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Seattle, Washington,
is the largest city in the Pacific Northwest. The city has an abundance
of evergreen trees throughout, and beautiful views of the Cascade
mountains to the east and the Olympic mountains to the west. Known
for being the home of the Microsoft, Amazon.com, Starbucks, and
the University of Washington, Seattle is also the home of a vibrant
arts scene.
A
visit to Seattle creates a mosaic of colorful impressions that shimmer
in the imagination long after the visit ends. Seattle is the Emerald
City. Its greenness stems from its abundant rainfall, which encourages
the growth of lush vegetation, and also from its reflection in the
clear blue/green waters of the Puget Sound.
Mt. Ranier looks down on Seattle from its majestic heights. Driving
through Seattle on a clear day has been compared to floating on
a cloud in an emerald sky. From the dining room atop the Space Needle,
a meal can be enjoyed along with a panoramic view of the whole city.
Pike Street Market is a medley of fresh fish, fruit, vegetable and
flower shops right on the water. Sitting at a sidewalk café, one
can watch the men who work in the fish markets throwing the fish
from back to front. As a customer asks to purchase a fresh fish
of a certain size, one man selects a fish from the barrel of ice,
throws it to the weigher who is positioned in front of him, who
in turn calls out the weight and throws it expertly to the wrapper
who packages it and hands it to the customer. It is not unusual
to see huge tubs of Alaskan salmon, king crab legs, and Dungeness
crab awaiting this process in the market.
The old fishing village of Ballard sits on the locks. Relax for
a while and watch the ships go from Lake Union to the Puget Sound.
A short drive north of Ballard leads to the Woodland Park zoo. It
is a distinct pleasure to stroll through the acres of well-kept
grounds and to watch the animals enjoying their spacious natural
habitats.
When visiting a city, there is always the decision to be made as
to whether to have a car available or to rely on public transportation.
A car is not necessary in Seattle as there are several choices of
bus, trolley and monorail routes. There are even convertible buses
dually equipped with gasoline and electrical systems that go underground
to double as subway cars! It is easy to drive in Seattle, however,
and there is ample parking. An automobile is handy for exploring
the sights beyond the city. Walking is another alternative. There
are many interesting and beautiful walking tours. Remember, though,
that Seattle, like Rome, was constructed on seven hills. Downtown
is built on a slant, so a walk will provide a good workout and may
be tiring to small children.
Family attractions are everywhere in the city and suburbs. Seattle
Center has a children’s museum and interactive science center; Imax
theater and several buildings with hands on exhibits. Around Green
Lake in the center of Seattle children can roller blade, ride a
bicycle or jog. Nearby at the University of Washington, which sits
on tranquil Lake Washington, is a beautiful arboretum. There are
parks everywhere.
Venture back in time to the days of the original settlers and take
a ferry ride on Puget Sound to Blake Island. Arriving at the Island,
visitors are greeted with the offering of steaming cups of clams
and broth prepared and served by Native American merchants. A delicious
fresh salmon feast is then brought to the table after being cooked
authentically in the traditional style in a Longhouse on the island.
During dinner, Native American dancers perform
The Seattle Symphony, Seattle Opera and the Pacific Northwest ballet
are world class. Their performances are rated as “fabulous”.
Sports fans enjoy the Seattle Mariners, Sea Hawks, Thunderbirds
and Supersonics (NBA Basketball). A new indoor stadium hosts baseball
and football teams.
Each of Seattle’s hills has its own history and special character.
Queen Anne Hill is a charming little village within the city with
theater, restaurants and shopping. Capitol Hill is similar. First
Hill is the site of hospitals professional and medical office buildings.
Beautiful magnolias grace the yards and gardens of the stately landmark
homes on Puget Sound. The beauty of the lush green expanses in and
around Seattle is assured because of the approximately 38 inches
of rainfall per year. The best time of year to visit is July 15-October
1. That is when the area experiences mostly sunny days. The climate
is temperate, however, with moderate temperatures throughout the
year. During the winter, there is skiing in the nearby Cascade Mountains,
but very seldom is there snow in Seattle.
Seattle hosts several festivals each year. Among the most popular
with all members of the family are: Bumbershoot Arts Festival featuring
artists and performers from around the world which is held toward
the end of summer around the time of Labor Day; and the summer food
festival called Bite of Seattle which offers samplings of the best
of over 50 restaurants. Another favorite is the two-week long Maritime
Sea Fair in mid-May, which opens with the arrival of pirate ships
approaching on Puget Sound, and ends with a display of fast speed
boats with many maritime competitions and concerts in between.
Seattle is a city of great beginnings. Nordstrom’s, Starbucks, Microsoft,
Amazon.com and Eddie Bauer all started there. Seattle is the largest
city in the Northwest with more than a half a million residents
in the city itself and another two and a half million in the surrounding
suburbs, yet it is very clean and beautiful. It is a memorable place
to visit, and one to which the visitor will never tire of returning.
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