A walk through the streets of Seattle will indulge your senses. Home to outdoor enthusiasts, bookworms and software engineers, the city known for being "sleepless" is full of fun and interesting sights and things to do. If heights don't make you queasy, the Space Needle is the must-see attraction that makes Seattle's skyline famous. There is a lot more to Seattle, however, than the usual places like the Space Needle and Pike Place Market.
Olympic Sculpture Park
What began as the Seattle Art Museum's project to restore a former industrial site has produced the waterfront Olympic Sculpture Park. A nine-acre sustainable green space, the park's restored shoreline and beach areas have become a refuge for migrating salmon. Examples of modern sculpture, both permanent and on loan, dot the Z-shaped path through the park.
Learn to Sail
The sense of freedom that sailing brings is exhilarating and relaxing all at once. Let the salty wind blow through your hair and chap your skin as you cut across the waves. There are sailing schools throughout the Puget Sound region. The American Sailing Association has a listing of schools that are checked for safety by the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary.
Snoqualmie Falls
Only 29 miles to the east of Seattle on I-90 is Snoqualmie Falls. The falls are 270-feet high. An overlook with a wheelchair-accessible path is not far from the Salish Lodge that perches on the cliff above the falls. The viewing area and surrounding park are free and open during daylight hours. There is a hiking trail that was under maintenance in 2010 and is scheduled to reopen in 2013. The Lodge is famous throughout the Pacific Northwest for its hearty breakfast offerings.
Kayaking
Unwind from the daily grind in a kayak. Slice through the calm waters of Elliott Bay on a warm day. Being so close to the water you can catch glimpses of the jellyfish and other sea creatures underneath and even sea lions and blue herons near the shore. It is not uncommon to catch a glimpse of a bald eagle in this area. There are tours with Alki Kayak that take beginners out from Alki Beach for an afternoon tour. From the bay you can take in the views of the Seattle skyline and the Olympic mountains to the west.
Taste Some Chocolate
The Theo Chocolate Factory in the Fremont neighborhood is the only bean-to-bar chocolate factory in America. It produces only organic, fair-trade chocolate. The factory offers tours of the facility seven days a week at various times throughout the day. In 2010 tour prices were $6 per person. You can enjoy samplings of some of the best chocolate in the Pacific Northwest during the tour.
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