General Seattle Information ::
NW Source is a relatively comprehensive local resource site.
Another similar site is Digital City: Seattle

Seattle Weather ::
Weather, generally, here in the Seattle area: January brings rain, frost, some wind and, just as often, the "bluest skies you've ever seen"! TEMPERATURE AVERAGES FROM JANUARY TO MARCH ARE: (LOW TO HIGH) 33.6-43.6 TO 40.2-57. Our rain here tends to be more of a mist than downpour but you never know what the ocean will bring. Locals don't usually use umbrellas, they make it apparent that one is not a native (look for webbed toes!). We will make sure that there are lots of umbrellas available, however, for out-of-towners! The San Juan Islands are in our "banana belt" which means it can be warmer than the rest of the state (thanks to a warm Japanese winter current through the Sound) and, usually, we'll see the sun each day.

Seattle Weather Forecast
Extended 6-day Forecast

Dress Accordingly ::
We recommend dressing in layers rather than bulky attire - think Eddie Bauer, their corporate headquarters are here. Do bring some shoes with good tread (if not hiking boots, then hiking tennis shoes), there are some areas of the camp with what could be slick trails, oh, like the trail down to the main camp lodge where we'll be eating our meals! We've asked that paths be graveled before we arrive! Bring lots of warm socks and/or slippers as we're going to recommend leaving shoes on the porches of our lodges during classes so the floors don't get wet, muddy or covered with pine needles. Flannel pajamas might be good - not for class but for sleeping - if you tend to be cold! If you're worried about it, bring an extra blanket, but we think you'll be fine.
Other things you'll need include: personal toiletries (again, not a hotel - soap, shampoo, etc.), plenty of changes of underwear (there's no laundry), clothes in which you can move for warm-ups & movement in several classes and again, you might want to bring an audition/character outfit.

For more information about lodging and Camp Orkila visit here.  

Newspapers ::
The Seattle Post-Intelligencer
The Seattle Times
Seattle's Weekly Newspapers: The Stranger and Seattle Weekly

Airport Information ::
Seattle-Tacoma Airport Survival Guide

Getting Around by bus ::
Most buses in Seattle run either north-south or east-west. The Metro bus system has a web page with routes and schedules: Metro Bus Information

If you're staying near the carpool site (TBA), the following buses stop close by:
Route 5: Studio area to/from downtown.
Route 48: Studio area to/from University District east side of Capitol Hill
Route 355: Studio area to/from downtown (limited hours).

Sight-seeing around our fair city of Seattle ::
There are some must-see locations in The Emerald City. Following is a list that Molly thinks are "musts" (really, several people have moved here because of her and they think she works for the Chamber of Commerce):

The Pike Place Market
the Waterfront (& Aquarium)
Seattle Art Museum
Space Needle/Seattle Center (Pacific Science Center)
Volunteer Park Water Tower (for a free unobstructed 360 degree view of the greater Seattle area) and while you're there - the Asian Art Museum and Volunteer Park Greenhouse
Alki Beach Lighthouse
Ballard Locks
The Arboretum
Pioneer Square
International District
Safeco Field
Snoqualmie Falls
Mt. Rainier (if you don't see it on your airplane approach or on a, ahem, clear day!)
Seattle's entertainment scene is quite good and we will have a Seattle Weekly Entertainment Magazine updated list of all the hot events for the week that you are here: theatre, ballet, symphony, art museums, opera, great music scene, good clubs, excellent restaurants, microbreweries, wineries, etc.

Seattle Area Housing ::
We have a Housing Coordinator for those of you who need a place to stay in/around the city of Seattle before/after the retreat.

Note: AIRE staff can not make arrangements for you. We can, however, happily provide you with information & contacts.

Stay with Green Wood Studio actors and friends
Many of our Studio actors and friends (& AIRE retreatants) have offered to put up out-of-town actors. Our Housing Coordinator has contact information for all of those generous folks.

Share a motel/hotel room
For you retreatants who would like to share a room at a motel/hotel before or after the retreat to help cut down on costs please contact our Housing Coordinator. For example, if two of you were to stay at the Emerald Inn (see below) it would be $22.50+tax per night.

Motels Centrally Located
The Emerald Inn Motel (AAA)
8512 Aurora N.
Seattle - Exit #172 off I-5
(206) 522-5000, office hours 8am to 11pm

Also, be sure to visit our Housing page for more information.

If you want information on lodging when at AIRE, visit our Camp Orkila page.

As always, please feel free to Contact Us with any additional questions about Seattle area transportation or sight-seeing.  Visit our Transportation page to get information about how you can get to Orcas Island.