Seattle Lodging in a Nutshell |
by Diane Goldberg, Contributing Writer |
 If business travel sends you to Seattle, consider yourself blessed. Seattle is a city so seductive that even an anxious Type A road warrior will find himself stopping along the waterfront to sip a cup of coffee --- hey, this is Seattle, right? --- and drink in the view.
If your work doesn’t send you to Seattle then the collection of tourist attractions may reel you in --- from the top of the Space Needle down to Pike Place Market; everywhere you look you’ll find a visual feast.
From seven historic neighborhoods with a total of more than 200 historic buildings to the brand new home of the Seattle Mariners --- Safeco Field --- Seattle is a perfect blend of preserving the past while moving into the future.
Surrounding Seattle, you’ll find some of the USA’s most beautiful country making the city a Mecca for outdoorsy types. During the spring, summer and fall, mountain bikers, hikers, campers, and anglers head for the hills just outside of Seattle. Downhill and cross-country skiers spend the winter in nearby ski areas. The Cascade Range is an hour away from downtown Seattle. Across the Puget Sound, you’ll see the Olympic Mountains.
Southeast of Seattle stands Mount Rainier, a dormant volcano. Long before Seattle became the coffee capital of the world, Mt. Rainier was the landmark that defined Seattle. When the sky is clear, locals say, “The mountain is out,” and take off to engage in outdoor activities. More than hills come alive when the weather is clear. Seattle is a city of boaters, from luxury lots to sea kayaks, you’ll find the natives on the water. West of Seattle, it’s Elliot Bay, east of the city sits Lake Washington. Center city is Lake Union, where you can treat yourself to a scenic flight or catered cruise around Puget Sound and Lake Union.
Grunge rock birthplace? Caffeine heaven? Seattle can claim those titles. As well as being the home of the Seahawks, Sonics, and Mariners. The Emerald city also offers four art museums, including the Seattle Art Museum with its excellent collection of Asian Art. It you’re a natural history buff you’ll enjoy Seattle Aquarium and Pacific Science Center, Seattle's premier science and education center.
If other art forms interest you, you’ll want to check out the Seattle Symphony or the Seattle Philharmonic. Theater is alive and well in Seattle, offering visitors the option of the latest in innovative comedy or familiar classics. If you’re a film fan you may want to plan to visit Seattle during the end of May when the Seattle International Film Festival hits town. Seattle is also a sublime place to shop; the downtown area is full of specialty shops. The Bay Pavilion, built in a restored Gold Rush era pier houses restaurants, retail stores, and an old-fashioned carousel. Pike’s Place Market is a don’t-miss area for the arts and crafts shops, boutiques, and the view.
Seattle sounds like a slice of urban Eden. It comes close. But there are two serpents in the garden. Way up in the Pacific Northwest, Seattle’s winter days are short and gray --- sunrise at 7:30 AM is followed all to soon by sunset as early as 4:30 ---which may explain the coffee consumption. Because she’s so beautiful, Seattle has grown rapidly in recent years; traffic and congestion make the city difficult to navigate.
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