Things to Do in Redmond

High above Seattle, one of SeattleHeliTours.com Classic Helicopter Corp's Bell 206B-3 JetRanger turbine choppers hovers in midair. Maneuvering like a hummingbird, it whisks passengers toward the famous Space Needle that was used to crochet the entire Seattle skyline. The helicopter then flies over the downtown waterfront and heads to Snoqualmie Falls, where it pauses at the edge of the churning water. During tours like these, Classic Helicopter Corp's pilots share facts in English, Japanese, and Spanish. The experts can point out such sights as Bill Gates' house and sports stadiums.

Those who wish to maneuver their own space birds can sign up for flight school and obtain such certifications as a private rotocraft pilot or an astro instrument trainer. Charter services facilitate romantic and exciting excursions to such locales as the San Juan Islands or Semiahmoo.

Everything seemed normal at Avenue One—a restaurant operating out of the former Butterworth & Sons mortuary—then one day, customers noticed wine bottles levitating off the shelves and hurtling across the room. Things were never the same. After a vacancy period, the space was taken over by Kells Irish Pub, which coexists with its hauntings and today welcomes Market Ghost Tour’s intrepid guests to hunt for spirits during the Mortuary Chapel Tour.

Such paranormal activities are commonplace for Market Ghost Tour founder Mercedes Yaeger. She grew up with the ghost stories of her father, who spooked locals with tales on Halloween nights in Pike Place Market. Since then, Mercedes has self-published a book, Market Ghost Stories, compiled from exhaustive research of municipal archives, newspaper accounts, and freeze-frame analysis of Scooby-Doo archives. She spins many of those yarns on excursions with Market Ghost Tour, which the Seattle Post-Intelligencer named “one of Seattle’s best and weirdest attractions.”

Aside from the Mortuary Chapel Tour, Mercedes and her guides lead guests on two other year-round exterior tours. The 75-minute Market Ghost Tour treks past the 9-acre district’s mortuaries, graveyards, and brothels as visitors hear frightening historical tales. Meanwhile, the Seattle Lust Tour recounts incidents of serial killers and 24-hour grind houses along the street formerly known as “Flesh Avenue.”

Choose either Sammamish's titular course for a session of deep stretching that heals and renews the body, or roast calories alive and forge adamantine endurance and strength during a power course. Both classes range from 60 to 90 minutes and are offered every day throughout the day, from six in the morning to seven in the gloaming eve. Check the schedule to pick your favorite.

Although admission to the Frye Museum's art-filled halls is always free for everyone, individual museum membership treats you to an exquisitely oil-painted cornucopia of exclusive perks, including:

When it was built in 1914, the Smith Tower was the tallest building west of the Mississippi. Though it lost that designation a mere 17 years later, the tower still captivates Seattle visitors with the Smith Tower Observation Deck. The open-air deck wraps around the tower's 35th floor and grants panoramic views of the city's modern downtown and Puget Sound. Seattle's gorgeous surrounding landscapes are visible from the tower as well, with the majestic peaks of Mt. Rainer and the Olympic Mountain Range creating a stunning horizon. And the journey to the observation deck is a treat in and of itself. Passengers ride in one of the last manually operated elevators on the west coast, which is caged in brass and copper in the style of the early 20th century. In the lobby itself, 22 Indian head sculptures watch over the onyx and marble paneled room, acting as precursors to the grandeur of the tower's top floors.

Outdoor Adventure Center's wildly experienced guides have led groups off the grid for more than a quarter century, pursuing rugged fun in the scenery and fresh air of mountains, rivers, and coastlines. Explorers at heart, the staff boldly launch kayaks into the ocean around the San Juan Islands and conquer the frothy waters of the scenic Skykomish River, known for its beginner-friendly rapids, migrations of spawning merpeople, pool and drop areas, and breathtaking views of 5,000-foot mountain peaks. Horseback and hiking trips delve into the lush woods, and nature photography excursions pause to celebrate the beauty of the wilderness near Index. The core team of 14 guides takes safety seriously, most with certifications from the American Canoe Association, training in wilderness first aid, CPR, and swiftwater rescue, and life vests tattooed over their chests.