Seattle Met

The lights go off, the guitar chords of classic rock swell, and the audience reclines on the floor. The laser beams turn on, and it’s showtime at Pacific Science Center. Seattle’s laser shows have been underway for a half-century; our dome was one of the first locations to start the trend in the mid-1970s, following Los Angeles’ now-closed Laserium at Griffith Park.

How Seattle is inventing the future with new technology, sustainable thinking, and bold new ideas. Plus, the wildest ways we could improve the city.

On Wednesday, September 2, bells will ring for more than 40,000 students to signal the first day of school at Seattle Public Schools (unless a teacher strike intervenes). But phones will not. Last spring, superintendent Ben Shuldiner announced no-phone policies for grades K-12; they went into effect May 4, his 100th day in office.

The irresistible face of a Highland cow. The side-swept tuft of light hair at the top of a Highland cow’s head wouldn’t be out of place on a K-pop star or boy band heartthrob, and the glamour shots that invaded my social media feed proved it. Some cows hung out in glamping resorts with stylish yurts near Bellingham, others nuzzled gently at children at an Oregon wedding venue. All of them—for a price—could be my new best friend, and I could not resist their fuzzy-headed charms.

The Olympic Discovery Trail goes big on green. What’s long, straight, and cuts through the countryside? Once upon a time, it was railroad tracks. But as trains took a backseat to air travel in the twentieth century (thanks, Boeing), those stretches have increasingly become something else: bike trails. More than 25,000 miles of rail-to-trail conversions cross the country, at least a little in every state.

The Columbia River Maritime Museum (CRMM) offers visitors a one-of-a-kind opportunity to see an extensive collection of seafaring vessels, maritime artifacts, and fine art come to life. The new Warnock Building, home of Mariners Hall, will offer 24,500 square feet of interactive exhibits with many opportunities for hands-on STEAM experiences, large-scale displays, and other engaging programs aimed at educating the museum’s more than 100,000 annual visitors.

The accessible Old Growth Cedar Trail takes you through a quiet nature preserve, leading to an 800-year-old cedar tree. Looking to escape the hustle and bustle of Seattle city living? Nestled along Oregon’s northern coast, Rockaway Beach is the kind of seaside town that beckons visitors of all ages to unwind, breathe in the refreshing salty air, and experience the beauty of the Pacific Ocean.

Chanterelle pappardelle at Cafe Juanita. Every May, the James Beard Foundation announces the latest winners of America’s most prestigious culinary awards. But there's no need to wait until they're announced to eat award-winning food from our region’s past honorees. Cafe Juanita Italian Kirkland cafejuanita.com Kirkland has changed dramatically in the years since Holly Smith (Best Chef Northwest 2008) took over the fine dining landmark in 2000.

A carne asada spread for the table at Gordo Steak. On Mexican restaurant menus in the US, the term carne asada has come to mean all kinds of things, often involving marinades and heavy spicing. “But carne asada is not what people think here,” warns Osiel Gastelum, one of the two brothers behind Tacos Cometa, a carne asada taco shop that opened on Capitol Hill in March. Carne asada literally translates to “grilled meat,” but to most Mexicans, it means something much more.

Finding the right doctor can make all the difference. Seattle Met’s annual Top Doctors guide recognizes physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and other healthcare professionals across a wide range of specialties—from primary and preventive care to highly specialized treatment.