Vancouver Outdoor Art

Art. 

Everyone has their opinions, us included. Sometimes staring at that white canvas with paint splattered on it just doesn't do it for you. We get it.

BUT.

There is also some really cool art out there that even the most cynical can appreciate. We like to try to find the fun, whimsical stuff that everyone can see and have it sparks a smile. Take a trip around Vancouver, BC with us to find some of their best outdoor (which equals free) art exhibits! 

Digital Orca - Douglas Copeland

What do you get when you merge technology with nature? Well a digital orca of course! Overlooking the Burrard Inlet this leaping, lego-like sculpture takes something we are familiar with and offers a surprising double take. 

The Drop - Inges Idee

This steel sculpture is supposed to represent the power of nature. It is the moment when a raindrop hits the ground, multiplied by like a trillion times in size. Because, science.

This is a great one to see at night as well! 

The Words Don't Fit The Picture - Ron Terada

When you first stumble upon this work of art you say, "Oh wow, look at that." and then you read the sign and immediately wonder what the heck it means. We read up on it and we think the Terada himself explains it best:

“Taken within the context of a public library, the work touches upon – in a very poetic way – the use of words and language as boundless and imaginative, as a catalyst for a multiplicity of meanings.”

People flock to these sculptures to imitate the poses of hysterical laughter. 

Try not to crack a smile when you see these guys. Pure joy.

A-maze-ing Laughter -  Yue Minjun

These shirtless, laughing men live as a permanent installment by English Bay. They cost a pretty penny (1.5 million) but we think it was worth it for all the joy they bring the people of Vancouver.

Bright and completely out of place, but at the same time they seem to fit right in.

Love Your Bean - Cosimo Cavallaro

These giant jellybeans sit along the False Creek Seawall in Charleston Park. You can't miss them as they are, well, giant jellybeans sitting in a field of green. 

A map for your art viewing pleasure!

You don't have to visit all these in one day, but if and when you do visit them you'll find them at the places marked above. The Digital Orca and The Drop are both located at Canada Place. 

Top 20 Places to Visit at Seattle's Waterfront

The Seattle Waterfront is going through some MAJOR renovations right now, but don't let the construction deter you from visiting. It is a great waterfront and all that clanking and drilling just means they are working to make it even better.

Sidenote: If you haven't checked out the Seattle Waterfront Office on Western Ave. to see what they have in store for us definitely plan that into your next trip! 

Anywho, coming back to the original point, Seattle's waterfront has a lot to offer! Many places have views of Puget Sound that make you want to stay forever and even though it gets crowded in the summer it is a big place, so there are always places to escape and relax (see picnic tables, Pier 66 viewfinders, or a gondola in the Great Wheel). We picked our top 20 favorite places for you the check out. 

Possibly the best hotdog in town.

Picnic tables that come with a view.

FOOD AND DRINK

• Frankfurter serves the best sausages on the waterfront and with a wide variety there is something for everyone. Always add a lemonade to your order-- it is perfectly sweet!
• Elliott's Oyster House is a little pricey, but they are sustainable and responsible with their seafood, so we pay the higher fee. Grab lunch or dinner here and if the day is nice sit on their beautiful patio; we recommend the pan friend oysters or the crab cakes!
• Ivar's has been serving up fish n' chips on the Seattle waterfront since 1938. You can't say you've experienced Seattle without stopping here. 
• The Alaskan Sourdough Bakery wins in our book because they specialize in carbs, one of the most delicious of molecules. These guys make sourdough bread bowls that will put you into sleepy, full-bellied heaven. 
• Copperworks Distillery offers free tastings and tours of their operation for $10 (and more tastings!). Do we need to say more?
• Seattle Bay Creamery fulfills that need you get on a hot summer day walking through the crowds on the waterfront. It's cold, it's creamy, and (if you are smart) it is served in a waffle cone. Seriously, make the right choice and get the waffle cone.
• SixSeven is the swanky restaurant located in The Edgewater at the north end of the waterfront. We can't afford dinner there so we go for happy hour and eat their delicious food for a fraction of the cost. 
• The picnic tables located at the very end of the Pier 56 are some of the best free seats in the house. Take your frankfurter or your picnic lunch down here to enjoy the beauty of Elliott Bay.

One of the many ships in Argosy's fleet.

The Great Wheel gives excellent views.

ATTRACTIONS

• Argosy Locks Cruise is one of the touristy things Seattle offers that we FULLY recommend (for god's sake, stay away from those duck tours). Even for locals it is a treat to learn about the history of Seattle and little known facts and experiencing something many of us might not any other way: going through the locks.
• Seattle Aquarium is not the best aquarium in the world, we aren't going to lead you there under false pretenses, but it is still a place where you can see marine life that you would not be able to see otherwise. Kids will love the otters and the jellyfish.
• Seattle Great Wheel is a new addition to our waterfront, some love it, some hate it. Regardless of which camp you are in it is a unique way to see the city. On a clear day a ride in one of the gondola's is spectacular (and if you are afraid of heights it will also be terrifying). 
• Clipper Whale Watching Tours leave from the Seattle waterfront and are something that you should absolutely shell out the $$ for if possible. Our advice? Go for the Orca day trip in the summer because...well...you get to see Orcas. Killer Whales. Like Free Willy. It's unreal.
• The Edgewater was built for the 1962 World Fair (along with the Space Needle) and it is a Seattle establishment. Everything about it screams Pacific Northwest. The Edgewater was made famous when the Beatles stayed here on their 1964 World Tour and fished out of their hotel window into Elliott Bay. Since then it has become the place for rock legends to stay with the likes of Led Zepplin, David Bowie, and The Rolling Stones on the list. 
• Street Artists are usually present along the busier stretches of the waterfront and can be very talented. Don't overlook them just because they aren't selling in a traditional storefront.
• The Carousel in Miner's Landing is a great stop for people with kids. It is a bit hard to track down if you don't know where you are looking, but once you go inside the building labeled "Miner's Landing" it is all the way back at the very far end. 
• Pier 66 Viewfinders are located up the steps/elevator by Anthony's Fish House (in a big red building). This is a great, free way to see the city and doubles as a nice place to eat lunch.
• Take a Washington State Ferry ride to Bainbridge Island for a whopping $7/per person for a round trip. The trip takes 30 minutes each way and it isn't out of the ordinary to see whales on the journey. Once you get to Bainbridge check out its cute, island-town shopping and restaurants. 

The viewfinders are free!

The beautiful Edgewater Hotel.

SHOPPING

• Ye Olde Curiosity Shop is one of the weirdest shops in Seattle and we love it. People of all ages can enjoy all the strange items for sale. Our favorite: the mounted animal butts, because obviously the heads get too much attention. 
• Pirates Plunder is a shop in Miner's Landing that sells Seattle-themed items. We usually don't recommend these shops, but they have done a better job than most of collecting items you don't see at all the run-of-the-mill tourist shops. So in a nutshell, go here for the best variety of Sleepless in Seattle t-shirts and magnets.
• Seattle Antique Market is an antique heaven located right across the street from the Seattle Great Wheel. Go in to check out all their antique and vintage goodies. You can get lost for ages.

Ahoy! These pirates welcome you to Pirates Plunder!

Bonus points: If you want to walk all the way down the Seattle Waterfront (about 1.5 miles) you will run right into the Olympic Sculpture Park, one of our favorite parks in Seattle, which we featured on the blog earlier this year. 

Ultimate Challenge: Start at the ferry terminal and walk the length of the Seattle Waterfront. You can actually walk all the way to Elliott Bay Marina in Magnolia on paved sidewalks. It is almost five miles of scenic paths along Puget Sound.

Sidewalk signs so you don't get lost.

Little waterfront details.

Halibut Season at Pike Place Fish

We want to see the guys hurl that thing across the counter!

Some of you might have noticed a change in season recently- the sun is shining, the temperature is rising, and, especially for us, we just can't hold in our excitement. That's right folks, it's HALIBUT season. This calls for a trip to Pike Place Market.

THE place to get your sustainable Halibut. 

World Famous Pike Place Fish, located under the main entrance of Pike Place Market, is the only fish market at Pike Place that sells all sustainably caught fish. They are also known for their world class customer service and their fish throwing and catching skills. It also happens to be where Sarah's husband has worked for 16 years, but we mainly shop here exclusively because of the sustainability. The friendly staff is just an added bonus. ;) 

Our connection here does mean we are constantly up-to-date on when certain fish are in season as well as mouth-watering recipes to go along with the goods. Today we are giving you all the insider tips on Halibut along with a delicious recipe from the Pike Place Fish Cookbook. 

Watching the guys throw fish is one of our favorite things to do at the market.

Jake will fillet any fish you would like. 

Insider Tips

• Halibut season runs from March - November, which means you can get this great fish fresh any time except winter.
• Pike Place Fish gets all of their halibut from Southeast Alaska, and it is all 100% sustainably caught.
• Most of the fish weigh roughly 20 lbs, which means it takes a lot of extra effort to chuck one over the counter. When catching a halibut, you must grab onto the body AND the tail. If you don't it will be "extremely hard to land."
• The most popular way people get halibut is a fillet, but the fishmongers advise you to not discount a steak cut. Yes, a steak cut means it will come with a bone, but they say to think of it like a T-bone steak. It will have one big bone that is easy to remove. The benefit of a steak cut is that it will have even thickness, which is helpful for cooking and the bone keeps the fish moist.
• Halibut cheeks (the literal cheek of the fish) is another great way to enjoy this fish. Not every fish market will have them, but Pike Place Fish carries them from time to time. If you are lucky enough to be there when they are in stock, don't miss them!
• Halibut is mild and not super fatty, which means it's very versatile. It is great in tacos, takes marinade really well, and can be baked or grilled. It is also great in stew like in this recipe below!

Caribbean Seafood Stew.

Caribbean Seafood Stew (from the Pike Place Fish Cookbook)

Serves 4-6

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

1 tablespoon fresh lime juice

3 teaspoons kosher salt

1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper

1 pound halibut, cut into 1-inch chunks 

1 medium onion, finely chopped

1 green bell pepper, stemmed, seeded, and finely chopped

6 garlic gloves, minced

1 jalapeno chile, seeded and finely chopped (use 2 if you want it hotter)

One 14.5 ounce can diced tomatoes with juice

One 14 ounce can unsweetened coconut milk

1/2 pound medium shrimp, peeled and deveined

1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro, plus more for garnish

Bottled hot pepper sauce (optional)

Directions:

Stir together 1 tablespoon of the olive oil, the lime juice, 2 teaspoons of the salt, and the pepper in a medium glass bowl. Add the fish cubes and toss to coat. Set aside.

Heat the remaining 1 tablespoon oil in a 3-quart saucepan, over medium-high heat. Add the onion, bell pepper, garlic, and jalapeno. Season with remaining 1 teaspoon salt. Cook and stir for 4 to 5 minutes or until onion is tender but not brown. Add the tomatoes and juice and the coconut milk. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce the heat. Simmer, uncovered, for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. 

Stir in the shrimp, marinated fish, and cilantro. Return to a simmer and cook, uncovered, for 5 minutes or just until the fish flakes easily with a fork and the shrimp turn opaque. Don't overcook. Taste for salt and adjust seasoning if desired.

Ladle the stew into shallow bowls over rice. Sprinkle with cilantro and pass hot pepper sauce, if desired.

Olympic Sculpture Park

Free stuff is our jam. So are awesome waterfront parks and unique artwork. Olympic Sculpture Park: check, check, and check! 

This park is part of the Seattle Art Museum (although it is not in the same location) and was primarily funded by Microsoft COO, John Shirley (a modest $30 million). Lucky us!

And now Seattle has this wonderful park.

This park is full of wonderful, sharp lines.

Left: Eagle by Alexander Calder. Right: Echo by Jaume Plensa.

Eye see you. 

This park is a part of every tour we give friends from out of town. We love the architecture and the almost Easter egg hunt quality of the art. If you aren't looking for it, you could walk right by and never know! 

So go check it out! It is fairly wheelchair accessible, it is free, and there is parking. Kids love it, dogs love it, adults love it, heck we once saw a cat being walked and it looked about as happy as any cat can. 

Walk along the Seattle waterfront and look for seals along with art! 

Insider Tip: If you continue to follow the path once you get down to the waterfront you will eventually be in Myrtle Beach Park. Keep going! This park has an amazing walk along the water. Try to make it for a sunset; we promise, Puget Sound and the Cascade Mountains make it quite the show!

Myrtle Beach Park takes you right up to Puget Sound.

Go here to see a map and more info about parking. 

We also recommend reading up on the art in the park so you don't miss any of the less obvious installments.