Gas Works Park

  

An old brown structure stood near Lake Union. It had an industrial-look and was a reminder of Seattle from 1906 to 1956. This was the product of the Industrial Revolution of more than fifty years before. It has this vibe where it was all about building the city and powering everything up.

On Gas Works Park sat this big oil plant. It is a big red-brown tube of metal–everything that screamed “industrial,” and it was artfully covered with vines

It is a stream punk’s dream. The best part of the park was the view of the bay and the city. You can see the downtown spreading across the bay.

Fremont Troll

Later, I tried to find the troll bridge that everyone talked about it. It was on the Gas Park side of the Aurora bridge—  a few streets up and before the Fremont Way N entrance to the 99.

What a sight! The troll is bigger than I’d imagine… spanning the length of the highway and it was a sight to see. He seemed old and wise as he clutches a car in his hand… an old Volkswagon Beetle buggy that looks like a ladybug. I asked someone to help me take a photo and was kind of uneasy that he was just there to help take photos, but I got my camera back.

Fremont Sunday Street Market

Since it was the weekend, I also stopped by the Farmers Market, and got a few souvenirs by doing a survey. I also decided to try their food and some more exotic ones like lumpia. Suddenly it started to rain, and I found myself hiding under an archway and trying my food. It was alright, but it was a nice experience if you’re looking for a local experience. 

Fremont Bridge

The Fremont Bridge isn’t the one where the troll sit underneath, but it’s more colorful and modern with its blue and orange color and could measure how many bikes pass through.

The bridge leads to the suburban parts of Seattle up in the mountains where you can see the Space Needle  from Queen Anne Boulevard.

Space Needle and Art Center 

The Space Needle is a modern landmark and is surrounded by museums, performing arts houses (for theater, ballet, opera, and plays) and is one big park–one side with a fountain and another side, a ‘Artist at Play’ playground. All the attraction was near there. 

Pier and Number 12

Down toward the pier was the Olympic Sculpture Park. It had a few curiosity like a giant head and a red sculpture. Down on the piers, Miner’s Landing, a touristy attraction with a carousel inside was open. It was so different from everywhere in Seattle with its old western decorations.

Looking toward the skyscrapers, I see a big number 12 light up. I was confused but later found out it represented the Seahawks fans.

More: https://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/news/2014/01/22/how-did-they-make-that-giant-12.html

Pike Place Market

The gum wall in Post Alley is the place that everyone talks about, and it’s in a dark alley that goes to Pike Place Market. Someone said that those gums haven’t been there for that long, just three months. They’d take it down and people would put it all up again. Some made words and others, pictures. 

The alley way lead to the front of the market. Seattle seemed like the place with all these hidden alleyways of secrets. 

Pike Market in the daylight is vibrant. The market is bustling with people selling anything from fruits, veggies, and snacks, to fish. A customer had just bought a fish and before I could take my camera out, they were tossing the fish in the air! This was a real thing that surprises most tourists. 

The First Starbucks

Before heading to the market, my friend and I went to the first Starbucks–the original Starbucks. It was a small shop across from Pike’s Place, and it’s bragging rights to have seen the first Starbucks. The coffee with Pike’s Place in its name was really just regular coffee. 

We also wandered into a local bakery near there and bought breakfast there to go with the coffee.

Olympic Sculpture

In the morning, the red sculpture in Olympic Park shone brightly. The green lawn is huge and the sculpture are spread out. Soon, we went back into the car to see the place I was in Seattle for (besides visiting my friend).

Chihuly

(Cover Photo)

If you like flower, glass, and nature made of glass with colors, Chihuly Garden and Glass is the place and it is refreshingly unique. The ones that caught my interests were not the flowers but the ones of different sea animals, like an octopus. Inside the museum, photographers also help you take your photos.

At the end, you’re in a glass building with flowers in red, orange, and yellow, and the Space Needle is peeking from the other side. By far, the Chihuly museum was the most unique compared to the museums I’ve been in, in major cities.

Overall, I enjoyed experience life as a local in Seattle, but one of the main part that was great was Seattle’s location– it’s close to Canada and many hikes that we could have done. I explored it in two days (and Canada) and I think it’s about a weekend trip length if it was just Seattle alone.

If I had to choose from the places above, I’d say that Pikes Place and Chihuly were the most unique and most popular… but this doesn’t include going to get food in Chinatown, really walking in downtown, and the wooden boat house. Each were small attractions but Seattle itself is a big sprawling city. So far, it’s quiet compared to Los Angeles.

Feel free to leave a comment about your favorite places in Seattle.