By Victor Schultz
The shops and stalls of Pike Place Market offer flowers, food, and much more.Seattle's nickname, the Emerald City, is a reference to the region's natural beauty. Gorgeous evergreen trees dominate the local landscape, drawing nature lovers from around the world, but Seattle's attractions aren't limited to the great outdoors. The city's museums and shops offer countless pleasures for visitors who have little interest in outdoor activities—or for visitors who simply want to keep dry during the frequent rainstorms.
The most famous shopping district in Seattle is, of course, the Pike Place Market. This landmark has become best known for its iconic fishmongers and their fish-throwing exploits. But the fishmongers are just the beginning. Pike Place Market is one of the nation's oldest farmer's markets, so if you don't feel like fresh fish, there are scores of shops and stalls selling fresh fruit and vegetables, baked goods, dairy products, meat and poultry, specialty foods, and wine. And if you're not looking for food, there is an incredible array of shops selling everything from antiques to clothes to flowers. Once you're done, you can stop to get a cup of coffee at the very first Starbucks Coffee store, which is located right there in the market.
Another shopping destination is the Pioneer Square neighborhood in downtown Seattle. Here you can roam a district rich in history and replete with unique boutiques such as Synapse 206, independent bookstores such as Elliot Bay Books, and charming shops such as Fireworks Fine Craft Gallery or Magic Mouse Toys.
The Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame showcases the ideas, literature, and cinema of the genre.One way to get close to nature without having to actually venture outside is to visit the Seattle Aquarium. The aquarium, which opened in 1977 and was renovated in 2007, seeks to inspire in its visitors a passion for conservation of our marine environment, and to this end, the helpful, hands-on museum staff has built a program that focuses on entertainment as well as education. Here you can listen to the calls of the region's orca whales. Or you might be allowed to stand within a circle of glowing jellyfish. Or you might have the chance to feel a sea anemone's tentacles with your own hand. And your next visit might bring a whole new set of experiences. This variety of activities and focus on education make the Seattle Aquarium a particularly appealing option for visitors who have children.
In a city as steeped in musical tradition as Seattle, one enticing option for visitors is the Experience Music Project, an edgy museum with interactive exhibits that examine rock 'n' roll and its relation to other musical genres, such as jazz, gospel, and hip hop. The Experience Music Project, or EMP, is housed in the same building as the Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame, which exhibits retrospectives of the work of many great science fiction authors, such as Robert Heinlein and Ursula K. Le Guin, in addition to that of other important science fiction figures like "Star Trek" creator Gene Roddenberry. Visitors also can enjoy exhibits that discuss robots and future societies and other ideas explored in science fiction.
All of this is just the beginning: Seattle's attractions are so many and varied that you'll never be able to get to all of them in one visit. So what are you waiting for?
