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We hope you have heard by now that GCUC is headed to Seattle this April. With more than 20 culturally unique neighborhoods and a vibrant arts community, Seattle has a lot more to offer than just GCUC for the weekend! If you need some inspiration for some activities to do while you’re not attending the conference.

1. Pike Place Market – A great place to stop and grab a bite by the coast! It’s a 7 minute walk from the Bell Harbor Conference Center and is Seattle’s nine-acre epicenter for fresh produce, specialty foods, owner-operated bakeries, fish markets, butcher shops, and independent businesses. Check out the diverse and abundant cuisines that Seattle has to offer during a meal break!
2. The Gum Wall – This is one of Seattle’s most popular landmarks and it’s just next to the Pike Place Market.Started in the 1990s when local patrons in line for an improv show at Post Alley’s Market Theater stuck their used gum on the wall, the Gum Wall has grown piece by piece to cover an enormous expanse of brick wall and continues to expand down the alleyway.
3. The Space Needle – Another one of Seattle’s most recognizable landmarks is the Space Needle, which sits 502 feet in the air in Seattle Center. It offers indoor and outdoor panoramic views of downtown, Mount Rainier, Puget Sound, and the Cascades and Olympic mountain ranges!
4. Chihuly Garden and Glass – Right across the Space Needle is the Chihuly Garden and Glass, which houses some of Dale Chihuly’s finest glass art works. Visitors can wander through the galleries, gardens, and glasshouses to see all the exhibitions on display. The museums also offer yoga, tai-chi, and barre fitness classes in the presence of his art, if you need to take a moment to relax during the conference.
5. The MoPOP – The Museum of Pop Culture (MoPOP) is another museum nearby the Bell Harbor Conference Center that attendees can visit. Visitors will learn something new with each visit with their rotating and visiting exhibitions. From the history of indie games to the significance of tattoo culture, MoPOP is bound to provide a new and educational experience each visit.
6. Seattle Center – Once you have seen all of these return to the Seattle Center, where you can relax and grab a bite. This is the district that houses all of the major landmarks listed above plus a park, multiple eateries, and event venues for the community.
7. Seattle Art Museum – If you want to venture further out, you can make another museum trip to the Seattle Art Museum (SAM), which maintains three major facilities–the major one in downtown Seattle, the Seattle Asian Art Museum (SAAM) in Volunteer Park on Capitol Park, and the Olympic Sculpture Park on the central Seattle waterfront. SAM, the main facility light-filled galleries invite you to wander through global art collections, temporary installations, and special exhibitions from around the world. Collections include modern and contemporary, African, Meso-American, Ancient Mediterranean, Islamic, European, Oceanic and Australian Aboriginal, Asian, American, and decorative arts.
8. Seattle Aquarium – If you want to remain by the coastline and see the wonders it has to offer, visit the Seattle Aquarium. The Seattle Aquarium is the ninth largest aquarium in the U.S. by attendance and among the top five paid visitor attractions in the Puget Sound region.
9. Woodland Park Zoo – Woodland Park Zoo is a zoological garden located in the Phinney Ridge neighborhood. It was home to the infamous gorilla, Bobo, who became popular in the 60s after King Kong was released. It is now home to more than a thousand other animals and continues to share its message or conservation.
10. Underground Tours – Seattle has more to offer than just its coast and inland landmarks. It has one of the most humourous subterranean strolls of the storefronts and sidewalks entombed when the city rebuilt on top of itself after the Great Fire of 1889. It’s the only way to tour the interconnecting tunnels of the world-famous Seattle Underground!
11. Elliott Bay Waterfront – For a cost effective view of the city, take a stroll on the Elliott Bay Waterfront, where you can walk along the coast and pass by the Seattle cityscape and skyline. Besides getting a great view of all of the sites near the bay, you also can take a look at the many cruises and yacht rentals Seattle has to offer.
12. Pioneer Square – Another great district of Seattle is Pioneer Square. As Seattle’s original neighborhood, it is home to Northwest culture, history, art, music, and hidden waterfalls. Take a stroll in this district to see the depth and beauty of the original Seattle.
13. Smith Tower – For another stroll down memory lane of Seattle, you should visit the Smith Tower, which was Seattle’s first skyscraper. For more than one hundred years, it has remained a cultural icon of the city, offering breathtaking, panoramic views and spectacular architectural beauty, which it continues today with its observation deck.
14. The Fremont Troll – The Fremont Troll was modeled after the tall tales of troll sightings beneath the Aurora Bridge. In order to rehabilitate the area under the bridge, the city launched an art competition and commissioned a sculptor to build the new famous troll monument. Take a walk, if you dare…
15. Original Starbucks – To save the best for last, go take a walk to the Original Starbucks. Get a cup of coffee, while basking in the historical significance of the building. Beware the crowds and long lines though!

If you are planning on joining us in Seattle but don’t have your ticket yet- snag one here and use the code ITSJUICY for a little discount on us.