Our Hiking Adventure!…read more Great place to go hiking. Just make sure you know where your going before you venture in. Otherwise you'll find yourself on a 3 1/2 hour hike. Totally worth it though. Blister and everything.

While visiting my brothers and sister in law we wanted to go on a nice hike so they recommended the…read moreTin Mine Trail/Davis trail which was about a 5.25 mile loop hike. A beautiful hike through the trees that started with a mild incline where you are exposed to the sun so I would suggest doing the hike early in the morning or during the cooler weather months. There are a few sections of the trail that is not shaded but much of the hike is shaded by the trees.

The only real reason for me to write a review about this bridge is the neat Fremont Troll that…read morelurks underneath it. The website www.roadsideamerica.com describes it best: The Fremont troll took up residence under the north end of the Aurora bridge on Halloween 1990, and hasn't left since. He was sculpted by four Seattle area artists -- Steve Badanes, Will Martin, Donna Walter and Ross Whitehead -- for the Fremont Arts Council. The head-and-shoulders sculpture is 18-ft. tall. The shaggy haired troll glares southward with his shiny metal eye -- a hubcap? In his left hand, he crushes an old style Volkswagen beetle (which originally contained a time capsule of Elvis memorabilia; removed after the car was vandalized and the California license plate was stolen). There are plenty of places to pose, and interaction with the troll is encouraged. Troll. The community pays tribute to the troll every October 31st with a mobile "Trollaween" party, starting under the bridge and wandering to other funky art sites and events in Fremont. Of which there are plenty: Fremont is also home to the Largest Lenin statue in the US. The troll achieved more notoriety in 1998 when the a man shot a bus driver and ran the bus off the Aurora bridge, crashing on top of an apartment building. The building is adjacent to the troll, and was reported to get as much attention -- for a while you could still see evidence of the impact. I have attached photos of this neat concrete monster under the end of the bridge. If you are looking for this "landmark", just head towards the Fremont Library and look for Troll Ave.

In and of itself, the Aurora Bridge, which connects Queen Anne to Wallingford and Fremont, doesn't…read moreseem to be anything particularly special. Concrete, steel, paved, elevated. It wasn't until I crossed it on foot on Christmas Day 2005 that I found an appreciation for it. Deceptively tall, spanning both land and water, the Aurora Bridge is unnerving and exhilarating both. There is an amazing view to be had from the middle of the span, with the Cascades far to the east, the Olympics far to the west, a long finger of the Puget Sound below, and sky stretched above. You'll be hard pressed to find a more expansive place to stand and appreciate the beauty of Seattle and its cradle. For me, the waist-high wall separating pedestrians from short-lived aerial showmen served to remind just how thin the margins can be between life and the absence of it. Indeed, the so-called "Jumpers' Bridge" is deserving of its title. As I reached the Queen Anne end of the bridge, a single piece of faded and wind-torn 8 1/2" by 11" printer paper was taped to the railing. On it was the name of a 38 year old man, Victor A. Mitchell, his birth date, the date of November 5th, 2004, and the promise that he now slept in the arms of God. Leaning over the railing from that place and looking down to the concrete parking lot far below was strange. The Aurora Bridge would be a perfect conduit for quiet contemplation, if not for the steady stream of cars flying noisily by. A clear and moonlit midnight hour would be an excellent time to cross. Or indeed, perhaps, Christmas Morning, when most automobiles are resting idly, the streets are quiet, and your own crystallized breaths dance in front of your face.

My Cousin and I frequent this location on a regular. The staff here are wonderful and are always…read morewilling to help with any services needed. One thing I absolutely Love is they have 2 book shelves that have 3 tiers, full of books you can take without checking out and return once you are finished reading. You never have to wait long or at all to use the computers. They have a big book locker outside for your convenience, if you don't feel like getting your requested materials inside. You can also return your books through a drive through. The parking lot is very convenient and there are 2 separate entrances and exits.

The staff always does the very best and can put up with even the worst people...they are the true…read moreMVPs! I admire the structure of this library, no one ever makes you feel like a nuisance when you ask a question and it feels really nice. Great location, flexible hours, very convenient... I think this place is truly improving all the time.

It was Tuesday morning and it had just rained. Dark clouds already passed through…read more Soundgarden, Nirvana, and Pearl Jam songs fit my mood. I walked along Broadway. The asphalt and sidewalks were damp. Metal hatch covers, slippery. The grass and trees were watered. It's about time. Coffee shops were open. Bars were closed. The streets were quiet. People were still sleeping or just waking up. I wanted to reminisce. Contemplate. Recharge. Dream. Find inspiration. It always works when I'm here. ----- Cookie cutter mixed-use developments have taken over Broadway. They lack character and personality. I love old buildings, Beaux-Arts style buildings. Sign up for a Seattle Architecture Foundation tour if you're interested in Craftsman, Queen Anne, and Tudor homes. They're hiding around the residential areas. Old money. Capitol Hill is a historically LGBTQ+ neighborhood. You'll see rainbow-painted sidewalks. Flags on windows and walls. Pride festivals are held here in the summer. Nightlife is quite the experience. "When I was 21, it was a very good year." ;) Makeup on. Nails done. High heels. Looking cute. Dancing, laughing, drinking, staying up late. How did I get home? Smartphones weren't mainstream yet...Thank you very much, Universe! The music scene. Macklemore and Sir Mix-a-Lot filmed their music videos up here. The Jimi Hendrix statue. Neumos. Kpop Nara. Spin Cycle. Live music in bars and lounges. Public art is sprinkled everywhere: Dance Steps, tile patterns along storefronts, murals on buildings. Portland has Powell's. We have Elliott Bay Bookstore Co., my favorite bookstore. The first Starbucks Reserve Roastery is here. I forget which street they're on--Shall we play the Pike or Pine game? :p I'd rather go to a local mom-and-pop coffee shop though. Plenty of restaurants to choose from. Seattle Central College students must be fed. Dick's and Tacos Chukis are my cheap eats. M2M and QFC are grocery stores off Broadway. Trader Joe's and Safeway are further out. Cal Anderson Park. The Waterworks fountain is here as well as a baseball field, a tennis court, and a basketball court. The Capitol Hill Farmers Market pops up just north of the park on Denny Way. Volunteer Park. It has the conservatory, an amphitheater, the Seattle Asian Art Museum, Isamu Noguchi's "Black Sun", The Water Tower, and a reservoir (love those sunsets). The park was named in commemoration of the volunteer soldiers of the Spanish-American War. Not sure if a name change is in the works but a controversial plaque was quietly removed in 2021. Lake View Cemetery is north of Volunteer Park. Pay your respects to Bruce and Brandon Lee. Kikisoblu (Princess Angeline), daughter of Chief Sealth, is here. John Nordstrom (Flagship store is off Pine between 5th & 6th. I love Nordy's!). Madame Lou Graham (Take Bill Speidel's Underground Tour if you want to learn more about her). The Denny Party. Doc Maynard. Thomas Mercer. Henry Yesler. Carson Boren. Do these names sound familiar to you? Yep, street names in Seattle. Transportation options include the Sound Transit light rail, the First Hill Streetcar, and Metro buses. I don't recommend driving here unless you absolutely have to. This is a high density area and not vehicle-friendly. You'll spend much of your time driving in circles trying to find a parking spot and when you do, you'll have to pay a pretty penny. I keep my head on a swivel. Earbuds out. On Capitol Hill you're dealing with bikes, scooters, vehicles, uneven sidewalks, buses, garbage, ambulance, construction, street cars, delivery trucks, escalators, stairs, dog poop. I've been yelled at, unprovoked, by druggies and homeless people so many times I can't even keep count. It's an unfortunate reality but I won't stop going to Capitol Hill though. The good outweighs the bad.

Historically, Cap Hill is a gayborhood, and like its brethren around other American cities,…read moregentrification has begun to seep in. Of course, this means their foodie culture is amazing. For being in such a cool city, they have a surprising amount of bespoke ice cream parlors. On the same block, I've had Michelin-level fine dining and I've had diner breakfast at the same local joint a friend's been going to since childhood. Local, non-chain businesses abound, but they also have boutique workout studios and chains that cater to the curated "alternative" lifestyle so popular today. Uniforms are sold at the Urban Outfitters. It takes some work to be this effortless. Cap Hill has its own branch of Seattle Public Library. Flowers bloom in the summer months. Rent is high and people are protesting it. In some parts of the neighborhood, the crosswalks are rainbow, matching the colorful style of the people who live here. You'll have no problem finding rainbow flags and non-gendered bathrooms. There are art and culture institutions to visit. On Friday nights, adults gather for dodgeball on the Bobby Morris Playfield. People walk their dogs, skateboard, and parallel park on the street. You can learn social dances by following the foot charts built into some of the sidewalks. It's a lively neighborhood to walk around, catch a drag brunch or a rooftop drink, or brunch like an influencer. Look for the local.

I really enjoyed coming here, and I'm convinced that arriving right at sunset (aka golden hour)…read moremade the experience even better! The lighting truly added to the beauty of the scenery Parking was super easy to find in one of the nearby neighborhood streets. From there, it was just a short walk and quick street crossing to reach the tower. Even from the outside, it's so pretty, with lots of flowers, greenery, and plants surrounding it. Great photo spots already! Once you head inside, there are two staircases you can choose from, but both lead to the top. I won't lie, climbing them felt like quite the workout, so you might be a little out of breath once you reach the top lol. At the top, the inside itself is pretty plain, not much going on. But looking out the windows, completely different story!! The views are stunning. From the window closest to the stairs you can see Seattle's skyline and even the Space Needle. Another window gives you a beautiful view of all the greenery, trees, and the nearby park. Simple but still so pretty :) Overall, I'd definitely recommend visiting at least once, especially during golden hour!

Landmark in Seattle, Washington…read more.. The Volunteer Park Water Tower was 106 steps up... Inside the tower... It was chilly in the morning and I was by myself. Haha! It was quiet and deserted. I went quickly because I was getting scared... I don't remember how I found out about this free attraction. I do remember that it had a beautiful view of the city... Yes - through the metal gratings on the windows I could see the Space Needle and downtown Seattle! There were informative signs on the walls at the top floor of the Water Tower, including the history and the goals for Volunteer Park. I was happy to complete a Bucket List item! It was interesting, scenic, and helped me to burn off some calories!

Maneje con mi papá hasta Seattle desde Oregón para enscribirme como ciudadano Peruano y el servicio…read moreera excelente. La facultad son muy amables y eficientes. Contentos con la experienci!

Very smooth process for tourist Visa for an Indian citizen…read more Small consulate with very friendly and helpful staff. Passport photo can be taken on site if necessary. The visa stamping is done at the consulate in San Francisco so they estimate about 10 days for this. Please keep in mind that you are expexted to cover the cost of overnigh-ing your papers to San Francisco and this costs $55. Tips: They are closed on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Call ahead for an appointment.

Due to everything going on I was so happy to have been able to book an appointment within a month…read moreonline. Although when I went in for my appointment turned out that they did do walk ins. But I do recommend trying to do online so you have everything inputted in the computer and everything will be good to go. Came in and had my temp scanned and all the chairs are separated to 6 feet apart. I did see that even if you come in with a friend or family member, that they still required you to sit apart. So I would probably recommend coming alone or having them wait in the car. Overall everything was fast and friendly.

AWFUL!. My wife and I moved here from Texas and we both needed new WA-issued cards. We were told in…read moreTexas that because we already had the RealID (EDL), they would accept this in other states. Not true. I stood in line for 45 minutes to be told I needed additional documentation, and I returned with the required documentation. However, I was still turned away, despite their website still indicating that walk-in appointments were available. They said they do this when they have too many people, but there were plenty of seats available, and I told them I could wait all day today. They refused to give me a ticket. Instead, I was told to make an appointment online. Currently, you cannot make appointments online on their website, and they have implemented a policy of Friday-only appointments. However, they WERE taking appointments...for the "right kind of people." It felt discriminatory and completely random. They wouldn't tell me what that meant. I am a teacher and not readily available on my schedule. When I asked to talk to a supervisor to complain that their website was clearly out of date, an older gentleman came out, slapped a pamphlet into my hand, and simply walked away. I've heard horror stories before about this particular gentleman and this office, but I didn't believe anyone who worked as a social servant could be so rude. It's agencies like DLEO that epitomize government waste, disorganized, wrong information on their website...they need to be audited, and see if we can cut them from the state budget in favor of online services. I will be writing to my State Representative.