Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
classiest remnants of Seattle's early-20th-century heyday. The block-square
building looks sober and unrevealing on the outside, but journey through the re-
volving doors to discover a plush lobby dominated by chandeliers, marble walls
and exotic carpets.
Continue northeast on University St past 6th Ave; look ahead to
Freeway
Park
. Meander through it, then follow signs to the
Washington State Conven-
tion & Trade Center
(
Click here
)
and the visitor center inside. Leave the conven-
tion center through its front doors on Pike St. Follow Pike (you'll see Pike Place
Market at the end of the street) to 5th Ave.
Take a right on 5th Ave to Pine St; turn left, toward the specter of the
Westlake Center
(
Click here
). Stop for a latte and park yourself in front of the en-
trance for some entertaining amateur street theater.
LOCAL KNOWLEDGE
HIGHER THAN THE SPACE NEEDLE
Everyone makes a rush for the iconic Space Needle, but it's neither the tallest nor
the cheapest of Seattle's glittering viewpoints. That honor goes to the sleek,
8:30am-4:30pm Mon-Fri)
, built between 1982 and 1985, which at 932ft high is the
loftiest building in the Pacific Northwest. The tower sports 76 floors. An elevator
in the lobby takes you up to the free-access 40th floor, where there's a Starbucks.
From here you must take another elevator to the plush observation deck on the
73rd floor, from where you can look down on ferries, cars, islands, roofs and - ha,
ha - the Space Needle!
