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Seattle
Seattle is the Washington capital, a great city break vacation destination and also the perfect starting point for the Pacific Coast Highway drive. It's a good gateway to Washington Wine Country too. It has a spectacular natural location, tucked between Elliott Bay and Lake Washington, and with the imposing Mount Rainier visible in the distance.Its major attractions (see below) include the Pike Place Market, which is one of the oldest, biggest and best markets on the Pacific Coast, and the space-age Space Needle (left). There are several good museums, some great hotels, a lively restaurant scene, and a definite 'feel good' factor. In that respect it's a little like San Francisco – it's hard not to be in a good mood when you're in a beautiful city by the bay. Unless it's raining, of course. The city of Frasier Crane doesn't really deserve its reputation for wetness, as there are many other American cities that are far worse, but there can be long periods of damp or just plain dull weather, especially in the fall and winter. When to go? Try to be there in the summer, the driest season, when the sunny days and blue skies help make the most of Seattle's lovely setting.
WHAT TO SEE AND DO
There's so much to see and do in Seattle that it's hard to choose the best, but some of our favorites are:Pike Place Market
Every city has a market, but nothing quite like Seattle's century-old Pike Place Market. It began in 1907 as a farmers market, but has expanded over the years so that today there are over 300 stalls in 13 buildings spread across 9 acres near the waterfront. Plenty of fish stalls, then, but flower stalls, bakeries, chilli sellers, cheese-makers, candy stores, ceramics, antiques, jewelry, books, clothes, toys, games... you name it. Seattle Aquarium
You should see the whole waterfront area, especially on a fine day, but also make time to visit Seattle Aquarium. The highlight here is probably the Window on Washington Waters exhibit, an amazing 120,000 gallon tank with foot-thick glass. It shows what's going on beneath the waves in Puget Sound, and check the times of the daily dive shows because special masks enable the divers to talk to you, an unusual feature. Needless to say there's a great deal more here, and children will love the hands-on Discovery Lab. Seattle Art Museum
Quite simply the best art museum in the whole Pacific Northwest, with so much quality work on display it's hard to know where to begin. The Native American collection? The 20th century art by Warhol, Lichtenstein, and Gilbert and George? The fascinating 19th century American landscape paintings? The collection of work by modern local artists? Put the museum high on your Seattle 'to do' list. Seattle Center and Space Needle
The Space Needle has become a symbol for Seattle, and though it dates back to the 1962 World's Fair it's become timeless, in a way. You have to go to the top, of course. It would be like going to Paris without going up the Eiffel Tower. It isn't cheap, as is usual with this kind of thing, but the elevator ride that whisks you to the top in just 43 seconds (give or take a nano-second), and the awesome views from the observation deck just have to be experienced. Allow plenty of time for the whole Seattle Center too, as this complex includes things like the Children's Museum, the Pacific Science Center, and for rock music fans the unmissable Experience Music Project. And plenty more besides.
WHERE TO EAT
For advice on Where to Eat in Seattle, read our review of the latest
Zagat Restaurant Guide.
WHERE TO STAY
See the Seattle Hotels page
ALASKA CRUISES AND VACATIONS
Seattle is a popular start and end point for cruises to Alaska. If you want to combine the Pacific Coast Highway drive with an Alaska cruise, visit the website of our colleagues at Alaska Cruise Advisor.
MORE INFORMATION
For further information on what to see and do in Seattle,
where to stay and where to eat,
visit the website of the
Seattle Convention and Visitors Bureau.
 
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