Nov. 17, 2003
Traveler resources
INFORMATION CENTERS
For more information on Seattle attractions and events, plus maps and other
assistance, contact the Seattle/King County Convention and Visitors Bureau,
located at 800 Convention Place in the Washington State Convention and Trade
Center, on the Galleria level (main floor), Web site. They
are open Mon.-Fri. 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m., Sat.-Sun. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. April-Oct.; and Mon.-Fri. 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. the rest of the year. You can also call 206-461-5840 ahead of your visit for a
big packet of Seattle information, including their helpful Seattle
Visitors Guide. Also in the convention center are various shops, changing
displays of fine artwork along the walls, and access to Freeway Park,
built over part of I-5, with greenery, waterfalls, and fountains. At Sea-Tac Airport,
the Visitor Information Booth has additional local
information and brochures.
Located inside the REI store at 222 Yale Ave. N, the Outdoor Recreation
Information Center, 206-470-4060, Web site, has complete
details on Forest Service and Park Service lands throughout Washington, along
with Washington State Park and Department of Natural Resources lands. Stop here
to ask about hiking trails, campgrounds, and backcountry access. They can't
make campground or backcountry reservations, but do sell Northwest Forest
Passes. Open Tues.-Fri. 10:30 a.m.-7 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m.-7 p.m., and Sunday 11 a.m.-6 p.m. (closed Monday).
If you're a member, the AAA Travel Store at 330 6th Ave. N., Web site,
is a good source of free maps and area information plus travel guidebooks, luggage,
and other travel-related accessories.
INTERNET ACCESS
Free Internet access is available from any of the Seattle Public Library
branches, Web site. In addition, many copy places (including
Kinko's) rent computer time by the minute or hour for Web surfing or to check
your e-mail. Some good Internet cafés (free if you buy a coffee) are Bulldog
News, 4208 University Way N.E., 206-632-6397; Cafe Allegro, 4214
University Way N.E., 206-633-3030; and Alibi Room, 85 Pike St. (Pike
Place Market), 206-623-3180. Pay-by-the-minute places include Capitol Hill
Internet Café, 219 Broadway E., 206-860-6858 and Slugger's 539
Occidental Avenue S. (Pioneer Square), 206-654-8070. (NWsource note: See our NWsource guide to our favorite Internet cafes.)
FOREIGN CURRENCY EXCHANGE
Thomas Cook, 206-248-0401 or 800-287-7362, Web site,
has currency exchange booths at the airport and Westlake Center (Fourth and Pine).
Other options are AllWorld Currency Exchange, 1411 4th
Ave., suite 1401, 206-464-0204 or 888-335-0204; and Custom House Currency
Exchange, 1900 5th Ave., 206-269-6353.
LIBRARIES
The Seattle Public Library's main library closed in 2001 and
moved into temporary headquarters at 800 Pike St. pending completion of a new
building at 1000 4th Ave. It is expected to reopen in 2003; get details at
206-625-4952, or the Web site. Another 23 neighborhood libraries are
scattered around Seattle; call 206-386-4636 for their information line.
The University of Washington has collections totaling more than five million
volumes in its various campus libraries, the majority of which are housed in
the sprawling Suzzallo and Allen Libraries near the center of campus.
Call 206-543-0242 for details, or visit the Web site.
Across the street from Seattle University on Capitol Hill, the Metaphysical Library, (a.k.a. the As You Like It Library), 1000 E. Madison Ave., 206-329-1794, Web site, is certainly Seattle's most unusual place
to borrow books. This collection of 12,000 books covers the metaphysical
spectrum, including astrology, magic, reiki, parapsychology, telepathy, and
tarot. Anyone can come here to read, but to check out books you'll need to pay
a $30 annual fee.
Excerpted from Moon Handbooks: Washington, copyright Don Pitcher.
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