Space Needle & Chihuly Garden and Glass

Description

Be sure to read the Special Notes further down this page for important requirements and restriction.

Imagine a garden of glass, planted under glass. The soaring installation at the foot of the Space Needle showcases the most dazzling works of internationally acclaimed glass artist Dale Chihuly. With 45,000 square feet of galleries and landscaping, it's a sensational new art experience at the landmark Seattle Center.

The modernist glass conservatory with its arching white metal beams opened in May of 2012. Inside, there are astonishing chandeliers and graceful towers, dramatic sea and floral forms, and one of the artist's largest suspended sculptures (for an artist who works large, this is saying something). This "Glasshouse" is surrounded by a garden filled with Chihuly pieces sprouting in color groupings amid gorgeous plantings.

One of the first things to take in is the descriptive timeline of Chihuly's life and work. It serves as background to the interior galleries that invite you to explore. Here you'll see Chihuly's art unfolding, "from the early experiments with thin, undulating-lipped, expansive vessels, to globular floats and vertical reeds, to massive, intricate chandeliers." A surprising installation features "glass forms of varied shapes and vibrant colors spilling over the edges of two large wooden boats. Inspired by a practical decision to float pieces down a river in Finland to get them to their installation sites under bridges, this configuration suggests the fluid creativity of the Northwest's most famous glass artist," according to a Seattle Times reviewer.

Among the many room-size pieces on display are Mille Fiori (Italian for "a thousand flowers"), which looks like "Willy Wonka's factory rendered in glass instead of chocolate; the psychedelic Persian Ceiling; and the Sealife Room, where a massive ocean-blue glass tower imitates a swirling tide of starfish, conch shells and urchins," writes Alex Palmer of the New York Daily News. In the outdoor garden, the sculptor's multicolored glass flowers and plants sit among real flora in the shadow of the Space Needle, which continues to command the city skyline.

Next up, quite literally, is the 605-foot-high Space Needle. A product of the 1962 Seattle World' Fair, this iconic landmark is a must see. You'll take the elevator to the sky-high observation deck. At 520 feet, there's nothing blocking you from 360 degree views of the Emerald City. Gaze down on Elliott Bay's bustling waterfront; watch the state ferries crisscross Puget Sound, scan the majestic purple ridges of the Olympic Mountain range, and train your lens on Mt. Rainier, another beloved symbol of Washington State. And, before you leave, browse the SpaceBase store at the bottom of the Needle for exclusive Seattle treasures and souvenirs of your trip.

During your transfer to the ship, you can reflect on the sights and sounds of the largest city in the Pacific Northwest, completing your 2.5-hour tour. With a metropolitan area of about 4 million inhabitants, it is the 15th largest metropolis in the nation. Home to Microsoft, Amazon, Starbucks, and the Seahawks, Seattle is a major gateway for trade with Asia and a premier embarkation port for Alaska cruises.

Special Notes:

Tax included in sales price. This tour is only available passengers calling to Seattle as a port of call; not for those disembarking.

Unaccompanied Minor Policy: Children under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.