Totem poles mark the entrance to this museum, where exhibits survey the land and cultures of the Pacific Northwest. Highlights include artifacts from Washington' s 35 Native American tribes, dinosaur skeletons, and dioramas depicting the traditions of . . .

The 27- mi- long, paved Burke- Gilman Trail runs from Seattle' s Gas Works Park, on Lake Union, east along an old railroad right- of- way along the ship canal, and then north along Lake Washington' s western shore.

At Blyth Park in Bothell, the trail becomes the . . . This colorful, spacious museum is located just off the Center House' s food court, in the heart of Seattle Center. Enter through a Northwest wilderness setting, with winding trails, hollow logs, and a waterfall.

From there, you can explore a global village . . . Seattle' s most controversial architectural statement is the 140, 000- square- foot complex designed by architect Frank Gehry, who drew inspiration from electric guitars to achieve the building' s curvy metallic design. ( Some say, however, that it looks more . . . The park gets its name from the hulking remains of an old 1907 gas plant, which, far from being an eyesore, actually lends quirky character to the otherwise open, hilly, 20- acre park.

Get a great view of Downtown Seattle while seaplanes rise up from the . . . This beautiful 342- acre park is a favorite of Seattleites, who jog, blade, bike, and walk their dogs along the 2. 8- mi paved path that surrounds the lake. Beaches on both the east and west sides ( around 72nd Street) have lifeguards and swimming rafts. . . .

The locks are an important passage in the 8- mi Lake Washington Ship Canal that connects Puget Sound to freshwater Lake Washington and Lake Union— and, on a sunny day, this is a great place to visit. In addition to boat traffic, the Locks see an estimated . . . Though staring at a canal may not seem terribly exciting, the locks— an important passage in the 8- mi Lake Washington Ship Canal that connects Puget Sound' s saltwater Shilshole Bay to freshwater Lake Washington and Lake Union— are definitely worth a visit if . . .

This 640- acre park has the famous Marymoor Velodrome— the Pacific Northwest' s sole cycling arena— a 45- foot- high climbing rock, game fields, tennis courts, a model airplane launching area, off- leash dog space, and the Pea Patch community garden. You can row . . .

Just across the Montlake Cut ( the bridge between the U- District and the nearby Montlake neighborhood, which crosses one area of the Lake Washington Ship Canal) , but still close enough to be quite walkable from the university campus, this museum can help . . . The only educational institute in the country to focus solely on Nordic cultures, this museum in a massive 1900s schoolhouse traces Scandinavian art, artifacts, and heritage all the way from Viking times. Behind the redbrick walls, nine permanent galleries . . . In a renovated church in the Maple Leaf neighborhood, the only puppet center in the Northwest highlights the renowned marionettes of the Carter family, professional puppeteers trained by masters from Italy, Romania, and China. For their talents they have . . .

Located on the Seattle Center campus, the Science Center has been a destination for families, school groups, and curious tourists since the 1962 World' s Fair. Much has changed since then: the center now has more than 200 indoor and outdoor hands- on . . . Pike Place Market, one of the nation' s largest and oldest public markets, plays host to happy, hungry crowds all year round, but summer is when things really start to heat up. Strap on some walking shoes and enjoy its many corridors: shops and stalls . . . The city' s renovated aquarium is more popular than ever.

Among its most engaging residents are the sea otters— kids, especially, seem able to spend hours watching the delightful antics of these creatures and their river cousins.

In the Puget Sound Great . . . New York tycoon Lyman Cornelius Smith had big plans for Seattle in 1909— in the form of blueprints for a 14- story building. Turns out his son, Burns Lyman Smith, had even bigger plans, for a 21- story structure with an additional 21- story tower, topped by a . . . Almost 50 years old, Seattle' s most iconic building is as quirky and beloved as ever.

The distinctive, towering structure of the 605- foot- high Space Needle is visible throughout much of Seattle— but the view from the inside out is even better. A . . .

If it weren' t for a small sign on the sidewalk pointing the way, you' d never know that Fremont has its own chocolate factory. Theo has helped to boost the Northwest' s growing artisan chocolate scene and has already taken the city by storm, thanks to . . . Also called Sand Point- Magnuson Park and most often simply Magnuson Park, this 350- acre space was once a naval air base, so it' s not surprising that this park northeast of the University District ( U- District) is flat and open. The paved trails are . . . As far as Seattle' s green spaces go, this 230- acre arboretum is arguably the most beautiful.

On calm weekdays, the place feels really secluded; though there are trails, you feel like you' re freer to roam here than at Discovery Park.

The seasons are always . . .

Many of the 300 species of animals in this 92- acre botanical garden roam freely in habitat areas.

A jaguar exhibit is the center of the Tropical Rain Forest area, where rare cats, frogs, and birds evoke South American jungles. The Humboldt penguin exhibit . . .

NEWARK, N. J. ( AP) - After missing the playoffs for the first time since 1996, the New Jersey Devils have turned to Peter De. Boer to get them to the back to the postseason.

NEWARK, N. J. ( AP) - After missing the playoffs for the first time since 1996, the New Jersey Devils have turned to Peter De. Boer to get them to the back to the postseason. It' s a simple assignment, but seemingly an odd choice by Devils president and general manager Lou Lamoriello. The 43- year- old De.

Boer spent the past three seasons as the coach of the Florida Panthers and was fired in April after failing to lead them to the playoffs during his tenure. Lamoriello wasn' t concerned about De. Boer' s qualifications on Tuesday after ending a nearly four- month search to find a replacement for Jacques Lemaire , who went back into retirement after the season ended. Lamoriello insisted that De. Boer was one of the best young coaches in the business, and his three seasons with the Panthers only made him a better coach. " Coming out of junior, he was the most highly sought after junior coach, " Lamoriello said. " But I also know from experience there is a transition and when you go through a transition, you ma. . .

This beach near Aguadilla is famous for the colorful fishing boats docked on its shores; its long, beautiful stretch of golden yellow sand; and its clear water, which is perfect for swimming. Named after rescue boats used when Ramey Air Force Base was in . . . Isabela beaches are mostly rough and suitable for surfers, but some sections of this beach are safe and swimmable. On the same stretch, there are a couple of restaurants with oceanfront decks serving light fare and drinks. OPEN: Daily dawn- dusk.