A weekend in Seattle

Visitors take in the cloudy sky and the bright lights of Seattle from the Space Needle’s observation deck.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

The Space Needle, marking its 50th year, towers 605 feet above the city and the colorful new landmark, Chihuly Garden and Glass.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

A visitor walks through the $20-million, 45,000-square-feet exhibition from master glass artist Dale Chihuly.   (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

The exhibition garden features four monumental sculptures amid camellias, daylilies and dogwoods.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Visitors roam Chihuly Garden and Glass in the evening.   (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Joyce Altaras, left, and Jan Lewinsohn walk through the Chihuly Garden and Glass exhibition.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

The W Hotel, which underwent a multimillion-dollar renovation earlier this year, has an updated lobby and a new restaurant and bar called Trace.   (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

The lobby of the W Hotel.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)