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Parents may prefer idle moments in the wine bar called the Gallery, but the hotel also has a heated indoor pool for all ages.

A lovely landscaped strip not much wider than a stretch of the Burke-Gilman Trail (see Burke-Gilman Trail Features) attracts tourists all year round. Today, the park creates viewpoints along the Canal and several places to sit, play chess, picnic, and watch the world go by. Pedestrians don’t need to dodge speeding bicycles, however, since there is a separate gravel path for bi-peds.

Take advantage of this inn’s pool, complimentary breakfasts, and shuttles to downtown.

Seattle’s remaining steel mill and the city’s largest user of electrical power hunkers down on the Duwamish River’s western shore. The mill processes recycled scrap from cans, cars, and construction materials just across the river from an upscale yacht marina and office park, embodying Seattle’s ethic of mixed-use waterfront. While some may consider the plant an eyesore and major polluter, it competes successfully with Asian firms and provides jobs for the local economy.

The local record label created by Jonathan Poneman and Bruce Pavitt in the mid-1980s signed bands such as Nirvana and Soundgarden that put Seattle on the rock music map worldwide.

On summer nights this outdoor concert stage at Pier 66 features artists renowned for their contributions to rock, blues, jazz, and folk music.

Rain or shine, the Fremont Sunday Market has withstood the test of time, real estate development, and even lawsuits from neighboring businesses. Begun in 1990 to foster a pedestrian-friendly community and provide an outlet for artists and independent vendors to sell whatever they had to offer, the market hosts up to 200 booths of crafts, imported goods, furniture, food, and knick-knacks that defy description.

Like many neighborhoods in Seattle, Ballard attracts weekend shoppers by organizing regional farmers, artists, and craftspeople to fill closed-off streets with an Old World market. The lovely brick pavement and 19th-century architecture along Ballard Avenue form the backdrop for a pleasant walk for the visitors. The market operates year round, but when summer is in full swing, growers from the arid eastside of the Cascade Mountains bring their bounty of organic produce, range fed chickens, and hormone-free beef to sell.

So many people wonder how and where one of the world’s richest men lives. Microsoft’s founder, Bill Gates, built his estate on Lake Washington’s eastern shore installing the latest technological advancements in modern living – high-end security systems, customized touch and voice controls, and luxurious entertainment facilities. The estate is not open to the public, naturally, but it’s visible from the water and touring boats occasionally cruise within sight from a considerable distance.