My first trip to the West Coast was Seattle, Washington. One of the most notable monuments of the city is the Space Needle. Built for the 1962 World’s Fair, it attracted 2.3 million visitors; thats 20,000 people a day!
The Needle weights 9,550 tons! It offers a 360 degree view of the city, which includes Mt. Rainier and the Puget Sound.
This is a view of downtown Seattle and Mt. Rainier is in the background to the right. It was so clear and beautiful the day we went to the top of the Space Needle. In fact, only 80 days a year can you see Mount Rainier from this view. (Seattle is known for having many rainy and cloudy days)
Right below the Space Needle was the EMP Museum. The Museum has exhibits on contemporary pop culture. It was built in 2000 and is known for its Deconstructionism architecture.
Here I am with the costumes of Superman and the Lion from The Wizard of Oz.
They also had exhibits on Kurt Cobain and Jimmy Hendrix. Both artist were from Seattle.
After the museum I took the monorail to the Pike Place Market.
At the Market you can find anything and everything. From fresh flowers, to fresh seafood, there is something for everyone.
Rachel the Pig is a must see at Pike Place Market. She is a large piggy bank that raises money for food banks in the Greater Seattle area.
Across the street from the Market is the first ever Starbucks! It still has the original logo.
To end a fun filled day in Seattle, I went to the tallest skyscraper in the city to witness my first sunset. It had an observation deck with even better views than the Space Needle.
Here is the whole city, including the Needle and Puget Sound.
Here is a better view of Mt. Rainier.
And here is a snapshot of the Seattle Seahawks Football stadium. They were this years Superbowl Champions!!
Have you ever driven your car onto a ferry?! I have! Using the ferry is a popular form of transportation in the Seattle area because of the Puget Sound. It’s much quicker to take a ferry than drive all the way around the state and cross a bridge.
Waiting for the Ferry can take up to 3 hours!
Driving on!
Washington State is in the middle of the Pacific Northwest. It is naturally beautiful and has many National Parks. One I visited was Deception Falls.
After Deception Falls I ventured to Steven’s Pass.
The mountain ranges were breathtaking!
If you love Mt. Nittany, you will love Mt. Rainier. And if you think State College is quaint, you should visit Seattle. There was a lot of history and so much to see and do.
Have you been to the West Coast? Whats your favorite City? Where should I go next?!
What was your favorite part of Seattle or Washington State?!