Visitor's Facts
Written by Gary A. Seidman
SwitchYard Media, Inc. - email | website
Designed and produced by Kent Harris
Tin Can Rocket, Inc. - email | website
A production of SwitchYard Media, Inc.
Seattle from the Sky
Sometimes you just need a bird's eye view. And the kind folks at Kenmore Air -- which has been plying the skies in and around Seattle since 1946 -- are happy to oblige with a slew of breathtaking flights aboard their fleet of float planes.
Whether you're interested in an hour long aerial tour of the city, or an excursion to the beautiful San Juan islands and nearby Canada, Kenmore has plenty of flights to choose from. The airline is conveniently located at the south end of Lake Union, where Kenmore's float planes gracefully launch into the sky as sailboats and rowers pass by.
There is probably no better way to get a lay of the land then to fly overhead, where you'll get a glimpse of Seattle's magnificent waterfront estates, the famous houseboat communities and much more.
LOCATION: 950 Westlake Avenue N. Seattle, WA 98109
TELEPHONE: 425.486.1257
WEBSITE: Kenmore Air
PRICE: Flights start at $89 per person.
The Wackiest Store in the World
Resistance is futile. Even in those dark wintery days when Seattle is reduced to a city of Gore-Tex-wearing stoics trudging through puddles, Archie McPhee's kitschy collection of costumes, candy and craziness will cause even the most world-weary to crack a smile.
Located in the Scandinavian haven of Ballard, not far from the famed Hiram M. Chittenden Locks, Archie McPhee is one of Seattle's weirdest destinations. So if the prospect of picking up a pair of remote controlled hopping and yodeling Lederhosen, or Shakespearean Insult Gum ($4.95 a pack) strikes your fancy, Archie McPhee is the bizarre destination for you.
LOCATION: 2428 NW Market St Seattle, WA 98107
TELEPHONE: 206.297.0240
WEBSITE: Archie McPhee
PRICE: From pennies to many dollars.
Sea and Sky Celebrations
Every August, the Blue Angels soar into town ... and believe me, you're going to know it. Their extraordinary feats of aeronautical acrobatics above Lake Washington are part of the month-long Seafair Festival, an event that has been part of the pulse of Seattle since 1950.
Seafair draws thousands of people, many of whom make it a multi-day floating communal party on the lake, where they get the best seats for not only the Blue Angels, but also the hydroplane races, a fabulous fireworks display and a series of other fly-overs by any number of vintage aircraft from bi-planes to B-17s. And, of course, there is a torchlight parade downtown and the annual spectacle of grown men in pirate garb storming onto West Seattle's Alki Beach.
LOCATION: Throughout Seattle with the Blue Angels and hydro races at Lake Washington.
TELEPHONE: 206.728.0123
WEBSITE: Seafair
PRICE: Most events are free, but close-up tickets for the hydroplane races start at $25.
Sailing Around Seattle
This is where you can rent a boat, learn to sail or -- if you are so inclined -- build a sailboat! The Center for Wooden Boats is an odd little museum at the south end of Lake Union, conveniently visited by way of the brand new South Lake Union Streetcar.
If you are expecting a hush-quiet old museum filled with brittle old wooden boats, think again. The Center is more like a living museum where you can rent a historic craft and take it out on the lake for a spin. And quiet is hardly the word for The Center. You'll almost certainly encounter someone hammering away at a boat renovation in The Center's workshop, or a bunch of kids partaking in one of the many year-round maritime education programs.
LOCATION: 1010 Valley Street, Seattle, WA 98109; Waterway 4, south end of Lake Union.
TELEPHONE: 206.382.2628
WEBSITE: Center for Wooden Boats.
PRICE: Free to visit; minimal cost to rent a boat.
The Famed Ferries
No visit to the city on the Sound is complete without at least one hop on the Washington State Ferries. You'll get a beautiful view of the Seattle skyline as the wind blows through your hair on your way to nearby Bainbridge Island, Bremerton, Vashon Island or a few other destinations. Not a bad commute, hey?
If you want to get a little exercise in, bring a bike aboard (or rent one). Bainbridge is a great place for a leisurely and largely traffic-free ride.
The Washington State Ferries, painted in their distinctive white with green trim, are operated by the state and are the largest fleet of passenger and automobile ferries in the country. They also happen to be the third largest ferry fleet in the world, serving communities along Puget Sound as well as the San Juan Islands north of the city.
LOCATION: Seattle Piers 50 and 52, and Fauntleroy in West Seattle.
FIND A TERMINAL: All locations.
WEBSITE: Washington State Ferries.
PRICE: Fares range in price. Click here to find updates.