| Seattle: It's Not Just Grunge Seattle, Washington Seattle's gotten a lot of airtime lately. The flannel, the music, the plague of coffeehouse chains that now stretches across the country: you'd think you've seen, heard, or smelt it all. Millennia before Nirvana and Pearl Jam, though, North America's only temperate rainforest zone developed here on the continent's northwestern coast. Despite the persistent human pressure upon this lush and vibrant yet fragile ecosystem, several spots survive, thanks to various organizations in the Seattle area. Spend a few days on salmon stomping grounds visiting Pacific Northwest flora and fauna. Use our route planner to find hotels for your next trip.
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| Hiram M. Chittenden Locks 3015 NW 54th St Seattle, WA 98107 Call (206) 783-7059  |  | Each summer sockeye, chinook and coho salmon migrate from Puget Sound to Lake Washington via the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks' fish ladder. Onlookers can watch through windows as the fish launch themselves up the ladder's 21 steps. As the nearby locks empty and fill, allowing the passage of ships both big and small, you can stroll through the Chittenden Locks' seven acres of botanical gardens. The locks are located in Seattle's northern Ballard neighborhood. You should be able to see everything in one or two hours. The grounds are open year-round from 7am-9pm. Sea lions and harbor seals frequent the locks from August through May. If you have cooking facilities available and are looking for some fresh-caught fish, stop at Fisherman's Terminal on Salmon Bay, home of the Northwest's largest fishing fleet. Here small trawlers dock amidst the large ships that travel from California to Alaska. Fisherman's Terminal is east of the locks, beside NW 15th Avenue's Ballard Bridge, on the south side of Salmon Bay. | | |||||||
| Woodland Park Zoo 5500 Phinney Ave N Seattle, WA 98103 Call (206) 548-2500 |  | If you'd like to take a quick trip around the world without leaving Seattle, visit the Woodland Park Zoo. Its numerous awards recognize the park's ongoing efforts to integrate horticulture with the naturalistic exhibits. Around 300 species of wildlife roam 92 acres that feature eight bioclimatic zones. From the Tropical Asian exhibit's elephant barn and Thai logging outpost to the Northern Trail exhibit's tundra and resident mountain goats, Woodland Park offers a climate for everyone. The zoo is open year-round. | | |||||||
| Washington Park Arboretum 2300 Arboretum Dr Seattle, WA 98112 Call (206) 543-8800 | | Washington Park Arboretum contains 230 acres of trees (including oaks, conifers, Japanese maples), shrubs and plants from around the world, and one of the park's boulevards is open sunrise to sunset. Picnic in or cycle through the rhododendron collection, recognized as one of the best in the world. If you're looking for variety, you'll find more than 40,000 trees, shrubs, and vines, some of them very rare. The Japanese garden provides an extraordinary example of Asian design, including a teahouse where Chado tea demonstrations are offered. Plan to spend half a day here. One of the best natural wetlands within the city is located at the north end of the arboretum along Lake Washington. Use the nature walk through this ecosystem for birding of native species. Start your tour at Graham Visitors Center, located at 2300 Arboretum Drive East. | | |||||||
| Point Defiance Park 5400 N Pearl St Tacoma, WA 98407 Call (253) 305-1016 | | This spectacular waterfront park contains approximately 700 acres of old-growth forest, clay cliffs, driftwood-covered beaches, and formal gardens (miniature roses, irises, and native Northwest plants each merit their own). Activities include boating, fishing, swimming, hiking, and picnicking. Within the park is historic Fort Nisqually, a reconstructed Hudson's Bay Co. fur trading post where you can explore on your own or on a guided tour (reserve in advance). Living history events and reenactments are held about once a month. The park also contains a zoo and aquarium featuring beluga whales. Hours and fees vary depending on the attractions. Point Defiance Park is located on the peninsula between the Narrows and Commencement Bay. | ||||||||
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Seattle: It's Not Just Grunge