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Seattle
Seattle's indelible landmark, the Space Needle allows you to soar in seconds to the Observation Deck 520 feet above the ground. There's a 360-degree view of Seattle, the mountains, the ferries, Puget Sound and the islands, Lake Washington ... and if you can't see it all with the naked eye, don't worry. Complimentary telescopes are part of the package. Pioneer Square, Seattle's first neighborhood, is a charming blend of cobblestone streets and turn-of-the-century architecture with some notable historic features. Smith Tower, built in 1914, was for a time the tallest building (at 42 stories) in the world outside of Manhattan. There's a waterfall garden and the Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park plus lots of shops and coffee houses to entertain you for an entire day. Paris isn't the only city that has underground excursions; Seattle has them too. The Underground Tour takes you beneath Pioneer Square, where the old streets and original storefronts from the Gold Rush Days are visible. Gas Works Park is a 19-acre playground created on the grounds of an ancient gas plant at the north end of Lake Union. Many of the original buildings still stand; the "gas works" equipment is brightly painted and provides a unique and exciting climbing environment for kids. The big hill at the top is ideal for kite-flying. Seattle has been blessed with several parks and urban green areas designed by the Olmsted brothers, the team responsible for the design of New York's Central Park and the grounds of the U.S. Capitol in Washington D.C. Volunteer Park is located high above the city in a rolling landscape that offers breathtaking views, the Seattle Asian Art Museum, a band shell for summer concerts, playgrounds, formal gardens, a reservoir, an esplanade for strolling and a huge glass conservatory reminiscent of the one in London's Kew Gardens. It's a lovely place to spend a lazy afternoon. Check out the funky shops and boutiques in the Capitol Hill neighborhood, too.
Experience Music Project is the brainchild of Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, who was partly inspired by the fact that Jimi Hendrix was a Seattle native. This interactive museum/exhibit space/gallery is housed in a spectacular Frank Gehry building near the Science Center, and offers hands-on music creation in a state-of-the-art studio, among other things. Contemporary artists, classical musicians and retro songsters are featured along with memorabilia and live concerts. The Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame is also co-located with the Experience Music Project. A recent addition to the Seattle Center complex (where you'll also find the Space Needle and the Experience Music Project) is Chihuly Garden and Glass, where visitors can ooh and ahh over vibrantly colored installations by Washington-born blown-glass artist Dale Chihuly. To see photos and learn more, see Seattle Gains Artsy New Attraction. Ballard Locks, actually named the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks, is an engineering marvel that allows passage from Puget Sound into Lake Washington and vice versa. There's a dam, a spillway and -- best of all -- a 21-step fish ladder so you can actually watch salmon swimming upstream to return to their place of birth to spawn. There's an underwater viewing area as well. Located about 30 minutes from downtown (when it's not rush hour!), Chateau Ste. Michelle Winery, the oldest in the state, offers free tours and tastings. You can also visit Columbia Winery, right across the road. (There is a small fee for tastings here.) Have you ever wanted to see the Concorde, or go through Air Force One? You can at the incredible Museum of Flight (at Boeing Field south of Seattle), which also includes a "Personal Courage Wing" featuring rare and restored World War I and World War II fighting aircraft. Kids will love it too. Seattle Houseboats: You can't get onto most of the docks since they are gated, but you can walk along the roads at the east end of Lake Union and gawk at these floating castles, many worth well into the multi-million-dollar range.