Seattle

Seattle, known as "The Emerald City" (and unofficially as "the coffee capital of the world"), offers something for everyone. As you plan your trip and conference schedule, make time to experience Seattle. We invite you to Explore, Engage, and Extend . . .

Take a look at the exciting tours planned for the ACRL 14th National Conference!

EXPLORE the city...

Downtown Seattle offers a wealth of sights, sounds, and flavors, but you'll be well-rewarded if you venture beyond the urban core and explore Seattle's many exciting neighborhoods.  From hip and lively Ballard, to the diverse and colorful International District, Seattle's bustling neighborhoods feature many inviting shopping, dining, outdoors, and cultural options.  Explore the cafes and music scene of Capitol Hill, walk around Green Lake north of Wallingford, or make your way south to the edgy industrial bars of Georgetown.  Taste some local flavors: fresh seafood, local wines and beers, Seattle-roasted coffees, hand-gathered mushrooms, and organic, farm-fresh ingredients can be found at the 100-year-old Pike Place Public Market and are featured in many of Seattle's restaurants!  Shopping opportunities range from trendy boutiques in Belltown to the farmers’ market in the University District. Outdoor activities abound even within the city limits: Seattle’s beaches, trails, forests, parks, and lakes allow for outdoor recreation without a lot of travel time.  You’ll find many fun options for sightseeing within a few minutes of the Convention Center, but Seattle’s neighborhoods are well-worth exploring and not that far away. Stay tuned for more information about exploring Seattle on the conference wiki . . .

ENGAGE the culture...

Seattle offers locals and visitors a host of exciting and varied cultural activities.  (How else do you think we tolerate all the rain?)  Unique museums, galleries, and public art celebrate the spirit, history, industry, and people of the city and the Northwest, including the many racial and ethnic communities that contribute to a rich cultural landscape.  An array of live music - classical, jazz, opera, blues and alternative - is played on the street and in clubs, churches, and in major concert venues.  Nationally recognized theater productions are often matched by local plays staged by small and cutting-edge theater companies.  Seattleites are avid readers and spend many hours browsing in bookstores and libraries and attending readings by award winning local authors.  Independent and specialized bookstores can still be found around the city and Rem Koolhaas' downtown Seattle Public Library is a "must see" for any visiting librarian.  Seattle is one of the most educated cities in the United States and is home to several universities and community colleges.  Seattle Pacific University, Seattle University, and the University of Washington include notable campus architecture and library collections; all are within easy reach from the downtown area.  The conference wiki will include more suggestions for engaging in the local culture.  Stay tuned . . .

EXTEND your experience...

Extend your experience geographically to the North, South, East, and West - or experientially to another culture.  For a change of scene from city life, travel north to the beautiful islands of Puget Sound, where bookshops and breathtaking scenery are found beyond the next bend in the road.  Or go west to the temperate rain forests of the Olympic National Park and its verdant valleys and ancient cedars.  To the east of the city and beyond, nationally recognized vintners await to tempt you with their award-winning wines.  If you are headed south, visit the Museum of Flight.  Or take a train to nearby Tacoma and its amazing Museum of Glass.  Weather permitting, venture further south to Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument or majestic Mt. Rainier.  You don’t need to go far to learn more about the indigenous peoples of the region.  Begin with the Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture (on the University of Washington Campus) and the Seattle Art Museum’s collections of Indian art and artifacts.  Then pay a visit to the Daybreak Star Cultural Center and Art Gallery in West Seattle’s Discovery Park.  Farther flung museums throughout the area reflect the heritage and cultures of local tribes, including the Snoqualmie and the SuQuamish, whose leader was Chief Seattle, for whom the city was named. Check back . . . The conference wiki will include more ways to extend your experience.