Blending a diverse and dramatic outdoor setting with a culture flavored by art and technology, Washington State isn’t easy to pigeonhole with a one-size-fits-all label. But planners seeking settings and experiences that fully capture the essence of the Evergreen State will be rewarded with a slew of compelling choices—from the San Juan Islands to Spokane and beyond.
Here are eight incredible ways for meeting groups to make the most of a Washington wander.
Museum of Glass, Tacoma
www.museumofglass.org
The modern American art scene gets no hotter than the glass-blowing goings-on of the Seattle-Tacoma region, hallmarked by the work of living legend and local native Dale Chihuly. And there’s no better place to experience the creations of this highly challenging art form than a stop at The Museum of Glass in Tacoma.
“All glass—all the time,” responds the museum’s communications manager, Susan Newsom, when asked what makes the ultra-modern facility so unforgettable for groups. “Every day, artists demonstrate the intriguing process of creating works of art from molten glass in the Hot Shop—considered to be one of the finest glass studios in the world—giving visitors a bird’s-eye view of their activities.”
She adds that with its striking architecture, inspiring exhibitions of glass, the remarkable Chihuly Bridge of Glass and the finest museum store around—in addition to the live glass-blowing demonstrations—the Museum of Glass is a true Northwest cultural landmark.
Customized tours are also an option, and electrifying event spaces await as well—ranging from a boardroom with space for 20 to a 6,900-square-foot grand hall accommodating up to 500.
Space Needle, Seattle
www.spaceneedle.com
Towering over the Seattle skyline, the Space Needle is easily the most recognizable of the Emerald City’s many attractions and offers a number of ways for meeting groups to make the most of a visit.
“For nearly 50 years, the Space Needle has offered visitors and locals alike Seattle’s most popular view,” says David Blandford, Visit Seattle’s vice president of communications. “At 605 feet in height, it’s no longer Seattle’s tallest building, but it’s without question the most iconic. Visitors can take a quick view from the observation deck—or dine at the rotating restaurant, which offers of a 360-degree view of the city, Puget Sound, two mountain ranges and much more.”
Groups of up to 20 can savor a memorable meal at the SkyCity restaurant, and larger private events can be held at the Skyline level venue 100 feet above ground. Skyline has banquet/catering facilities and space for groups ranging from 20 to 360. Even larger groups can head to the 500-foot-high O Deck, hosting up to 500. An elegant menu showcases the best of local and regional cuisine, from Dungeness crab cakes to grilled wild salmon to tenderloin of Northwest beef.
While newer and larger towers have followed in the structure’s footsteps—such as Toronto’s CN Tower and the Stratosphere in Las Vegas—none have reached the iconic status of the Space Needle.
San Juan Killer Whale Watching
www.visitsanjuans.com
Perhaps the most unspoiled islands of the lower 48, the San Juans are a pristine picture of nature at its most serene and seductive—and a charming choice for a group seeking to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life.
Groups visiting between May and September receive an added bonus: The opportunity for an in-person view of the Orcinus orca…better known as the Killer Whale. From land, sea or sky, a look at these awe-inspiring sea creatures will have your attendees talking about their experience for months on end. Weighing up to 18,000 pounds yet able to cut through the ocean at over 30 mph, they display a combination of size, strength and speed rarely seen in nature.
“The local orca whales of the San Juan Islands are the most highly researched and viewed orcas in the world,” remarks Robin Jacobson, public relations manager for the San Juan Islands Visitors Bureau. “They are also the official Washington State Marine Mammal. Group participants have said they really enjoyed being able to keep their group together and talking afterwards about the same wildlife experience they shared.”
Viewing possibilities include the Whale Plane, whale-watching boats offered by Kenmore Air and San Juan Safaris that handle groups of from six to 80, or the unique experience of watching from Kiln Point State Park—aka Whale Watch Park—on the west side of San Juan Island.
“It is one of the few places in the world with public access for viewing orca whales close to the shoreline,” Robinson says. “Researchers work inside the lighthouse there and a seasonal interpretive center makes a visit to the park all the more interesting.”
She adds that the Whale Museum in Friday Harbor on San Juan Island is a fine way to learn some orca info before taking to sea on a viewing tour.
White-water rafting in Spokane
www.rowadventurecenter.com/spokane-rafting
While Spokane might be known as the largest city between Seattle and Minneapolis, it’s the four-season outdoor scene that draws many travelers to the locale, where skiing, mountain biking, rock climbing and other active allures await. With the Spokane River cutting dramatically through the metropolis, rafting is an easy and exciting way for groups to go with the flow.
“With paddles in hand and a guide to lead, there is no better real-life team-building experience than a rafting trip,” says Peter Grubb, president and founder of ROW Adventures. “Usually such trips require a long drive to the river—but in Spokane, just minutes from the downtown convention center, the Spokane River flows right through the heart of the city and features both a white water and a gentle float section. Within minutes of launching, rafters are surrounded by pine forests and feel hours away from the city. Wildlife such as deer, beaver, herons, osprey and eagles are commonly seen.”
Grubb adds that two- and three-hour tours are on the slate of possibilities, and that his outfitting group also offers cycling tours, kayaking adventures or customized combinations of both. But it’s hard to top the shared excitement of wild white-water fun.
“When groups share the fun and thrills of running rapids together, the sense of team and bonding are very real and lasting,” Grubb says.
Twilight time in Forks
www.forkswa.com
Nestled on the outer reaches of the state’s gorgeous Olympic Peninsula, the Forks area was thrust into the spotlight following its inclusion in the Twilight books and movies. Even if vampires and werewolves aren’t your thing, the community and its outlying countryside will dazzle any group entranced by stupendous scenery.
“The Forks area is the only place you will find a temperate rain forest, wild beaches and mountains all within close proximity,” says Lissy Andros, director of tourism, marketing and promotions for the Forks Chamber of Commerce. “We have lots of attractions in the area that large groups visit regularly, and the Hoh Rain Forest in the Olympic National Park is a great example. We also are very close to Pacific Ocean beaches like Third Beach, Second Beach and Rialto Beach.”
Andros says the locale is abuzz with fresh-air fun, such as horseback riding, ocean and freshwater fishing, cycling and hiking. But she adds that a variety of venues are on hand for more structured doings.
“Forks also has great facilities that can be used for large groups, such as many of our restaurants, the Olympic Natural Resource Center—a University of Washington facility—the Forks Elks Lodge and the Forks Senior Center,” she says. “We also have Tillicum Park, which has a covered section, picnic areas, a world-class skate park, playground, baseball and softball fields and tennis courts.”
Perusing the Pike Place Market
www.pikeplacemarket.org
It’s hard to imagine a finer Seattle stop for a group to enjoy some between-meetings time than at the Pike Place Market, a hub of shopping, dining and other diversions on the city’s handsome waterfront.
“A trip to Seattle is not complete without a stop at Pike Place Market, often referred to as the heart of the city,” says Visit Seattle’s David Blandford. “Pike Place is the oldest continuously operated farmers market in the U.S. and is also a seven-acre historic district. Visit for the fresh seafood and produce, but also for gourmet restaurants and wine bars, arts and crafts, collectibles, street buskers and other entertainment.”
While the unending gamut of shops, farm stands and restaurants make for excellent exploring, the most essential experience is at the Pike Place Fish Market at 86 Pike Place, where visitors can spot heralded fishmongers delivering fresh “flying fish” through the air, an impressive spectacle even for non-seafood fanatics.
Planners seeking a more cohesive group get-together can go on a Market Heritage Tour, delving into lesser-known facts about the attraction, or a Farmtable Tour where they can meet and learn from knowledgeable farmers and gardeners showcasing their fresh-from-the-soil goods.
The Northwest’s Bavarian Village – Leavenworth
www.leavenworth.org
A two-hour drive due east of Seattle, the uniquely enchanting enclave of Leavenworth transports visitors to the Bavarian Alps without even needing a passport. Yet its surrounding outdoor wonders make it a wonderfully Washington-styled escape as well.
Following the closure of a once-bustling sawmill and the subsequent re-routing of the railroad, town leaders decided to remake the village into a Bavarian-themed community in the early 1960s. Jump forward to 2011 and their vision has paid off with one of the most charming burgs in all the Pacific Northwest.
“Your first view of Leavenworth will be a surprise,” says Jessica Robinson, promotion and media relations manager with the Leavenworth Chamber of Commerce. “Where are you and where did this all come from? Envision a small village, somewhere in Germany, with dramatic Old World architecture, nestled in a narrow valley of rivers and orchards, surrounded by snow-covered mountains.”
When attendees aren’t wandering the Alpine-flavored avenues, relaxing at an inviting beer garden or visiting the whimsical Nutcracker Museum, outdoor adventure abounds in and around the destination.
“Leavenworth is an outdoor recreation mecca,” Robinson says. “Climb, ride, hike, float, cast a line, or tee up in the great outdoors of our valley. You can truly lose yourself in adventure!”
As for possible meeting-friendly lodging, she suggests the Bavarian Lodge, Enzian Inn and the Icicle Village Resort.
Ballard’s Lovely Locks
www.seattle.gov/tour/locks.htm
While lacking the name recognition of the Space Needle or Pike Place Market, the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks, also known as the Ballard Locks, are a superb setting often overlooked by visitors to the Emerald City. But those making a stop will savor a scenic site showing off the city’s marine and nautical flavors.
“Visiting Seattle without seeing the locks is like going to Paris and not seeing the Eiffel Tower,” says Jay Wells, the locks’ regional director for visitor services. “It’s a unique setting and a one-of-a-kind national historic site.”
While formal meeting space is only available for organizations tied to the Army’s Corps of Engineers, which built and maintains the site, groups can picnic on the lovely lawns, take in videos at the visitor center, and arrange tours for up to about 50 with extensive advance notice.
Watching watercraft of all shapes and sizes passing between Puget Sound and the city’s inner lakes is also of interest, as is witnessing the boisterous salmon migration taking place from June through October—via a subterranean “Fish Ladder” viewing area that puts visitors within inches of the flailing fish.
Yet another draw is the seven-acre botanical gardens, with more than 1,500 varieties of plants from all around the globe.
