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Seattle—Soak It
Up!
Walk
outdoors and become part of the natural and inspiring
beauty known as Seattle. From the downtown area enjoy
spectacular views of Elliott Bay and the surrounding peaks
of Mt. Rainier and St. Helens, and the Cascades Mountain
Range. You’ll find it difficult to schedule everything
in such a short time!
Climate
Seattle
does NOT lead U.S. cities in annual rainfall—that’s
just a rumor. At 37 inches per year, it’s less than many
other American cities, but spring showers are possible.
Temperatures are typically 50–70 degrees Fahrenheit
during the day and cooler in the evenings. Light jackets
and umbrellas are recommended.
Arts,
Entertaining and Dining
In
Seattle, art is lifestyle. Sculpture, designs, murals and
paintings are visible in museums and galleries as well as
on sidewalks, in bus tunnel stations and at outdoor
plazas. Encounter innovative and approachable public art,
often in unexpected places. In addition, some 190
galleries and 14 museums offer feasts for the senses, and
gallery walks thrive in almost every neighborhood. Seattle
is a world center for contemporary glass—but you’ll
also find exquisite jewelry, ceramics and metal art born
of the earth and fire.
Seattle’s cultural
scene flourishes with opera, ballet, art galleries,
children’s theater and more theaters than any American
city outside New York. Music ranges from jumpy alternative
to legendary rock ‘n’ roll, to the internationally
acclaimed Seattle Symphony and an increasingly vital urban
jazz scene. Seattle’s vibrant theater scene launches
Broadway productions and exciting alternative work on the
fringe.
Round out the fine art
of living Seattle-style with distinguished culinary
artistry and liquid assets of strong coffee, award-winning
wines and serious microbrews. Nationally acclaimed local
chefs have placed Seattle solidly on the international
cuisine map. The use of fresh seasonal ingredients,
harvested locally or grown especially for a restaurant, is
inspiring an adventurous cuisine that is distinctly
Seattle.
Attractions
A short
walk from the downtown hotels and convention center and
you are at the Pike Street Market, the oldest continuously
working farmer’s market which is an open air celebration
of fresh regional fruits, vegetables, seasonal flowers,
seafood, hand-crafted work by local artisans, eclectic
shops and fine restaurants and casual eateries…many with
views of Elliott Bay. Don’t miss a piscatorial
highlight: world famous fishmongers who have elevated
salmon-slinging to new heights.
A five-minute monorail
ride takes you to the Space Needle, one of Seattle’s
defining pieces of architecture. Like sports? Perhaps you
can catch a Mariners’ game?
World class shopping is
just out the door of the downtown hotels with a wide
variety of upscale stores, shops and boutiques. Or, visit
Pioneer Square, Seattle’s oldest neighborhood and
entirely preserved as a National Historic District.
Plan extra time in your schedule for
several other adventures! Walk down to Pier 52 to the
Washington State Ferry System. Take a ferry ride anywhere
for a breathtaking view you won’t forget. A short drive
out of the city leads to river rafting, hiking and some of
the most scenic parks around: Mt. Rainier National Park,
Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, North
Cascades National Park, Olympic National Park and
Rainforest and Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area.
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Photo courtesy of Washington State
Convention & Trade Center
CONVENTION CENTER—Washington
State Convention and Trade Center at dusk.
Photograph provided by
Seattle's Convention & Visitors Bureau
PIONEER SQUARE
— Seattle's historic district
is filled with boutique shopping, art galleries,
nightlife activities, international dining
and sightseeing opportunities.
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