King County Metro Transit: The “Metro” public bus system that operates throughout Seattle and King County is one of the most extensive and highly-praised in the nation. If you feel adventurous and want to try traveling around Seattle by bus, these links will help you get acquainted with our system.
Check out the map above to see the "free ride area" which operates from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Otherwise, fares are collected with exact change. Most of our conference attendees will be traveling in "one zone." Our METRO system no longer sells all day passes.
Metro's Route 99 connects Seattle's International District (Chinatown), Pioneer Square, and First Avenue destinations including the Seattle Art Museum and Pike Place Market, and Elliott Bay waterfront attractions such as the Olympic Sculpture Park, Seattle Aquarium, the trip to Tillicum Village and ferry services. Visit Metro Online for a route map and timetable of route 99.
Links for more information:
Ride Free Zone: http://metro.kingcounty.gov/tops/bus/ridefree.html
Fare information: http://metro.kingcounty.gov/tops/bus/fare/fare-info.html
Purchasing a ticket book in lieu of using cash all the time: http://metro.kingcounty.gov/tops/bus/fare/tickets.html
ORCA: Orca Cards are carried by people who use monthly passes, or load a "e purse" to ride the bus. Cost to buy an ORCA card is $5 from vending machines in the transit tunnel. Then you must load the card with cash or debit/credit card. (It might be just easier to pay cash)
Important Note: The SEATTLE MONORAIL is NOT part of the METRO bus system. It is privately operated. The monorail connects Seattle Center and Downtown's Westlake Center. This is cash only as well.
I have been doing some more planning for our HNA in Seattle! Today I am planning our epic Thursday afternoon of a monorail trip, time at Pike Place Market and/or free admission to Seattle Art Museum and dinner out!
Information about Pike Place Market from their website:
Its nine acres and more than a century of operation encompass thousands of fascinating stories — tales of immigration, internment, renovation and urban renewal — all that help explain why Pike Place Market is called "The Soul of Seattle."
Here is a snapshot of how the Market came to be. Between 1906 and 1907, the cost of onions increased tenfold. Outraged citizens, fed up with paying price-gouging middlemen too much for their produce, found a hero in Seattle City Councilman Thomas Revelle. Revelle proposed a public street market that would connect farmers directly with consumers. Customers would "Meet the Producer" directly, a philosophy that is still the foundation of all Pike Place Market businesses.
A century later, Pike Place Market is internationally recognized as America's premier farmers' market and is home to more than 200 year-round commercial businesses; 190 craftspeople and approximately 100 farmers who rent table space by the day; 240 street performers and musicians; and more than 300 apartment units, most of which provide housing for low-income elderly people. "The Market," as the locals affectionately say, attracts 10 million visitors a year, making it one of Washington state's most frequently visited destinations.
As far as the Art Museum is concerned, the first Thursday of each month grants free admission to all. You can imagine this makes it quite popular! Expect a busy museum, lots of kids, and great exhibits. In addition to the regular exhibits at the museum, more works will be highlighted in various areas. One exhibit is called "Our National Game" and will feature works from Douglas Tilden, Norman Rockwell and Jacob Lawrence highlighting the game of baseball. Mika Tajima will have an architectural installation on the third floor. Reclaimed: Nature and Place Through Contemporary Eyes will explore the experiences artists have in nature and how it inspires their work. Finally, Beauty & Bounty: American Art in an Age of Exploration will feature over 100 works of art, some never before on display.
Dinner out downtown: Katharine and Terran's List of Ideas
- For those visiting the Art Museum, check out the museum's restaurant, TASTE
- Never been here, but looks decent: Japonesa Sushi across from the museum at 1400 1st Ave
- Thoa's Contemporary Vietnamese has a neat little outdoor patio with view of Elliott Bay, located kitty corner from the museum at 96 Union Street
- Walking up 1st toward the market, try Pike Pub and Brewery at 1415 1st Ave, where you can get some hand crafted micro ales created right in Pike Place Market.
- At the Market, I highly suggest going to the entrepreneurs running their stalls to pick up some produce, funky beans, crackers and cheeses. Eat outside at a bench and enjoy the weather! On a side note, many market operators struggle during the summer months because the crowds in the market are so thick with tourists, that locals stop shopping there. If you're walking through the market, buy yourself a bit of Washington produce for a snack.
- Delaurentis is a wonderful local place to pick up wines and light fancy snacks- it's on the corner of 1st Ave and Pike St. Remember though, Washington State does not allow public consumption of alcohol, so take the bottle of wine back to your hotel room to enjoy!
- Inside Pike Place Market, try the Athenian for super food and views of Elliott Bay. Breakfast all day- classic American fare with a Northwest twist.
- Okay, some of you might be curious about the movie "Sleepless in Seattle"... Tom Hanks' character ate at Lowell's and you can too!
- Finally, Cutter's Bayhouse is at 2001 Western Ave and has fabulous views.
During my planning today, I found some helpful information. I would recommend this website, it will give you some good information on the downtown core of Seattle: click here. The other website I trust is from our Convention and Visitor Bureau.
Also I found a very simple walking map of our downtown area. You can link to the PDF below.  | simple_seattle_map.pdf | | File Size: | 126 kb | | File Type: | pdf |
Download File
 I have been tasked with planning and leading a ginko walk to Olympic Sculpture Park in Seattle. This is going to be a wonderful kick off to your stay in the Emerald City, both in terms of seeing our beautiful scenery and being inspired by art and nature!
A ginko can help a poet connect to the world of nature. A person will walk, stroll or just "be" in nature, and is usually silent and observant.
Our ginko will take us on a half mile walk to Olympic Sculpture Park. I imagine we'll walk in a few small groups, depending on the speed and mobility of our groups. I have created a small walking map to the park, which I will give to everyone before we leave. The guide will remind you of the times to be places after our ginko, and give restaurant information to those who wish to eat out.
This park is operated by the Seattle Art Museum. The sculptures are all outdoors, but there is an indoor pavilion with restrooms and another exhibit (usually a large art installation of sorts). Go inside to pick up your map and guide for a $1 donation.
For those needing help getting around, there are a couple spots to park in the garage if you can't make the trip by foot. There is a price- $6 to park. You can borrow a wheelchair, but there are no advance reservations. The park had ADA accessible ramps and is graded to provide universal access.
"The Olympic Sculpture Park evolved out of a mutual commitment of the Seattle Art Museum and the Trust for Public Land to preserve downtown Seattle's last undeveloped waterfront property. From the beginning, the Seattle Art Museum aimed to restore the former industrial site, while providing a unique setting for outdoor sculpture and public use. The park’s innovative design achieved a wide range of environmental restoration goals, including brownfield redevelopment, creation of a salmon habitat, extensive use of native plantings and the capture and use of rainwater on site." -Olympic Sculpture Park WebsiteThis link will give you a great overview of the park's impressive design features.
Curious about some of the art and artists on display? Click here
If you're very excited, you can download the pdf below of the Olympic Sculpture Park Map and Guide!
-Katharine
As your blogging concierge, I thought I'd also point out some places you might be interested in checking out or dining at while in Seattle. Our two hotels are the MarQueen (located at 600 Queen Anne Ave N) and the Inn at Queen Anne (located at 505 First Ave N). Both are located close to our conference location at Seattle Center. Use the map above to follow along if you'd like. The "A" denotes the MarQueen.
The Melting Pot- fondue has always been hip! Check it out for dinner: 14 Mercer Street
I have also heard great things about Toulouse Petit Kitchen & Lounge. Check out their website to view the menu, they have great happy hour prices! 601 Queen Anne Avenue North
A personal favorite, and open 9a.m. to 2 a.m. wonderful Mexican American food with a Northwest flair: Peso's Kitchen and Lounge located at 605 Queen Anne Avenue North
More coastal style Mexican food can be found at Blue Water Taco Grill 515 Queen Anne Avenue North
Racha Noodles and Thai Cuisine is a winner too! 23 Mercer Street
Shiki Japanese Restaurant 4 W Roy St, will get your your Sushi fix. You can find reviews on Urbanspoon and Yelp.
A Seattle institution: Dick's Drive In (not vegetarian friendly) 500 Queen Anne Avenue North
Mecca Cafe is your classic American diner food (and some may call a dive bar)... 526 Queen Anne Avenue North... reviews are on Yelp and Urbanspoon.
Get some BBQ at Floyd's Place located at 521 1st Avenue North- again reviews on Yelp and Urbanspoon.
Finally, you can also check out the chic Metropolitan Market (or Safeway Grocery Store) and get some yummy noms to take to a park (might I suggest Kerry Park, about a half mile from the hotels?). Met Market is at 100 Mercer Street
There are lots of places to eat around there, but this is a list to get you started!
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