Page 150 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Pacific Northwest

148  SEA T TLE

1 Olympic 2 Pacific Science
Sculpture Park Center and Boeing
IMAX Theater
2901 Western Ave. Map 1 B5. Tel (206)
654-3100.  Seattle Center. @ 1, 2, 200 2nd Ave N. Map 1 B4.
13, 15, 18, 99. Open dawn–dusk daily. Tel (206) 443-2001.  Seattle Center.
PACCAR Pavilion: Mar 1–Oct 31: @ 19, 24, 33. Open 10am–6pm daily
10am–5pm Tue–Sun; Nov 1–Feb 28: (to 5pm Mon–Fri in fall); IMAX open
10am–4pm Sat & Sun. 0 8 7 daily, call (206) 443-4629 for films
∑ seattleartmuseum.org and showtimes. Closed Thanksgiving,
Dec 25. & additional charge for laser
Opened to the public in January & IMAX shows and the planetarium.
2007 as part of the Seattle Art 7 ∑ pacificsciencecenter.org
Museum (see pp132–3), the
Olympic Sculpture Park sits on The Pacific Science Center
what used to be an industrial features four exhibit halls and
site, now transformed into a two IMAX theaters surrounding
unique green space for public five 110-ft (33.5-m) arches that
recreation and outdoor art. The rise over reflecting pools and
innovative design for the park fountains. While enjoyed
included environmental by all ages, the science and
restoration schemes such as math exhibits are especially
the creation of a salmon habitat appealing to kids.
and tree planting. Dinosaurs: A Journey Through The magnificent Space Needle, the pride
The park is made up of three Time takes visitors back to the of Seattle
areas linked by a 2,200-ft (670-m), Mesozoic Era to meet lifelike
Z-shaped path. Visitors can see robotic dinosaurs. In Body 3 Space Needle
over 20 modern sculptures Works visitors can pedal on 400 Broad St. Map 1 C4. Tel (206) 905-
scattered throughout a variety the Calorie Bicycle to see how 2100.  Seattle Center. @ 3, 4, 16.
of typical Pacific Northwest land- much energy they produce, and Open 10am–9:30pm Mon–Thu,
scapes such as The Valley, an in Tech Zone they can challenge 9:30am–10:30pm Fri–Sun (to 9:30pm
evergreen forest similar to those an industrial robot to games Sun). 7 0 ∑ spaceneedle.com
found in the lowland coastal of tic-tac-toe. Also popular
regions, Schubert Sonata, sculptor with youngsters and adults What started as a rough sketch
Mark di Suvero’s towering steel alike is the imaginative world on the back of a paper placemat
wind vane, and The Shore, which of Professor Wellbody’s has become Seattle’s inter nation-
features a beach and a naturally Academy of Health & Wellness®. ally recognized landmark and
developing tidal garden. This innovative health exhibit number one tourist attraction.
The PACCAR Pavilion is the uses games, activities, and Built for the 1962 World’s Fair,
park headquarters. It houses other interactive experiences the 605-ft (185-m) Space Needle
a car park and a café where to highlight the importance was the brainchild of Edward
visitors can buy food for of diet, exercise, sleep, lifestyle, Carlson, the fair’s chairman,
picnics. Guided tours of the and hygiene for personal who was inspired by Germany’s
park are also available starting well-being. Insect Village Stuttgart Tower. The final design
from the Pavilion. features huge robotic insects by John Graham and Company,
and a mini-zoo where brave architects of the first shopping
visitors can touch a cockroach. mall in the US, was approved
The Tropical Butterfly House just 18 months before the fair’s
is filled with exotic free-flying opening date; the Space Needle
butterflies. Outside, visitors can was built in 12 months, for
spin a 2-ton granite ball or ride a relatively inexpensive $4.5
the High Rail Bicycle perched million. At the time, it was
15 ft (4.5 m) above the ground the tallest building west of
on a 1-inch (2.5-cm) rail. the Mississippi River.
The Center also houses a Supported by three curved
planetarium, laser theater, the steel legs, the needle’s glass-
PACCAR IMAX Theater, and the enclosed tophouse features
futuristic Boeing IMAX Theater. an observation deck and, below
The latter has laser projectors and it, a revolving restaurant – the
a cutting-edge sound system, second in the world – which
and shows documentaries is turned by a one-and-a-half-
on the natural world, space horsepower motor.
exploration, and a variety of The underground foundation,
Perre’s Ventaglio III, one of the pieces in the children’s films, 2D and 3D buried 30 ft (9 m) deep and
Olympic Sculpture Park feature films, and animations. stretching 120 ft (37 m) wide,
For hotels and restaurants see p288 and pp298–300

US_PNW_148-149_Catalog1.indd 148 04/07/16 12:34 pm