Starting in mid-February 2010 holders of the Go Seattle Card get free admission to even more area attractions. Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium in Tacoma and Northwest Trek Wildlife Park in Eatonville are joining the program.

“We’ve been impressed with how Smart Destinations has grown both in Washington and in their other destinations,” said Whitney DalBalcon, Marketing and Public Relations Manager of Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium. “Their focus on the visitor mirrors our own commitment to providing a world class experience. We’re looking forward to working together.”

Point Defiance is not only a wonderful zoo and aquarium, with its innovative Animal Avenue and Asian Forest Sanctuary exhibits, but also boasts breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains and Puget Sound. Northwest Trek is home to more than 200 animals that are native to the Pacific Northwest. Visitors can scout for moose, bison, elk, mountain goats, and more from trams as the animals freely roam around them.

For a single price, the Go Seattle Card offers free admission to over 35 museums, tours, and other attractions for a low, fixed price. The Card also provides discounts at popular restaurants and shops and the ability to skip the lines at many attractions. Each Go Seattle Card also comes with a color-printed, pocket-sized guidebook full of maps, travel tips and itineraries for the Seattle area.

“With the help of our newest partners, we’ve taken a great product and made it even better,” said Cecilia Dahl, founder and President of Smart Destinations. “Customers already got a great value using the Card as a ticket to the Space Needle, the Museum of Flight, and our other Seattle partners. Were really excited to have Point Defiance and Northwest Trek. They truly are gems.”

Among the top attractions included in Go Seattle Card are The Space Needle, the Argosy Harbor Cruise, the Experience Music Project, the Pacific Science Center, and many others. In addition to the Zoo and the Northwest Trek, the Go Seattle Card covers a number of activities beyond Seattle such as Deception Pass tours, a number of cruises, the Tacoma Art Museum, a Woodinville Wine Tour and more.

Woodinville has become a haven for fine winemakers.  Their commitment to quality is quickly becoming legendary among serious wine enthusiasts, and their wineries have more than doubled in number. Many tasting rooms are open to the public and provide the opportunity to sample and purchase wines straight from the wineries. 

Three tasting rooms are open year round and 4 or 5 additional tasting rooms are open to the public on weekends. Visit and taste why Seattle is becoming one of the premier wine regions of the world.

The Go Seattle Card includes a wonderful Woodinville Wine tour as one of 35 Seattle area attractions and tours included in the price of the card. Tours are run on Saturdays and include such wineries as Chateau Ste. Michelle, Columbia Winery, Matthews Estate, and Efeste. The tour will pick you up right from your hotel in the morning and have you back in town in time for dinner.

From May 23rd through August 16th, 2009, the Experience Music Project|Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame (EMP|SFM) will be hosting an amazing exhibit and a number of accompanying events on the magical work of the late Jim Henson.  

Jim Henson’s Fantastic World is a deep dive into the work of the man behind the Muppets of “The Muppet Show,” “Sesame Street,” and “Fraggle Rock.” The exhibit features artifacts ranging from puppets to cartoons and storyboards to movie props as well as photographs of Henson at work. There is even a hands-on puppet theatre.

In addition to his iconic Muppets, Henson’s creativity encompassed music, multimedia, and all the components of story-telling that have made his creations into such a compelling and beloved legacy. While best known for characters like Kermit the Frog, Henson also branched out in a variety of other directions, including the darker creatures of The Dark Crystal and Labyrinth.

Jim Henson’s Fantastic World is a joint effort of the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service (SITES) and The Jim Henson Legacy. Entrance to the Experience Music Project and to the Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame is included in the Go Seattle Card, so there is no reason not to check the exhibit out before it moves on.

Use your Go Seattle Card to get into the Seattle Art Museum and see their impressive collection of art from around the Pacific Rim, Europe, the Middle East and local works from the Pacific Northwest.

Puppets singing about politics, racism, and life in the city. It’s an improbable combination, but somehow it works. I’ve seen Avenue Q twice and listened to the cast album countless more times, but I still can’t get enough of this infectious musical comedy. It’s the type of show that charms even people say they don’t like musicals.

Seattle’s Paramount Theatre will present Avenue Q June 10-22, and I highly recommend checking it out. The story centers on Princeton, an eager graduate with a “BA in English” and no career prospects, Kate Monster, the adorable monster next door, and their neighbors (a lovable cast of monsters, people, and puppets). Tickets are available now through Ticketmaster.

Sunshine is delicious, rain is refreshing, wind braces us up, snow is exhilarating; there is really no such thing as bad weather, only different kinds of good weather.
~John Ruskin

If you’re planning a trip to Seattle, WA during Labor Day weekend, then you’ll definitely want to check out Bumbershoot, which is an annual music and arts festival that attracts over 125,000 visitors to Seattle Center each year.

Running August 30 to September 1, 2008, this year’s Bumbershoot will feature performances by Beck, Stone Temple Pilots, Lucinda Williams, Neko Case, Ingrid Michaelson, Del Tha Funky Homosapien, and other bands and solo artists to be announced. The festival will also feature literary programs, visual art, dance performances, and a film festival curated by the Seattle International Film Festival.

While at Bumbershoot, you might check out other popular Seattle attractions like the Space Needle, Pacific Science Center, and the Experience Music Project (EMP). All are within the Seattle Center area.

Looking for something special to spruce up your wardrobe or home? Look no further than the IHR (I Heart Rummage) urban craft show and sale on Sunday, April 6th!

Featuring over 40 of “the Northwest’s most innovative indie designers,” it’s held on the first Sunday of every month at Chop Suey. In addition to the multitudes of eclectic handmade wares, there’s a live DJ and admission is always free.

For more information, visit their website at www.iheartindie.com and be sure to check out the photo gallery of the fair!

This coming weekend of April 5th and 6th marks the arrival of the Taste Washington: The Ultimate Wine Experience at Qwest Field!

Seminars with top wine experts kick off the festival with their broad knowledge of Washington’s wines, covering topics from the shape of wine glasses and usage of oak along with an ode to David Lake and wines of the world. These great learning experiences will be followed by a food and wine pairing lunch by none other than Ilan Hall, the Season 2 winner of Bravo’s Top Chef and master sommelier Evan Goldstein.

Visitors can not only taste the best of Washington’s wines at the QFC Farmer’s Market, but can also enjoy live jazz at the Caffe Vita Lounge or sample some delicious beef at the Washington Beef Commission Beef Bar. Tickets are on sale now as the festival is approaching quickly, so be sure and get yours today!

If you’re overwhelmed by all the great things to do in the city of Seattle, the visitors bureau has put together a list of the Top Things You Must See and Do in Seattle to help out those visiting the city.

Among the attractions, we’re proud to say that our Go Seattle Card includes the Space Needle, Underground Tour, and special 50% off savings for the Tillicum Village Salmon Bake Cruise and Show.

For more help planning your visit, check out our itineraries for suggested plans for your days!