Seattle
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Seattle, also referred to as the Emerald City, is home to some of America’s best coffee. It has a thriving arts scene with plenty of history and culture in its diverse neighborhoods. Surrounded by water between Puget Sound and Lake Washington, there are great outdoor activities to partake in, as well.
Places of Interest
Pike Place Market: Originally opened in 1907, Pike Place Market is one of the oldest continuously operated public farmers’ markets in the United States. The market overlooks Elliot Bay and is filled with fresh local produce, handmade crafts, amazing food, and wonderful energy.
Gum Wall Alley: Located under Pike Place Market is an alley lined with chewing gum. This gum has been contributed by people over the years, creating a rainbow compilation complete with small doses of street art. It’s pretty gross when you think about it, but also kind of neat. Come prepared with some gum to add your piece to the wall.
Starbucks: On 1st and Pike Street, you’ll find a humble little coffee shop called Starbucks. Now an international company, Starbucks opened its first store in Pike Place Market in 1971. This store mimics the feel of the original and incorporates special elements in its design.
Seattle Great Wheel: Pier 57 is home to Seattle’s ferris wheel, the Seattle Great Wheel. When it opened in 2012, it was the tallest ferris wheel on the West Coast. The line can get long during peak season, but the view is worth the wait on a sunny day. An adult ticket is $14 USD.
Seattle Japanese Garden: At this serene Japanese Garden, you can partake in tea ceremony and appreciate the garden’s natural beauty. Located in the Madison Park District, it’s a little far from the main attractions of Seattle, but the bus can efficiently get you there.
Queen Anne District: Home to the Space Needle, Chihuly Garden and Glass, and the Museum of Pop Culture, Queen Anne is a fun area with shops, cafes, and restaurants. The area sits atop a hill, granting wonderful city views.
Kerry Park: This is a small park in Queen Anne that overlooks the city. On a clear day, you can see Mount Rainier. It’s an iconic spot and many people come here to catch a view of Seattle complete with the Space Needle. Gas Works park is another awesome park in Seattle with amazing energy.
Capitol Hill District: If you’re looking for nightlife, vintage shops, and friendly people, hang out in Capitol Hill. The community is quite diverse and is also Seattle’s LGBTQ-center. There are lots of coffee shops and eateries, as well as marijuana dispensaries to tickle your fancy.
West Seattle: Across the bay is West Seattle, a laid back community with boutiques, beaches, and coffee cafes. The biggest attraction is Alki Beach Park, where you can hang out, kayak, or paddle board for some fun on the water.
Food
Tacos Chukis: Voted as one of Seattle’s best taquerias, Tacos Chukis has a few locations throughout the city. The original restaurant is on the second floor of a building in Capitol Hill. It’s a little difficult to find this shop, as there are barely any signs. However, you’ll eat some of the best tacos ever here.
Marination Ma Kai: Right next to the Water Taxi dock is Marination Ma Kai, a Hawaiian-Korean fusion restaurant serving delicious food, like spam and eggs, kimchi fried rice, and kalbi beef tacos. Compared to spots in Southern California, this place is a little pricey, but definitely hits the spot.
Nate’s Wings & Waffles: Co-owned by former NBA player Nate Robinson, Nate’s Wings & Waffles makes amazing fried chicken paired with fluffy waffles. Their buffalo wings are awesome, but have a kick to them—be careful.
Coffee: Seattle is regarded as one of the top places for coffee roasting, making it one coffee-crazed city. With the high amount of rain and cloud cover, caffeine is necessary to keep you happy and alert on gloomy days.
- Seattle Coffee Works: With several locations scattered throughout the city, Seattle Coffee Works proudly sources their coffee directly from coffee growers. This socially-conscious and environmentally-friendly business model makes it a win in my book, and their coffee is great, too.
- Starbucks: I’m not a fan of Starbucks, but if you are, grabbing a drink where it all started on 1st and Pike Street is a must.
- El Diablo Coffee Co.: Infusing Latin American-inspired flavors with local PNW ingredients, this tiny shop in Queen Anne has some tasty drinks and fantastic food. Their Cubano Coffee is awesome and will keep you going the entire day.
Dick’s Drive-in: A Seattle original, Dick’s is a cool place with old-time flare where you can pick up a classic American meal: burger, fries, and a milkshake. All burgers are cooked well-done and substitutions are not allowed.
Beecher’s Handmade Cheese: This artisan cheesemaking shop has two locations, one in Seattle and a second in New York City. You can watch the cheese being made in real time while you place your order and enjoy your food. Their mac ’n’ cheese is a must-try while in Seattle.
Daily Dozen Doughnut Company: In Pike Place Market, there’s a tiny stall home to some of the best cinnamon donuts I’ve ever had. Daily Dozen makes them as fresh as they come, with the fryer directly across from the customer.
Top Pot Doughnuts: Coffee and donuts go together so well, which makes sense as to why donuts are a staple in Seattle. Top Pot is Seattle-original with a huge following. If you get your donuts eat-in, they serve them on plates of various colors and shapes.
Travel tip #1: Starbucks, Tully’s, and Seattle’s Best are all well-known coffee companies with Seattle roots. Although these are great places to grab a cup of joe, try smaller, local cafes and coffee shops while in the city. The vibe is much different and you might learn a thing or two about Seattle’s famous coffee culture.
Transportation & Accommodation
Getting around Seattle without a car is fairly easy as the Light Link Rail train system and Metro buses connect major parts of the city. The Light Link Rail gets you from the Seattle-Tacoma Airport and into the city center, where you can either transfer to a bus line or walk to your destination. Purchasing a reloadable ORCA Card (a $5 USD deposit) and paying $8 USD allows unlimited use of public transportation systems for an entire day. To get to West Seattle, you can either take a couple buses or opt for the West Seattle Water Taxi. The Water Taxi is a fun way to cross the bay and about $6 USD for one-way fare. Riding sharing services such as Uber and Lyft are prominent and affordable options for transportation around Seattle, too.
Hotels in Seattle can be a tad pricey, but Airbnb is a good alternative. I love Airbnb because you get more of a local-experience and a feel for the neighborhood you’re staying in. It’s nice in Seattle because each neighborhood has different character and charm, as well as various cafes and shops that make your time in the city a little less touristy. I stayed in Queen Anne and loved it, but the hills are unideal if you have any physical limitations or disabilities.
Travel tip #2: Traffic can be absolutely horrible in the Emerald City, so staying off the roads during rush hour is advisable. Walking is not a bad option in Seattle, but be aware of your surroundings in some of the more homeless-populated areas.
Climate
Similar to Portland, Oregon, Seattle receives a fair amount of precipitation throughout the year. The city has warm, mild summers and cold, wet winters. Winter months can be quite dreary, making November through March unideal times to visit if rain and clouds aren’t your thing. Late spring through early autumn are great times to visit, as there is ample sunshine and comfortable temperatures. Peak tourist season is July through August, with many places highly crowded and accommodation prices higher.