Date of trip: May 2008

Since I’ve met so many great people from Seattle, it’s a place I’ve long wanted to visit. Like its natives, the city is fun and friendly and although it’s called “The Rainy City” the weather was perfect during my stay. I was told we would need a car, but Will and I had no trouble getting around without one. The city strongly encourages the use of public transportation and has underground tunnels for their buses which are free to ride in the downtown area.

Highlights:

-The most recognizable landmark in Seattle is without a doubt the Space Needle. A monorail runs to the structure from downtown and I was surprised at how excited I was when it appeared through the trees. It was like a giant “Welcome to Seattle” sign! We had lunch at the top which was expensive but the food was excellent and the view of the city is amazing. Will even got their signature dessert, a smoking ice cream called the Lunar Orbiter. The restaurant is located in the ring and rotates around the Needle so that in the course of a meal you’ll see Seattle from all angles. If you eat there, tickets to the observation deck are included. Otherwise, you can just buy tickets to visit the top.

-Next to the Space Needle is the Experience Music Project. You can’t miss the shiny, wavy, Frank Gehry designed building, especially since the monorail to the area drives right through it. Built by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen in 2004, the museum pays tribute to Jimi Hendrix with memorabilia and interactive displays. There’s also a collection of priceless guitars and an exhibit called the “Northwest Passage” which features musicians from the Seattle area. Another section of the building serves as the Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame and houses artifacts from sci-fi movies mostly from Allen’s private collection.

-Seattle’s public market, Pike Place Market has been operating since 1907 and is one of the oldest markets in the United States. Here you’ll find fresh produce, bakeries and the famous fish market where fishmongers toss salmon through the air. They are happy to do it by request for a picture but they like to mess with people so watch your head! The very first Starbucks is here and so is the Market Theater gum wall, a creation patrons add to as they wait to see a show. The market mascot is a giant piggy bank named Rachel. Visitors rub Rachel’s chin and make a wish after they’ve given her some money. Every year, Rachel receives over $9,000 in a variety of currencies to support public works at the market.

-Although the Woodland Park Zoo isn’t the best I’ve seen, I would consider it among the top zoos in the United States. You get a great view of some animals that are often tricky to spot like the snow leopard, brown bears, jaguar and gorillas.

-The Seattle Art Museum downtown is small but has a nice collection, particularly of modern and contemporary art. I love the moving “Hammering Man” sculpture in front of the building. Inside, there is a stunning piece called “Some/One” by Korean artist Do-Ho Suh made from three thousand military dog tags.

-Visiting a library isn’t often on a trip to do list, but the Seattle Public Library Central Branch is not to be missed. Designed by Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas, it is big and bright and fun to explore. It’s like a maze with escalators, elevators, stairs and hallways every way you turn. The windows in the library form interesting light patterns and create a unique view of the street. We visited on May Day and a large protest passed by. It was quite a sight! My one caveat is to be aware of the people around you. The library is public and homeless people hang out there, especially in bad weather. For the most part, no one will bother you, but during our visit there was one screaming man that we had to dodge.

-If you are a frequent flier, you’ve probably spent time on a Boeing aircraft. Boeing is the largest aircraft manufacturer in the world and was incorporated in Seattle in 1916. Although the company has spread operations across the globe over the years, it still remains one of the city’s top employers. Visitors can learn all about the Boeing Company and the history of flight at the Museum of Flight just outside the downtown area. The museum contains many types of aircraft, some of which you can board and explore on the inside. 25 miles north of Seattle, in Everett, you can tour the facility where new airplanes are currently assembled at the Future of Flight Aviation Center and Boeing Tour. The factory is home to the largest building in the world. It’s so big that at one time clouds would form in the building and it would rain inside! Today, large fans prevent condensation from collecting and creating the “storms”. Photos are not allowed and this rule is strictly enforced so I don’t have any pictures, but it’s definitely worth making the trip out there if you have the time. We didn’t have a car so we took a Grayline tour there which lasted roughly 4 hours including travel time.

I was surprised at how few tourists I encountered in Seattle. Perhaps it doesn’t have the excitement or flashiness of some other U.S. cities, but that’s just why I loved it. Whether you enjoy art, history or a great cup of coffee you can find it all in Seattle with few crowds and little hassle.

For more pictures, please visit my Photo Gallery or click on any of the photos posted above.

Seattle Links:
Seattle Official Site
Space Needle
Experience Music Project/Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame
Pike Place Market
Woodland Park Zoo
Seattle Art Museum
Seattle Public Library
Museum of Flight
Boeing: Future of Flight Aviation Center & Boeing Tour
Grayline of Seattle Boeing Tour