Activities

The National Center for APEC team is looking forward to hosting you in Seattle - the beautiful, historic and growing city that we are lucky to call home. Seattle in September is stunning and we hope you’ll be able to stay a while. The Bellevue Hyatt has generously offered to extend our competitive rate for our members if you are able to stay through the weekend. Below are some recommended activities.

Pike Place Market Pike Place Market is one of the country’s oldest farmers markets. Encompassing nine acres from Pike St. north to Virginia St. and from 1st Ave west to Western Ave, the Market’s historic arcade, winding alleys, stairways and lower levels offer a multisensory experience of sights, sounds, tastes, aromas and textures.

Taste what’s in season at a farm stand. Listen to a Motown or bluegrass classic from buskers while marveling over the creativity of the goods in the crafts market. Follow the scent of baking bread down the cobblestones to a European bakery. Peruse comics, collectibles, magic tricks, vinyl records, books and rare treasures in small shops. Take time to wander. The Market will amaze, delight and inspire you.

Must see local stops at the market:

• Pike Place Fish Market – Catch a flying fish, literally • Beecher’s Cheese – Try a cup of local mac n cheese • The first Starbucks – Take a peek and a picture, the line can be long • Elleno’s Greek Yogurt – Try a few samples and take a cup to go • Storyville Coffee – Smooth coffee, artisanal baked goods, cozy atmosphere and breathtaking views

Seattle Mariners Game Have a fun evening out by attending a Seattle Mariners baseball game at T-Mobile Park. Enjoy traditional baseball food and drinks with a beautiful view of Seattle. The Mariners will be playing on Friday September 13th at 7:10pm and Saturday September 14th at 6:10pm against the Chicago White Sox. Tickets are around $20. Space Needle and Chihuly Glass Museum Seattle’s most well-known landmark, the Space Needle, is a must see. Whether you ride to the top or simply admire it from the ground, it’s worth the visit. While you’re there, check out the Chihuly Glass Museum. This museum is full of works by Northwest artist, Dave Chihuly. There are galleries, a glasshouse, gardens and tours full of amazing glass artwork. Tickets for the Space Needle are $37.50, and the Chihuly Glass Museum tickets are $32. If you’re thinking of doing both, buy a bundled ticket for $59.

Seattle Ferry to Bainbridge Island If there is one required activity of Seattle tourists, it is a trip across the open waters of . The memories of a Bainbridge Island ferry ride in the Pacific Northwest last a lifetime, which is why the State Ferries are the most popular tourist attraction in the state. The trip from Seattle to Bainbridge Island via ferry boat (locals refer to it merely as “the boat”) is 35 minutes.

Local award-winning micro-breweries

Reuben’s Brews

Trailbend Taproom

Fremont Brewing Company

Stoup Brewing

Urban Family Brewing Co.

And dozens more!

University Village Located just 10 minutes from downtown, University Village is Seattle’s only outdoor lifestyle shopping center, offering a unique mix of locally-owned boutiques, signature national retailers, and a distinct collection of restaurants and eateries.

With more than 120 stores and restaurants, University Village is the exclusive destination in Washington to find notable brands such as Room & Board, RH Gallery, Brandy Melville, Pottery Barn Kids, and Scotch & Soda.

University Village’s many restaurants range from casual outdoor dining to date night, and include local favorites such as Elemental Wood Fired Pizza and internationally renowned cuisine at Din Tai Fung.

Since the late 1950’s, University Village has been a fixture in the surrounding neighborhoods of Laurelhurst, Ravenna and Bryant. The Village has always been home to beloved local stores and restaurants, some which have been in business for more than 30 years including The Confectionery, Pasta & Co., Village Maternity, Ravenna Gardens and the Ram Restaurant & Brewery. are around $10-30.

Theo Chocolate Factory Tour Taste your way through the incredible cocoa farm to chocolate bar journey on our version of a factory tour. During this hour-long interactive experience, you’ll discover the origins of cacao, see how we craft our chocolate from scratch in Seattle, and learn about the close partnerships we’ve cultivated with the farmers we source from. Plus, you’ll get an inside view of our factory to see where the magic happens. And what chocolate experience would be complete without tasting? During your visit you’ll indulge in a wide range of treats, from our nationwide best sellers to hand-crafted confections.

Starbucks Roastery in Capitol Hill Located just 9 blocks from the original Starbucks store, explore the eccentric neighborhood of Capitol Hill and enjoy a coffee at the Starbucks Reserve Roastery. Open from 7am to 11pm every day, this store offers a variety of rare coffees from all around the world. 1124 Pike St, Seattle, WA 98101

Seattle Parks

Discovery Park is a 534 acre natural area park operated by the Seattle Parks and Recreation. It is the largest city park in Seattle, and occupies most of the former Fort Lawton site. The site is one of breathtaking majesty. Situated on Magnolia Bluff overlooking Puget Sound, Discovery Park offers spectacular view of both the Cascade and the Olympic Mountain ranges. The secluded site includes two miles of protected tidal beaches as well as open meadow lands, dramatic sea cliffs, forest groves, active sand dunes, thickets and streams.

Washington Park Arboretum The University of Washington Botanic Gardens dates back to 1934 with the opening of what is now the Washington Park Arboretum. The Arboretum was originally laid out from a plan designed by the Olmsted Brothers landscape architecture firm, and is highlighted by the ¾ mile long Azalea Way and numerous taxonomic, ecogeographic and horticultural displays. The Arboretum features one of the most diverse woody plant collections in temperate North America, and is located on 230 acres near downtown Seattle. Since 1980, the UW Center for Urban Horticulture has offered an additional site and room for expanding facilities. Combined, the UW Botanic Gardens contains 320 acres with over 4,500 taxa and 40,000 plants. Other than the Japanese Garden, which is managed by the city of Seattle within the Arboretum, both sites are free to visit and open every day of the year from dawn to dusk.

Bellevue Botanical Gardens The beautiful Bellevue Botanical Gardens are a short 10-minute drive from the Bellevue Hyatt hotel. Surround yourself with Northwest nature including gardens, restored wetlands and natural wetlands. The gardens are open from dawn to dusk and admission is free.

Golden Gardens Located in Ballard on Puget Sound, this popular park offers extraordinary views of Puget Sound and the Olympic Mountains. This park features two wetlands, a short loop trail, and restored the northern beach. Golden Gardens offers strolls along a rugged coastline, hikes through forest trails, sunbathing on sandy beaches, fishing from a pier and a boat launch consisting of 300' of shoreline at south end of park.

Green Lake is one of Seattle's most beloved parks. Its expanse of water and green space in the center of a dense urban neighborhood draws thousands of people daily from all over the city. The park serves as a natural preserve for hundreds of species of trees and plants, as well as numerous birds and waterfowl. The 2.8-mile path around the lake provides a perfect recreational spot for runners, bikers, skaters and walkers.

Kerry Park An unsurpassed view of Elliott Bay and the Central City, with an occasional backdrop of Mount Rainier, draws camera buffs to this spot. At sunset they often line the wall just as the city and the sound are beginning to glow with lights. At night it becomes almost a fantasy scene, with brightly lit ferries gliding across the water and the Space Needle shining from its 500-foot pedestal.

Gas Works Park is a 19.1-acre (77,000 m2) public park on the site of the former Seattle Gas Light Company plant, located on the north shore of at the south end of the Wallingford neighborhood. It offers a beautiful view of Lake Union and downtown.

Marymoor Park Located at the northern end of Lake Sammamish, Marymoor Park is the largest park in the Seattle area. Walk along park of the Sammamish River Trail or have a picnic on the lawn while enjoying the sunshine.

Volunteer Park Located in Capitol Hill is the Seattle landmark, . Enjoy the trails through the park and the gardens, or explore the Volunteer Park Conservatory with it’s world-class botanical collection. The Asian Art Museum is also located here with an extensive art collection.