Photography is best in the Northwest: fly or drive to Seattle in 1995

PSA Journal, Dec, 1994 by Margaret H. Vaness

Seattle, called the "Emerald City," sits on a strip of land surrounded by the blue waters of Puget Sound to the west and beautiful Lake Washington to the east. Nestled between two mountain ranges, the Olympics and the Cascades, Seattle is a bustling metropolis of over one million people--the largest city in the state of Washington. This magnificent city with its various scenic and cultural attractions will provide a plethora of photographic pleasures during the PSA 1995 Regional Convention, May 25-27.

In the greater Seattle area, boats, (private and tour boats), ferries, and two floating bridges, transport tourists, workers, day-trippers and shoppers from the city to the islands and to the east side city of Bellevue, the site of our convention hotel--the Hyatt Regency.

Separated by a courtyard at the hotel entrance, are unique shops where you can see and purchase some of the finest Northwest arts and crafts, equal to or superior in quality to museum stores coast to coast. Some of the finest shopping can be found at the Bellevue Square Mall and other areas surrounding the hotel. Adjacent to the shops on the third floor of Bellevue Square is the Bellevue Art Museum for your browsing pleasure. These are only a few of the discoveries you can uncover with just a little exploring.

Besides shopping, Northwesterners love to eat! Many fine restaurants can be found, offering all types of food at reasonable prices. The Hyatt Regency's Equiese Restaurant and Lounge is known for its outstanding menu and friendly service--give it a try.

The area surrounding the Hyatt Regency is as beautiful and friendly as the accommodations and the staff of our Convention hotel.

From Seattle you may wish to take a ferry ride across Puget Sound. From the Elliott Bay piers at the Seattle waterfront to Bainbridge Island takes about twenty minutes, the ride to Bremerton a few minutes longer. Besides a great photographic opportunity, both are delightful just for the ride and scenery, and passengers pay only one direction. (Cars pay both ways.) From both of these sites, a traveler may proceed to the Olympic Peninsula and Pacific Ocean beaches. There are so many activities available: from just an hour or two, to one or two-day getaways, to week-long tours. What-ever one's interest, there is an activity to suit one's fancy. There's always a picture waiting too, just for you!

For example, you may wish to view the boats passing through the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks, just northwest of the Seattle business district, or see fish migrating the nearby fish ladders. You approach this area through lovely parklike grounds. Seattle's waterfront also has unique shops and an outdoor "Theater on the Pier" sponsoring special artists' performances during the summer months. The Omnidome with its curved screen featuring northwest happenings may be of interest.

It is the home of several museums. The Seattle Art Museum in its new location overlooking Elliott Bay, "SAM," as it is referred to, has current monthly to bimonthly exhibits to augment the four floors of magnificent permanent collections. A new Asian Art Museum at Volunteer Park houses a fabulous jade collection and many other ancient Asian artifacts. Located near the University of Washington campus is the Museum of History and Industry, which sponsors public events of historical and current interest. Originating there is a nature trail where one can walk at water's edge and over bogs and foot bridges to photograph water fowl. The Burke Museum of Natural History located on the University of Washington campus houses geological specimens, and artifacts from many cultures, along with special current exhibits. There are many and varied galleries to browse, water sports, outdoor activities, parks, lakes and gardens.

Washington Park Arboretum, a horticultural treasure and a photographer's delight, encompasses 200 acres of plants from temperate climates of the world. Free guided tours every Sunday at 1 p.m. originate at the Graham Visitor Center located on the Arboretum grounds. All this is accented with the backdrop of majestic Mount Rainier.

Mount Rainier hosts several recreation areas. Two popular ones accessible almost year round for various activities, weather permitting, are Sunrise located at the northeast corner of the Mount Rainier National Park with several surprise lakes, scenic trails and a day-lodge with snack bar, and Paradise located at the southwest corner which has a restaurant and overnight accommodations, hiking trails, picnic areas, creeks with falls and an abundance of flowers. Both of these areas entice photographers to bring lots of film. One can leave home in the morning for a day's outing and return home by nightfall. These and other scenic recreational areas are approachable by car or tour bus.

Within a few hours' drive to the north is Mount Baker and Mount Shuksan, the "Most Photographed Mountain." To the south, also a few hours' drive, is the National Volcanic Monument, Mount St. Helens, that made international news with its 1980 eruption. Mount St. Helens blast area is recovering far beyond expectations, and one can now drive to a magnificent visitor center to view the crater, which is about 43 miles from the Toledo turnoff at Highway I-5.