This Pacific Northwest town has a chill attitude and an easygoing manner. Many areas have a very urban feel, especially the docks and downtown, but surrounding mountains, forests and water soften this punk beat.
In this guide we will visit some of the best features of Seattle and neighboring areas.
The Space Needle
It’s hard to believe this futuristic structure, recognized around the world as the symbol of the “Emerald City”, was constructed just 46 years ago. Edward Carlson, inspired by the Stuttgard Tower in Germany, sketched the design in tune with the Fair’s theme – Century 21 – but it was architect John Graham who completed the final saucer look. The Space Needle, standing 605 feet tall, was in fact built in record time for the 1962 Seattle World Fair.
The platform above allows both an indoor and outdoor walk around to get the best view – a 360 panorama of the city and even Mount Rainier. As with many tall structures, the space deck houses a revolving restaurant – SkyCity – this one is unique in the fact that it was only the 2nd revolving restaurant in the world. The Space Needle is open every day from 9 am to midnight. The park at the bottom is nice for kids of all ages, especially the Ferris wheel.
Experience Music Project
One place that is often overlooked is the Experience Music Project located at the bottom of the Space Needle. This unique museum is dedicated to the exploration of creativity and innovation in music. From blues beginnings to the story of guitar, the museum has many interactive exhibits that both adults and kids will enjoy. Kids will love the Sound Lab where you can sit in your own recording studio, jam and record using various instruments, or go On Stage and be a rock star with the lights, smoke and all that. The guitar sculpture is stunning with various types of guitars melted up in the air like a twister. There are many music artifacts and you can learn a little about different musicians by reading some of their original lyrics and listening to them speak about their music. One exhibit I was very impressed by was the Jimi Hendrix exhibit which goes on through 2010. This “Evolution of Sound” exhibit traces his roots to the beginning of his sound in Seattle to his tours in the South and then living in New York. You can view various guitars from the Hendrix collection, listen to some of his revolutionary sound techniques and see old video footage.
Pike Place Market
The waterfront is a bustle of activity with a great intermingling of different cultures, particularly Russian and Japanese. People were lining up to get some Russian delicacies and the touristy crowd by the Starbucks never ceased when I visited. The attention to this particular Starbucks store is understandable – this is the original store. 
While still functional, it is a nice reminder of the 70s decor and atmosphere with long lamps, wooden signs and plenty of coffee. Perhaps it’s the presence of Starbucks in town or maybe all the funky little coffee shops (like Bauhaus or Cafe Vita) that made me always crave coffee in this town. Again, this could be my bias but I felt that I’ve never had better coffee anywhere in the world and probably why I inhaled so many cups while in town. Pike Place Market is really a set of farmers markets that never cease to exist – up to 600 businesses at one time.
Underground Tour
The history of Seattle is rich in odd and quirky events. After 33 city blocks burned in the great fire of 1889, instead of rebuilding, the town just created new buildings on top of the old city. You can learn some of that history and visit the world beneath the new city by taking the Underground Tour at Pioneer Square. The tour allows you to walk through the buried ruins of a burlesque theater, visit Seattle’s first public bathrooms and learn about stories of some famous scammers. It’s a dark and quite scary atmosphere but it brings you back straight to those days. If you want to continue along the path to the past, visit a nearby Elliott Bay bookstore full of old books and letters. Pioneer Square is the oldest neighborhood in Seattle and part of the National Historic District.
The Islands
A trip to Seattle islands is one of the best ways to experience the true Pacific Northwest. To get there, you will need to drive to any of the Washington State Ferries. You can find one at several spots and complete schedules and maps are available on the WSF site. Notably this is the largest ferry system in the United States, serving both Washington and the Province of British Columbia in Canada. There are 10 routes and 20 terminals. These ferries operate like clockwork but in the summer time make sure you leave yourself enough time to get on the ferry. Since this is a popular place to go among locals and visitors alike, wait times can be a few hours on some popular routes. Note that you can both walk and drive onto a ferry. So if you are in line and have to wait, you can leave your car and walk around the area before boarding.
The terminal I went to was Anacortes with several routes to San Juan Islands and Sidney, BC. Just drive north on I-5 from Seattle (about 2 hours) and exit to Anacortes. The majestic scenery on the way is well worth it. You really feel like you are getting away from the city. The best time to go is between June and September. The island is beautiful inside and out – from the pristine parks, so lush a rare cell phone will work there, to the deep blue waters where you can see quite a few whales (try a whale watching tour), to the native history (see the old totem poles carved by the original tribes), to the sweet smell of fresh wildflowers. The food is fresh and delicious – I enjoyed every meal there, especially at the “New Leaf Cafe” at “Outlook Inn”.
Let’s visit Orcas Island – the most spectacular and the largest of San Juan Islands (over 36,000 acres). The beat of the city really slows down once you get to the island of Orca. Whether you are watching the sunset on the beach with a quiet breeze, smelling the fire as you cook crab caught a day earlier, or just relaxing with your friends, Orcas Island has something for everyone’s perfect vacation. Some of the things you can do on the island:
- Take a drive (or bike ride) to the Rosario resort and spa to see the Cascade Bay. The Bay has a beautiful backbone of trees and cliffs all around. Dress warm as it gets quite chilly over here. When the mist comes down over the bay, it’s both an eerie and awe-inspiring experience.
- Go on a crabbing expedition (crab season starts July 2nd.). Captain Brandow of Outer Island Expeditions can hook you up with a custom fishing or crabbing trip and even help you cook the crab afterwards on the beach. You can also go on a whale watching or kayaking tour with the same company.
- You can experience porpoises and seals from the front row when you go kayaking with Osprey Tours. With over 15 years of tour experience, they can guide you to the best locations for their sunset kayak trips. They actually make their kayaks right there on the island.
- All 3 pods of whales are back for the summer, so go for a memorable ride. Take a whale watching trip with Eclipse Charters with Dan and Denise Wilk. This is one of the most comfortable boats with a heated cabin and comfy seats. The guides are excellent and really know the island and its environment.
Bike, hike or drive to the Moran State Park. The trees are magnificent, miles high, the grass is tall and hills are stretching forever and ever. This camping park has over 30 miles of hiking trails, as well as biking and horse trails, and 5 freshwater lakes. Hike Mt. Constitution, which is over 2000 feet high – there is a nice observation area up there with a pretty distant view.
I am not listing any restaurant recommendations here, as there are plenty already made on the web, but I would say that when you are in the Pacific Northwest, definitely sample some fish, especially salmon, it’s delicious. So breathe in the fresh air and enjoy the slow pace – this is one of the absolute best places to recharge.
