West Coast Destination

A Seattle Story: Emerald City Scenes

(Images by Ruksana Hussain)

The largest city in the western state of Washington, Seattle is known for its gloomy weather, Mt. Rainier, and lush forests which give it the nickname of Emerald City.

This green gem in the Pacific Northwest offers visitors many ways to explore, be it arts and culture, food and wine, or any other interest. Irrespective of the duration of your stay, you will find many ways to fall in love with the area.

Play

Museum of Pop Culture sights.

Some spots to add to your itinerary include the Space Needle, Seattle Aquarium, harbor cruise, Museum of Pop Culture (MoPOP), Woodland Park Zoo, Chihuly Garden and Pacific Science Center. To save money and time, opt for the Seattle CityPass which offers access to many of these attractions at one consolidated price and with express entry. It can be purchased online or at any of the attractions and several other locations throughout the city.

The futuristic Space Needle is the city’s most iconic landmark and one you’ve probably seen onscreen in any movie or show that was shot here or even merely mentions the city. It’s a venue worth visiting both by day and at night as is the Seattle Great Wheel at the harbor where aerial views are a treat.

Enticing designs all around at Chihuly Garden.

Other venues that might be of interest include the Museum of Flight, Nordic Museum and Seattle Art Museum. There is no escaping a visit to Pike Place Market if you are here. You will enjoy walking around the area, trying samples from the many eateries, taking in the sights of the freshly caught seafood. The daily flower markets are a beautiful sight, especially early in the morning as the market first opens for business.

A walking tour with Savor Seattle is a lovely way to get better acquainted with the city and understand the history and importance of the market. From chocolate to biscuits, donuts to papusas, smoked salmon to spices, Turkish pides to American burgers, you can find quite the mix to choose from when getting a taste for the city. Walk along Pioneer Square for a feel of the marvelous local Renaissance Revival architecture and stop by some of the art galleries, coffee shops and trendy bars. Look for sculptures and other community art and installations dotting the streets.

Dine

Dining at Marjorie by Donna Moodie.

You are in luck if you can savor some geoduck (pronounced gooey-duck) during your visit. The edible saltwater clam found in Seattle’s waters is said to be quite the delicacy. Options to enjoy dinner at include Lola, featuring Greek flavors, Marjorie by Donna Moodie, and the Hyatt Regency’s Andare Kitchen. To dine overlooking the water, Palisade Restaurant is highly recommended.

Taste Washington, the annual wine and food festival, is a four-day celebration highlighting local and regional wineries and restaurants. It is the nation’s largest single-region culinary event inviting thousands to the city along with some top celebrity chefs.

Fun fact: Washington state is the second largest premium wine producer in the United States producing 70 varietals including Gerwurztraminer, Viognier and Semillon, Sangiovese, Petit Verdot and Mourvedre.

Stay

Closer to the airport is Hotel Interurban which also provides complimentary airport transfers. Watch out for the robot concierge Hazel at the lobby. The Waterleaf Restaurant here has a focus on local seafood so anything from the sushi to the crab cakes or northwest cioppino are a treat.

The hotel is also pet-friendly and has a room service menu for dogs. The rooms are sleek in décor, minimal in style and have pleasant muted colors for a relaxed stay.

Within the city, Mayflower Park Hotel offers a great location. The historic building is one of the last remaining locally owned and independent hotels with rooms that are decadently furnished.

The lobby décor, especially the chandeliers and wall art, give you a taste for some of its original glory that is still maintained. You can access the Seattle Light Rail and Monorail from here, and Pike Place Market and other attractions are just a short walk or ride away.

Several national parks and smaller islands give you options aplenty for day trips and more time out with nature, whether on the water or amid greenery.

And if you have a cruise in the works then you can choose to set sail from Seattle which is one of the west coasts points of departure for Alaska and Pacific Northwest cruises.

Ensure you plan your trip well in advance to make the most of your time, given weather can have good and bad days in store.

There is a fair chance your itinerary will have many worthy candidates and you might just have to come back to visit again.

Consider yourself warned!

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