Three Things To Do On A Rainy Day In Seattle
Despite Frequent Rain, Plenty To Do In Seattle
Seattle's popular standing as one of the nation's rainiest cities isn't really deserved. With annual rainfall of slightly more than three feet, the Emerald City is actually bested by forty-three American cities, including New York City, where nearly four feet of rain falls on average each year. But while New York City cloudbursts have their fair share of heavy downpours, rain in Seattle more often takes the form of gray, persistent drizzle.
Fortunately, residents of Seattle and tourists visiting this bustling metropolis as part of a grand swing of the American Northwest can still enjoy many rewarding indoor activities on Seattle's rainy days. Headlining my list of indoor recommendations is a visit to one of Seattle's many world-class museums. Here's a brief overview of three of the city's most appealing attractions:
1. Seattle's Museum of Flight is the West Coast's most impressive air and space museum. Besides over 50 full-size aircraft, some flying tight formation in the museum's Great Gallery, there's a new exhibit called Space: Exploring the New Frontier. Opened to the public on June 10, 2007, the Space exhibit tracks the development of space flight from rocket pioneer Robert Goddard to the Apollo moon landings, the Space Shuttle and robotic landers on the Moon, Mars and other worlds. Open seven days a week from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. except on Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.
2. If popular music floats your boat, you'll definitely want to visit the 240-million dollar Experience Music Project. A labor of love for Microsoft cofounder Paul Allen, the EMP is a one-of-a-kind, interactive music museum that is focused on the often tumultuous and rebellious story of American popular music. Located close to the Seattle Center and Space Needle, the Experience Music Project is open daily during the summer months from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
3. Another one-of-a-kind attraction in Seattle is the Wing Luke Asian Museum. Because immigrants from the Pacific Rim regions played such a crucial part in the development of the Pacific Northwest, the Wing Luke is focused on preserving and promoting Asian Pacific American culture, history, and art. The museum also has a permanent exhibit that reminds us of the internment camps used to incarcerate Japanese Americans during World War II.
While Seattle isn't the nation's rainiest city, there are still plenty of gray days on the city's horizons. Luckily, there are plenty of museums that can both educate and entertain visitors on one of Seattle's rainy days.
About the Author
Matthew Paolini is the technical director for Citybook.com's Seattle Online Yellow Pages in Seattle, WA.
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