You can go to as many museums as you like during your stay, and up to four people staying in the hotel room are eligible to use the discount, so it’s perfect for trips with friends or family. You’ll find the entire list of museums on seattlemuseummonth.com – but how to choose? Let’s dive in and I’ll try to make some suggestions according to your interests.

Today’s topic is: history & heritage! Here are some of my recommendations if you want to discover the stories behind the people and places of the Northwest.

In these museums you’ll find fascinating looks at aviation history, a deep dive into Seattle’s innovative roots, stories of the Alaskan Gold Rush, and more.

A great first stop is the Museum of History & Industry (MOHAI). Housed on the south shore of Lake Union in a restored historic Naval Reserve Armory, this Smithsonian affiliate boasts a collection of more than 4 million objects, documents, and photos that trace the history of the Puget Sound region. MOHAI’s award-winning exhibits are engaging, enlightening, and entertaining. And their focus on innovation explores the global influences that all began here: Microsoft, Amazon, Starbucks, Costco, Nintendo, Boeing and more. My tip: don’t miss the musical telling of the 1889 Great Seattle Fire, complete with heart-tugging solo by the guilty glue pot that started it all, and two current special exhibitions. Roots of Wisdom: Native Knowledge. Shared Science. explores stories from four Indigenous communities in real-world examples of how traditional knowledge and cutting-edge science can be blended together to provide solutions to contemporary concerns. And Pulling Together: A Brief History of Rowing in Seattle is perfectly timed to the national release of the new film The Boys in the Boat, based on the bestselling book by Seattle author Daniel James Brown, and directed by George Clooney. In 1936, the University of Washington men’s rowing team did the unthinkable: despite injuries and illness, they defeated British, German, and Italian crews and brought home a gold medal at the Berlin Olympics. MOHAI is proud to display a selection of rare artifacts and photographs related to the 1936 champion crew which offer a look into the rich history of rowing in Seattle.

courtesy of MOHAI

While you’re in the neighborhood, see if you can spot any of the historic ships that are typically docked at the Historic Ship Wharf adjacent to MOHAI: the Virginia V, Arthur Foss, Swiftsure, and the Duwamish. You might also want to visit The Center for Wooden Boats next door, and the Wagner Education Center.

The Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture is a favorite of all ages. Washington’s oldest museum (dating from 1899) is now one of our newest, in a dynamic purpose-built building (opened in 2019) that brings the collections and the research to the forefront, allowing visitors to see the conservation and discovery in action. From contemporary native culture to ancient dinosaur fossils, this museum will inspire and delight.

Burke Museum. Photo: Dennis Wise.

Another don’t-miss: one of Seattle’s most popular museums, The Museum of Flight. Located in south Seattle, it’s the largest independent, non-profit air and space museum in the world! With over 175 aircraft and spacecraft and tens of thousands of artifacts, the museum brings the incredible history of flight to life. A handy visit planner on their website can help you focus your time depending on your age and interests.

In the historic heart of Seattle’s Pioneer Square neighborhood, a visit to the free Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park located in the restored 1889 Cadillac Hotel offers an absorbing look at a time when anyone with about $600 ($20,000 in today’s dollars) could dream of traveling to the Yukon Territory in northwestern Canada, to strike a claim, mine the gold, and try to change their fortunes. This branch of the National Park Service is a key link to understanding the impact on Seattle from the Klondike, and how modern day global and regional companies such as Nordstrom and Filson got their start in the explosive growth of the gold rush period.

Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park Wayne Bressler

A beautiful ride on the Seattle-Bremerton ferry will bring you to Bremerton, home of the USS Turner Joy Naval Destroyer Museum Ship. You can walk on for the hour long ferry ride, saving money and time. The Turner Joy is located on the Bremerton boardwalk, an easy walk from the ferry terminal. To fully explore the ship, allow 1-2 hours and wear flat or rubber-soled shoes, dress in layers (the ship is cold in February!), and keep your hands free for safe ladder climbing. Or, take the scenic ferry ride to Bainbridge Island instead, walk a  short distance into town and visit the small but engrossing Bainbridge Island Historical Museum. Fun fact: pickleball was invented on Bainbridge Island in 1965, and you can learn about the roots of this popular national sport in the “Our Community” exhibit.

Learn more about Seattle Museum Month and find your perfect hotel at seattlemuseummonth.com.  See my other posts for suggestions for arts & culture lovers, families, and those seeking one-of-a-kind experiences. With more than 25 participating museums, we’ve got something for every interest. See you in February!

Banner image: The first big rowing event of the 1916 season was an April race against Stanford. University of Washington and Stanford fans crowded the shores of Lake Washington to cheer for their teams. The UW crew won by seven boat lengths, and afterwards started preparing for a May race against the University of California at Berkeley. This photo shows the 1916 men’s varsity crew, in uniform, at the University of Washington boathouse. Credit:  MOHAI, PEMCO Webster & Stevens Collection, 1983.10.10267.

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Today’s topic is: one-of-a-kind places. This post highlights unique experiences, to be found only here in the Seattle region.

Located in Seattle’s Chinatown-International District, The Wing Luke Museum is a National Park Service affiliate and the first Smithsonian affiliate in the Pacific Northwest. As the only pan-Asian Pacific American museum in the nation, it offers an authentic and unique perspective on the American story. Be Water, My Friend is a popular exhibition exploring the life, teachings and legacy of international icon Bruce Lee, who had deep roots in Seattle. Another exhibit on view in February, Sound Check!: The Music We Make allows you to discover the role music has played in Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander lives & communities.

Wing Luke Museum Sundberg Kennedy Ly-Au Young Architects

Nearby you’re in for another treat: Seattle has a pinball museum! The Seattle Pinball Museum offers about 50 playable games from the 1960s to the present. Your admission allows you unlimited play, although please note that kids must be 7 or older to play the games and must be supervised by an adult. One tip: this can be popular and crowded, so my advice is to choose a non–peak time for your visit if possible, so you can enjoy the games and maybe even talk with the owners, who are passionate pinball fans.

Courtesy Seattle Pinball Museum

If you haven’t filled up on snacks at the Pinball Museum, you’re in luck because you’re right in the Chinatown-International District, home to delicious dumplings and noodles to take a fuel break from your busy day of museum hopping.

Located at Seattle Center, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Discovery Center offers the opportunity to explore interactive exhibitions, global health innovations, and powerful stories of community. You can also discover ways to take action on causes that you care about. Admission is always free.

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Discovery Center Courtesy of Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

A few miles north, Seattle’s Ballard neighborhood drew significant numbers of Scandinavian immigrants in the early 1900s, drawn by jobs in fishing and lumber mills, and this neighborhood still bears traces of their cultural traditions. So it’s the perfect place for the National Nordic Museum, an internationally recognized museum and cultural center that collects and preserves the values, traditions, art, and spirit of the Nordic peoples. It’s the largest museum in the United States to honor the legacy of immigrants from the five Nordic countries, and the stunning new building, which opened in 2018, was recognized by Architectural Digest as one of the 15 most noteworthy museums opening in the world that year. As an extra bonus, the museum is home to Frankie Feetsplinters, one of five oversized recycled material trolls in the NW Trolls Project. The trolls were built and installed in late summer of 2023 by internationally known artist Thomas Dambo, along with his pro crew and hundreds of community volunteers.  Tip: If you didn’t eat in the C-ID, this would be a good spot to have a lunch break at the museum’s Freya Café, or venture a couple blocks west for some classic fish and chips at the Lockspot.

Rachael Jones

For an entirely different sort of museum experience, head south about 24 miles to the Pacific Bonsai Museum. Set in a forest of towering conifers, the outdoor museum connects people to nature through the living art of bonsai. This unique place stewards more than 150 bonsai and the most diverse public collection in North America with trees from Canada, China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, and the United States. Featuring 60 trees at a time, this cultural gem offers contemporary and traditional exhibitions, group tours, and education.

Courtesy Pacific Bonsai Museum

Learn more about Seattle Museum Month at seattlemuseummonth.com and see my other posts for suggestions for arts & culture lovers, history & heritage buffs, and families. With more than 25 participating museums, we’ve got something for every interest.  See you in February!

Banner Image: Courtesy of The Wing Luke Museum

The post Seattle Museum Month: Uniquely Northwest appeared first on Visit Seattle.

You can go to as many museums as you like during your stay, and up to four people staying in the hotel room are eligible to use the discount, so it’s perfect for trips with friends or family. You’ll find the entire list of museums at seattlemuseummonth.com – but how to choose? Let’s dive in and I’ll try to make some suggestions according to your interests.

Today’s topic is: arts & culture! Here are some of my suggestions if you enjoy art.

Seattle Art Museum, or SAM, has been the center for world-class visual arts in the Pacific Northwest since 1933. In the heart of downtown Seattle, light-filled galleries invite you to wander through permanent collections and special exhibitions. SAM’s diverse holdings include Asian, African, Islamic, European, Oceanic, modern and contemporary art, and decorative arts and design. Visitors especially enjoy the remarkable Native American galleries and the charming Porcelain Room. In February you can see Calder: In Motion, an exhibition of the iconic American artist who revolutionized sculpture, including more than 45 works shown publicly for the first time.

Fish, 1942, Alexander Calder. Photo: Nicholas Shirley

The renovated Seattle Asian Art Museum is not to be missed. Housed in a beautiful art deco building in Volunteer Park, the expanded Asian Art Museum breaks boundaries to offer a thematic, rather than geographic or chronological, exploration of art from the world’s largest continent. February highlights include a solo exhibition of international artist Anida Yoeu Ali.

Asian Art Museum Jacob Foltz

Olympic Sculpture Park is SAM’s free outdoor art experience. In summer, it’s packed with dog walkers and joggers and strollers (both kinds), but in winter you can enjoy the art with more solitude. The collection includes large works by Richard Serra, Roxy Paine, Jaume Plensa, Louise Bourgeois, and Alexander Calder. While it might be brisk weather in February, you also might get to enjoy some beautiful clear views of Elliott Bay and the snowcapped Olympic Mountains.

One of Seattle’s top visitor attractions is also one of its most artful. Located at Seattle Center, Chihuly Garden and Glass is bursting with color and light and offers a comprehensive look at the work made by Dale Chihuly, one of the world’s living glass art masters. It never fails to delight with its rooms upon rooms of glass, impressive suspended sculptures, and colorful garden. On view through February, Winter Brilliance is an original light and music installation, using innovative video projection technology.

Art enthusiasts will also want to plan a short trip south to Tacoma. In addition to interesting special exhibitions, a highlight of visiting the Museum of Glass is the chance to watch glass artists at work in the Hot Shop Amphitheatre, located inside the 90-foot tall steel cone.

From the downtown Seattle waterfront, a 30-minute ferry ride to Bainbridge Island (tip: walk on as a foot passenger for ease and savings) and a short stroll will bring you to BIMA, the Bainbridge Island Museum of Art. Admission is always free, but even without the promise of saving on your admission cost this small gem of a museum is a worthy excursion for an engaging look at the art and craft of the Puget Sound region, in an impressive LEED Gold building.  An onsite café is great for a lunch break, or walk a bit further into town for numerous tasty choices. The ferry ride is another iconic Northwest experience, offering fantastic views of the Seattle skyline and Elliott Bay.

courtesy of Bainbridge Island Museum of Art

Also free, the Frye Art Museum is another gem, located just east of downtown Seattle. Established in 1952, the museum is now known for contemporary art exhibitions that explore the issues of our time, and thought-provoking programming.

Courtesy Frye Art Museum

A bit further to the east, in downtown Bellevue, the Bellevue Arts Museum is one of few museums in the nation with a focus on art, craft, and design. On view in February, Positive Fragmentation: From the Collections of the Jordan D. Schnitzer and His Family Foundation features more than 200 works by contemporary women artists. Opening February 2, Washi Transformed presents a traditional medium of Japanese paper in the hands of present day innovative artists.

And not least, Washington State’s oldest art museum, the Henry Art Gallery, beckons you to the University of Washington campus. Don’t let its age fool you, the Henry specializes in presenting world-renowned contemporary artists and nurturing emerging talent. My tip: don’t miss Light Reign, the Skyspace by acclaimed artist James Turrell. This immersive installation is one of my favorite contemplative spots in the city.

Find your perfect hotel and learn more about Seattle Museum Month at seattlemuseummonth.com.  You’ll also find more suggestions for history & heritage buffs, families, and those seeking one-of-a-kind experiences on our blog. With so many participating museums, we’ve got something for every interest.  See you in February!

Banner Image: Courtesy of the Frye Art Museum

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You can go to as many museums as you like during your stay, and up to four people staying in the hotel room are eligible to use the discount, so it’s perfect for trips with friends or family. You’ll find the entire list of museums at seattlemuseummonth.com – but how to choose? Let’s dive in and I’ll try to make some suggestions according to your interests.

Today’s topic is: family fun! Here are some of my recommendations if you have kids in the mix.

First up, the Burke Museum. Re-opened in late 2019 in a newly constructed, purpose-built facility, the Burke offers a new kind of museum experience, making the research and scientific discovery accessible to visitors. With amazing fossils, dinosaur bones, minerals, cultural artifacts, and an engaging team of scientists and researchers to welcome you, the Burke is a must-see!

Courtesy Burke Museum

At Seattle Center, the colorful Museum of Pop Culture (MoPOP) is eye-popping inside and out, and will thrill older kids and their parents too. Music fans can dive deep into exhibits on Seattle icons Nirvana and Jimi Hendrix, while fans of Harry Potter or The Wizard of Oz will delight in Fantasy: Worlds of Myth and Magic. Indie Game Revolution offers an immersion into contemporary video game culture. Maybe zombies, vampires and other things that go bump in the night are more your speed? Then Scared to Death: The Thrill of Horror Film is for you! (Note that this one is for the age 13+ crowd, due to high scare factor & graphic content.) Sound Lab invites you to get hands-on and explore the tools of rock ‘n’ roll through electric guitars, drums, samplers, mixing consoles, and more.

Indie Game Revolution exhibit at MoPOP Courtesy MoPOP

Also at Seattle Center, the Pacific Science Center has been a family favorite since 1962. From the Tropical Butterfly House, to the Planetarium, from Beyond Human Limits to Dinosaurs: A Journey Through Time, a variety of exhibitions and experiences are ready to delight and inspire.

Pacific Science Center Rachael Jones

Seattle Children’s Museum is also located at the Seattle Center, offering hands-on exhibits and daily programs for kids from birth to age 10, sparking imagination and discovery through exploratory play.

Seattle Children’s Museum Megan Ching

Seattle Aquarium delights visitors young and old on the Seattle waterfront. A leader in hands-on marine experiences and conservation education, the Aquarium makes learning about Puget Sound and our world’s one big ocean fun and engaging. Daily diver shows in the Windows On Washington Waters exhibit introduce the fish that you can find in our Washington waters. Wearing specialized masks, the divers are able to talk back and forth with Aquarium interpreters on the outside of the exhibit, and answer your questions.

courtesy of Seattle Aquarium

From the waterfront, you can walk on a Washington State Ferry for a 30 minute crossing to Bainbridge Island, where a short stroll up from the dock leads you to Kids Discovery Museum, which is geared for little ones from 6 months to 8 years.

courtesy of Kids Discovery Museum

A few minutes north of Seattle Center is Woodland Park Zoo, another perennial favorite for all ages. Established in 1899, the Zoo has been an urban oasis and is now a leader in animal conservation efforts. Its 92 acres are divided into bioclimatic zones, featuring natural habitats ranging from humid tropical rainforests and coastal deserts to temperate rainforests like those of the Pacific Northwest, housing a wide range of interesting animals.

bear, bear cub, brown bear, juniper, living northwest trail
Woodland Park Zoo

Find your perfect hotel and learn more about Seattle Museum Month at seattlemuseummonth.com. See our other blog posts for more suggestions for arts & culture lovers, history & heritage buffs, and those seeking one-of-a-kind experiences. With more than 25 participating museums, we’ve got something for every interest.  See you in February!

Banner image: Courtesy of Seattle Aquarium

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Cloudbreak started in 2022 and was such a success that we’ve brought it back for year two! The festival features artists in diverse genres at stages all across the city: in Beacon Hill, the Central District, Columbia City, Downtown, Belltown, Fremont, Capitol Hill, Ballard, and more.

Sir Mix-A-Lot opened the 2022 Cloudbreak Festival at El Corazon. Photo: Niffer Calderwood Photography.

Stay in one of our partner hotels to receive access to the shows for free, so you can experience the vibrancy of Seattle’s music scene. Get the scoop and discover participating hotels at cloudbreakmusicfest.org.

Cloudbreak started as a partnership of King County Creative and Visit Seattle, and this year we’re delighted to welcome in our new partner, the City of Seattle. We can’t wait to welcome you to our amazing city of music!

2023 artists include Mudhoney, Rocky Votolato, Barrett Martin, Mala Suerte, Sera Cahoone with Mat Brooke and Molly Sides, The A-Frames, The Fall of Troy, Alex Guy’s Led to Sea, Shaina Shepherd & Tomo Nakayama, Biblioteka, Kuinka, Smokey Brights, The Dusty 45s & Christy McWilson, Enumclaw, Grace Love, Andy Coe Band, Country Dave and the New Fallen Angels Tribute to Gram Parsons,  Jenn Champion, King Youngblood and soooo many more.

Smokey Brights at the Tractor Tavern, Cloudbreak 2022. Photo: Mike R. Mitchell

NEW this year: your music pass (available at your hotel) has the access link for our new advanced registration system. If there’s a show you ABSOLUTELY have to see, get your name on the list. (Details and restrictions will be listed at the link site.)

Coinciding with Cloudbreak is the 11th anniversary of Freakout Festival, running November 2-5 at seven stages primarily in the Ballard neighborhood. This festival is an amazing success story, growing from humble beginnings to now featuring more than 100 bands and artists from Seattle, the Northwest, the US, and the world. Some of the shows highlighting Seattle artists are included in Cloudbreak access, so check that schedule!

The Black Tones at Freakout Festival 2021. Photo by Jake Hanson.

So, we’ll see you out and about for music, right? Follow along and share your experience with us on social by using the hashtag #CloudbreakMusicFest and tagging @visitseattle.

The post The Return of Cloudbreak Brings Free Music Shows to Seattle this November appeared first on Visit Seattle.

The Pacific Northwest has long been known as one of the top centers in the world for glass art. More than 700 glass artists, from emerging artists to master glassmakers, live in Washington state, and more than 100 glass art studios have made their home in the greater Seattle region. Refract allows you to explore this fascinating art, meet artists, tour studios, see special demonstrations, mingle at art parties, and more. Bonus: many of the events are free.

10 reasons why you don’t want to miss this event:

1. Opening night party at Chihuly Garden and Glass

Chihuly Garden and Glass, the exhibition of one of the world’s best known living glass artists, is one of Seattle’s top visitor attractions. On Thursday night (October 12), you can immerse yourself in the museum’s stunning displays while attending the opening party for Refract, Gather. This event allows you to meet and mingle with the region’s artists, tour the installations, enjoy great food and drinks, and talk with helpful staff to plan your Refract festival activities. Author’s note: Get your tickets soon; this event is popular!

Photo: Chihuly Garden and Glass

2. Closing Party at Pratt

Pratt Fine Arts Center is a beloved Seattle institution where numerous glass artists got their start. They offer classes for all levels in varied forms of glassmaking and other art forms. They are hosting the Refract closing party on Sunday (October 15), with open studios, artist demonstrations, food trucks, and more.

Photo: Pratt Fine Arts Center

3. Artist Open Studios

Saturday (October 14) and Sunday (October 15), put on your comfortable walking shoes and hit the neighborhoods because 16 Seattle artists are opening up their studios to welcome you. These are all extraordinary artists—and this is your chance to meet them in person, see their studios, and learn more about how they create their vision in glass. Find the full Refract Open Studios list here.

Visiting without a car? New this year, a free shuttle service will take you on a loop of all the studios. Learn how to reserve your spot here.

Misoda Glass Open Studio. Photo by Megan Swann.

4. Pilchuck Auction

If you’re already a glass aficionado, there’s a good chance you know about Pilchuck. The legendary school in the woods north of Seattle is one of the leading global centers for education in all forms of studio glass: glassblowing, kiln glass, fused glass, flameworking, neon, and more. Their annual gala and auction (October 14) is a hot ticket for supporters of the school and glass art collectors, and this is your chance to attend one of the premier auction events of the year.

Photo: Pilchuck Glass School

5. See it Live & Up Close

Watching live glassmaking is mesmerizing, and you’ll have many chances to see the magic in progress at hot shop venues like Seattle Glassblowing Studio, Museum of Glass, Blowing Sands, Pratt Fine Arts Center, Glasshouse-Studio, Avalon Glass Works, Schack Art Center, City of Shoreline and glassybaby. Author’s note: Find these by selecting the “Demos, Talks & Lectures” category on the Refract Programs page.

Photo: Museum of Glass

6. Outstanding Museum & Gallery Exhibitions

We’re fortunate to have major museums and galleries with a dedicated focus on glass art. Explore the work of globally-known glass artist Jay Macdonell during his residency at the Museum of Glass. Nearby at Tacoma Art Museum (TAM), the Benaroya Wing showcases TAM’s expansive glass collection, one of the top five public collections of studio glass nationwide. Leading glass art gallery Traver Gallery presents an exhibition of Ginny Ruffner’s work, Bainbridge Arts & Crafts Gallery presents Kait Rhoads, and Gallery Mack explores the work of Chuck Lopez. Group exhibits include Luminosity at Stonington Gallery, focusing on Indigenous artists in glass, and a special glass show at Northwest Designer Craftartists. Author’s note: Find more by selecting the “Exhibitions” category on the Refract Programs page.

Photo: Traver Gallery

7. Special Tours & Access

If you’ve flown through SEA Airport, you may have noted that it has an extensive art collection, including impressive works in glass. Or maybe you were running to the gate and missed it. Here’s your chance to tour the works with a curator, without toting your carry-on around! Or maybe you’ve always dreamed of seeing the extraordinary Chihuly Boathouse (not open to the public), or of taking a guided walking tour on glass architecture, or raising a glass at the maestro Lino Tagliapietra’s showroom. Yes, these all happen as part of Refract! Author’s note: Find more and reserve your space by selecting the “Tours” category on the Refract Programs page.

Lino Tagliapietra showroom. Photo: Ian Lewis.

8. Get Hands-On

Are you happiest when learning something yourself? Refract offers something for you, too! Check out the classes and workshops to blow your own glass or make a fused glass piece. Author’s note: Find more by selecting the “Hands-On” category on the Refract Programs  page.

Photo: Seattle Glassblowing Studio

9. Find Unique Glass Art to Take Home – From Affordable to Splurgeworthy

The options are almost endless, from dozens of artisans at Pike Place Market to the numerous galleries, shops, and studios. Our Glass Art Guide is a helpful resource.

Avalon Glass Gallery. Photo: Ian Lewis.

10. It’s Seattle!

We couldn’t be more proud that all this activity is taking place in and around Seattle, with regional events stretching from Tacoma to Everett to Bainbridge Island and Issaquah. We love our city and can’t wait to show it off to you. You’ll find hotel packages and travel information on the Refract website, and lots more inspiration at visitseattle.org.

Photo: Sun Chan

If you need more inspiration, take a peek at last year’s Refract, and the State of Glass series on VISITSEATTLE.tv.

See you at Refract!

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Link light rail Oran Viriyincy

Flying in to SEA airport? We’ve got great news for you. The Link light rail system connects the airport to Seattle’s downtown. Running about every 10-15 minutes most of the day, the train will connect you from the SeaTac/Airport Station on the fourth floor of the airport parking garage to Westlake Station, located in the heart of downtown at 5th & Pine. The trip is about 40 minutes and the adult fare is $3 per one-way trip.

From Westlake Station, you are within a short walk to thousands of hotel rooms in Seattle. This map will help you locate nearby lodging. The green dotted line is the underground light rail route. Draw a line up with your finger from Pike Place Market about 4 blocks to find Westlake Station.

Seattle/Bainbridge Ferry Joenevill via Flickr Creative Commons

Many Seattle attractions are within a 1-mile walking radius in downtown, including Pike Place Market, the flagship Nordstrom store, Seattle Art Museum, the Central Library and the Seattle waterfront including the Seattle Great Wheel, Seattle Aquarium, Argosy Cruises and Washington State Ferries. From the top floor of the Westlake Center shopping center above the Westlake light rail station, a 3-minute ride on Seattle’s iconic 1962 monorail brings you to Seattle Center, home to the Space Needle, Chihuly Garden and Glass, MoPOP, Climate Pledge Arena, KEXP, Seattle Rep, Seattle Children’s Museum, Pacific Science Center and more. Starting from Westlake Center again, it’s a 1.3-mile walk or quick ride back south on the light rail to Pioneer Square, Chinatown-International District, Lumen Field, and T-Mobile Park.

Downtown Seattle also has numerous performing arts and music venues: ACT Theatre, Benaroya Hall, The 5^th Avenue Theatre, The Paramount Theatre, Jazz Alley, The Crocodile, The Triple Door, The Showbox, Unexpected Productions, the Can Can and The Moore Theatre are all walkable from many hotels.

A relatively flat 1.2-mile walk heading north from Westlake Center will bring you to the south shore of Lake Union where you can visit the Museum of History & Industry (MOHAI), The Center for Wooden Boats, and find various ways to get out on the water in kayaks, vintage vessels, sailboats, electric boats or even hot tub boats. If you’d rather ride than walk, you can add the Seattle Streetcar to the mix and take the South Lake Union line from the Westlake hub at McGraw Park to South Lake Union Park next to MOHAI.

Alki Kayak Tours

Numerous tour companies will take you out and about from downtown hotels to Seattle’s further flung destinations, from Mt. Rainier to a tour of the Boeing Factory.

But, you say, you really wanted to get out hiking on your own? Well, then perhaps the seasonally available Trailhead Direct is for you! Ride Link light rail to the Capitol Hill Station and let King County Metro take you from there to popular trailheads in the region. Make sure you’re prepared in advance with supplies and schedules.

Looking to escape to the islands for a day or two? Book tickets for a seaplane to fly to Lopez, Orcas, or San Juan Island. Or hop on the West Seattle Water Taxi from Pier 50 on the downtown waterfront to the shores of Alki Beach, where you can rent a kayak from Alki Kayak Tours to explore Elliott Bay.

And of course, Seattle has a number of rideshare and taxi services too, as well as bike and scooter share. Here’s a guide to get you started: visitseattle.org/visitor-information/getting-around.

This Lonely Planet article has great advice, too!

Still have questions? Find lots more answers here, and we’ll see you soon in Seattle!

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Chances are, you are confined to your home like the rest of us as we all adjust to this crazy new normal of social distancing that is sweeping across the nation. Chances are, you are using Zoom as a way to connect with co-workers, friends, and family – anybody, really. Chances are, you wouldn’t mind hiding your personal space from those on the other side of the camera. And chances are, you would rather be anywhere else but your home right now anyway.

Have no fear – we have you covered. We have created a selection of Seattle-themed Zoom backgrounds that you can download for your virtual conference calls, happy hours, and family reunions. Who knows? It might just make you feel like you are out and about in Seattle, if only for the duration of your call.

Graffiti art displaying Seattle’s area code

Flower stalls at Pike Place Market

The Fremont Troll in his residence under the Fremont Bridge

Houseboats floating on Lake Union

A mural of Ken Griffey Jr. in SODO near T-Mobile Park

West Point Light in Magnolia’s Discovery Park

The interior of Oddfellows Café + Bar in Capitol Hill

A detail of a mural by local artist Angelina Villalobos (a.k.a. 179), located in Seattle Center.
Part of Visit Seattle’s SODO Motive

Street signs at the corner of Pike Pl and Pine St near Pike Place Market

Looking up at the Space Needle through the interactive Sonic Bloom structure at Pacific Science Center

A calming forest scene from the Pacific Northwest

Seattle’s infamous Gum Wall that everybody loves to hate and hates to love

A Washington State Ferry in Elliott Bay with the stunning Olympic Mountains backdrop

Miners Landing with the Seattle Great Wheel adorned with a heart in the midst of a global pandemic

The T. A. Wilson Great Gallery at the Museum of Flight displays 39 full-size historic aircraft

An aerial view of Snoqualmie Falls and a snow-dusted Snoqualmie Valley, just east of Seattle

Along the banks of the Snoqualmie River, looking up at the majestic Snoqualmie Falls

A Washington State Ferry heading into the sunset across Puget Sound

Seattle skyline with The Space Needle

The iconic Pike Place Market sign

Gas Works Park

Gate at the entrance of Seattle’s Chinatown-International District

City view from West Seattle

Sunset at Seattle Waterfront

The post Downloadable Seattle backgrounds for Zoom appeared first on Visit Seattle.

Photo: LoadedAaron

Seattle is good at a lot of things, including 1) scarf weather and 2) excellent food. And fall is the perfect time to visit for both.

You can start your culinary appreciation tour at the city’s outdoor farmers markets. While some are seasonal — those in the neighborhoods of Magnolia and Columbia City end in October — others are open year-round, like the ones in the U-District, Capitol Hill/Broadway, Ballard, and West Seattle. In the fall, you’ll find markets big and small all over the city, all with an incredible display of the fresh produce the region has to offer this time of year — think Chinese broccoli, yams, pumpkins, apples, and Jerusalem artichokes.

And then you have the fall restaurant menus. Expect local, seasonal ingredients and the sort of dishes that feel better than a warm hug. A case in point is the yuzu shio ramen at Capitol Hill’s Kizuki Ramen; its hot burst of citrus broth is the perfect complement to a crisp, fall day spent dashing across the city.

2. Pumpkin spice pints

Photo: Seattle Cider Company

I have three magical words for you: Pumpkin. Spice. Beer. And nowhere does this seasonal treat quite as well as Seattle. Ideal hop-growing conditions (about 70% of American hops are cultivated in Washington), plus a serious approach to brewing, multiplied by Seattle being pumpkin spice ground zero, equals a drink that will make you say, “Latte? What latte?

The whole Seattle area is home to a sea of breweries, but Two Beers Brewing Co. makes one of the more popular renditions. Their sister company, Seattle Cider Co., also puts out a rocking pumpkin spice cider.

And you can find plenty of alternatives on tap at most of the bars around the city. If just trying one variety sounds like a taste-bud letdown, hit up The Beer Junction‘s “Pumpkin Junction” festival in West Seattle for 25+ additional options in mid-October.

3. Football (and fútbol)

Photo: Philip Robertson

You don’t need to be a Seahawks fan, a Sounders fan, or even a sports fan — just come to Seattle for the sheer experience of a game. We don’t mess around in supporting our teams. In fact, our dedication is known for causing actual earthquakes. Standing in the crowd at CenturyLink Field, when everyone around you comes together to create an ocean’s roar of sound, really is a singular experience. It’s equally as awing as seeing Mt. Rainier for the first time.

Plus, going to a game is a great excuse for trying a cream-cheese-laden Seattle-style hot dog. It’s tradition!

4. Smaller crowds

Photo: Rachel Samanyi

Word has definitely gotten out that our city is full of “unrivaled natural beauty” and “incredible, unique experiences” — which means that on summer days the downtown streets can feel like a constant party, vibing with locals, travelers, jamming musicians, and everyone in between.

But we also liked Seattle before it was cool, and if you’re into the “see local bands at a tiny venue and explore hidden galleries and cafes” kind of trip, coming during fall. You get all of the upsides, but everything will be just that tiny bit less busy.

5. The fall culture

Photo: Mark Kitaoka for Teatro Zinzanni

We Seattleites might spend half the year climbing mountains and paddling the water, but when the fall days get cool… well, we’ve built up a city that lets us hang out indoors and still have an awesome time. Catch a show at Teatro Zinzanni (part cabaret, part circus, part gourmet dinner, all awesome), duke it out over beers and board games with your friends at Cafe Mox, or catch a professional football, baseball, or soccer game.

6. Oktoberfest

Photo: James Hillyerd

Lots of cities do an Oktoberfest these days, but there aren’t many that look like they’re set in a real Bavarian mountain village. Leavenworth is an easy day trip from Seattle, entailing a beautiful drive through the foothills of the Cascade Mountains. Over three weekends in October, you’ll find fantastic food — aka, giant sausages and hot, salty pretzels — even better beer, a special beer-tapping ceremony, and German parties at venues across town (without the cost of a ticket to Munich).

7. The music scene

Photo: Johan Broberg

The music scene here in Seattle is not a summertime thing. It’s January through December, every day of the week. If anything, since the days are cooling off and we’re getting out of the water and off the hills, the music scene explodes even more in the fall.

Check out The Triple Door (in the historic Mann building, which dates to the ’20s) for local and national acts that span genres. Bonus: You can order from the epic cocktail and food menu from the restaurant upstairs, Wild Ginger, one of the most popular in all of Seattle. Then there’s The Crocodile, which is grittier and more rock ‘n roll — Pearl Jam, Nirvana, and Yoko Ono have all played here. And for something a bit more indie and in between, head to the Tractor Tavern. It’s the kind of place where you’ll stumble on subversive square dancing or “folk popgrass.”

8. The Instagram potential

Photo: Rachel Samanyi

Whether it’s the exquisite design and plant life of the Japanese Garden, the Luminata Lantern Parade on Green Lake for the equinox, or the fall-colors-on-steroids of the Washington Park Arboretum, Seattle in fall will provide you with plenty of camera fodder. No filter needed.

9. The Halloween festivities

Photo: Daniel Stockman

Halloween might just be the perfect time to visit — there are so many seasonally appropriate goings-on. For example, you can check out the Georgetown Morgue Haunted House, set in an actual historic morgue. The most common description from reviewers is “genuinely terrifying,” and it is, as spooks, clowns, corpses, and blood-stained morticians stalk you as soon as you enter the mortuary’s depths.

Also make sure to hit up the Bollywood Thriller party in downtown Seattle — it involves the typical dancing to great music, but also learning a Bollywood version of Thiller and taking part in a flash mob, if you dare.

For something a little more kid-friendly, make your way to the Seattle Center for the city’s Dia de Muertos celebration. You’ll see live performances, get your face painted, make sugar skulls and paper skeletons, and learn about Mexican culture to boot.

The Puget Sound region also hosts a number of corn mazes and pick-your-own pumpkin patches, like Bob’s Corn. It’s home to a 10-acre maze, 60 types of pumpkins for the picking, and sits less than an hour north of Seattle. Pro tip: Bring a jar and you can bottle your own honey here.

Find more amazing Seattle discoveries at VISITSEATTLE.tv

This post was produced in partnership with the Matador Network.
Read the original article here.

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The “Hammering Man” sculpture located outside of the Seattle Art Museum. Jenna Kvidt

Walking along the boardwalk at Waterfront Park in downtown Seattle. Jenna Kvidt

What is Seattle Museum Month you might be wondering? Well, it’s a month-long promotion running the month of February. When you stay at a participating hotel in downtown Seattle during this timeframe, you will receive half-price admission to 40 of the best museums in the area. It’s a delightful way to spend a date night, a weekend staycation, or even a great reason to plan a Seattle vacation.

Views of the Space Needle at sunset. Jenna Kvidt

Overlooking downtown Seattle from the Mt. Baker Ridge Viewpoint. Jenna Kvidt

When we are traveling in a city, one of my favorite activities is visiting a museum, especially if it’s hands-on and interactive. Museums give you an opportunity to learn about cultures and history, you can be inspired, and sometimes, you even get to act like a kid again. They are like a window into a destination and can really allow you to peel back a layer of a city’s culture. Museums can also give you the ability to travel back in time—when looking at creations from the past, your mind can be transported to another era and you can have a special connection to those from a distant time.

Exploring the streets of downtown Seattle and taking a peek at The Seattle Times. Jenna & Micah Kvidt

Whenever I look at a piece of art, whether ancient or modern, I imagine what life was like for the person behind the piece.  Where was this piece created? What was the environment like? What was going through the creator’s mind? What was their life like? These are all questions that run through my mind, and suddenly I’m in an entirely different world. Whether you are exploring art, culture, history, science, or even quirky topics such as puppets or pinball machines, you can get a look into the lives of others, both past and present.

Gallery at the Seattle Art Museum. Jenna & Micah Kvidt

We’ve been to The Emerald City twice, and both times we visited a different museum. On our first visit to the city, we explored the Museum of Pop Culture, and our second trip led us to explore the Seattle Art Museum. It doesn’t stop there—next time we visit, I have my eye on a long list of museums. I’d love to visit all 40 museums on the Seattle Museum Month list, but some of my top choices would be The Wing Luke Museum, MOHAI, Chihuly Garden and Glass, Living Computers: Museum + Labs, Museum of Glass, and the Seattle Pinball Museum.

Here’s a bit about the museums we visited and those that we’d like to visit on our next trip to Seattle.

Seattle Art Museum

The Seattle Art Museum is a world-class museum for visual arts. It is located in downtown Seattle and is filled with galleries and collections of modern and contemporary art from cultures around the world. The design of the museum is gorgeous and we really enjoyed exploring both the art housed inside. One of the current exhibits that I would like to check out is Sondra Perry’s Eclogue for [in]HABITABILITY. Perry’s exhibit highlights the relationship between people and place, and it is explored in a digital space through the use of video and computer based media. Contemporary art is always a fantastic way to open your mind and gain a new or different perspective on the world.

MoPOP: Museum of Pop Culture

The Museum of Pop Culture is “dedicated to the ideas and risk-taking that fuel contemporary popular culture”. We visited MoPOP several years ago, but the one exhibit that really stands out in our minds is the Sound Lab exhibit, where there are soundproof rooms for guests to learn, play, rehearse, and perform—it’s such a unique way to get a hands-on experience with instruments and music.  Some of the current exhibits I’d like to check out on a return visit are the Indie Game Revolution where you can play a range of different video games, and Fantasy: Worlds of Myth and Magic which explores popular fantasy worlds such as Harry Potter, The Wizard of Oz, The Lord of the Rings and more.

Wing Luke Museum of the Asian Pacific American Experience

The Wing Luke Museum explores the history of the Asian Pacific American community in Seattle. This community has had a large influence on the Pacific Northwest and l would love to learn more about it. Some of the rotating exhibits are the popular “A Day in the Life of Bruce Lee” (ends February 11^th) where you can learn about his habits and routines for personal growth, “What’s in your Cup” which discusses the role that beverages play in creating a community, and “Teardrops that Wound” which covers the absurdity of war in an immersive exhibit. Given the permanent exhibits and the Historic Hotel tour, this museum is definitely near the top of my must-visit list. In addition to the permanent exhibits and the Historic Hotel tour, this museum is definitely near the top of my list. Plus, The Wing offers a range of tours that get you outside of the museum walls to supplement their exhibits while interacting with the city. The tours range from food tours, to exploring Bruce Lee’s Chinatown. What a fun way to bring a museum exhibit to life!

 MOHAI: The Museum of History and Industry

A journey through the MOHAI will allow you to explore Seattle’s story. We always feel it’s important to learn about the history and culture of the place we are visiting, so this museum is a must. You will learn about Native American cultures and when they first interacted with Europeans, how the city was rebuilt after a majorly devastating fire, how the city gained riches from the gold rush, about the area’s history during the two World Wars, the boom of the two World Fairs in Seattle, and how the city challenges the status quo today. All of this and more can be explored through a wide range of interactive exhibits, and the museum plays host to some interesting rotating exhibits, as well.

Chihuly Garden and Glass

We’ve seen Chihuly exhibits in several places around the world, but nothing could compare to seeing his work in his own backyard of Washington. I’d love to explore the garden, glasshouse, theater and galleries. The wide range of special events would be fun to check out, too. Attending a yoga session under the glass, watching a glass blowing demonstration, or learning salsa in the greenhouse would all be right up my alley.

Living Computers: Museum + Labs

I have always been extremely interested in science and technology, so learning about computer technology from the 1960’s to present time – and in a hands-on way – nonetheless – sounds fascinating. At the Living Computers: Museum + Labs, you can learn about and experience robotics, artificial intelligence, virtual reality, video-game making, digital art, self-driving cars and so much more. You can even join in on an education lab to learn a new skill!

Museum of Glass

Artists from the Pacific Northwest have made a significant impact in the Studio Glass movement, so it makes sense that this area would be home to the Museum of Glass. In addition to a permanent Chihuly collection, the museum is home to a wide range of rotating exhibits and interactive experiences such as making your own glass, live glassmaking, performances, and theater. We’ve made our own glass pieces in the past, and we’d love to give it another shot here sometime!

Seattle Pinball Museum

Quirky and out of the box museums are always some of the best. When you visit the Seattle Pinball Museum, you will find a collection of more than 50 vintage pinball machines that you can play all day long! It would definitely be a fun idea for a unique date night activity.

Participating Hotels

We want to reiterate that you only receive half-price admission to these awesome museums when you stay at a participating hotel in downtown Seattle. During our past visits to Seattle, we actually stayed at two of the hotels that are participating in the Seattle Museum Month. On our first visit, we stayed at the Grand Hyatt Seattle; the rooms were cozy and it was in a central downtown location, which made it easy to walk to many downtown attractions. The next time we were in town, we stayed at the Best Western PLUS Executive Inn. This hotel was located near the Space Needle (we had views of it out our window!) and it gave us the opportunity to explore a different area of the city. Both hotels were wonderful choices, and there are many of other great hotels participating in the promotion, too.

Space Needle views from our room at the Best Western PLUS Executive Inn. Jenna & Micah Kvidt

So, no matter which hotel you stay at, or which museums you decide to explore, a visit to Seattle during Seattle Museum Month is sure to be an adventure that will open your mind and leave you inspired!

This post was produced in partnership with Travel Mindset.
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