You probably know that the nickname of Seattle is the Rain City, but does it really deserve that kind of reputation? Well, there are about 150 rainy days in the city throughout a year. This means that rain is a pretty common sight in Seattle, but we assure you that it’s not as bad as it may seem at first. Most of the rainy days are in autumn and winter, not the whole year round as many assume.
Actually, summers are pretty dry, with the sun shining all day. In fact, there are a total of 58 sunny days per year on average, most of which happen during summertime.
1. Rain Season in Seattle
According to official data, the driest months of the year in Seattle are July and August, while just two months later, the number of rainy days increases several times. November is the month when it rains the most, with an average 18.4 rainy days. It’s a similar case in the two subsequent months, which sometimes have a couple of days when it snows as well.
The reason for this kind of weather is that Seattle is situated near the coast of the Pacific Ocean. The largest ocean on the planet brings a huge amount of moisture over to the state of Washington, carrying it over the Olympic Mountain range. The moisture coming from the Pacific is in the form of vapor, but once it reaches the mountains, the cool air turns it into drops of rain.
Actually, this process creates a rain shadow over the Olympic Mountains, which serves as a sort of barrier between the ocean and the city. What this means that if the mountains weren’t there, Seattle would be getting much heavier rainfalls throughout the year.
There’s an important reason why rain is actually good for this city – it’s where the drinking water comes from. Sometimes, when there isn’t enough rain over the winter, the city gets into serious problems. Not only does it make the city face a water rationing but it also causes a shortage in the hydroelectric power of the area.
That said, you see that rain is not so bad. Actually, some people from Seattle love it. There are lots of fun things you can do in this city during the rainy season, which you wouldn’t be able to in other parts of America. Here are some of them!
2. Taking a rain walk
Some people enjoy walking in the rain through the streets of Seattle. This may seem like a great idea to explore the city during summer rains, but if you’re doing it during winter, you will need to dress properly. You can forget about umbrella as winds are pretty powerful in Seattle. Instead, a much better alternative is to take a rain jacket with a hood.
Take an underground tour – Probably the most unusual attraction of this city is the Seattle underground a system of subterranean passageways below Pioneer Square in the old heart of the city. By going on an underground tour, you will be able to see first-hand how the city had looked before the Great Fire of 1889. The sidewalks and storefronts of the underground system are reminiscences of the city’s past glory, from the times before it was rebuilt almost entirely. But, you should know that the underground tour isn’t free. An adult ticket costs $22, while students, children, and seniors get discounts.
3. Visiting some of hundreds Seattle museums and galleries
Seattle is home to some of the most important museums and galleries in this part of the United States. Seattle Art Museum, Frye Art Museum, Seattle Asian Art Museum, and Henry Art Gallery are just some of those that you definitely should pay a visit.
We say “some”, because Seattle is home to over a hundred different art galleries and museums, which you can run into all over the city. The best thing is that a big portion of them is situated in the area around Pioneer Square, which you may remember as the square that stands atop of the Seattle underground storefronts. What this means is that you can take a walking tour around the square and if the rain starts falling, you can find a shelter underneath.
How Rainy is Seattle Compared to Other US Cities?
Seattle has a bad rep for its weather, but the truth is that there are plenty cities in the United States that get more rainfalls. You’ll be surprised to hear that even Miami, the largest city of the Sunshine State, gets more inches of rain annually than Seattle.
The same goes for many other East Coast cities, but also those located in Mid-West, like Chicago, for example. Even some cities in Texas get more rain than Seattle. One of those is Dallas, which 37.57 inches of rain per year, compared to Seattle’s 37.49 inches.
You might think of Hawaii as a paradise on Earth with sandy beaches, crystal clear waters, and sun that’s shining all the time. But, the truth is that some parts of the archipelago get quite a lot of rainfalls on annual basis.
A place called Big Bog, which is a part of the island of Maui, receives 404 inches of rain on average in a year. When you compare it to Seattle that gets 37.49 inches of rain a year, you see that rain isn’t such a big problem in the largest city in Washington.
The wettest place in the United States is a city called Mobile, which is located in Alabama. It gets about 67 inches of rain per year on average, which is almost two times as much as Seattle.
But even Mobile isn’t the wettest place on the planet. The location that holds the Guinness World Record as the wettest place on the planet is Mawsynram, a place in India that gets over 467 inches of rainfall per year!
All considered, calling Seattle the Rain City doesn’t seem very appropriate. Its official nickname seems much more suitable – the Emerald City.
Attraction Spotlight: Space Needle
Explore Downtown Seattle, Washington in an innovative and unique way by visiting the Space Needle. The Space Needle is one of Seattle’s most popular landmarks and should be on the top of everyone’s list of things to do in Seattle.
In 1959 Edward E. Carlson, president of Western International Hotels, sat at a small coffee house and found inspiration within the Stuttgart Tower that is located within Germany. With the 1962 Seattle World’s Fair in mind, Carlson sketched a structure that had a dominant center on a napkin. Although Carlson quickly drew he sketch, he found that constructing the structure was a difficult task. Although Carlson’s first drawing had a balloon-shaped top, architectures agreed a smoother and more leveled structure would be a better fit. So, renowned architect John Graham joined forces with Carlson and created the flying saucer appearance.
Once everyone agreed on the structure, the next obstacle was finding adequate land and funds to carry out the structure. Due to the nature of the Space Needle and the desire for it to be showcased within the 1962 Seattle World’s Fair, the Space Needle had to be built upon land that could be used publicly and was within the limits of the fair. Right before Carlson and Graham were about to abandon their search for a piece of land, they discovered a 120 foot by 120 foot area.
After acquiring the land, Carlson and Graham had approximately 13 months to build the Space Needle. Under the supervision and work of the Howard S. Wright Construction Company completed the project by December 1961. When the Howard S. Wright Construction Company created the underground foundation, a total of 467 cement trucks were used throughout the entire day. This is known as the largest concrete pour that continuously occurred in the West. As for the exterior design of the Space Needle, paint colors consisted of names such as; Astronaut White, Orbital Olive, Re-entry red, and Galaxy Gold. These colors and names were used with regards to the 1962 Seattle World’s Fair theme of the 21st Century.
The Space Needle enables visitors to view Seattle at 360 degrees. Visitors take an elevator up to 520 feet where they get off and have the chance to explore the Observation Deck. Some of the sights you will be able to see include; the Cascades, Mt. Rainier, Elliott Bay, and the overall hustle and bustle of Seattle.
The Space Needle offers a few educational opportunities for people who want to get the most out of their Seattle visit. For groups of 15 or more, and school field trips, the Space Needle offers special rates and guides. The Space Needle also offers a program, which is powered by Utrip and provides you with a full itinerary for your Seattle trip. This program is completely customizable and perfect for people who have never been to Seattle before.
The Space Needle is the perfect location for parties, banquets, weddings, and other celebrations. Special events take place on the SkyLine level of the Space Needle, which sits at 100 feet in the air. There are three rooms, each with different views, available for special events: Puget Sound Room, Lake Union Room, and Seattle Room. If you’re interested in booking a special event at the Space Needle, contact the Space Needle’s special event coordinators.
What could be better than dining at 500 feet in the air? SkyCity is the restaurant at the Space Needle. SkyCity offers a variety of cuisine for brunch, lunch, and dinner. Guests get to enjoy fine dining while gazing at the gorgeous sights of Seattle. SkyCity rotates, so guests have the chance to view different glimpses of Seattle. Every person who dines at SkyCity gets a free ticket to the Observation Deck, so they can see a new and higher glimpse of Seattle after enjoying a fantastic meal.
After dining at SkyCity, and touring the Observation Deck, head over to SpaceBase. SpaceBase is located at the bottom of the Space Needle and has hundreds of gift items. Featured products that SpaceBase sells includes; a VR cardboard viewer, the popular book Wheedle on the Needle, colorful retro floaty elevator pens, and another popular book Space Needle: The Spirit of Seattle. Other products include; various apparel, drinkware, jewelry, books, videos, toys, candy, and even gift cards. There’s truly something for everyone at the SpaceBase.
400 Broad St. Seattle, WA 98109, Phone: 206-905-2100
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Attraction Spotlight: The Center for Wooden Boats
The Center for Wooden Boats in Seattle, WA is run by a group of passionate people from all walks of life united by a shared love of boating, the water, and various maritime skills. The Center for Wooden Boats is located inSeattle, Washington, which seems to be the perfect place for it to reside. Besides having access to a major ocean, picturesque lakes, rivers, and a bay, the greater Seattle area has a rich maritime, fishing, and boating history.
The CWB was started by a husband and wife team, Dick and Colleen Wagner, after they spent more than a decade renting out boats from their houseboat in the late 1960's and early 1970's. Their passion for maritime history and small wooden watercraft was initially shared in a small community-based museum called "The Old Boat House".
The small museum was started in the late 1960's and their regular patrons soon became their good friends. This friendship and shared passion of all things maritime launched the idea to start a "living museum" of their wooden boat collection.
The Wagner's and their friends in the community wanted their collection of wooden boats and maritime artifacts to be used for educational and recreational purposes. The CWB became a hands-on museum where visitors can actively learn how to operate a wide variety of boating vessels. Visitors can also learn the exciting history of many various water crafts and related artifacts.
The mission of the CWB is to educate visitors through hands-on historical experiences while simultaneously re-writing history through said experiences. The dedicated staff at the CWB hopes to preserve small boating craft heritage and keep history alive through encouraging the enjoyment and education of all visitors.
The vision of the CWB is based on six major principles: Preservation, Youth, Lifelong Learning, Community, Access, and Inspiration. Each has a special purpose in pursuing the CWB's mission. These major principles are utilized as follows: The CWB hopes to preserve and explore the rich history of maritime culture in the Seattle area while inspiring the youth of the community to reach their full potential in wooden crafts. They want the community to be proud and educated about their environment while enjoying unlimited and safe access to their waterways. They hope to achieve this goal through inspiration and a dedication to lifelong learning.
The main goal of the Wagner's is to share their love of all things maritime, while sharing some fun and educational stories about the local history of a community they adore.There are many different workshops, volunteer opportunities, and even youth programs offered to help achieve this goal.
The CWB has a wide variety of lessons and classes for visitors of all ages to enjoy year-round. There are specialized classes in sailing, woodworking, and maritime skills just for adults, some of these classes include: boat building, kayak building, captain's class, learn to sail, beginning woodworking, boat racing series, bronze casting, lofting, and varnishing. There are also private sailing lessons that can be done alone or with a small group of your close friends.
There are also programs just for families to do together including family boat building, pond boat sailing, and tug boat story time for the little ones. The youth programs are very exciting and include class field trips where students can learn how to sail, learn the basics of woodworking, and all sorts of other important maritime skills. There is also a course in building toy boats for children as young as 5.
Because the CWB wants to provide access to all interested members of the community, they offer a Pay What You Can program. Thanks to generous sponsors, this program allows access to children whose families who might not otherwise be able to afford these courses.
Through a supportive and fun environment, the hard-working staff at the CWB hopes to instill a passion and understanding of the water that will last a lifetime.
There are also various historical and technical exhibits on display at the CWB. These exhibits include the CWB's vast fleet of watercraft, everything from massive sailboats to paddleboats. There is the preservation and documentation area where the CWB tracks and documents historical watercrafts. The Dock Toys exhibit focuses on basic maritime skills that all sailors should possess, this is a hands-on exhibit. Everything from signal flags to tying the correct knots is taught at this exhibit.
There are also a variety of rotating exhibits that explore the history of small water crafts in the Pacific Northwest. Some of the main attractions include Persistant Work, Highliners: Boats of the Centuries, and Fish On! Each focuses on a different aspects of the history of watercrafts, including engineering, design, and function.
The most popular exhibit is probably The BoatShop, this is where visitors can take classes, trainings, and most importantly work on their watercrafts! This area is constantly buzzing with activity and is definitely a must-see for members of the whole family.
Because there is so much offered at the Center for Wooden Boats, it is recommended that before visiting, guests look over the website and call ahead to book their desired course or activity. However, there is always something to do and see at the CWB, so if visitors live close-by, just popping by and seeing what's going on will sure to delight and entertain.
The surrounding Seattle-area is well-known for its culture, history, and most importantly, it's delicious coffee and treats. There is never a shortage of exciting and entertaining hot spots to enjoy. Whether it be touring world-class museums, tasting delicious cuisine, or enjoying the great outdoors, there is sure to be something for every member of your family to enjoy.
Events
The CWB hosts lots of exciting events for visitors of all ages, including: kids breakfasts, the wooden boat festival, auctions, haunted boathouse, mother's day Saturday sail, a third Friday speaker series, a spaghetti social, and even corporate team building and workshops.
1010 Valley St, Seattle, Washington 98109, Phone: 206-382-2628
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Attraction Spotlight: Seattle Japanese Garden
The Seattle Japanese Garden in the Washington Park Arboretum is a picturesque sight to behold. The garden is a formal garden stretching across 3.5 acres of an urban sanctuary. The garden opened its doors to the public in the 1960’s and has been a future hub for those who are in search of a serene experience. The Seattle Japanese Garden has seen a vast number of visitors pass through its pathway with a total reaching 85,000 annually. Garden lovers have come from all over the world just to get an eyewitness account of the exquisiteness that has been viewed as a notable Japanese style – garden of importance. The style developed from the 16th and 17th century is an important art form of the Japanese.
The present options take you through a stroll in the garden that can lead to various and winding paths. The Seattle Japanese Garden is a collaborated agreement between The Arboretum Foundation and Seattle Park. The landscapes that are on offer vary, with waterfalls, mountains, islands, lakes, rivers and forests being there for tourists to witness. More is revealed for those who wish to see it all. Juki Iida developed a ‘shi zen’ principle that has stood the test of time even after his death.
Juki Iida is a prominent name amongst those who knew of his active presence in the development of The Seattle Japanese Garden. Juki was a landscape developer who wanted to combine his Japanese traditional plant materials with his frequent travels to the Cascades. He would often take off in search of new additions to his garden, like granite rocks that could be placed near the waterfalls. Juki’s choices remain ever – present to this day, with shapes, fragrances and colors being seen throughout the seasons. The inspiration behind his landscape design came from a scroll that he developed whilst staying in Seattle during 1959 – 1960. The depictions on the scroll detail all his inspirations for the garden that is displayed in the library at the Elisabeth C.Miller Horticulture Library. Iida was elected as the project lead designer by The Tokyo Park Department. Juki’s architecture was internationally known so their choice remained a positive one. Iida has created over 1000 gardens; 1889 – 1977 and was even honored by the Emperor of Japan. Many of Iida’s residential gardens created have not stood the test of time (due to developmental pressures.) The Seattle Japanese Garden is the largest – and only one to survive.
Events
‘The Introduction to Ikebana’ is an event that takes place in 3-parts. It is a chance for students to familiarize themselves with the Ikebana and is a Sogetsu curriculum. It teaches the young students about space, balance and color. Ikebana is the Japanese art of flower arrangement and formal rules that are strictly followed. The students would be put through the training of flower arrangements and the idea to manipulate the materials that they use. The ‘First Viewing’ takes place as a welcoming to the visiting public. There is a blessing ceremony called Shinto. The Shinto is a present day connection to its ancient past. The rituals that take place are of great importance to the Japanese ethnic religion. The Shinto is a factual module to the national festivals, and this is what the Seattle Garden brings a blessing using the Ki-Life-Energy. There is also the Takeuchi community room that allows the public to enjoy some popular Japanese teas and see the ICHI -Go ICHI-E; digital portraits/paintings whilst enjoying their tea.
Tours & Japanese Tea
The tours range from complimentary, to school groups and private. The private tours are limited, and come at a first – come – first – serve basis. The tour last for 45minutes. The complimentary tour is also a way to be guided through the lush gardens and its history. The same time is taken, and 45 minutes is the annual time frame. The school group offers a special rate and allows school children the opportunity to learn about the culture and garden. The tours are a popular way to inform/ describe a more intimate and detailed account of what the visitors are witnessing. Tea is traditional and very popular with the Japanese. The ‘Tea Ceremony’ has been a practiced art for centuries, and teaches the Wabi-Sabi way of humility and tranquility. It takes place in the Shoseian Teahouse, surrounded by a Roji Setting.
1075 Lake Washington Blvd E, Seattle, Washington 98112, Phone: 206-684-4725
