Washington State – Griffey's Great Adventures

Seattle Attractions

There is plenty to see and do in this Pacific Northwest city. We didn’t see it all but here are some of the highlights.

The Space Needle

It’s the most iconic structure in the Seattle skyline, so it only makes sense to start with The Space Needle. Built in city center in 1962 for the World’s Fair, the Space Needle towers above the streets below. A ticket to the Space Needle offers an elevator climb that lands you 520 feet in the air with sweeping 360 degree views of the Emerald City and Mount Rainier. The top of the Space Needle is also home to SkyCity, the world’s oldest revolving restaurant, complete with a glass floor. We did not have the opportunity to dine here, but if you find a few free moments, I recommend at least stopping by for a drink!

Helpful Information: Upon turning in our CityPass ticket, we still had to schedule a time to visit the Space Needle (scheduling times helps control crowds). We scheduled our time and then went to Chihuly Garden and Glass right next door. By the time we were finished at Chihuly, it was time for the our Space Needle tour. I hope this helps to maximize your time!

For more information, visit www.spaceneedle.com

Beautiful morning view of the Puget Sound from the Space Needle

Underground Tour

Under the streets of Pioneer Square, there are passageways and basements that were once the ground level storefronts in mid 19th century Seattle. In 1889, the Great Seattle Fire destroyed 31 blocks of the city. Prior to the fire, Pioneer Square often flooded. To improve the city after the fire, they rebuilt 2 stories higher. Life had to go on for merchants during the months that it took to rebuild so businesses reopened in their original spaces, at the original street grade, and used ladders to climb onto to the new streets above to come and go. Glass inserts were built into the new sidewalks (and still exist today) to provide light below. By 1907, all merchants had moved their businesses to the “new ground level” and the underground was shut down. A small portion was restored by a local citizen by the name of Bill Speidel in 1965. Today the underground can be toured with “Bill Speidel’s Underground Tour”. Guides lead you through the underground passageways and provide you with history, witty banter, and humorous stories.

Helpful Information: The tour begins below Doc Maynard’s Pub. Food and drinks are available before and/or after your tour. There is a special package priced to include lunch and the tour if you choose. The walking tour lasts about 75 minutes. Reservations/ticket purchase is recommended ahead of time. Tours start on the hour. Hours vary by season.

For more information visit www.undergroundtour.com

Glass “Sidewalk Windows”
Bill Speidel’s Underground Tour

Kerry Park

Kerry Park is a small park on the South slope of Queen Anne Hill, located at the corner of Second Avenue and West Highland Drive. The reason to visit Kerry Park? THE VIEW! The 1.26 acre spot offers an all encompassing view of downtown Seattle, Elliot Bay, and Mount Rainier. The view at sunset is stunning and worth the trip.

Helpful Information: If you are driving, go early. There is only street parking and due to the popularity of this sunset view, parking becomes scarce quickly. The surrounding neighborhood is safe and filled with large gorgeous homes that have daily access to the one-of-a-kind Seattle view.

View from Kerry Park: Downtown Seattle and Mount Rainier

Argosy Cruises Harbor Tour

This one hour cruise on Elliot Bay is part of the “CityPass” and provides dazzling views of the Seattle skyline, Olympic Mountains, and Mount Rainier. The boat crew offers history and fun facts about Seattle and if you are lucky they will help you spot seasonal wildlife. Orcas are known to be spotted in Elliot Bay.

The Harbor Cruise is not the only benefit to Pier 55. There are nearby shops, restaurants, pubs, and perhaps most notably Seattle’s Great Wheel, a large Ferris wheel with enclosed air conditioned capsules that offer a vantage point from high in the sky.

Helpful Information: If you are using CityPass for the harbor cruise, reservations must be made in person at the ticket booth on Pier 55. Non CityPass reservations can be made online or via phone. A full service cash bar is on board, offering beer, wine, and cocktails.

The Great Wheel is said to be a perfect place to watch the sunset, but be aware that many people have the same idea so it may get crowded.

Pier 55 is located at 1101 Alaskan Way, Seattle, WA.
For more information on the Argosy Harbor Cruise, visit www.argosycruises.com. For more information on The Great Wheel, visit www.thegreatwheel.com

Ballard Locks

Ballard Locks is on the United States National Register of Historic Places. It is a complex of locks at the west end of Salmon Bay in the Lake Washington Ship Canal. What are the Ballard Locks? The Ballard Locks help to move vessels from Lake Washington to the Puget Sound without allowing the freshwater to mix with the saltwater. After vessels enter the locks, fresh water drains from the lock via drainage valves that close once the water has emptied. Different drains open to allow saltwater from the Puget Sound into the lock until water pressure is equal on both sides of the gate. At this point, the lock opens and the vessels are free to cruise into the Sound. It is a process that is quite fascinating to witness.

The fish ladder is also located in the Ballard Locks complex. Salmon hatch in fresh water (Lake Washington) but mature in seawater (Puget Sound). After swimming in the saltwater for 2-6 years, they migrate back to freshwater to spawn. The fish ladder was created to help the salmon to safely pass around the locks during migration. If you visit Ballard Locks between June and September, you will have the pleasure of witnessing this!

Helpful Information: Free tours are given at the Locks daily, except in December, January, and February. The Visitor’s Center’s hours vary by season, so check the website before traveling. There is also 7 acres of Botanical Gardens in the complex. Picnic lunches are allowed but no food is sold onsite. Dogs are also welcome but must be kept on a leash. The Locks themselves close for 2 weeks in March and November for maintenance.

For more information, visit www.ballardlocks.org

Fish Ladder at Ballard Locks
Salmon Migrating through the Fish Ladder at Ballard Locks

Seattle Sports

Seattle has had some real powerhouses in sports in the last several years. Two of their biggest stadiums sit adjacent to one another, joined by a parking deck. Depending on the time of year you visit, you can catch the Mariners or the Seahawks in action. Go 12s!

CenturyLink Field: Home of the Seattle Seahawks

Safeco Field: Home of the Seattle Mariners

Seattle Food

Like amazing art, Seattle is filled with some pretty tasty food too. These establishments will get your mouth salivating and your tummy growling.

Molly Moon’s Homemade Ice Cream

Molly’s is a Seattle based homemade ice cream shop that partners with local farmers and producers for high quality local ingredients to craft the finest ice cream in Washington. The first time we walked in, they were still hand making the waffle cones. This means my decadent dairy treat was served in a waffle cone that was STILL WARM. O.M.G. I didn’t eat the rest of the day but it was worth it.

If their ice cream wasn’t enough to make you feel happy inside, you should know that Molly Moon’s gives 1% of all sales to local food banks and the Anna Banana Milk Fund. They also donate 3200 scoops of ice cream per year to local non-profits and school programs. On top of that, 100% of the products used in their shops are compostable. So there you have it…eating Molly Moon’s is good for the community AND the environment! There are 8 locations in and around Seattle so stop by and feed your sweet tooth!

For information on locations and hours visit their website at www.mollymoon.com

Biscuit Bitch

Biscuit Bitch is a must visit for breakfast in Seattle! You have to get there early because there will be a line but it moves fast and it’s worth it! The owner, Kimmie Spice, has cooked up unique and scrumptious biscuit creations including “The Canadian Bitch” with maple peanut butter and bacon, or “The Smokin’ Hot Bitch” with a biscuit and gravy smothered in cheese and topped with a grilled Louisiana Hot Link and jalapenos, bringing some southern style to the State of Washington. Don’t let this one slip off your list. Bring your appetite.

I’m sorry there are no food pictures, apparently it was so good the camera didn’t make it fast enough!

Pike Place Market

Pike Place Market is like a Food Mecca, a foodie’s paradise. All the gourmet eats one could ask for is gathered on one street through the heart of the Historic District. From Farmer’s Markets to Spices to the Fish Market and beyond, you can eat your way through Pike Place.

For more information on Pike Place Market,
visit www.pikeplacemarket.org

Starbucks- The Original

We may be jaded after seeing a Starbucks on every other corner in every major city, but the one located at Pike Place is special. It’s the first location that opened back in 1971, starting what has become a Seattle coffee craze.

Beecher’s Homemade Cheese

The glass kitchen walls in Beecher’s offer a clear view of the cheesemaking process. You can watch from the sidewalk or inside the store but be sure to drop in to try some of their signature cheeses. Beecher’s is located at Pike Place Market, next door to the original Starbucks. For more information, visit their website at www.beechershomemadecheese.com

Seattle Art

Prior to our visit we were unaware of the art that the city of Seattle holds in her belly. From Olympic Sculpture Park to Chihuly Garden and Glass, here is a list of some of our favorite art in Seattle:

Chihuly Garden and Glass

Chihuly Garden and Glass is a unique collection of blown glass sculptures by the artist Dale Chihuly. Extravagant glass flowers, chandeliers, and sea life are amongst some of his magnificent works displayed at this Seattle Museum. Inside the museum you can find some of his more delicate pieces, while outside you will find glass “plants” mixed in with live gardens. This is a must see in Seattle.

Tips: We attended first thing in the morning, before it became crowded and were able to get an up close view of the attention to detail that was put into these wonders.

This is part of the Seattle “City Pass”. It is next door to the Space Needle. I would recommend stopping by the Space Needle to schedule your time, and then head to Chihuly.

For more information, visit the Chihuly Website: www.chihulygardenandglass.com

The Fremont Troll

In 1990, the space now occupied by the Fremont Troll was quickly becoming a dumping ground and a dangerous drug hang out. The Fremont Art Council launched a competition to help rehabilitate this declining spot. Four local artists won and built the Fremont Troll under the Aurora Bridge. They used recycled goods to help complete the statue, including a hubcap for his eye, and an old Volkswagen Beetle, which can be found in the clutches of the troll’s left hand. The Fremont Troll is now a popular tourist attraction and you can visit the statue for unique photo opportunities.

For information and directions, visit https://fremont.com/explore/sights/troll/

The Fremont Troll, under the Aurora Bridge in the Fremont neighborhood of Seattle

Olympic Sculpture Park

Olympic Sculpture Park is a 9 acre open waterfront park owned and maintained by the Seattle Art Museum.
It is Seattle’s biggest green space and offers stunning views of the Olympic Mountains and the Puget Sound. Both permanent and temporary installations call this park home throughout the year. It’s 2,200 foot zigzagging path allows visitors to walk, run, bike, skateboard, or rollerblade through as they spend as much or as little time with the art as they want. You can take a break on a small area of beach where you can dip your feet into Elliot Bay or reflect on the art you’ve seen.

Helpful Information: The park opens 30 minutes before sunrise and closes 30 minutes after sunset. Admission is free. Pets are allowed on a 6 foot leash. Smoking is prohibited. For more information visit www.seattleartmuseum.org/visit/olympic-sculpture-park

The Gum Wall

I am not sure that this qualifies as art, but we will go with it. It’s exactly what it sounds like, a wall filled with chewing gum in an alleyway under Pike Place Market. The tradition started in 1990 when people were waiting in line for the theater in the alleyway; they would stick their gum and a penny to the wall. It became a regular act and today attracts thousands of tourists who leave their mark on the Market Theatre Gum Wall. Some people create a design with their gum, some spell out their names, or some just simply add to the collection. Either way, when you visit, look don’t touch!

Seattle Street Art

There is a lot of art floating around the city- on piers, on light posts, on buildings. There is always something pretty to see if you keep your eyes open. We will leave you with a small sample of Seattle city art! Enjoy the beauty of Seattle!

The State of Washington, USA

SEATTLE

Griffey’s Great Adventure is back for another #GGA5daygetaway. This month’s spotlight will be on Washington State, specifically Seattle and the surrounding suburbs.

It’s no wonder they call it “The Emerald City”. The drive into Seattle is surrounded by green and lush scenery. We were lucky enough to have beautiful sunny days and did not experience the “Seattle Mist”. The skyline is as beautiful as any with the iconic space needle at its center. From art to food to greenery, this piece of the Pacific Northwest quickly became one of our favorites.

Since it was our first time in Seattle, we wanted to be sure to see as much as possible in the short time we were there so we purchased the Seattle “CITY PASS”, which grants you access to the Space Needle, Seattle Aquarium, Argosy Cruises Harbor Tour, the Museum of Pop Culture OR Woodland Park Zoo, and Chihuly Garden and Glass OR Pacific Science Center. This can be purchased online or at the attractions themselves. We purchased ours in advance. Note that the CITY PASS is only good for 9 days once you use the first ticket. CITY PASS is worth it if you are planning to visit all the listed attractions. They are currently selling for $89.00 (USD) and you can get yours at www.citypass.com.