Seattle - Surroundings

To the south of Seattle, at 9404 Marginal Way, is the Museum of Flight, with over three dozen carefully restored historic aircraft, including one built by the Wright brothers.

Bainbridge Island is a small town located just across the bay from Seattle. Visitors can access Bainbridge Island either by ferry (on foot or with a car), or by car via an extended route leading through Tacoma.

The Bainbridge Island Historical Museum is located just a short distance from where the ferry docks and is housed in a 1908 schoolhouse. The museum contains artifacts, photographs, and information on the history of Bainbridge Island and surroundings.

From Pier 56 there are boats (3/4 hour) to Tillicum Indian Village on Blake Island, which gives visitors an excellent picture of the culture and way of life of the Northwest Indians.

Blake Island State Park accessible only by boat, is a marine park known largely for its beaches and shoreline. The area is very scenic with the Olympic Mountains visible in the background. Tillicum Village, located on Black Island, offers tradition Indian-style dinners and entertainment.

Bothel is a mill town with a pleasant historical downtown area. Bothel is the main center in the area, servicing the surround towns.

MUSEUM IS TEMPORARILY CLOSED FOR RENOVATIONS.

The Bothell Historical Museum aims to preserve the areas history.

Located on Puget Sound, the seaside community of Edmonds is a beautiful and inspiring place. The waterfront boasts a marina and fishing pier, along with beaches and parks. Edmunds is also well known within the arts community, and hosts a number of festivals throughout the year.

The Edmunds Historical Museum features displays relating history of Edmunds. One half of the museum is dedicated to a permanent exhibit and the other half features rotating exhibits, archives, and historical photographs.

Located in Puget Sound in Gig Harbor Bay, opposite Tacoma, the town of Gig Harbor is a very scenic and pleasant spot.

The Harbor History Museum features both permanent and temporary exhibits. The permanent displays look at "Harbor Heritage" and Native American culture. Check ahead with the Gig Harbor Peninsula Historical Museum to see what temporary exhibits are being featured.

Hoodsport, located on the shore of Hood Canal, and claims to be the " Gateway to the Olympics". There is always something going on in and Hoodsport, with festivals, derbys, and more. The area is also known for it's whale watching tours.

The Japanese Garden is located within the Washington Park Arboretum and was created in 1960. This mature garden offers a fabulous display of flowers in the spring and throughout the summer.

The Kubota Gardens, designed by Fujitaro Kubota who once owned the property, are Japanese style gardens created with plants native to the American Northwest. The property covers 20 acres, ecompassing hills, water, and bridges.

Marysville is a small city north of Seattle, near Everett. This is a pleasant place with parks, golfing facilities, and a sizeable downtown shopping district. The city has the nickname "Strawberry City" and holds an annual Strawberry Festival and Grand Parade in June.

North Bend, located in the Snoqualmie Valley, is probably best known for being the filming location of the television series "Twin Peaks". The town is just east of Seattle in a scenic area along the foothills of the Cascade Mountains.

The Puget Sound Vessel Traffic Service provides traffic information for vessels operating on Puget Sound.

Redmond is located just east of Seattle and is known for being home to the Microsoft corporate campus. The city offers many outdoor possibilities with trail systems for biking and walking. The downtown area offers a diverse range of shops and fine dining options.

The Plankhouse is a replica Chinookan-style cedar plankhouse. Lewis and Clark came upon the large Chinookan village that stood here in 1805. Through large donations of wood and time by volunteers the Plankhouse was completed in 2005. It stands on the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge.

The Washington Park Arboretum is owned by the city of Seattle but the plants are maintained by the University of Washington. The park covers 230 acres and includes mainly native trees and shrubs in a beautifully landscaped setting. April to October are the best months to visit the Washington Park Arboretum but the facility is open year round.