As the days grow shorter and we head into winter, I find myself drawn to places that offer light, color and a sense of whimsy. From glowing gardens and illuminated animals to mind-bending illusions, escape rooms and playful photo spots, here are a few of my favorite local finds to brighten the season!
GARDEN D’LIGHTS
One of our favorite traditions is visiting Garden d’Lights at the Bellevue Botanical Garden. The entire garden glows with more than half a million lights shaped into flowers, butterflies, birds and fanciful creatures that transform the garden paths into a glowing, dreamlike landscape. A visit to this is guaranteed to put anyone in a happy frame of mind.
WILDLANTERNS AT WOODLAND PARK ZOO
For an even more over-the-top light experience, WildLanterns at Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle takes the concept of a holiday light show to dazzling heights. Larger-than-life illuminated animals and fantasy scenes line the pathways with glowing dragons, luminous elephants and towering, fanciful flowers. It’s part art installation, part wildlife celebration and all-around magical.
MUSEUM OF ILLUSIONS
I can’t resist illusions, especially the kind you get to be part of. In downtown Seattle, the Museum of Illusions plays delightful tricks on your brain. Rooms seem to tilt, mirrors distort and optical illusions challenge your sense of reality. It’s interactive, highly entertaining and perfect for families or groups of friends. You can’t help but laugh when you’re “defying gravity” or watching someone appear to shrink before your eyes.
CONUNDROOM ESCAPE ROOMS
For a touch of mental magic, Conundroom Escape Rooms, in nearby Redmond, offers several imaginative adventures that feel straight out of a mystery novel. You and your group follow clues, solve puzzles and unlock hidden secrets to “escape” within an hour. Each room has a storyline and beautifully designed sets that immerse you in another world, whether a wizard’s workshop, a spy mission or Alice in Wonderland.
CIRQUE DU SOLEIL: ECHO
For a big-top spectacle, Cirque du Soleil’s ECHO will be playing in Marymoor Park starting in late January. Echo follows a storyline about a girl named Future who goes on a journey, along with her dog, to rebuild a natural world. Cirque du Soleil shows always deliver on wonder and awe, making the impossible seem effortless with astonishing acrobats, surreal costumes and dramatic live music that send you on a journey in a dream world. It’s a good idea to plan ahead for tickets, since shows tend to sell out fast once tickets are available.
THE ORIGINAL SELFIE MUSEUM
And finally, the Original Selfie Museum, a stone’s throw from the Pike Place Market, is simply fun. Twenty whimsical settings with props throughout a two-story building offer everything you need to take fun, creative photos. Among the options are a “banana room” with a swing, a wall of doughnuts with plush doughnut toys, a claw-foot bathtub with “bubbles,” and much more. This museum hits just right for tweens and teens, especially, but families and friends with an inner artist or a goofball friend will find this place irresistible, and you’ll leave with lots of material for entertaining Instagram posts.
