Enjoying the Seattle Area

Training participants can enjoy a lot more than a great class while visiting us in Bellevue. You are minutes from great shopping, five-star restaurants, and Seattle center! What can you do while you’re in town? We’ve compiled a list of our favorite locations to help you make the most of this exciting area. Look for Trainer Tips that will give you an insider’s perspective.

For the Weekly Traveler

If you’re just staying the week, there are exciting ways to spend your evenings. Here are a few of our favorites.

• The Space Needle - Great Food, Spectacular View! A 360 degree view of the city and Puget sound. There is no place better to see why so many come to visit us each year. Trainer Tip: For the very best experience, plan to arrive for dinner about 45 minutes before sundown. That way, you can enjoy the view in the rotating restaurant in the daylight, and have your coffee as the city lights up for the evening. The waitstaff will give you a wonderful tour of the city, and all you have to do is sit, eat, and enjoy. Visit the observation deck on the top floor after you dine. http://www.spaceneedle.com

• Pike Place Market - A unique shopping experience. Enjoy the ambience that is Seattle as you stroll through the many shops and vendors. Don't forget to visit the fish market – just watch out for those flying fish! http://www.pikeplacemarket.org

• Experience Music Project (EMP) – Tour the museum, play in the sky church or just have a good meal. Trainer Tip: This building is designed to look like a smashed Jimmy Hendrix guitar. To see the effect, go to the top of the Space Needle and look down on it. http://www.emplive.com

• Relaxing Dinner at Daniel's Broiler - For those who want to stay in town but still enjoy an excellent meal, visit one of the area’s best steak houses. The menu is a bit pricey, but definitely worth the extra expense. The view’s not so bad, either! Trainer Tip: Best Cosmopolitans in town. http://www.schwartzbros.com/daniels.cfm

• Bellevue Square - Shopping and more. Everything from Crate & Barrel to Armani Exchange, and from Godiva Chocolates and Brookstone to our very own Nordstroms. This mall has it all and close to your hotel. Trainer Tip: For those of us who travel frequently, this high-end mall is one-stop shopping for great gifts. It is within walking distance (3-4 city blocks) from the training room, has a Cheesecake Factory, and a store with stock entirely from the Northwest. http://www.bellevuesquare.com

For the Weekend Traveler

Let’s say you’d like to take advantage of those Saturday-stay-over fares to get a better rate. How could you spend a weekend in the area? Here are our favorite tips:

• Westlake Center - The ultimate shopping experience! Westlake Center has a variety of stores, boutiques, and restaurants. You can spend all day here without batting an eye. There is something for everyone, including Nike Town and GameWorks to name a few. Bring the family, everyone will love it! http://www.westlakecenter.com

• Pacific Science Center - The Pacific Science Center is one of Seattle's major attractions and was the first designated science education organization created in the United States. Located underneath the Seattle Space Needle, the Pacific Science Center hosts more than a million visitors a year. http://pacific-science-center-seattle.visit-seattle.com

• Argosy Cruises - For the water enthusiast who wants to see the City from a different perspective, enjoy a tour around Puget Sounds famous Elliot Bay during the day or evening. Dinner cruises provide good food and beautiful views. http://www.argosycruises.com/flash.cfm

• Waterfront Fun - Spend a day on the waterfront and see what Seattle is really all about. http://www.cityofseattle.net/tour/water.htm

• Safeco Field - Take a tour of this amazing stadium or catch a game. There truly is not a bad seat in the place...even the bleachers make you feel like you are on the field. http://www.safeco.com/safeco/in_the_community/safeco_field/default.asp

• Mount Rainier - See the Northwest the way it was meant to be seen. Enjoy the view from the visitors center or hike further up the mountain to see breathtaking scenery and massive landscape. The animals are a real treat as well. Plenty of deer grazing in the fields ... great picture opportunities here, even on a cloudy day. http://www.nps.gov/mora