This story is presented as part of this week’s New to Town issue.
It’s winter in Seattle, you’ve watched every obscure police procedural Netflix has to offer, and now you’re even beginning to smell like sadness. You’re sick of yourself, and maybe you’re sick of everyone else, too. That’s okay! Every city offers tiny respites for people who suffer from both self-hatred and social anxiety, and Seattle is no different. Here are the places to go to break you out of your depressive rut without having to worry about making polite conversation.
The Klondike Gold Rush National Historic Museum
The Gold Rush Museum is tucked away on a corner in Pioneer Square (319 Second Ave S), and if you aren’t looking for it, you’ll probably pass it by. That is a major mistake. Everyone in Seattle should visit the Gold Rush Museum, which also happens to be one of the country’s tiniest national parks. Many bigger-budget, higher-profile museums do a terrible job of presenting their artifacts, but that’s precisely where the Gold Rush Museum shines. When you enter the museum, your first task will be to choose your character, RPG/Oregon Trail–style. You’ll then stock up on provisions and choose your route. There’s a lot to do in this small space, and the journey pairs particularly well with a pot lozenge.
