Vacations To Cabo San Lucas

Everybody knows Seattle is a cool city. What I didn’t realize was how beautiful Seattle is. And definitely worth a visit. The residents are friendly and interesting. And if you go during the summer and early fall, the rain that gives the city its nickname is not in evidence. The city is hilly, and the easiest way to get around is to walk, so bring your walking shoes.

One of the city’s major attractions is the Pike Place Fish Market, where employees throw three-foot salmon to each other. When a customer orders a fish, an employee at the Fish Market’s picks up the fish and hurls it over the countertop, where another employee catches it and preps it for sale. The fun is in the crowds that gather to banter with the employees and to watch the show.

Of course, Seattle has a coffee shop on every corner. Really. But the best one is right across the street from the Pike Place Market. It is the very first Starbucks Coffee. No matter how you feel about the chain, this one is worth a visit. It’s a creaky, cozy, wooden place steeped in the smell of years of grinding coffee beans. It’s a great place for a break, and a great place to pick up a gift for the folks back home.

The Space Needle was built for the 1962 World’s Fair, taking in over 2.3 million visitors. The Space Needle is 605 feet high, 138 feet wide at its widest point and weighs 9,550 tons. It can withstand 150 mile winds. This is the iconic landmark of the Seattle skyline. On a clear day, you will see Mount Ranier, the volcano that seems to float over the city in a surreal backdrop.

A museum for rock music fans, the Seattle Music Experience, is located next to the Space Needle in a Frank Gehry designed building. The museum houses music memorabilia and hands on music labs. Particularly interesting is the number of Jimi Hendrix exhibits.

Pioneer Square is the heart of the original downtown area, and well worth a (daytime) visit. One of the best bookshops in America, Elliott Bay Bookstore is located there. A wonderful warren of nooks and books, spend a few minutes browsing in one of the last bookstores with character. But the real attraction is the Seattle Underground. When most of the downtown area burned in the Great Fire of 1889, Seattle decided to rebuild in brick, and two stories above the original street level to prevent flooding. The criminal element of the city quickly moved in to the old storefronts underground, and a subterranean city of bars and brothels quickly sprang up. You can still tour this fascinating underground world several times daily.

For more formal sightseeing, there are two tour operators in town that I can recommend.

1) Grayline Tours of Seattle has a hop on, hop off Double Decker bus option. The buses depart every 30 minutes from seven different stops around town. Jump on and and off as you please and explore as you please. For information see www.graylineseattle.com. Prices run Adult $19.00/Child $9.50 plus tax. Buses run from 9am to 6pm daily.

Grayline Double Decker Tours Pricing: Adult $19.00 / Child $9.50 -plus tax Times: 9am - 6pm Buses depart every 30 minutes from seven centrally-located stops. www.graylineseattle.com

2) A fun and interactive way of seeing the city is aboard a “Duck”. This is an amphibious landing craft developed during WWII. The tour explores both downtown Seattle and a nearby lake familiar to “Sleepless in Seattle” fans.

A great place to stay is the Italian Renaissance grand hotel called the Fairmont Olympic. Built in 1924, this beautiful hotel is the only five diamond hotel in the area. It plays host to literally every social event in Seattle, including most weddings. The opulent lobby, with its marble columns and huge crystal chandeliers is the best place in Seattle to celebrity watch. While I was there a certain Lama visited a certain rock star in his suite. The rooms are very tasteful and elegant, but not large. You may want to treat yourself to a suite. The hotel offers a spa, several incredible restaurants (the chef is fantastic) and impeccable service. The location couldn’t be better. You can walk to all major attractions and shopping, or arrange to use the hotels town car.

Seattle is a fun-filled, artistic haven. The people are warm; the food is great; the scenery is fabulous. Give yourself a treat and visit this lovely city soon.