On a walking tour with Immersus Tours, I discovered a few new bits of history about Seattle and visited a few spots I had not yet explored. It was fun and interesting to revisit Seattle from a newcomers perspective after living here for 12 years. Below are a few of the highlights to entice you to immerse yourself with Immersus the next time you are in town!
I walked through the green canopy of blue trees on my way to the meeting spot. I joined the metal sculptures in the shade and watched as passerby’s marveled at the blue and mingled with the silently posing forms.
After a cupcake and a cup of tea at Cupcake Royale, I met my tour group for the day outside the Hard Rock Cafe. Tonio, a Seattle transplant from Peru (in Orange) would be our guide.
Tonio points out the bus schedule sign outside of Macy’s at our bus stop. First thing is first in a new town and that is understanding the ins and outs of public transportation.
We take the 358 Express to Greenlake. Tonio shares the many options for paying for Seattle Public Transportation. The ORCA card being the handiest option if you are a frequent user.
We hop off the bus close to Greenlake and make our way under the bridge where we are treated to some of Seattle’s Graffitti art.
Greenlake’s outside gravel trail is 3.2 miles around. The inner trail is paved and lined for bikers, walkers, runners, and roller bladers and measures 2.8 miles. We walk a ways along the outside trail and then head down a slight grade to the lake.
Tonio shares the history of Greenlake with the group. I was excited to learn of the Green Lake Aqua Theater. It was built in 1950 for the first Seattle Seafair. Ballet, Jazz, Comedy, and Dance happened right there on the lake. Unfortunately due to lack of maintenance in the 70’s it was deemed unsafe and dismantled. A portion of the original grandstand still exists and has become a popular spot for running stairs.
We headed up the hill from Greenlake to Tangletown for a refueling stop at the Mighty-O-Donut shop. The Mighty-O resides in the Keystone Building, a Tangletown Landmark Building built in the 1910’s. Their donuts boast no chemicals, no genetically modified organisms, and no animal products. They are currently working on recipes for a gluten-free donut too!
I had driven by Meridian Playground intrigued by the stone archway many many times. Today was the day I walked through it, up the ramp and into the popular park.
The stone walls of the ramp and the archway are beautiful mosaics of local stone. A magical and inviting way to enter a place of play.
Up the hill we walked with spectacular views of the Fremont and George Washington Memorial Bridges. Gas Works Park is a beautiful spot to picnic, play frisbee, or take in the seaplanes and scenery.
Tonio instructs the group on how to tell the time without your iphone.
The Fremont Brewery was our next stop for refreshments. Immersus Tours has organized a special beer tasting for it’s tour members. Unfortunately no gluten-free options for the intolerant. I have yet to encounter a micro-brew option in the Seattle area.
Theo Chocolate is heaven. Really. A beautiful old brick building smelling like chocolate and when you walk inside…samples everywhere of every kind. Theo Chocolate offers tours of the Factory. Visit their website to make a reservation.
We ended our tour at the Waiting for the Interurban sculpture in the heart of Fremont. A popular interactive sculpture that is decorated to celebrate community and personal events.
It was a lovely day for a stroll and a wonderful way to learn more about some local businesses. Whether you live in Seattle or are visiting, Immersus Tours provides you with a nice introduction to life in Seattle neighborhoods.