Seattle Spotlight: Chihuly Garden and Glass & Space Needle

I am a sucker for a garden. Everywhere we travel, I try to find a local garden to explore. When we went to President Clinton's library in Little Rock, AR, I saw some of Chihuly's work displayed there. It also is featured in Atlanta's Botanical garden which is incredible! So when we were heading to Seattle, and the Chihuly Garden and Glass exhibit was at the foot of the Space Needle, I thought it would be a great opportunity to see them both.

Chihuly Garden and Glass

From the moment you walk into this exhibit, you know that you're in for a treat. Not only is the glass artwork exquisite, but it is displayed in such a masterful way that every time you turn a corner, the beauty takes your breath away.

One of my favorite surprises was the hallway in which there was a glass ceiling with top-lit blown glass pieces casting a beautiful light on the whole area. It was stunning.

This hallway leads you into a giant room filled with garden inspired pieces. Every angle of the artwork this pretty magical.

It is really hard to capture the beauty and enormity of some of the pieces displayed in this exhibit. You really do need to see it for yourself!

One of my favorite rooms was the boat room. Chihuly loved to throw his blown glass pieces in the water to see how they would interact with it. This display plays with that idea. The glossy black stage on which the art was set reflects all of the beauty back, creating a stunning presentation.

Just when you think the artwork can't get any more beautiful, you walk out into the garden area where playful plantings mix with graceful glass for an incredible effect. All of the colors and shapes were whimsical and awe inspiring. Chihuly truly has a masterful eye.

While this exhibit might be a little pricy, it was one of our absolute favorite places we visited while in Seattle. If we had to do it all over again, this would be at the top of our list.

Space Needle

Right after we toured Chihuly Garden and Glass, we walked next door to the Space Needle to visit Seattle's iconic architecture and check out the view. There was a local artist with a cute sign right outside that let us take a picture with his work for $1!

Even though it was a rainy day, we enjoyed getting to look out across the city. At that point, we had no idea that on a clear day this view would have Mt. Rainier as a feature. This would be a great way to view the mountain!

When the Space Needle was constructed, it was a showpiece for the 1962 World Fair. Equipped with a five star restaurant, you could enjoy the high life at a high altitude.

Now the restaurant has been replaced with a snack bar, and they've installed a glass floor on their rotating level so you can really get a view of the surrounding area. It was pretty incredible!

One of the coolest structures is the Museum of Pop Culture or MoPOP. We didn't make it to this one simply because after walking a couple of miles to the Space Needle, we were pretty worn out and opted for the Monorail instead.

While it was fun to go up in the Space Needle, there are so many hills that give you incredible views, that I don't think it was as awe inspiring as the Chihuly Garden and Glass experience.

If you're looking for that iconic Space Needle photo though, Kerry Park on Queen Anne Hill is the place to go. It offered a stunning view of the unique architecture of Seattle and a really crazy introduction to Queen Anne Hill driving. It will make you feel like you're in San Francisco!

This area in Seattle is so rich with attractions, it was really hard to pick just a few. However, if you get a chance to make it to Seattle, I highly recommend Chihuly Gardens and Glass. I'll be looking for other opportunities to see his work in our next travels!