Seattle

Seattle is a great city break vacation destination and also the perfect start for the Pacific Coast Highway drive, and the gateway to Washington wine country.

Seattle is Washington state's main city (the state capital is Olympia), 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.

The Seattle waterfront, from https://www.pacific-coast-highway-travel.com/Seattle.htmlThe Seattle Waterfront

Seattle 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 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.

Pike Place MarketPike Place Market

There are a lot of 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.

Where to Stay in Seattle

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.

Read our Best Time to Visit Seattle page!

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. 

More Information
See the website of Visit Seattle

Our Pick of the Seattle Guides

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Other Seattle pages

  • Little Sequim on the Olympic Peninsula in Washington is a delightful place to stop if driving the Pacific Coast Highway.

    Sequim

    Little Sequim on the Olympic Peninsula in Washington is a delightful place to stop if driving the Pacific Coast Highway.

  • Pacific Coast Highway Travel picks the ten best things to see at the Seattle Art Museum, which includes the Olympic Sculpture Park & Seattle Asian Art Museum.

    Ten Best Things to See at the Seattle Art Museum

    Pacific Coast Highway Travel picks the ten best things to see at the Seattle Art Museum, which includes the Olympic Sculpture Park & Seattle Asian Art Museum.

  • Aberdeen is a city in Washington State, known as the Gateway to the Olympic Peninsula, and noted for attractions including the Kurt Cobain Memorial Park.

    Aberdeen

    Aberdeen is a city in Washington State, known as the Gateway to the Olympic Peninsula, and noted for attractions including the Kurt Cobain Memorial Park.

  • Located on a peninsula, Westport is a small fishing town in Washington State with the largest marina in the Pacific Northwest.

    Westport Washington

    Located on a peninsula, Westport is a small fishing town in Washington State with the largest marina in the Pacific Northwest.

  • Unique Inns on the Pacific Coast Highway include some of the best independently-owned boutique hotels, spas, and lodges in California, Oregon and Washington.

    Unique Inns on the Pacific Coast Highway

    Unique Inns on the Pacific Coast Highway include some of the best independently-owned boutique hotels, spas, and lodges in California, Oregon and Washington.

  • Washington Wine Country includes plenty of vineyards and wineries that can be visited while traveling the Pacific Coast Highway including the Olympic Peninsula.

    Washington Wine Country

    Washington Wine Country includes plenty of vineyards and wineries that can be visited while traveling the Pacific Coast Highway including the Olympic Peninsula.

  • The Washington State travel guide from Frommer's covers hotels in Seattle, driving the Pacific Coast Highway, Olympic National Park, where to eat and more.

    Washington State Travel Guide

    The Washington State travel guide from Frommer's covers hotels in Seattle, driving the Pacific Coast Highway, Olympic National Park, where to eat and more.

  • The best things to do in Seattle include visiting Pike Place Market, the Space Needle, Seattle Aquarium and the Seattle Art Museum.

    Things to Do in Seattle

    The best things to do in Seattle include visiting Pike Place Market, the Space Needle, Seattle Aquarium and the Seattle Art Museum.

  • The Frommer's Guide to Seattle has good information about the city and side excursions to the Olympic National Park and elsewhere, plus free city and area map.

    Frommer's Guide to Seattle

    The Frommer's Guide to Seattle has good information about the city and side excursions to the Olympic National Park and elsewhere, plus free city and area map.

  • The Long Beach Peninsula in Washington runs north of Ilwaco and includes the town of Long Beach and others, and claims to have the longest beach in the USA.

    Long Beach Peninsula

    The Long Beach Peninsula in Washington runs north of Ilwaco and includes the town of Long Beach and others, and claims to have the longest beach in the USA.

  • The Washington Coast's hotels, inns, guesthouses, b&bs and other places to stay include 5-star luxury hotels and resorts, motel chains, RV parks and camping.

    Washington Coast Hotels and Inns

    The Washington Coast's hotels, inns, guesthouses, b&bs and other places to stay include 5-star luxury hotels and resorts, motel chains, RV parks and camping.

  • Cheap flights to Seattle with Southwest Airlines, SkyWest Airlines, Frontier, Horizon, JetBlue, and other carriers from San Diego, and other destinations.

    Cheap Flights to Seattle

    Cheap flights to Seattle with Southwest Airlines, SkyWest Airlines, Frontier, Horizon, JetBlue, and other carriers from San Diego, and other destinations.

  • Pacific Coast Highway Travel recommends the best museums in Seattle, including art, science and children’s museums, for that inevitable rainy day!

    Best Museums in Seattle

    Pacific Coast Highway Travel recommends the best museums in Seattle, including art, science and children’s museums, for that inevitable rainy day!

  • Port Townsend is noted for its Victorian architecture, sits at the top of the Olympic Peninsula, close to the Olympic National Park and 55 miles from Seattle.

    Port Townsend

    Port Townsend is noted for its Victorian architecture, sits at the top of the Olympic Peninsula, close to the Olympic National Park and 55 miles from Seattle.

  • Here’s the Pacific Coast Highway Travel guide to ten of Seattle's best restaurants, celebrated for James Beard Awards and other culinary honors.

    Best Restaurants in Seattle

    Here’s the Pacific Coast Highway Travel guide to ten of Seattle's best restaurants, celebrated for James Beard Awards and other culinary honors.

  • Downtown Seattle hotels are near attractions and the waterfront. Hotel Vintage Park, Edgewater Inn, and Inn at Harbor Steps are tops for travelers.

    Seattle Hotels

    Downtown Seattle hotels are near attractions and the waterfront. Hotel Vintage Park, Edgewater Inn, and Inn at Harbor Steps are tops for travelers.

  • Pacific Coast Highway Travel picks ten fun family things to do in Seattle, including Space Needle, museums, a zoo, aquarium and a ferry ride.

    Ten Fun Family Things to Do in Seattle

    Pacific Coast Highway Travel picks ten fun family things to do in Seattle, including Space Needle, museums, a zoo, aquarium and a ferry ride.

  • The ten best things to see at the Museum of Pop Culture in Seattle include exhibits on local musicians such as Jimi Hendrix, Nirvana and Pearl Jam.

    Ten Best Things to See at the Museum of Pop Culture

    The ten best things to see at the Museum of Pop Culture in Seattle include exhibits on local musicians such as Jimi Hendrix, Nirvana and Pearl Jam.

  • Port Angeles in Washington is the largest town on the Olympic Peninsula. It stands on the Pacific Coast Highway and is the gateway to the Olympic National Park.

    Port Angeles in Washington State

    Port Angeles in Washington is the largest town on the Olympic Peninsula. It stands on the Pacific Coast Highway and is the gateway to the Olympic National Park.

  • The Longest Beach in the USA is arguably in Long Beach in Washington, though claims that it is also the longest beach in the world are wide of the mark.

    Longest Beach in the USA

    The Longest Beach in the USA is arguably in Long Beach in Washington, though claims that it is also the longest beach in the world are wide of the mark.

  • Pacific Coast Highway Travel’s advice on the best time to visit Seattle, covering the weather and climate from month to month and season by season.

    Best Time to Visit Seattle

    Pacific Coast Highway Travel’s advice on the best time to visit Seattle, covering the weather and climate from month to month and season by season.

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