I mean, what can be said about this strange abandoned art installation that hasn't been said…read morealready. It's not a great area, there's currently a homeless encampment right behind it. It has a chain link fence surrounding it giving it a 'We haven't torn this down yet' vibe. Being from the Bay Area and having seen pieces created at The Crucible I personally would call it exceptionally lazy art - if you're generous with the word 'art'. It's a sign, with some pointed cylinders around it. In my opinion the painted pieces at Gas Works are more interesting. I personally think it's only a matter of time before they tear it out and make it into another park so all in all, it's an easy skip.

At one point, I'm sure The Wall of Death was a very cool public art installation in Seattle. It's a…read morepermanently sited installation located along the Burke-Gilman Trail under the University Bridge along NE 40th Street. It was designed and built by Mowry Baden and his son Colin in 1993. While the exhibit sounds ominous, it's neither a memorial or some gothic art piece. Instead, it's a tribute to the structure used to perform "the wall of death," a motorcycle and miniature automobile stunt. While it looks like it was initially quite amazing, The Wall of Death has largely fallen victim to time and graffiti and it's really that graffiti that negatively impacts the appeal of the exhibit. The exhibit includes the cylinder itself on the south side of the Burke-Gilman Trail, as well as a concrete ramp to the north of the trail, which includes a "series of stylized metal chairs mounted to the existing concrete bridge columns and serves as the stands from which the stunts were viewed. The exhibit was originally intended as interactive with skateboarders intended to use it. However, after several skateboarding accidents including one involving a head-on collision between a skateboarder and a cyclist the exhibit was adapted, by Baden himself, to include 25 concrete parking stops. At this point, the exhibit is somewhat fenced in and much more difficult to access. However, it remains one of the more intriguing public art exhibits in Seattle and is still free to see. It's listed in Atlas Obscura. The exhibit was also reportedly damaged on 11/15/20 when a homeless camp tent caught fire. The exhibit is made of concrete, steel, and aluminum and measures 16' x 65' x 30'. It's easy to access the exhibit from the Burke Gilman Trail in the University District. It's near University of Washington housing and only a few blocks from Lake Union. The trail itself is wheelchair friendly and accessible quite easily.

Secret?! i think not. ;) Although it can appear rather secretive if you consider walking through it…read morethe first time (w/o knowing it's a tunnel) and ask yourself upon exiting "I was in an underground tunnel?" Yup. And a super COOL one at that, too. :) Fine shops, great lunch options, and a jackpot of historic Seattle photos - everything from the early days of dumping Pill Hill fill into Elliot Bay to the early Boeing airplanes. Downtown? Take a stroll down this tunnel. It begins/ends in Rainier Square and ends/begins in One/Two Union Square. Happy strolling. :)

I haven't visited enough underground tunnels to know if this one deserves 5 stars or not, so let's…read morework this out, arithmetic-style! 1 star for keeping me out of the rain, cold, and wind and away from motor traffic and waiting for crosswalk signals. 1 star for neat photos of old-time Seattle 1 star for a display of upcoming shows from the 5th Ave 1 star for the convenience store selling cards and snacks. There are also some little deli type eateries, a salon, and an art gallery, though I haven't taken advantage of any of them yet. All in all, this is a pretty spiffy way to get from 7th and Union to 4th and University without having to set foot outside - always a plus when it comes to dealing with Seattle's variable weather.

What a fun attraction in Issaquah - and a great way to learn more about the area. My friend told…read moreme about the miscellaneous trolls that are around the western Washington area, created by artist, Thomas Dambo from Denmark. So, I had to see it for myself. I took my dog on a walk around Issaquah - and we made it a point to check out Jakob Two Trees while in the area. To get here, online sources referenced the Rainier Multiple Use Trail in the old town of Issaquah. If you map to Rainier Trail, it does not take you to the entrance to the trail. However, this trail is near the Issaquah Community Center, which is where I mapped and was easily able to find the entrance to the trail. Along the Rainier Multiple Use Trail in a short distance is Jakob Two Trees. There's a sign that explains more of the artwork and artist, using only up-cycled materials to create these trolls. It was cool to see and you're able to walk all around the giant troll and get pictures up close. Although I am not Scandinavian, I do love how treasured trolls are to the Nordic countries, so now I want to find more of the trolls around the Pacific Northwest.

We visited Jakob Two Trees 2 years ago, it was our first troll my wife wanted to seek out. I didn't…read morerealize how cool they would be till I saw Jakob! Now we have found 5, and this year have more on our bucket list to visit this summer! Totally hooked and hoping to see so many more!

The garden is beautiful and it's a nice activity to do end of fall/early winter. It used to be free…read morethen they started tickets and now they've increased the price just like anything else. But it's worth going around the holiday time each year. I suggest going on a week day of you can to avoid lines and parking craziness. The first slot 4:30 is less busy also.

Wonderful, festive and pretty affordable for the holidays. Ticket cost $10 per person over 11 years…read moreold. Kids 10 and your gets in for free. The lights were fun to look at and had many floral and crops themed ones. It was also larger than I thought cause from the outside you can see a portion of it. The cafe was also open and I wish I can try all their drinks. Their white hot chocolate with whip cream was so good for the cool weather. Also very glad it did not rain on that day.

Cool Landmark in Seattle, Washington…read more.. I've had "The Center of the Universe" bookmarked for a while. It's a good thing to look at the bookmarked items on the Yelp app once in a while. I totally forgot about this novel and unique piece of Public Art! I should have visited it when I saw the Troll and the blue Fremont Bridge yesterday... darn! Anyway... I parked across the street and got a good shot of this directional sign! As I drew closer, I saw places on the sign that I would like to see - such as Machu Piccu and Rio de Janeiro. Other interesting places include The North Pole and The Milky Way. What a fun tourist stop! Check it out when you have time! It's free, quick, and a good break from daily routine!

One of the few photo ops (like the Rocket, dinosaurs, the Troll, etc) in Fremont…read more I saw the sign. It opened up my eyes. Life is demanding without understanding. To reiterate, I saw the sign and it opened up my eyes I saw the sign. No one's gonna drag you up To get into the light where you belong But where do you belong? Now if you excuse me, all that she wants is another baby, and she's gone tomorrow, boy.

Food and service are always great...... but why am I always seated at the bar????…read moreI am by myself for lunch there is hardly anyone seated at the tables. I ask for a table as my back is affected by my feet. I am told there is only bar seating available. There was hardly anyone here at this time. I have been here with two people ( my wife) and am always seated at a table. Been coming here for years for lunch as I live out on the Olympic Peninsula maybe 70 mile trip. Usually I am on a shopping expedition.

Simply Seattle's Best. The Pink Door is still my number one place to dine if visiting Seattle for…read morethe first time, or only in town for less than 48 hours. The Pink Door is nestled in Post Alley amongst all of the top area attractions, and even with the Pink Door being a tourist favorite the staff still find a way remind locals why it's a forever favorite. The service is extremely excellent, the entire team is courteous and accommodating. I highly suggest making a reservation to ensure you're able to be seated that day. The restaurant is whimsical, charming, inviting, and offers great views both inside and outside. The food is spectacular. There is no picture or video that does the food or experience that can capture just how spectacular The Pink Door really is; I still highly recommend!

Olympia buildings are covered in murals which makes the buildings entertaining to look at…read more The Star Wars mural is located on a building, in a lot, with three food trucks. The lot has a picnic table for those interested in ordering from the food trucks. Paid street parking is available. While I enjoyed the Star Wars mural, I liked the superhero mural much better. Keep up the artsy work Olympia!

"Honey, let's go check out the Star Wars mural."…read more (silence) There are many times when I suspect that Mr. K rolls his eyes on our little road trips. We are going where? To see what? I came across this local gem when browsing the highest rated spots in Olympia. It was an easy stroll from the center of town and just a couple blocks from the Olympia Coffee Roasting Company. When asking a local for directions to the mural, he informed me that his friend created the mural and although it is a caricature, all characters are truthful in their representation. He was dead serious when describing the artist's motivation. This is when I turn to Mr. K and nod knowingly. Just stick with me, kid. The mural is painted on the side of an apartment building and is in good condition. Someone actually has their apartment in the Death Star. **jealous** The grassy area alongside the building appears to be home to the only food cart in town, so it was a fun little journey of discovery. Not to say all my wanderings are successful. But in this case, the Force was with me.

Juan used to come into Bartell's at 5th and Olive when I worked there. We became "buddies". He was…read morealways really nice. Although I never really got the whole story figured out, it had something to do with his son and the Frye apartments. I moved away from Seattle a few years back now and Juan is one of those quirky things I miss about downtown. Does anyone know if he's still around doing his thing?

I forget where I heard this, but I'm pretty sure he's from Cuba…read more In the eighties there was an (unsurprising) blusterfuck between U.S. President Carter and Castro. There was a famine in Cuba, thousands of people were trying to leave. Carter tried to make the States look like some sort of magnanimous good guy and said that of course the US would take any refugees from Cuba. Castro didn't want to lose face and agreed to let anyone who wanted to go leave. Thousands of people showed up to the docks and were taken over to Florida. Castro took this opportunity to empty the jails and mental hospitals onto the boats as well. More negotiating and blusterfucking, and Cuba took back some of the repeat offenders and patients, and now the US only gives automatic citizenship to Cubans who set foot on land. All refugees caught or rescued at sea are sent back to Cuba via Guantanamo. I don't remember where I heard he was from Cuba, but what he says starts to make some sort of weird sense when you put him into that context. He has also pointed to my friend's nose and claimed he saw the devil hanging off the end of it.

A fun experience, a bit off the beaten path in the Fremont neighborhood of Seattle…read more We ventured from downtown to check out the troll. Very easy access via a city bus route. After a short stroll down a well-designed dirt path, we found the giant troll. The troll is great for photos and has a sign that describes the history of the troll. My kids enjoyed climbing around the area, too. Facing the opposite direction from the troll is a very cool bridge that creates some awesome cathedral-like architecture. There is lots to do in Fremont, and even though the troll is kind of a one-and-done deal, it's worth checking out simply to explore the rest of the neighborhood and awesome surrounding businesses. Enjoy your troll hunt!

A visit to the Fremont Troll under the Aurora Bridge is a fun and quirky Seattle stop. Sculpted in…read more1990 by four artists after a competition launched by the Fremont Arts Council to help combat the garbage and clutter that had been collecting under bridges, the troll has become one of the city's most iconic public art pieces. It's a great destination to bring out-of-town visitors--like me--to check out another troll! As a fan of the whimsical trolls created by Thomas Dambo, this was a must-see. Street parking is available nearby, making it an easy stop while exploring the neighborhood. I'd personally recommend not climbing on the troll due to safety concerns, although many people were doing so when we visited. Either way, it's a unique photo opportunity and a classic Seattle experience.

Forgot this was on Vashon Island, so we decided to stop by and check it out while in the area…read more It's located on Vashon Hwy SW behind a bus stop in the trees, there's not much of any other markers to indicate where to look. It would be best if you did a little research on reading a bit about the history and finding the exact location. We saw the bus stop, pulled over the side of the road, parked, ran full speed across the street and saw the little bridge entry and it was pretty much right there in front of you. I thought the bicycle would be bigger as I didn't see it right away. The front wheel is gone so all there is left is the rusted head tube and the front fork barely hanging on, rear fender and wheel is almost swallowed up by the tree. We were there for about 10 mins max, took some photos, looked around and done. There's an antique shop like a 50 yds away up at the corner, we went in there to check it out afterwards.

This landmark is close to the road but was a little hard to find because my friend and I were…read moreexpecting to find an obvious bike stuck in a tree, but so much time has passed that we spent several minutes wandering around before she noticed it. It's a great story of how a young boy tied his bike to a tree when he was drafted into serving in a World War and it was left there forever. There isn't a historical landmark or sign post like I would think. There are hardly any bike parts left and it's hard to tell there was a bike there to begin with now. It's about 7' in the air.