Click on the destination of your choice for a list of hotels in the area, courtesy of NWSource.com Relax and go whale-watching from picturesque Friday Harbor, located on the island’s west side. This nearly level country is a favorite place for a spring or summer bike ride, especially when the tulips are blooming. Leavenworth is an authentic Bavarian village with flower lined streets. In the winter, the town hosts dog sledding and sleigh rides. Get a cozy cabin, B&B or condo and try the wealth of recreational opportunities available, from skiing to hiking to white-water rafting. Best known for its generous helping of Victorian architecture, Port Townsend is one of the Best known for its generous helping of Victorian architecture and is one of the most beautiful towns in Washington. This broad stretch of beach, highlighted by the impressive promontory Haystack Rock, offers fine gallery-hopping, crafts and shopping opportunities. The elegant capital of British Columbia boasts a mild climate, friendly people and a distinct holiday atmosphere. In–City Landmarks & Attractions  Pike Place Fresh produce, flowers and fish, Pike Place Market is famous for its corner Fish Market. Alive and full of excitement, watch as orders are taken and cameras flash while fish are thrown through the air. Seattle Center Queen Anne is filled with Victorian homes, once lived in by Seattle’s wealthiest patrons. Now it is filled with youthful hangouts and young Seattle professionals. Choose any vantage point on the south side of the hill and you can see the entire city. Seattle Center is just south of Queen Anne and you'll recognize the spire known as the Space Needle, erected for the 1962 World's Fair. Woodland Park Zoo Open year round, the Woodland Park Zoo has been rated one of the finest zoos in the world. From elephants to butterflies, you will enjoy feeding the birds and watching the lions as if you were in the cage with them. The zoo can be found near Green Lake on Fremont Ave. Greenlake Green Lake is a natural preserve that is a favorite hangout for locals. Take a walk, bike or rollerblade around the 2.8 mile path. In the summer, you'll find boaters in the water, children playing in the water park and picnickers along the shores. Gas Works Park An old "gasification" plant, Gas Works Park has been greatly restored to an amazing park, complete with 20 acres of park, a 28 foot sundial and an unmatched view of Seattle. ClickHere for a virtual tour of Gas Works and some other great virtual shots of Seattle. Pioneer Square Purchase your tickets at Doc Maynard’s Lounge for a historic walk through underground Seattle. You’ll find the old saloon looking building 9 blocks south of Pike Place near the Pioneer Square bus tunnel station. Walk under Seattle’s sidewalks through old passageways to see what used to be vibrant shops and businesses. At the end of the tour, go through Rogue’s Gallery to see a museum and store. Pacific Science Center One of the most popular in the world, the Pacific Science Center has 5 buildings of exhibits, a planetarium and laser light shows, a butterfly house and 2 theatres, one of which is an IMAX. Seattle Aquarium Don’t just watch but touch the sea stars, urchins and more in the Life on the Edge exhibit at the Seattle Aquarium. Close as you'll come to the whales and other Puget Sound water life without chilling yourself to the bone. You’ll find the Aquarium down on Pier 59. Safeco Field Tours Tours, birthday parties or just want to see it, you can tour the Safeco Field and see areas not normally open to the public. Home of the Mariners, you can visit the Field April through October. For more information, call 206-346-4241. Seattle Art Museum A premier art museum with an impressive collection of more than 21,000 objects. SAM offers a variety of exhibitions, tours and lectures. The Museum of Flight Take a ride on the X-Pilot motion stimulator, sit in the cockpit of the Mach 3 Blackbird spyplane or walk through history as you read stories of many brave pilots. Over 85 aircraft, exhibits and family activities can be found in the Museum of Flight. The Children’s Museum A hands on interactive exploration. Create, explore and climb mountains in the Seattle Center’s Center House. Museum of Glass Outside of Seattle, visit Tacoma’s revitalized waterfront with the new and very contemporary museum where masterpieces are created right in front of you in the amphitheatre. Be sure to walk across the Chihuly Bridge of Glass while taking in the sights. Seattle Center Monorail The Monorail is an enjoyable way of getting from downtown Seattle to the Seattle Center. Children’s Theatre Time Magazine ranked the Seattle Children’s Theatre as one of the top 5 best children’s theatres in the nation. September through June, their performances usually fall on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. You’ll find them just west of the Space Needle. For tickets, call 206-441-3322.   Northwest Trek Wildlife Park Travel to Eatonville and experience over 170 captivating animals living on 615 acres of wildlife park. Peek out your window to find a raccoon, lion or moose peeking back at you. The Snoqualmie River is located just 30 minutes east of Seattle off I-90. A haven for fly fishing anglers, the rivers are inundated with trout and steelhead. Hike the trails near North Bend or put a boat in the water in the summer months and coast the river. Hwy 101 scenic drive to the Ocean Take the I-5 south and through Oregon, there are a number of roads that will take you to the coast with over 400 miles of highway and many parks and overlooks. Once on the ocean, there are many activities to participate in. Stay in one of the many state campsites or one of the many motels, fly a kite, ride the dunes in a dune buggy or just walk the beach. If you want to get to the ocean from the Puget Sound area, travel the 454 mile Olympic Peninsula Loop. Filled with an amazing array of rain forests, glaciers, wildlife, fishing and small beach communities, you will find the Olympic National Park covers much of the Peninsula. You can visit the park through Hurricane Ridge near Port Angeles or continue around to the rain forest off Hwy 101. There are a few roads you can take to the ocean like La Push or Ruby Bay. Further south is Kalaloch (Claylok), a traditional lodge that has many regular visitors. Visit Quinalt and see the Hoh Rainforest or go further south to Ocean Shores. Once on the shores, you will have opportunities for clam digging, horseback riding and beachcombing. Whale Watching Whale watching is most popular April through September and usually focuses on the area around the San Juan Islands. There are a number of tours in the area that are ready to take you on a whale watching excursion. According to the Orca Network, there are 87 known whales in the Puget Sound at this time, so although the tour companies do pay attention to sightings, keep in mind that you may not see a whale on your trip. Orcas seem to enjoy the waters of Washington State and British Columbia. Their offspring tend to stay with the clan their entire lives although lately more and more of them turn up missing due to the larger problem of pollution in the area. Why do we pay so much attention to the whales? Maybe it’s because their dialects are similar to the human language. And maybe it’s the closeness that they come to our communities. A whale was just spotted recently in February off Alki Beach. San Juan Boat Tours is out of Friday Harbor. You can reach them by phone at 1-800-232-ORCA. From Seattle, contact Salish Sea Charters or Island Adventures  It's our job to know EVERYTHING about Seattle, Redmond and Bellevue! Ask us any question. Or request a FREE information package. There's no obligation, and we promise to get back to you quickly...
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