Seattle Center
After a lovely lunch at Nordstrom's, Peggy & I crossed the street to the central Monorail station, located in a marvelous shopping center called Westlake, and took the train the short distance to Seattle Center (site of the 1962 World's Fair)! seattlemonorail.com
The Seattle Space Needle is a must! We took the glass elevator to the top and marveled at the views in all directions, circling the Space Needle. It was a delightfully clear day so, as they say, we could see forever! This year is the 50th Anniversary of the World's Fair, which treated us to a bonus...a fun collection of original World's Fair memorabilia, trinkets and souvenirs. spaceneedle.com
Just a hint....we had been advised by locals (and they should know) to avoid the Space Needle restaurant...it slowly moves around the Needle...a nice experience, but not worth the costly price for what we were told was substandard food.
Just go directly to the top and you'll get the best view and, there's a small cafe available.
Next to the Space Needle is world famous Washington native, Dale Chihuly's Glass House and Garden. This spectacular exhibit has been open for less than two years, so if you've been to Seattle in the past and missed this marvelous exhibit, be sure to put it on your list of "must see", "must experience".
I collect artist made glass paperweights, perfume bottles and glass art, so I was particularly excited to view this brilliantly talented and fascinating artist's work...close up.
It was even more awesome and breathtaking than I imagined! You really have to see this exhibit to believe it!
Upon entering the exhibit building, be sure to take the time to watch the movies detailing Dale Chihuly and his artists creating fabulous larger than life glass art featured around the world...Finland, Australia, Mexico, France...Phoenix, Chicago, Dallas, San Francisco, Coral Gables and, of course, Seattle and Tacoma, Washington.
After the movies, you move into the most magnificent glass filled rooms...each with a theme...Persian Ceiling, Sealife...a stunning glass sculpture with individual fabulous sea sculptures. Ikebana & Float Boats, Macchia Forest, Millefiori...a breathtaking vision of glass color and shapes depicting a fantasy garden, giant Chandeliers, etc. Each room so splendid it will take your breath away!
Persian Ceiling...an entire ceiling of varied shapes and sizes of hand created glass vases, bowls, art glass, etc. Northwest Room...and American Indian inspired textiles, baskets, Chihuly drawings add to this treasured exhibit.
If all of this beauty isn't enough, you exit through a marvelous Chandelier Walkway into an out-of-this-world outdoor Garden of glass trees, flowers, foliage gleaming. After spending glorious time oohing and aahing, you'll visit the Garden's Glass House with 100' of magnificent glass flowers glistening! Absolutely stunning!
Chandelier Walkway...
(A hint... As with the Space Needle, look for the photographer in the Garden, again, free of charge. They'll send your photo via email.)
Be sure to stop in the gift shop. It's full of beautiful Dale Chihuly books, DVDs, note cards, etc., as well as Chihuly inspired souvenirs (the umbrellas are a favorite). The calendar book is relatively inexpensive and has loads of great photos. chihulygardenandglass.com
Peggy & I stayed so long in the Space Needle and Chihuly exhibit that we lost track of time and didn't have the opportunity to see EMP, Museum of Music, Sci-Fi, & Pop Culture. empmuseum.org ... A uniquely designed building housing, we were told, a grand collection of artifacts and hands-on interactives! (Must leave something new for our next Seattle trip!)
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