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.

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!

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.

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.

I haven't done Crossfit (yet), but these stairs are the best HIIT that I have found. And they're…read morefree! The best part if the feedback they provide: If you gain 5 lbs, you will immediately notice it here, by how your legs feel. And conversely if you lose 5 lbs, you'll notice that too. Running these stairs is very hard work and I've seen some elite-looking athletes who could run the whole length from Lakeview to 10th Ave two times without stopping. I saw one guy who had the body of an elite endurance runner (long legs, zero body fat, very minimal upper body mass) run them three times. I've found walking them two steps at a time to be a killer workout that increases muscular endurance in the legs and boosts VO2 max like a boss. Just budget some time for sleep/recovery! If you think you're gonna bust your butt on these stairs and then go dancing the next night, you might find that you are wrong. One more note: Things do occasionally get stolen here, so the brand-new Patagucci jacket that you just dropped $450 on... do yourself a favor leave it at home.

Whether you do it just to say "we did it", or you do it once, go back down, and do it again a few…read moremore times to get your legs moving and heart pumping- it's a great experience. Seattles longest staircase, 388 steps spanning 160 feet. The history behind the stairs is pretty cool. We walked an hour from downtown, enjoyed the beautiful walk along Lake Union, got to the stairs, did it three times, and then headed toward Volunteer park. A hell of a way to get your steps in! Spring was in bloom, so the beautiful flowers and colorful trees was the icing on the cake.

I don't want to say that I was staying in a weird neighborhood while I was in Seattle, but being…read morejust over a mile away from the Bettie Page House left me no other option one early morning than to head out by wheelchair to check it out. Smack dab in the middle of Seattle's worst heatwave ever, I can still easily say it was worth the effort for a glimpse of this private residence that features an 18' Bettie Page and even more recently has added the one and only Divine. The house is located in the Ravenna district adjacent to the University District (where I was staying). Commissioned by the owner in 2006, the artwork has been vandalized once (it came back better than ever) and has been threatened by the city at one point with $100 daily fines. because of the "graffiti" on the home. Of course, no fine ever happened and Bettie Page is still alongside the home's exterior wall. Interestingly enough, the home is right across the street from a Mormon Temple. Bettie is adorned with her usual black panties and thigh-highs, a gutter conveniently crosses her chest area. The house is a little tricky to get to, though the mural is easily visible from I-5 near the 65th Street exit. As this is a private home, there is no "admission." Essentially, this is public art visible from a sidewalk or street. If you're in the Seattle area, it's definitely worth checking out and most likely a "must see" for true Bettie Page (or Divine) fans.

Add this to your list Roadside America…read more We've been to the usual Space Needle, Pike's Place Market but, if you're up for something new and unusual --- this is it. Welcome to the Bettie Page and Drag Queen Divine house! After driving around the area that Google Maps told us it was without finding it; we realized it might be across the damn freeway. So, might want to consider that if you haven't found it lol

Only in Fremont can you see dinosaurs in your very own city... They well groomed Ivey beast lurk…read moreneed the banks of the water by the Fremont Bridge. Relax folks you can approach the beasts they won't be harmful to your health. But you can most definitely snap your selfies with the mother and baby dinosaur. But don't climb on them, unless you must and then ride these beasts like your in a Texas rodeo.

Fremont has a bunch of photo ops: a big Troll, a tall Rocket, a strange Center of the Universe…read moresign, a Lenin statue (I LOVED Double Fantasy), and this: a 66-foot-long, ivy-covered mother dinosaur and child. Go around 5:15am to see the feeding. OK, it's automatic sprinklers, but still.

Ah, yes, The Gum Wall. One of the most exciting and disgusting things to see. And for me, it was…read moreone of the hardest/confusing places to find. Not because it is, but because I had no idea where I was in relation to this place. I was mere feet away from here and still somehow took the long way to get here. When I realized this, I wanted to kick myself. Who knew a wall covered in gum would be such a tourist draw. Located in Post Alley just off of Pike Place Market you will find this Seattle marvel. What started as an unexpected way to discard gum, became a well known city landmark. When the nearby Market Theater would not allow patrons to enter with gum, this became an area where that gum would go. At first, the gum had pennies pushed into them, later being removed, but the gum remaining. This wall extends over fifty feet and is as high as eight feet. It has been cleaned on several occasions. Reasons being to preserve the bricks. Not to worry, it returns after each cleaning. One cleaning it was said that 2 tons of gum was removed from the wall. Some contributors to the wall will put designs in their gum. Others, just push it into a mess that ever grows. Mostly on the wall, but anything near the wall can end up with gum on it, including street posts/signs. Great distraction, and definitely earned the tourist trap honor. One of a kind attraction to see.

A little bit disgusting but fun at the same time. Lol! It is located on the street below the big…read morePublic Market Center sign. We purchased gum from the window of the shop at the entrance of the gum alley. After a few minutes of chewing, we were ready to add our contributions. Haha! We went on a Monday around noon and it wasn't crowded at all.

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.

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.