks from Lake Union. The trail itself is wheelchair friendly and accessible quite easily.

I first learned about the existence of this place when I saw some really cool photography at an art…read morewalk, and the person representing the photographer mentioned the photos were taken at the Georgetown Steam Plant. They mentioned it was a National Historic Landmark in Seattle, with free tours on second Saturdays. Whoa! I knew I had to check it out. Fast forward a few years later and I finally remembered it on a second Saturday, and set to go there. It's an open house from 10am-2pm, with tours at 10:30am, 11:30am, and 12:30am. We walked in and a kind gentleman at the entrance greeted us and let us know that admission was free, we could walk around and explore the main parts of the plant on our own, read some info displayed along the walls, view art scattered around for an art event they had, and if we like, they accept donations. He also mentioned their next tour was happening in about ten minutes. While waiting for the tour, we explored the main floor a bit, skimming the timeline on the walls, and passing by huge structures; a couple which we later found out are the last remaining operable vertical turbine generators of their kind in the world! The tour was led by a docent who did a wonderful job explaining everything we saw with its historic significance, especially relating to the city of Seattle. I never thought I'd be so engaged in learning about a Steam Plant, but somehow, he made it happen! This tour was awesome. It made me so glad the Georgetown Steam Plant still exists, and hope it continues to for years to come.

What an amazing space! This is a jewel on the south end of Georgetown and the steampunk rating is…read moreoff the chart. I came here to watch an innovative concert and the acoustics and overall experience made for a feast for the senses. The lighting work made for a truly ethereal moment but the permanent hardware is a sight to behold - tanks and pipes and valves galor. Reading the other reviews, I would love to come check out a tour and understand its history more, but it was a huge privilege being able to take in and enjoy the space for a few hours.

Secret?! i think not. ;) Although it can appear rather secretive if you consider walking through it…read morethe first time (w/o knowing it's a tunnel) and ask yourself upon exiting "I was in an underground tunnel?" Yup. And a super COOL one at that, too. :) Fine shops, great lunch options, and a jackpot of historic Seattle photos - everything from the early days of dumping Pill Hill fill into Elliot Bay to the early Boeing airplanes. Downtown? Take a stroll down this tunnel. It begins/ends in Rainier Square and ends/begins in One/Two Union Square. Happy strolling. :)

I haven't visited enough underground tunnels to know if this one deserves 5 stars or not, so let's…read morework this out, arithmetic-style! 1 star for keeping me out of the rain, cold, and wind and away from motor traffic and waiting for crosswalk signals. 1 star for neat photos of old-time Seattle 1 star for a display of upcoming shows from the 5th Ave 1 star for the convenience store selling cards and snacks. There are also some little deli type eateries, a salon, and an art gallery, though I haven't taken advantage of any of them yet. All in all, this is a pretty spiffy way to get from 7th and Union to 4th and University without having to set foot outside - always a plus when it comes to dealing with Seattle's variable weather.

Jakob Two Trees is located along the Rainier Trail right behind/near the Issaquah Community Center…read more It's best for a quick, scenic outdoor stop combined with an easy walk. Perfect for families, a short nature break, or troll-hunting adventures around the Pacific Northwest. Ample parking is available nearby at the community center. As public art on a trail, respectful visiting is encouraged. Many people enjoy taking photos and admiring the incredible recycled-material details (like his ponytail with the Snoqualmie Tribe band and birdhouse necklace), and it blends beautifully into the surrounding forest. The short, flat, paved path is stroller- and wheelchair-friendly. Great for families, kids, and troll-hunters.

What a fun attraction in Issaquah - and a great way to learn more about the area. My friend told…read moreme about the miscellaneous trolls that are around the western Washington area, created by artist, Thomas Dambo from Denmark. So, I had to see it for myself. I took my dog on a walk around Issaquah - and we made it a point to check out Jakob Two Trees while in the area. To get here, online sources referenced the Rainier Multiple Use Trail in the old town of Issaquah. If you map to Rainier Trail, it does not take you to the entrance to the trail. However, this trail is near the Issaquah Community Center, which is where I mapped and was easily able to find the entrance to the trail. Along the Rainier Multiple Use Trail in a short distance is Jakob Two Trees. There's a sign that explains more of the artwork and artist, using only up-cycled materials to create these trolls. It was cool to see and you're able to walk all around the giant troll and get pictures up close. Although I am not Scandinavian, I do love how treasured trolls are to the Nordic countries, so now I want to find more of the trolls around the Pacific Northwest.

The garden is beautiful and it's a nice activity to do end of fall/early winter. It used to be free…read morethen they started tickets and now they've increased the price just like anything else. But it's worth going around the holiday time each year. I suggest going on a week day of you can to avoid lines and parking craziness. The first slot 4:30 is less busy also.

Wonderful, festive and pretty affordable for the holidays. Ticket cost $10 per person over 11 years…read moreold. Kids 10 and your gets in for free. The lights were fun to look at and had many floral and crops themed ones. It was also larger than I thought cause from the outside you can see a portion of it. The cafe was also open and I wish I can try all their drinks. Their white hot chocolate with whip cream was so good for the cool weather. Also very glad it did not rain on that day.

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.

My coworker and I had some time to kill in Seattle before our flight home and were told that The…read morePink Door was a great place to check out, so we decided to give it a try for lunch. The place is definitely a little tricky to find, and the door itself isn't quite as pink as you might expect! But once we found it, we were lucky enough to get a table for two on a Saturday without much trouble. We each had a drink, and I ordered the linguine alle vongole. It had a generous amount of clams and was really delicious. The food was excellent, the service was great, and the atmosphere was even better. I'm sure this place gets especially fun in the evenings when they have live music and entertainment, although I imagine getting a table is considerably more difficult then. Honestly, I'm glad we experienced it for lunch because it was a great way to spend some time before heading to the airport. Overall, really glad we stopped in. Great food, great service, and a really cool atmosphere. We definitely lucked out getting a table, and I'd happily come back the next time I'm in Seattle. Five stars!

The food at this restaurant was delicious, I'm not surprised it's so hard to get a reservation!…read moreHowever, the portions are quite small, so be prepared to need an appetizer in addition to the entree. I got the popular lasagna, and it was so good but very small. The cioppino was the perfect size and the bread it came with was perfect for dipping. So delicious, I highly recommend! The cake was kinda hard so not the biggest fan, it did taste good but it didn't seem as fresh as it could've been and it didn't really taste like basil.

Olympia buildings are covered in murals which makes the buildings entertaining to look at…read more The Star Wars mural is located on a building, in a lot, with three food trucks. The lot has a picnic table for those interested in ordering from the food trucks. Paid street parking is available. While I enjoyed the Star Wars mural, I liked the superhero mural much better. Keep up the artsy work Olympia!

"Honey, let's go check out the Star Wars mural."…read more (silence) There are many times when I suspect that Mr. K rolls his eyes on our little road trips. We are going where? To see what? I came across this local gem when browsing the highest rated spots in Olympia. It was an easy stroll from the center of town and just a couple blocks from the Olympia Coffee Roasting Company. When asking a local for directions to the mural, he informed me that his friend created the mural and although it is a caricature, all characters are truthful in their representation. He was dead serious when describing the artist's motivation. This is when I turn to Mr. K and nod knowingly. Just stick with me, kid. The mural is painted on the side of an apartment building and is in good condition. Someone actually has their apartment in the Death Star. **jealous** The grassy area alongside the building appears to be home to the only food cart in town, so it was a fun little journey of discovery. Not to say all my wanderings are successful. But in this case, the Force was with me.

Juan used to come into Bartell's at 5th and Olive when I worked there. We became "buddies". He was…read morealways really nice. Although I never really got the whole story figured out, it had something to do with his son and the Frye apartments. I moved away from Seattle a few years back now and Juan is one of those quirky things I miss about downtown. Does anyone know if he's still around doing his thing?

I forget where I heard this, but I'm pretty sure he's from Cuba…read more In the eighties there was an (unsurprising) blusterfuck between U.S. President Carter and Castro. There was a famine in Cuba, thousands of people were trying to leave. Carter tried to make the States look like some sort of magnanimous good guy and said that of course the US would take any refugees from Cuba. Castro didn't want to lose face and agreed to let anyone who wanted to go leave. Thousands of people showed up to the docks and were taken over to Florida. Castro took this opportunity to empty the jails and mental hospitals onto the boats as well. More negotiating and blusterfucking, and Cuba took back some of the repeat offenders and patients, and now the US only gives automatic citizenship to Cubans who set foot on land. All refugees caught or rescued at sea are sent back to Cuba via Guantanamo. I don't remember where I heard he was from Cuba, but what he says starts to make some sort of weird sense when you put him into that context. He has also pointed to my friend's nose and claimed he saw the devil hanging off the end of it.

A Seattle icon, the Fremont Troll is a must-visit. We went on a weekday and there were still a good…read morenumber of tourists coming around to take photos. Many of them even chose to climb onto the troll itself, but I didn't dare. Parking can be super hard to find as the troll is nestled in a residential neighborhood, but after circling around quite a few times, we finally found a spot. Even with the waves of people visiting, I still managed to capture photos of Newt with the troll without anyone in the frame, and my husband even captured a nice photo of us performing our iconic piggyback trick, as well as the cutest shot of me looking up at Newt as he sat on the troll's hand. Caveat: unless your dog is well-trained and can hold a distance AND duration sit-stay (especially on an elevated, uneven surface), I would not attempt to recreate that shot. When you visit the troll, don't forget to look behind you and admire the architecture of the overpass too. It's breathtaking in itself. While we were there, many of the tourists asked me to take photos of them with the troll with their phones or cameras, since they saw I had brought my DSLR with me. Of course I happily obliged. We did not spend too much time at the troll as there wasn't much to do outside of taking photos with it, and as we were leaving, another wave of tourists showed up. The Fremont Troll is a fun spot to take photos at/with, and a cool art installation. I wish we had something similar in the bay or Sac!

A fun experience, a bit off the beaten path in the Fremont neighborhood of Seattle…read more We ventured from downtown to check out the troll. Very easy access via a city bus route. After a short stroll down a well-designed dirt path, we found the giant troll. The troll is great for photos and has a sign that describes the history of the troll. My kids enjoyed climbing around the area, too. Facing the opposite direction from the troll is a very cool bridge that creates some awesome cathedral-like architecture. There is lots to do in Fremont, and even though the troll is kind of a one-and-done deal, it's worth checking out simply to explore the rest of the neighborhood and awesome surrounding businesses. Enjoy your troll hunt!