Olympic National Park
On the western coast of the United States along the Pacific Ocean is Olympic National Park. The 922,000 acres of Olympic National Park, just west of Seattle, Washington, offer an incredible assortment of lands - possibly the most unique in National Park system. On a section of land that juts out from the mainland, Olympic National Park is nearly surrounded by water, with the Pacific Ocean on the west, the Strait of Juan de Fuca on the north (separating Washington from Canada), and Puget Sound and numerous inlets and bays on the east. Within the park, visitors can experience Pacific Ocean beaches, rainforest valleys, glacier-capped mountains, and plenty of wilderness.
Mountain sights to see include Hurricane Ridge, the road which begins at the north end's lowlands carpeted with old growth forests and travels to treeline, where strands of subalpine trees lead to open meadows. From Hurricane Ridge, visitors can experience breathtaking views of the Olympic Mountains and the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Deer Park, accessible by a narrow, winding unpaved road is hard to get to, but offers unparalleled alpine scenery. Lake Crescent on the northwest end of the park is a 12-mile long glacial lake.
For ocean lovers, the separate Pacific strip of Olympic National Park covers most of the northwest Washington coastline - 73 miles in all of rocky and sandy beaches or sheer cliffs leading into the ocean. The rocky Rialto Beach and the wide, sandy Kalaloch Beach are contrasting examples of the Washington coastline. Along the ocean, sunsets are spectacular. A mere three miles from the ocean, Lake Ozette is a popular tourist destination with two, three-mile boardwalk trails to Cape Alava and Sand Point.
If you're in the mood for visiting a rainforest, you can travel to Olympic National Park's west end. The 12 ft of annual rainfall on the Pacific end nurtures a temperate rainforest, where it seems that everything is green, from the giant hemlocks, the Douglas-Firs, and spruce trees to the moss and ferns on the trees and forest floors. Olympic National Park is home to two distinct rainforest areas; the Hoh Rain Forest and the Quinalt Rain Forest in the Lake Quinalt Area.
Whether walking, hiking, touring in a car, camping, fishing, or just sightseeing, Olympic National Park's nearly one million acres has plenty for everyone to see. The park is open year round. Please note that some areas in the park as well as some of the roads may not be open or accessible in the winter.
Pike Place Market
For one hundred years, Seattle's Pike Place Market has been a bustling marketplace. In the early 1900s, concerned citizens (mainly housewives) noted that the price of produce was skyrocketing. Consumers were paying too much for food and yet the growers weren't necessarily getting wealthier. Noting that it was the middlemen - the sellers - of the produce who were gouging the consumers, Seattle City Councilman, Thomas Revelle, proposed a public market where farmers could sell directly to consumers. In 1907, the farmer's market opened on the corner of Pike Street and First Avenue in downtown Seattle.
On the first day, eight farmers and their wagons were soon overwhelmed by an estimated 10,000 customers. The produce sold out quickly. Such was the demand daily, that by the end of the year, the first building was put into place and was opened to the public. Today, the market covers nine acres and is home to over 200 year-round businesses. Up to 120 farmers rent table space daily and craftspersons sell their wares. Street performers and musicians entertain the crowds, adding to the festive atmosphere that has made Pike Place Market America's premier farmer's market. Each year, the market attracts millions of visitors.
As it was one hundred years ago, Pike Place Market is still a place where fresh fruits, vegetables, and flowers dominate the stalls. Fishmongers sell the freshest seafood and low-flying fish being tossed in the air among the fishmongers is still an attraction for visitors. Small specialty shops throughout the market offer fresh baked breads and pastries, fresh cheese, and the finest wines. Exotic good from around the world, such as coffee, tea, spices and specialty goods are sold in the many shops at Pike Place Market. Restaurants abound in the marketplace, serving up world-class cuisine.
Visitors can learn about the history of the market, which has been designated as a National Historic District, at the Heritage Center at Pike Place Market. The center is located on Western Avenue behind the market. Maps of the market's sections and vendor information are available throughout the market. Most businesses at Pike Place Market are open daily and are closed on Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day. Restaurant hours vary.
Space Needle
Seattle's number one tourist destination is the 605 ft tall Space Needle. The Space Needle was built in 1962 as part of the futuristic, "Century 21" theme of the World's Fair in Seattle. The highly recognizable Space Needle has since become the international symbol for Seattle. The Space Needle plays host to more than 1 million visitors each year, making it one of Seattle's top attractions.
The structure of the Space Needle is capped by five level top house dome, which includes the revolving restaurant level and Observation Deck. The engineering and construction was so precisely balanced that the restaurant's 14 ft revolving outer ring, located at 500 ft above the ground, rotated with just a one horsepower electric motor. When it opened, the Space Needle's revolving restaurant was the world's second revolving eatery. It is the place for sightseers to experience spectacular views of the city, as the restaurant completes a full revolution each hour. Those who want the view, without the food, can visit the 520-ft high Observation Deck.
In the 1960s, the Space Needle was constructed for a mere $4.5 million. In 1993, new elevators were added. The elevators travel 10 mph (14 ft per second, 800 ft per minute). In high winds, the computerized elevators slow to 5 mph for safety. The Space Needle is designed to sway one inch for every 10 mph of wind and it is built to withstand winds of 200 mph. Heat makes the Space Needle expand - up to one inch on a hot day. At the turn of the century, in 2000, the Space Needle underwent a $20 million, year-long revitalization, including construction of the Pavilion Level, the SpaceBase store, the SkyCity restaurant, and overhaul of the Observation Deck, exterior lighting additions, exterior painting, and more.
Since 1962, the Space Needle has hosted a New Year's Eve celebration. This annual festivity has become the Northwest's premier New Year's event. The Space Needle has been a booster of Seattle's professional and college sports team - saluting their success with congratulatory messages painted on the roof. To honor baseball's Seattle Mariners first playoff appearance in 1995, a giant, inflatable baseball was attached the halo around the observation deck.
The Space Needle's Observation Deck, SpaceBase store, and SkyCity restaurant are open daily year round. Note that the Space Needle may be closed occasionally for private events.
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