Touristy, But Not as Hyped
I haven't been to the park since it was purchased by Six Flags and a new
roller coaster was added. Last time I was there, the other half of the park
was a mild little amusement park, with a few good
rides, a small roller coaster, and the scariest collection of waxwork figures
I've seen off the big screen. It's geared more to kids, but my friends and
I still go every year and have a blast. Our favorites include the carousel
and the giant slide with the burlap bags to sit on. You can get admission
to just this half of the park, or to the whole thing (but not to the water
half alone. Go figure). It's a little on the spendy side, but if you stay
for a whole day and bring a picnic lunch, it isn't too bad. Bring sunscreen,
even if it's cloudy. I got the only sunburn I've ever had in my life here.
Washington Park Arboretum
Hiram Chittenden Locks
Washington State Ferries
Snoqualmie Falls
Issaquah Salmon Hatchery
Cougar Mountain Zoo
Enchanted Parks
Beautiful botanical gardens, located near the University of Washington.
Lovely all year round, though it's probably more pleasant to walk around when
it's not pouring down rain. There is a great Winter Garden, and a Japanese
Garden, which is open March-November, and offers periodic Chado (Way of Tea)
demonstrations (admission to the 3 acres is $2). Driving through is pleasant,
but for the full effect, park and walk around for a while. You might get
mobbed by the brash local squirrels, but it's worth it.
First of all, don't call them that. If you do, you'll get pegged as a tourist
or a newcomer from California. The former is acceptable, but the latter might
get you pushed into the canal, so call them what everyone in Seattle does:
the Ballard Locks. Parking and entrance are free. There is a little history
museum, and a botanical garden. In July and August you can walk over to the
fish ladder and watch the local salmon swimming up to Who Knows Where to
spawn. Our local sea lion has been chased away, but if you hang out
long enough, you can watch birds poach salmon from the water.
To the locals, ferries aren't a tourist attraction, they're a necessity.
Because Seattle is built on and around so much water, to get anywhere you
have three basic choices: 1) Drive Around. 2) Build a Bridge. 3) Take a
Boat. Since the Sound is so large, 1) takes a long time and 2) is near
impossible. Thousands of people who work in Seattle rely on the ferries to
get them to work every day, but that doesn't mean you can't use them as a
fun way to see Puget Sound. I recommend driving up to Anacortes (north of
Seattle by about 45 miles) and walking on the Island ferry, hopping over
to Friday Harbor for some sightseeing, over to Orcas Island for some more,
then coming back and picking up your car. Be warned, if you decide to drive
onto the ferries, waits are sometimes hours, you may watch three or
more ferries fill up and leave without you, and you could be parked a
long, long time. Bring a book.
Couldn't find an official site, but it's a waterfall (duh). Big, beautiful
falls, located east of Seattle by about 30 miles. I put it here instead of
the "out of Seattle" section because it seems so...Seattle. If you have the
time and the cash, have dinner at the lodge. If you have the energy, take
one of the trails in the area. If you have a camera, go to the overlook for
some great photo opportunities.
Okay, so it's probably not your normal tourist spot. I've been by it
briefly, but I hear really good things about it as an educational trip for
kids (or adults who still have some curiosity left in them). The town is
a nice little day trip from Seattle, only 17 miles east of Downtown. If
you go to the hatchery, stop at Gilman Village to do some shopping.
If you're an animal lover, you'll probably like this stop. If you're
expecting something grand like the Woodland Park Zoo...well, just don't.
It's extremely small, but more hands-on and educational than the bigger
attractions. It's also slightly cheaper, and likely much less crowded, and
you've got a better shot at asking questions of the keepers and learning
something interesting.
Not strictly a tourist destination, and also not in Seattle proper. It's
located in Federal Way, about 20 miles south of Seattle. Half of the park
is a water slide park. (In this climate? Well, yes. Whose idea was that,
anyway?) It has a giant wave pool, speed slides, outdoor hot tubs, and a
river raft ride which totally rules, especially if you go with a bunch
of friends and scream a lot. The cannonball slide is good for getting
a power wedgie, too.
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