I’m sure it is no real surprise that neither Me2 nor Avanaut have visited Seattle or the Pacific Northwest.  Seattle has always had a reputation as being beautiful, but a little out of the way. So I thought I should let them know a little bit about my city and start planning what we can do in our free time before they get here.

Seattle is home to a few large corporations you might have heard of: Microsoft, Starbucks, Amazon and Costco. The worlds richest man lives just across Lake Washington: Bill Gates. We are the fastest growing city in the United States with the 4th worst traffic. We play more live music here than anywhere else in the country other than New York. We are the most literate city in the country. We recycle everything! (I hope Vesa and Boris are prepared to sort their garbage everywhere they go.)

I have been thinking hard about places to take my fellow photographers that might afford a glimpse into what makes Seattle unique as well as provide a few photo opportunities because first and foremost, we are photographers. Here is my list so far:

• Pike Place Market, home of the flying fish and the gum wall.
• Olympic Sculpture Park – a little reconnoissance before the photo walk would be nice.
• Space Needle – no visit is complete without  a trip to the top
• Chihuly Glass Museum – if for no other reason than to see the Edward S Curtis photographs I wrote about earlier.
• Experience Music Project – because they have the Star Wars and the Power of Costume exhibit up. It seems Vesa has already seen most of these up close and personal, but the chance for me to see this exhibit through his eyes is a chance I can’t pass up.
• Seattle Central Library designed by Rem Koolhaas who has his own Lego connection.
• Snoqualmie Falls – because sit is just so darn pretty and a great photo location.
• Deception Pass – another iconic destination just outside Seattle.

This is my short list of places to visit and explore in and around Seattle. We will also see Pioneer Square (the original heart of Seattle), Bertha (the tunnel boring machine stuck under Seattle for over a year) and take a walk along Seattle’s waterfront.

Is their anyplace you think I should take Boris and Vesa? If you have been to Seattle, what is your favorite thing to do here? Leave a few suggestions below and help me make this a visually memorable trip.

Because all work and no play will make us all very dull indeed.

~ xxSJC

Seattle Dream Pt. II from F-Stop Seattle on Vimeo.