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SEATTLE GUIDE:
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Sightseeing and activities guide, including Pike Place Market, the waterfront, plus parks, Mt. Ranier, whale watching and more.

Post Party Sightseeing and Activities in Seattle

Green Lake is a terrific park where locals do all types of sports activities.

Sure, there's the Pike Place Market.

And the waterfront. And enough shopping to max out just about anyone's credit card.

But there is so much more to do in Seattle, it's almost mystifying. (As long as its not misting.)

There are few things as refreshing as a brisk walk or run on a sunny afternoon. In Seattle, the best choice is Green Lake Park north of downtown. It's a placid lake surrounded by both a concrete and grass path that is packed with runners, rollerbladers, even people just out for a stroll. Tucked around a beautiful neighborhood, Green Lake offers as many sporting activities as the Olympics: softball and soccer fields, tennis courts, a Par-3 golf course, a small gymnasium and all varieties of people-powered water activities. It's perfect for an early evening or a weekend afternoon, after which there are a few restaurants in the area for food and beverage.

Green Lake is only one of many city parks. Gas Works Park, with its old, rusting landmark, contains a long bike and running path, rolling hills of green grass and, from atop the sundial, an unparalleled view of downtown. It overlooks Lake Union, which is where Tom Hanks lived in Sleepless in Seattle. It's possible to go on the water with a tour boat or kayak. Just don't hit the expresso boat.

Volunteer Park on Capitol Hill has acres of lawns, trees, huge old rhododendrons and an old water tower with a winding staircase leading to a panoramic view of the city.

On Sundays, the Fremont Flea Market is a totally artistic/youthful/local activity. This artistic community, with statues to Lenin and a troll, is interesting to walk anytime. It's also the home of Red Hook Beer, making it a good place to enjoy a cold one. In summer, films are shown on an outdoor wall. BYOB from Red Hook's flagship bar across the street.

Speaking of markets, it's an absolute must to go to Pike Place. It's super-crowded with tourists, families and strollers, but this unique fisherman's/farmer's market truly defines Seattle. It's got more fish and seafood than you can shake a salmon at – and yes, they do toss them – but also freshly-cut flowers and all manner of foods and goods.

The area is four blocks of shops, street performers and fine and casual restaurants, some of which are tucked down cool little alleys. Plus, there are places to escape the crowds.

At adjacent Pike and 1st Ave., the crowd spills over to more restaurants and upscale shops. Hike down the hill to the waterfront for ferries, tours, the aquarium and tourist-tacky seafood houses. Okay, skip the tourist-tacky seafood houses

Walking south on 1st Ave, and it won't take long to arrive at historic Pioneer Square, where there are some rustic pubs, a neat old bookstore and many art galleries. The first Thursday in every month is Gallery Walk, with people meandering through the galleries, viewing local artists' work and munching on hors d'oeuvres.

For shopping – girls, get the credit card ready and guys, head to the nearest pub – Seattle has the flagship store of the upscale department store Nordstrom. Five levels of clothes, shoes, etc. It's located at 5th and Pine at the monorail station. There's other shopping in the area, as well (what a surprise).

Pike Place and downtown is not the only place to see and enjoy seafood. The Scandinavian fishing community of Ballard has locks with leaping salmon and much more affordable seafood spots than downtown. Some is available right off the boats.

One interesting activity – on a rainy day, anyway – is to sit down with a copy of The Stranger at a pub or one of the hundreds of coffee shops. The Stranger is an entertainment weekly and what is really entertaining about it are the personal ads – women seeking men, women seeking women, etc., and an anything goes section headlined, simply "??!!"

Pro sports teams keep fans entertained year-round. The Mariners – one of the top teams in Major League Baseball – and the NFL's Seahawks each play in a brand new stadiums costing a total of around $800 million (welcome to sports in the USA). The Seahawks are led by Shaun Alexander, whose cutback moves in college led Alabama Crimson Tide fans to create a new cheer: "Go Shaun! Go Shaun! Go Shaun!" The SuperSonics have an NBA championship on their resume and have flirted with the trophy a few other times.

But this just scratches the surface of activities in and around Seattle. It's possible to scratch the surface of the water with boat tours from the downtown waterfront and Lake Union to the north. Or, scratch the surface of the surrounding mountains.

The most spectacular of these is Mt. Rainier, that large snow-covered peak easily visible from downtown. Mt. Ranier is an active volcano encased in more than 35 square miles of snow and ice. It offers skiing and snowboarding, hiking, camping and other recreational activities.

Much more peaceful harmony with nature can be found in the San Juan Islands, a remarkable set of islands created during the ice age. Peaceful and scenic, it's home to deer, eagles and all types of wildlife (not the human kind). Take a Washington State ferry and rent a bike or a moped to see one of the four inhabited islands, paddle around in a kayak, take a whale-watching boat and maybe see a killer whale up close. The San Juans are home to three resident pods of orcas totaling about 100 whales. Sightings are most likely to occur from May through September.

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