Seattle sites: visiting the best of the Pacific Northwest - Brief Article

Healthcare Financial Management, June, 2002

AQUARIUMS AND ZOOS

Woodland Park Zoo 5500 Phinney Ave. North, Seattle. Woodland Park has been voted one of the country's 10 best zoos. This 92-acre botanical garden is home to more than 300 animal species. Habitats include the Northern trail, tropical rain forest, and African savanna. Open daily 9:30 AM to 6 PM. Admission: adults $9.50, senior citizens (65 ) $8.75, youths (ages 6 to 17) $7, children (ages 3 to 5) $4.75, and children (ages 2 and under) free. (206) 684-4800.

Seattle Aquarium Pier 59, Waterfront Park, Seattle. Visitors experience up-close views of many aquatic exhibits, including marine mammals, a giant Pacific octopus, a Pacific coral reef, local invertebrates, and Puget Sound wildlife. Special features include a dome exhibit that allows visitors to feel as if they are walking underwater and a discovery lab where children can touch tide-pool creatures. Open daily, 9:30 AM tO 7 PM. Admission: adults $9, senior citizens (65 ) $8, youths (ages 6 to 18) $6.25, children (ages 3 to 5) $4.25, and infants (ages 2 and under) free. (206) 386-4320.

Northwest Trek Wildlife Park 11610 Trek Drive East, Eatonville. Expert naturalists lead guided tours exploring the habits and habitats of Washington's native wildlife. Grizzly bears, wolves, cougars, birds of prey, and small forest animals live within the forests, meadows, and wetlands of this 600-acre park. Open weekdays, 9:30 AM to 4 PM, and weekends, 9:30 AM to 5 PM. Admission: adults $8.75, senior citizens (62 ) $8.25, children (ages 4 to 17) $6, and infants (ages 3 and under) free. Trains depart on the hour every hour, starting at 10 AM. (360) 832-6117.

Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium 5900 N. Pearl St., Tacoma. This 20-acre site features animals and sea life of Southeast Asia, the artic tundra, the South Pacific Ocean, and more. Highlights include beluga whales, sharks, polar bears, snow leopards, and Pacific walruses. Open daily 9:30 AM to 4 PM. Admission: adults $7.75, senior citizens (62 ) $7, youths (ages 4 to 13) $6, and children (ages 3 and under) are free. (253) 591-5337.

THEME PARKS

Six Flags Wild Waves & Enchanted Village 36201 Enchanted Parkway South, Federal Way There's plenty to attract thrill seekers at Enchanted Village with rides, games, shows, and family attractions. The park includes Buzzsaw Falls, a 50-foot-tall splash coaster that soaks riders and onlookers; The Gambler, a speeding Wild West roulette wheel that lifts passengers up to a 45-degree angle, whirling and tilting as it spins; and The Wild Wagon, a swinging 50-foot-tall attraction that leaves riders with the sensation of a free fall all the way down. The park also features a 10-acre section with an elaborate wood theme, reminiscent of the Pacific Northwest's timber industry. Open daily, 10 AM to 7 PM. Admission: adults (48 inches and taller) $27.99, senior citizens (50 ) and children (under 48 inches) $22.99, and infants (ages 2 and under) free. Prices do not include tax. Parking is $5. (253) 661-8000.