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EXPLORE the city... Downtown Seattle offers a wealth of sights, sounds, and flavors... You'll find many fun options for sightseeing within a few minutes of the Convention Center. Visit the world-famous Space Needle, learn about the city's past by taking an Underground Tour, explore rare music memorabilia and artifacts at the Experience Music Project, take in the views of Elliott Bay from the 10th floor of the architecturally-acclaimed Seattle Public Library, spend a few hours wandering through the Seattle Art Museum, or stop in to see the new "Windows on Washington" exhibit at the Seattle Aquarium. Taste some local flavors - fresh seafood, Seattle-roasted coffees, local wines and beers, and organic, farm-fresh ingredients - and watch fish fly at the 100-year-old Pike Place Public Market. Explore the city's vibrant culinary scene through a Savor Seattle Food Tour. Or, check out the restaurants of local chefs Tom Douglas, Kathy Casey, and Ethan Stowell, who was named a 2008 Top New Chef by Food & Wine Magazine. Venture beyond the urban core and explore some of Seattle's exciting neighborhoods. From the hip and lively Ballard, to the diverse and colorful International District, Seattle's neighborhoods feature many inviting shopping, dining, and cultural options. Explore the cafes and music scene of Capitol Hill, the quirky public art of Fremont, or the 19th-century architecture and commanding city views of Queen Anne. Take a walking tour of historic Pioneer Square, the birthplace of modern Seattle, or visit the Woodland Park Zoo in Wallingford. Shopping opportunities range from trendy boutiques in Belltown to the farmers' market in the University District. Outdoor activities abound even within city limits: Seattle's beaches, trails, forests, parks, and lakes allow for outdoor recreation without a lot of travel time.
Seattle offers visitors a host of exciting and varied cultural activities... Unique museums, galleries, and public art celebrate the spirit, history, industry, and people of the Northwest, including the many racial and ethnic communities that contribute to Seattle's rich cultural landscape. An array of live music - classical, jazz, opera, blues and alternative - is played on the street and in clubs, churches, and major concert venues. Nationally recognized theater productions are often matched by local plays staged by cutting-edge theater companies. Seattleites are avid readers and spend many hours browsing in bookstores and libraries and attending readings by local authors. Seattle is also one of the most educated cities in the nation and is home to several two- and four-year colleges and universities. Seattle University, Seattle Central Community College, Seattle Pacific University, City University of Seattle, the Art Institute of Seattle, and the University of Washington are all within easy reach of the downtown area.
Extend your experience geographically to the North, South, East, or West - or experientially to another culture For a change of pace from city life, travel north to the beautiful islands of the Puget Sound, where bookshops and breathtaking scenery are found beyond the next bend in the road. Or, head to Vancouver , British Columbia, host of the 2010 Winter Olympics. Travel west to the temperate rain forests of Olympic National Park, with its verdant valleys and ancient cedars. Or east, where nationally recognized vintners wait to tempt you with their award-winning wines in the Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley, and Walla Walla Valley. If you're headed south, visit the Museum of Flight, one of the largest air and space museums in the world. Or, take a train to nearby Tacoma and its amazing Museum of Glass. Weather permitting, venture further south to Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument or the majestic Mount Rainier. You don't need to go far to learn more about the indigenous peoples of the region... Begin with the Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture (on the University of Washington Campus) and the Seattle Art Museum's collections of Indian art and artifacts. Then pay a visit to the Daybreak Star Indian Cultural Center in West Seattle's Discovery Park. Farther flung museums throughout the area reflect the heritage and cultures of local tribes, including the Duwamish, Snoqualmie, Muckleshoot , Tulalip, Puyallup, and Suquamish, whose leader - Chief Seattle - was the city's namesake. Additional information can be found in the Seattle Convention and Visitor Bureau's Native Heritage Guide. You can also learn about the significant Asian and Scandinavian contributions to this region by visiting the Wing Luke Asian Museum, the Seattle Asian Art Museum , the Museum of History and Industry, or the Nordic Heritage Museum. Additional information can be found on the Seattle Convention and Visitor Bureau's Cultural Tourism website. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION & RESOURCES
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