Seatle, Washington Travel Guide

Tucked away in the northwestern corner of the Continental United States, Seattle is a city in flux. Founded in 1851, the "Emerald City" is an old one at heart. Early Seattle was a town of logging and a small port; today these industries still play a huge role in the local economy. Nordstrom was founded here to supply early prospectors in the Klondike Gold Rush. Another nickname that fits Seattle to this day is the "Gateway to Alaska."On the other hand, today's economy is also propped up by modern firms like Boeing and Microsoft. The Rainy City prides itself on its history, named for Chief Seattle, but takes pains to evolve a beautiful skyline.

The Puget Sound region is surrounded by two mountain ranges, three national parks, and, at about equal distance, Vancouver, BC, and Portland, Oregon. The Friday Islands are a favorite whale watching spot for orca ( "killer whales" ) and the whole northern coast is home to eagles and puffins. For nature lovers, Seattle is a great place to visit, and an even better place to live.

Contents

• Metropolitan Seattle
• City Parks ( Seward, Discovery, Interlaken, Kerry Park, Gas Works)
• Festivals and Fairs
• Music Heritage
• The Cascades
• The Olympics
• From Here
• See Also

Metropolitan Seattle

Seattle is a big little city, uncomfortably fighting its own "Manhattanization." Downtown is a gargantuan area, with tall skyscrapers that can be seen across the water from any direction. The waterfront is also teaming in working docks, the famous "unsecured ports" along Harbor Islandand the Duwamish waterway. Any day of the year, you'll see more shipping containers than you can count lining the rail tracks just south of the stadiums.

But all work and no play makes Johnny a dull boy; Seattle has more than just offices and industry. As a regional hub, the Rainy City is also home to a roaring night life with plenty of live music, Pike's Place, America's largest film festival, fantistic and diverse restaurants, more colleges than you can count and two stadiums. From "Big Butts" to "Teen Spirit," Seattle has left its mark on the music world, and the Blue Scholars continue the tradition.

Most days see musicians playing on the sidewalk in Westlake Center and the Public Market. Occasionally it's a big production. But mostof what people see is played in clubs, generally on the outskirts of downtown, in Pioneer Square, 1st Ave, Capitol Hill, and Queen Anne. All of these districts are within five miles of each other, and well served by taxis ... so it's no wonder this is where the music scene concentrates. Pike's Place - aka the Public Market - is a rare tourist trap, in that the locals love the place. The throwing of the fish seems as popular as that other thing they do in Spain.

( Downtown and the Space Needle from Kerry Park, July 14, 2006. )

City Parks

Like most western cities, Seattle loves its open space. From smaller, anonymous city parks to larger slices of the city, trying to compete with Central and Golden Gate Parks. You could get lost in Discovery Park, and you can kayak through the Arboretum. Below is information on Seattle's best parks; if you're visiting from out of town, this is your must-see list.

Seward Park

Seward is a gorgeous park, a 300 acre penninsula jutting into Lake Washington. Most of the park is forest land with trails leading to an outdoor ampitheatre. There are several beaches along the lake front, although no one seems to swim here.

The park is home to more wildlife than most in Seattle: rabbits, wild turkey, and two nesting bald eagle families.

Probably the main attraction is a two and a half mile loop trail hugging the perimiter of the park, closed to auto traffic.

Discovery Park

Discovery Park is an old army baracks, keeping an active watch toward the Pacific during World War 2, but falling into disrepair as the decades went by.

Green Lake

Green Lake is Seattle's most popular "every day" park. A lake surrounded by grass and trees, this is a favorite spot for canoes and paddle-boats, walks, jogs, and bike rides around the lake, sunning on the grass, and walking the dog. The water makes this park an ideal home for ducks and Canada geese.

The park is surrounded by a shopping district, filled with restaurants and coffee houses.

Kerry Park

Kerry Park is a little unlike the others on this list, known more for the post cards it's given birth to than it's natural splendor. Kerry Park sits on the side of a hill; the bottom end is a playground, the top a scenic lookout, and the middle is a barren wasteland. Even with no room to stretch your legs, the world class view makes Kerry Park a priority, no matter how little time you spend in Seattle.

Gas Works Park

Gas Works

Festivals and Fairs

Seafair

Music Heritage

Seattle has a lot to be proud of in the way of music. Jimi Hendrix called the city home, although preserving that home, the actual house he grew up in, is the subject of perenial debate.

The Cascades

One of the distinct mountain ranges that surrounds Puget Sound, the Cascades like on the metropolis's eastern flank. Three national parks exist in this volcanic range: Mt Ranier and North Cascades in Washington, and Crater Lake in Oregon, as well as Mt Saint Helens National Monument.

Even the 1980s hit show "Northern Exposure" was filmed here, in North Bend. When people think of the Pacific Northwest, and occasionally of Alaska, they think of the Cascade Mountains.

The most accessible divide in the region is Snoqualmie Pass, right off I-90. It should come as no surprise this is a popular ski area, even though, in winter storms, the DOT has trouble keeping even a single lane open. The pass is also traversed by the Iron Horse Trail, converted from a century-old railroad into a hiking and mountain bike trail. The Snoqualmie Tunnel is 2.6 miles long, dark as a crypt, and feels like 40 degrees ( Farenheight ) on a hot summer day.

Stevens Pass, on US Highway 2, is a lot more remote.