City Page Type: Destination

When it first opened in 1900, the AGO was known as the Art Museum of Toronto. In 1919 it was renamed the Art Gallery of Toronto and it kept that title until 1966, when it acquired its current name. The AGO is located off of Dundas Street West, between McCaul and Beverley Streets, in the heart of west downtown Toronto.    The Art Gallery of Ontario is one of the largest in North America and its collection boasts nearly 100,000 pieces of artwork that represent the first century through to the present day. It also hosts the Thomson collection, donated by Ken Thomson, which added roughly 2000 pieces of artwork to the museum’s collection. The highlight of the Thomson collection is Peter Paul Rubens’ The Massacre of the Innocents, painted in the 17th century.    If you’re at the AGO for research purposes, you’ll want to check out the E.P. Taylor Library & Archives, which includes over 300,000 volumes. Its hours are more limited than the general Art Gallery of Ontario.    The AGO recently announced two upcoming exhibits that are of particular note— Haegue Yang’s exhibition, Haegue Yang: Emergence (spring 2020) and Andy Warhol (spring 2021). All visitors aged 25 and under can enter the art gallery free of charge and a yearly pass only costs $35. A day pass is $25 for those over the age of 25. 

The University of Washington (UW) is one of the top ranked public universities in the nation. They pride themselves on their sustainability, diversity, and research endeavours. With over 296 research centers, a total of seven Nobel Prizes have been awarded to UW researchers. When you walk onto the University of Washington campus, you’ll immediately feel like you’re in the presence of the legacy of greatness, knowledge, and intellect that pervades every inch of the university. For more than a century and a half, UW has poured energy, resources, and research efforts into environmental stewardship. This begun with their very first general forestry class in 1895. Since then, some of their more notable accomplishments include rescuing Lake Washington, winning awards for sustainable stadium renovations, and being recognized as a Tree Campus by the Arbor Day Foundation for effectively managing their campus trees. When you visit the campus you’ll know what we mean.

Although it’s still widely known as Safeco Field, T-Mobile officially purchased the rights to change the stadium’s name to T-Mobile Park in December of 2018. The new name went into effect as of January 1st, 2019. Construction of the original stadium began in March of 1997 and the first game was played in the completed park on July 15th, 1999. Some of the most famous moments in the history of T-Mobile Park include the perfect game thrown by Felix Hernandez on August 15th, 2012 and the Mariners’ sweep of the Chicago White Sox in the 2000 ALDS. The stadium includes several exciting areas for fans to enjoy. The Bullpen Market behind left field features interactive games and activities, as well as food vendors, an open pit barbeque, and some of the best views of the playing field from behind the centerfield wall. The Outside Corner Picnic Patio is a great gathering place for families to enjoy picnic lunches while looking out at breathtaking views of the Puget Sound.

The Space Needle was constructed in honor of the 1962 World’s Fair. In total, the Space Needle stands 605 feet tall and offers 360-degree views from the main observation deck and open-air viewing area. Recently, the Space Needle underwent a multi-million dollar renovation project to create the world’s first, and only, rotating glass floor. Now you can enjoy breathtaking views of the city and of the structure itself when you look down and all around you. With over 24 angled vantage points, you can lean over the city on the Skyrider’s tilting glass walls. The space needle is open 365 days a year, aside from partial or full shut downs for special events, holidays, or facility upgrades. Inside you’ll find the Atmos Cafe, which features local Pacific Northwest snacks and brews. If you’re looking for mesmerizing skyline views from 500 feet in the air, the Atmos Wine bar has signature wine and food selections at the glass floor bar.

Seattle University is a Jesuit Catholic University founded in 1891. It encompasses a total of 50 acres in the Capitol Hill neighborhood. Across its eight schools and colleges, over 7,200 students are enrolled at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. According to US News and World Report, Seattle University is ranked among the top 10 universities in the West. Boasting an average class size of 18 students and a 11:1 student-to-faculty ratio, they pride themselves on creating a community centered around education, wisdom, and impact. Seventy percent of the 81,000 Seattle University alumni still contribute to the state economy and the remaining thirty percent are spread across 42 states and 88 nations. They value academic quality, Jesuit Catholic inspiration, and service to society. The school’s vision is to educate the whole person by addressing professional formation and leadership training. While they are a Jesuit university, they welcome the enrichment provided by a diversity of faiths within the community.

The Seattle Center’s iconic landmark is the Space Needle, but that’s not all you’ll find at this location. Visitors can enjoy a variety of attractions, events, and dining options. The Seattle Center Festál, for example, is a year-round showcase that includes 24 distinct world cultural events. The largest of these events is called Northwest Folklife, in which happens over Memorial Day Weekend and is the largest festival of its kind in North America. If your group is interested in the region’s dining options, you must check out the Armory, which is a cultural gathering place in and of itself. Unique restaurants in the Armory include Bigfood BBQ, Blue Water Taco Grill and Cantina, and The Bubble Tea Shop. If you’re looking for a great educational outing for your group, the Pacific Science Center and the Seattle Children’s Museum are great choices and KeyArena is an awesome venue for seeing live concerts or comedy shows while you’re in town.

Stretching over nine acres, Pike Place Market has plenty to do, see, and eat. Below the Arcade you’ll find a series of collectables shops featuring comics, original art, magic tricks, books, coins, and more. You’ll also find a wide variety of specialty foods with ingredients from all over the world that are ideal for the adventurous chef. As the home of the original Starbucks, Pike Place is also known for its legendary coffee scene. Both local and international roasters come to Pike Place to share their newest creations. Strolling through Pike Place will give all of your senses a delightful experience. You’ll hear street performers playing their favorite tunes. You’ll smell the fresh produce from seasonal farm stands and eclectic coffee shops. You’ll see over 200 craftspeople with art, jewelry, instruments, and crafts for your viewing and tactile pleasure. There’s so much to do and see at the Pike Place market, you might end up staying the whole day!

MoPOP was founded in 2000 by Microsoft co-founder, Paul Allen. He called it the Experience Music Project. Since then, the Museum has curated dozens of exhibits, including 17 that toured both nationally and internationally. The Museum’s architect, Frank O. Gehry, sliced several electric guitars to pieces and used them as inspiration for the rock ‘n’ roll themed architecture. His final exterior product is a fusion of textures made up of three thousand panels of painted aluminum shingles. Depending on the angle you view the building, you will see a variety of colors and light arrangements. His intention was to remind us that music and culture is constantly evolving. In addition to musical performances, the MoPOP also features cinematic arts. Each year they host the Science Fiction + Fantasy Short Film Festival. This genre-driven festival features cinematic art from around the world. Their goal to use pop culture as a catalyst for learning, connecting and creating shines through in all of their programming.

Dale Chihuly is the creative mind behind the Chihuly Garden and Glass exhibition. A native of Tacoma, Washington, Chihuly’s works are included in more than 200 museum collections worldwide. The Seattle Center has long been an integral hub of the city’s arts and cultural scenes, so when the Wright Family (owners and managers of the Space Needle) saw a chance to revitalize the city center, they reached out to Chihuly to see if he’d be interested in designing an Exhibition Hall, Garden Installation, and Glasshouse in his own community. Chihuly graciously accepted the opportunity, of course. What resulted is an exhibition that includes a 4,500-square foot glasshouse, eight galleries and three drawing walls, a garden installation anchored by four monumental sculptures, and a theater that presents short videos on Chihuly’s working process. All of this is packed into a 1.5-acre plot that displays specific works from Chihuly’s career while also functioning as a community gathering place.