Local & Travel Information
Time Zone
Seattle is in the Pacific Time Zone (UTC).
Weather
Seattle has a mild climate with slight variations in the four seasons. Summers in Seattle are usually more dry than humid. Seattle might be known for its rain, but it actually receives less rain than New York and Miami. The temperature in August can be warm during the day, but chilly at night. When packing for Seattle, we recommend you bring layers and check the weather beforehand. Websites providing basic weather information include www.weather.gov and www.weather.com.
July/August Averages:
High: 75° F
Low: 57° F
Child Care
We have partnered with leading childcare provider KiddieCorp to offer JSM attendees child care for children 6 months to 12 years old. Care will be located within the Washington State Convention Center for $10/hour. Snacks and beverages will be included, but meals should be provided by parents. Details, pricing, and reservation information are available on the KiddieCorp–JSM 2015 web page. Space is limited, so reserve early.
All policies are established by KiddieCorp, and all questions should be directed to KiddieCorp.
Accessibility for Those with Disabilities
If you have a disability that may impede your participation, check the box during the registration process that asks if you require special assistance and include a statement regarding your needs. The ASA Meetings Department will contact you prior to JSM, but appropriate accommodations cannot be ensured without prior notification.
The Washington State Convention Center is accessible to patrons with disabilities. ADA features include accessible parking (16 spaces in the Main Garage and 16 spaces in the Freeway Parking Garage) and restrooms, automatic door entrances, TTY, payphone, and assisted listening devices. ADA service animals are permitted into event space at the Washington State Convention Center.
There are two ADA accessible entrances into level 1 of the Washington State Convention Center (CC) from Pike Street and one ADA accessible entrance into level 1 from Convention Place. Elevators include:
- two that go from level 1 to level 4 on the west side of the Pike Street Lobby on level 1;
- one elevator also in the Pike Street Lobby level 1;
- two elevators at the south end of the Galleria on level 1 that goes from level 1 to level 6; and
- from Registration in the Atrium Lobby on level 4 there are two elevators that go from level 4 to level 6.
On level 4 there is a skybridge crossing over Pike Street from the Convention Center to the Conference Center (TCC). The skybridge leads to level 4 of the Conference Center. Two elevators go from the lower level up five levels to level 4 of the Conference Center.
Equipment Rental
Here are three Seattle options for renting scooters and other equipment:
Scootaround
www.scootaround.com/our-rental-process
1-888-441-7575
Absolute Mobility Center
www.Absolutemobilitycenter.com/scooters.html
1-800-376-8267
Wheels for Feet
www.wheelsforfeet.com
425-256-2882
JSM 2015 Housing
Sorted by distance to the convention center
Grand Hyatt Seattle - $$$-$$$$ (0.1 miles)
721 Pine St., Seattle, WA 98101
Phone: (206) 774-6301
Hyatt at Olive 8 - $$$$ (0.1 miles)
1635 Eighth Ave., Seattle, WA 98101
Phone: (206) 695-1234
Sheraton Seattle Hotel - $$$-$$$$ (0.1 miles)
1400 Sixth Ave., Seattle, WA 98101
Phone: (206) 621-9000
Hilton Seattle - $$$-$$$$ (0.2 miles)
1301 Sixth Ave. at University, Seattle, WA 98101
Homewood Suites by Hilton Seattle-Convention Center-Pike Street - $$-$$$$ (0.2 miles)
1011 Pike St., Seattle, WA 98101
Phone: (206) 613-2086
Motif Seattle - $$ (0.2 miles)
1415 5th Ave., Seattle, WA 98101
Phone: (206) 971-8000
Crowne Plaza Hotel, Seattle - $$$$ (0.3 miles)
1113 6th Ave., Seattle, WA 98101
Phone: (206) 464-1980
Fairmont Olympic Hotel, Seattle - $$$$ (0.3 miles)
411 University St., Seattle, WA 98101
Phone: (206) 621-1700
Renaissance Seattle Hotel - $$$-$$$$ (0.4 miles)
515 Madison St., Seattle, WA 98104
Phone: (206) 694-4941
Economy Housing
Campion Hall - $ (0.8 miles)
914 E. Jefferson Street
(206) 296-5620
Chardin Hall - $ (1.0 miles)
1020 E. Jefferson Street
(206) 296-5620
Bellarmine Hall - $ (1.1 miles)
1111 E. Columbia Street
(206) 296-5620
Seattle has more food options than just the flagship Starbucks! Grab something to eat from one of the many vendors at the Pike Place Market, or enjoy a sit-down meal at one of the restaurants in Capitol Hill, which is just up the street from the convention center. Whatever type of food you are craving, Seattle will not disappoint. Following are a few suggestions within walking distance to the convention center:
|
Yard House - $$$
Purple Café and Wine Bar - $$
The Capital Grille - $$$
Sullivan's Steakhouse - $$$
Collins Pub - $$
Palomino - $$
Ristorante Machiavelli - $$ |
Bell Thai Restaurant - $$
Nijo Sushi Bar & Grill - $$
Pho Cyclo Café - $
The Georgian - $$$
Los Agaves Street Mexican Food
Zaina - $
Piroshky Piroshky - $ |
Blueacre Seafood - $$
MOD Pizza Downtown Seattle - $$
Cherry Street Coffee House - $$
Original Starbucks - $
Local 360 - $$ |
Things to Do
Outdoors
Kayakers © Howard Frisk
The largest local outdoor organization, The Mountaineers, offers hiking, biking, climbing, scrambling, sailing, and kayaking.
The Seattle Chapter of the Sierra Club offers area outings, primarily hiking.
The Cascade Bicycle Club offers organized bicycle rides, keeping a list of local bike rental possibilities.
Seattle Day Trips
Pike Place Market © Howard Frisk
Pike Place Market, located in the heart of downtown Seattle, is the oldest continuously operated public market in the United States. The market's neon sign provides an image of Seattle seen on many of the souvenirs sold within its shops. The history of the market's beginnings—onion prices increasing tenfold in the early 1900s and resultant pressure from citizens and consumers to cut out the middle man and buy direct from the producer—still inform its practices.
Take the occasion to meet the producers of fresh fruit, vegetables, and flowers or visit the world-famous fishmongers at The Pike Place Fish Market, who literally make fish fly both over the counter and to your home.
Wander the labyrinth of funky underground shops, but be prepared to brave the crowds, as Pike Place Market attracts more than 10 million visitors every year.
The adjacent mini-park is a grand picnic spot, with views of Puget Sound, ferries, and the Olympic Mountains.
Seattle Center © Tim Thompson
Seattle Center, site of the 1962 World's Fair, is another crowd pleaser that claims more than 10 million visitors per year. In addition to the Space Needle, the 87-acre campus includes museums, gardens, fountains, theaters, shops, and restaurants.
For the engineers in the group, the Hiram M. Chittenden (Ballard) Locks, which transfer commercial and pleasure boats between the saltwater of Puget Sound and the fresh water of Lake Union, will likely prove appealing. Environmental statisticians may appreciate the 21-level fish ladder built in 1976 next to the locks to preserve the migrating fish runs. Adult salmon should still be heading back to their former birthplace and future spawning ground in early August; they can be seen jumping over some of the weirs and from lighted underwater viewing windows. The botanical gardens and grassy slopes provide the perfect space for a picnic while watching boats lock through.
For something off the beaten path, try visiting Seattle neighborhoods by foot. From Alki Beach (southwest of downtown Seattle), views of the city, the Olympic Mountains, and Bainbridge Island are spectacular. Sunbathers and volleyball players on the beach may have you forgetting you're visiting the "rainy city."
Lake Union © Howard Frisk
As you meander along the beachside trail, you'll see a small replica of the Statue of Liberty, reminiscent of the area's original name–New York–Alki–and an obelisk marking the spot where city founders first disembarked from their vessel back in 1851.
In Lake Union, you can see the home of Insightful, Corp., makers of S-PLUS software. You'll also get a look at the old Lake Union Steam Plant. The building, while retaining some semblance of its former life with facsimile smokestacks, was converted into an office building.
Finally, you'll have a street-side view of the many floating homes along Lake Union. If you'd like a better view of the houseboats along Lake Union, kayaking is the way to go. By kayak, you can weave in and out of the docks and more closely note the variety of homes—from beach shacks on logs to floating palaces with underwater basements—otherwise restricted to residents. Try renting from
Museums
Hammering Man © Tim Thompson
There also is a variety of museums, ranging from arts to science, industrial history to aerospace, and gold to glass:
- Seattle Art Museum
- Museum of History & Industry
- Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame
- Pacific Science Center
- Seattle Children's Museum
Wineries
Many of the islands have wineries that offer tours and tastings on the weekend in addition to estate-grown wines, such as Madeleine Angevine and Siegerrebe.
Other wineries in Washington include those in Woodinville, just 20 miles northeast of Seattle, and eastern Washington. Check out Washington Wine Tours for more information.
Ballooning
If you can't decide what to do because it all sounds so appealing, take a hot air balloon and get a bird's-eye view of everything. There are several outfits in the area that offer a range of options, from sunrise or sunset tours for groups to a romantic couple's sunset flight:
Washington Day Trips
National parks, forests, and monuments surround Seattle and provide many opportunities to get away from the city and become lost in nature.
To the west of downtown and across the island-peppered Puget Sound, is Olympic National Park, home of Mount Olympus (7,965 feet).
Mount Rainier National Park
To the northeast, is North Cascades National Park. Snoqualmie National Forest runs north/south from the North Cascades to Mount Rainier National Park, home of the 14,410-foot mountain that shares its name.
Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, created two years after the 1980 eruption with the goal of allowing the surrounding area to respond naturally to the disturbance, is almost directly south of Seattle—as the crow flies.
A good source of information for hikes, mountain biking, or climbing in the Washington mountains is the Washington Trails Association, which hosts a search engine that allows you to specify region and additional criteria—such as round-trip distance, elevation gain, must-see attractions (e.g., waterfalls, lakes), and user types (e.g., hikers, climbers, or kids).
Deception Pass
If you're inspired by the mountains, but would prefer a shorter day trip with less hiking, Snoqualmie Falls is a good option that's only 30 miles east of Seattle. The nearly 300-foot falls is a popular tourist spot that attracts around 1.5 million visitors per year. The viewing platform is only 200 feet from the parking lot and is accessible by wheelchair.
Another option is to drive north from Seattle to the beautiful Deception Pass State Park, where marine, forest, and mountain views abound. The Deception Pass Bridge takes you to the northeastern tip of Whidbey Island. From the town of Clinton in the south of Whidbey, you can catch a Washington State Ferry boat back to the mainland.
Whidbey Island is just one of many islands in the sound that can be visited with ease from Seattle. Ten miles southwest of the city is Vashon Island, which has a funky, artsy feel. Bainbridge Island, 10 miles west of the city, is somewhat more refined, with a renovated historic town offering fine dining options.
Farther from the city, the San Juan Islands offer the most rural feel. The San Juans, as they're affectionately called by locals, are accessible by the ferries or, if you're not afraid of flying in puddle jumpers and want to avoid the ferry lines, by float plane.
For more about the arts, festivals, shopping, and dining, go to Visit Seattle.
Travel Information
Airport
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) is located 15 miles south of downtown Seattle, which is where the Washington State Convention Center is located. The airport serves 27 airlines and is accessible from both U.S. and international locations.
Airline Discount - Delta
Reservations and ticketing are available via Delta. When booking online, use the discount code NML9Q.
Airport Shuttle Discount - Downtown Airporter
Airport transportation service is provided by Downtown Airporter. To learn about the options they offer, download their flier or call (425) 981-7000.
Taxi Service
Yellow Cab services the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. They are located on the third floor of the parking garage and offer both sedans and vans.
Uber
Grab your FREE UBER ride! Uber is an app that allows you to request a ride with the tap of a button. Text the promo code ASA2015 to 827-222 or sign up at uber.com/go/ASA2015 for your 1st ride free up to $20! (New users only.)
Public Transportation
The Washington State Convention Center is accessible by the Central Link light rail system. From the airport, take the light rail to the last stop at the Westlake Center Station. The convention center is three blocks from the Westlake Center stop. The trip from the airport to this stop takes about 40 minutes.
Chinatown International District and Pioneer Square are also located off the light rail.
The Seattle Center Monorail provides a quick and convenient link between downtown Seattle and Seattle Center, home of the Space Needle. To visit the Seattle Center from downtown, board the monorail at the Westlake Center Station located at 5th Avenue and Pine Street.
American Statistical Association
732 North Washington Street, Alexandria, VA 22314
(703) 684-1221 • meetings@amstat.org
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