Washington’s culture is as diversified as its landscapes. A modern museum dedicated to the history of music makes its home in the heart of Seattle, www.emplive.org, while across the state an interpretive center in the wine country rents teepees and shares Native customs and lore with visitors, www.yakamanation.com. Take in some local flavor and history by visiting some of Washington’s smaller cities.

Seattle produces some of the finest performing and visual arts in the world. This region’s opera, symphony, theater and ballet companies are known as first rate, and offerings span tap, dance, chamber music, children’s theater, musicals, mime, puppetry, photography and video arts. Museums, modern art to anthropology, can all be found at www.seattle.citysearch.com, or www.halcyon.com/tmend/seattle4.

New works are constantly being spawned, many reaching acclaim throughout the country. Asian, Nordic, African-American and Latino cultures all find expression in formal exhibits or big production festivals. Contact the Seattle-King County Convention & Visitors Bureau at www.seeseattle.org or 206-461-5840 for listings.

Tacoma is in the spotlight for its plan to build a glass footbridge conceived by world-renown glass artist, Dale Chihuly. The Tacoma Art Museum (253-272-4258, www.tacomaartmuseum.org) houses a large permanent collection of Chihuly glass and is known for its exquisite exhibitions of world important artists and movements.

Also not-to-be-missed is a spectacular Chihuly installation dressing up the renovated turn-of-the-century train depot, Union Station. Right next door is the Washington State History Museum (1-888-BE THERE, www.wshs.org) where touring the ages happens in dioramas and exciting interactive exhibits.

No Chihuly hunt would be complete without visiting the Pilchuck Glass School, www.pilchuck.com, in Snohomish County started by Chihuly in 1971 with a few tents and a tree house. Today, the center has surpassed Morano in its reputation for contemporary glass artwork. While only open to the public during its annual summer open house, works of its resident artists, including William Morris and Richard Royal, as well as students producing studio quality pieces, may be seen in local venues and galleries throughout the region, including the Monte Cristo Hotel in Everett.

While in Everett, stroll along a sea-side boardwalk past magnificent timber baron mansions, step aboard a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier at the Everett Naval Station (425-304-3201). A farmers market, fish market, microbreweries and waterfront hotels can be all found here, just 15 minutes north of Seattle.

Have you ever felt inspired by your laundry? Dryer lint is a medium of choice for northwest artist Elizabeth Barlow. Located just outside of Forks, a community better known for its chainsaw carvings, Barlow uses colorful dryer lint to create delicately textured pictures that rival any watercolor, (360-374-6738). While in Forks, tour the Olympic West Arttrek, a group of 23 stores and art galleries tucked in the heart of the rainforest that feature everything from Native baskets and crafts, to art quilts and leather designs and chainsaw sculptures, www.forkswa.com/arttrek.

Three other communities thrive on a high percentage of artists and alternative lifestyles. Port Townsend, also on the Olympic Peninsula, attracts artists for fine-art residencies and nestled amongst its Victorians, and shorefront sailing shops are gift and craft galleries galore.

Fremont is a funky, feisty and full of fun neighborhood in Seattle where there’s a Fahrvergnugen-snacking troll, a steam-hissing ex-airforce rocket now decked in neon and a Lenin statue a little too big and bold for the serious Russian.

La Conner, located on a canal cornering the Skagit Valley tulip fields, displays more aesthetic offerings and is home to novelist Tom Robbins.

LOCALS SUGGEST:

• Microsoft billionaire Paul Allen’s Experience Music Project, an interactive center exploring rock ’n roll and American popular music. Opened in June 2000, the building itself is an architectural alternative, too. Visit www.emplive.com.
• The Tacoma theater district annually opens its many performing arts doors to New Year's Eve festivities and performances. “First Night” guests hop from one production to the next and enjoy alcohol-free frivolity all night long.