Seattle's natural beauty, colorful history, and vibrant cultural and culinary scenes are only part of what gives this city its distinctive character. Weave together Pacific Northwest Native American culture with the pioneering spirit of the Yukon Gold Rush and 21st-century cutting-edge technology, and it’s no surprise that the most well-known names associated with Seattle are: Chief Selth, Jimi Hendrix and Bill Gates. World-renowned companies such as Microsoft, Starbucks, Amazon, REI and Boeing also add luster to Seattle’s delightfully complex personality. The foundation for everything, however, is the city’s spectacular setting.
Surrounded by mountains, Seattle is positioned between saltwater Puget Sound to the west and freshwater Lake Washington on the east, with smaller Lake Union (location of the famous “Sleepless in Seattle” houseboats) in the center. Two floating bridges connect Seattle with its suburbs on the east side of Lake Washington, while ferries link the city with outlying islands and beyond. No wonder there are more boats per capita here than in any other U.S. city. Because of this natural setting, Seattle also offers unparalleled outdoor activities including biking, kayaking, hiking, and skiing. Seattle’s notorious rain keeps foliage lush and moss growing year-round but also offers a fertile setting to nourish the arts and support sustainable organic farms.
Clean, green and wired, Seattle has a culture all its own. From its urban waterfront to high-end retail outlets and super hip Belltown, the city pulses with energy and endless things to do and explore. Sip a latte, watch fishmongers toss salmon in the air, wander through Asian markets and cruise Puget Sound aboard a graceful ferry.
With many attractions and a range of hotels and restaurants concentrated in downtown Seattle, a rental car isn’t necessary for a visit. It’s easy to explore the city by foot, even with a few steep hills between the waterfront and the city center. To make getting around even easier, there’s no charge to hop aboard frequent buses within a large "free-ride zone" spanning the central downtown area, from Pioneer Square and the Chinatown/International District northward beyond Pike Place Market to Battery Street, and from the waterfront area eastward to Sixth Avenue. Taxis are also abundantly available. The classic monorail, an icon from the 1972 World’s Fair, along with the Space Needle, is also well worth a ride to and from the Seattle Center and the Experience Music Project just north of the main downtown area. The new Light Rail line quickly moves passengers from downtown Seattle to SeaTac Airport.
Visitors will find Seattle offers an excellent choice of hotels, from large, well-known names to smaller boutique lodgings, all conveniently located for easy sightseeing and dining. We suggest the Hotel Monaco, in the Kimpton Group of properties. Relax before the lobby fireplace in early evening with a glass of Northwest wine. Unwind in guest rooms offering a cozy, residential feel yet providing business traveler amenities including data ports, two-line phones and personal fax machines. You're only a few blocks from the recently expanded and remodeled Seattle Art Museum, the famous Pike Place Market, the waterfront and Pioneer Square.
For those seeking a "hip hotel" that also acknowledges Seattle as the birthplace of "grunge," the Hotel Max is an excellent choice. The 163-room hotel, which opened in 2006, showcases local photographers' art on room doors and walls, with images of street musicians but also grunge acts such as Pearl Jam and Nirvana. Another option is the chic and simple Hotel Ändra, a boutique hotel with interiors reflecting Scandinavian design influences. Celebrity chef Tom Douglas's Mediterranean-themed Lola serves as the hotel's restaurant, offering breakfast, lunch and dinner with a full bar.
One of the newest entrants to Seattle's hotel scene is the Arctic Club Hotel, which combines the history and grandeur of an early 20th century men's club with contemporary design and amenities. Housed in a building listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the hotel's décor mixes Art Nouveau, modern and period furniture with an elegant yet playful approach. It goes without saying that this luxury hotel offers first-class services for discerning business and leisure travelers. The posh Four Seasons Hotel, Seattle recently opened near Pike Place Market, adding a new standard of refinement to the city’s lodging choices.
Before you begin your tour, consider getting a CityPass to save up to 50% off the price of regular admissions to some of the city's finest attractions.
DAY
1
Hop aboard the Seattle Center Monorail at Westlake Center for the one-mile ride to Seattle Center, a lasting legacy of the 1962 World’s Fair. The exposition gave the city its landmark Space Needle, a 605-foot tower that may not look as futuristic now as it did when new, but
it's a structure still turning heads almost 50 years later. Ride a glass-sided elevator 520 feet up to the observation deck for stunning 360-degree views stretching across Puget Sound west to the Olympic Mountains on the Olympic Peninsula, and east to the Cascade Range. On a clear day looking south, you’ll see snowcapped Mount Rainier. Remember when revolving restaurants were all the rage? Well, you can still find one just below the Space Needle’s observation deck, SkyCity, where you can enjoy brunch, lunch or dinner.
Next stop is the Experience Music Project, which celebrates music of all genres, from rock to hip-hop, country, punk and gospel. Aptly named, it’s an interactive museum where you can try your own skills singing or playing the guitar. Jimi Hendrix fans will revel in the gallery of memorabilia devoted to this artist, a Seattle native. With the same admission ticket, you can visit the co-located Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame nearby. Also, be sure to check out the Pacific Science Center that’s right nearby. Kids of all ages will enjoy exploring its Tropical Butterfly House and taking in the latest 3-D production at the IMAX Theatre.
Seattle Center‘s 74-acre setting also contains the nationally-renowned Seattle Repertory Theatre, the Intiman Theatre, the highly acclaimed Seattle Children’s Theatre, and McCaw Hall, home of the Seattle Opera and Pacific Northwest Ballet. Don’t miss the spectacular International Fountain, a good place to cool off on a summer day.
Return on the monorail (or grab a taxi) and head for Pike Place Market, often called the soul of Seattle. This working, seven-acre marketplace brims with color and action, stretching from First Avenue and Pike Street along Pike Place to encompass all the additional shops and vendors between Union and Virginia Streets to Western Avenue.
Renowned as the oldest working farmers market in the U.S., Pike Place Market celebrated its 100th birthday in 2007. Today, the year-round public market hosts 250 merchants, 100 farmers, 200 craftspeople and 100 street performers daily. All will thoroughly delight you. From a bounty of fresh produce and flowers in artistic displays, to tastes of crunchy cheese curds at Beecher's Handmade Cheese, to conversations overheard in multiple languages, to the antics of the hawkers—including salmon and halibut tossed in the air by a band of lively fishmongers—this is the true heart of Seattle.
While you're touring the Market, be sure to check out Pure Fish Food Market at 1511 Pike Place. Celebrating 100 years of operation, it's where you can purchase the freshest fish on the spot, have your catch of the day delivered free to your downtown hotel, packed and ready for the airplane trip, or send it via FedEx back to your hometown. Then, stroll up and down the streets and alleys, letting the Market's sights, sounds and smells entertain you. Note that many foods, not just fish, sold at the market can be packed for shipping or air travel, meaning you can easily take home a taste of Seattle.
For lunch, stop at Café Campagne to enjoy classic French bistro fare. It’s the casual sibling tucked below the elegant Marche, which serves dinner only. Or pick up a sandwich and a pastry to go from Three Girls Bakery and plant yourself on a bench at Victor Steinbrueck Park to watch ferry boats criss-crossing Elliott Bay. For an afternoon energy boost, stop at 1912 Pike Place, site of the original Starbucks Coffee. A friendly barista will brew a cappuccino, frappuccino or whatever libation-to-go suits your fancy (there's no seating). If you’re in the mood to sample Washington wine, step into The
Tasting Room to sip a few flights or enjoy a full glass of wine from one of seven
participating
wineries. If you like what you taste, you can buy a bottle to ship home.
From the Market, find the stairs on Pine Street leading down to Alaskan Way, the avenue bordering the waterfront bustling with ferries, yachts, fireboats, cruise ships to Alaska (during summer) plus a variety of attractions, shops and restaurants at the piers. Walk along the waterfront or hop aboard the green and yellow bus standing in for the retired streetcar. At Waterfront Park's Pier 59, the newly renovated Seattle Aquarium offers a close-up look from its underwater dome room at some of the creatures living in Puget Sound River otters and an authentic salmon stream are among other popular exhibits.
Dine this evening at Wild Ginger, where Southeast Asian cuisines show off their intricate flavorings.
If you're a music lover, top off the evening at either The Triple Door, the live music venue around the corner from Wild Ginger, or perhaps at Dimitriou's Jazz Alley, a popular club featuring world-class musicians.
Continue
to Day 2
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