Sights of Seattle

Walking around the small downtown area was the biggest highlight for me. A quick trip up to the Golden Gardens State Park on Puget Sound on my last day - the sunniest of all three days - was wonderful. Following Golden Gardens, a drive out to Snoqualmie Falls was easy and worth it, though at that time the falls were not so impressive.

Quick Tips:

Don't avoid Seattle in October. Though during my three days I got rain, clouds, and finally sun, it gave me the best view of what the town has in store. Local 'downtown' transportation is mainly the bus line, free within the core area, but a small fee outside. Taxis are decent, but be prepared to walk a lot. The monorail doesn't work all the time.

Best Way To Get Around:

On foot in the downtown area, or by bus, though I didn't use it (I'm a walker). Lots of hills, so be prepared, and taxis.

I stayed here with a friend who was in town for business, so it wasn't my first choice to be in the heart of Seattle. However, it was a super-easy drive into Seattle proper, and I don't feel I missed out on much. Besides, fun to take the bridge into / out of town.

The hotel was nice. Sheraton has those new beds they're advertising because of their quality. And, I slept wonderfully.

Our key-cards kept deactivating, which was only one of two frustrations we incurred, and I view as relatively minor. The staff were polite and didn't question our issues, instead helping as much as they could.

The other issue was billing. Because I had booked the reservation, my name was on the reservation, but my friend was the one paying. They got it all screwed up and it took several calls/emails to get her receipt the way it needed to be for her company.

We didn't spend much time in the hotel. I did use the fitness facility one day. It was very small, but apparently the hotel has a deal with Bally's so I imagine most people take the shuttle to Bally's for the deal.

I've not had a better Italian meal in a long long time, perhaps my life. That, or the best red wine the three of us shared was blinding our taste buds, but I don't think so. I had a seafood dish, consisting of fresh clams, scallops, shrimp, and mussels. Served over a perfectly cooked bed of spaghetti in a light and brothy tomato sauce. Mouthwatering.

The wine was a Tenuta Rapitala "Nu Har" - a well blended red that had us drinking two bottles. And they were a good deal - $25. The atmosphere was cozy and warm, great color scheme. We were seated at the back which allowed us to feel very welcome just hanging out and chatting away.

There was a live jazz guitarist which added much casual ambience. Service was impeccable - the waitress really knew her stuff. We were utterly impressed!

Great hamburgers! The fries were to die for. And the chocolate shake was killer.

Fast-fast service. But, only because you can't order anything 'special' because things are already prepared. So, no "no mayo"... can't remember how I got it in the end. Super good. Oh, I chose the mustard version.

The Portage Bay Cafe lies just on the skirts of the University of Washington's Seattle campus.

They serve up a menu of organic items with a healthy spin, but definitely not lacking in flavor. I stopped by around 11:30am after walking over from the admin building of the school and had a bowl of organic granola with yogurt and fresh berries - the best I've ever had.

As I ate, I downed several cups of coffee - something I rarely have done (1 - 1/2 is my limit generally). The coffee was to die for, reminding me that is what Seattle has become famous for over the years.

The atmosphere is casual, with a nice caramel colored wood theme. It's not a large place, which makes it a bit more cozy. Service was friendly and I would definitely return on another visit to town.

The Space Needle is probably the most widely recognized landmark of Seattle. If you're not from the area you probably at least know of the Space Needle.

The Needle is a structure erected for the 1962 World's Fair. It's main claim to fame is the observation deck, which gives one the opportunity to view 360 degrees of the Seattle and adjacent areas. Compared to The Empire State Building or Sears Tower, I didn't feel it was quite as impressive. I mean, you're high up, but just not AS high.

That said, the view is still beautiful. You'll be able to look out onto Elliot Bay and if the clouds let you, Mount Rainier can be seen. (On my visit I was unable to see the mountain's profile, though it was sunny, there were clouds and fog inland.)

It was a cool day, but up high the breeze made it much cooler. Indoors you can get snacks, coffee, tea, and cocoa. (I felt very overpriced, so I saved my $ for later in downtown.)

There is a restaurant up there as well, though I didn't eat there. If you do, and if you used the valet parking service, you will get your parking either free or at a discount (I can't remember).

Speaking of parking... this area in particular I found difficult to navigate and spent a good thirty minutes trying to find a parking lot that wasn't $10 or more (sometimes per hour). Then, the way the streets were set up I kept ending up where I couldn't turn around and would need to go a mile or more before being able to do so. (Later, a friend in the area heard my story and knew exactly the street/area I was in. Apparently it's widely known to locals that you cannot turn around - NO LEFT TURNS! - for long stretches.)

Finally, aggravated and fed up I just used the valet service at the Needle, which was $11 for the day. I was able to leave my car there all day as I toured around the city. So, take this one up if you plan to do more than the Needle.

Also, the Needle sits in the same area as the Experience Music Project, which I did not go into. But it's all walking distance.

Finally, if you plan on using the monorail that runs by the Needle, I recommend calling the facility ahead of time to see if it's running. My plan was to visit the Needle then hop on the monorail into downtown (like a 2 minute trip). First - it was tough to find. Signs seemed to direct me to the right... turns out you need to go left (I walked around looking for it for like 5 minutes). Once there, it looked dead, but there were no signs up. Turns out it wasn't running, but you'd only know it by asking the one person apparently working there - lurking.

A friend of mine who frequents Seattle on business recommended I check out this park. It's on the northern tip of the Seattle "central" area (as far as I could tell on the maps), and a very easy drive to get to. In fact, the drive up there was just as enjoyable.

I'm glad I decided to spend some time there. I arrived there after meandering the hillside streets around 11:45am. The sun was fairly high in the sky by then - yes, it was SUNNY! - and the beach was lightly populated. There was no fee to park and walk around, so I found a spot near what seemed to be the restrooms (there's a building down in the end of the parking area with facilities).

Turns out, that building, while it does host the facilities, has a large ballroom with lots of windows where a wedding was taking place. I can only imagine the photos the lucky couple will have to admire - the location is beautiful at that time of year.

(FYI - the restrooms leave something to be desired, but at least there are some! It's after all a state park.)

The beach down at the end where I was had a conglomeration of people that I originally thought were setting up a camp - looked like tents were being popped up. Turns out they were kite surfers; the kites used are large arc-shaped, almost the size of a small tent. I watched the wet-suited folk showing their stuff on the light waves as they steered their tent-like kites into and out of the wind.

The friend who suggested the beach said she liked to look for sea glass here. As I had never searched for the stuff, I only managed to find three small pieces of green glass that had been softened by the water and sand. What I did find was that the beach provides an abundance of pristine shells, from which I took many home.

The view across the sound was remarkable. I'd never been to the Northwest coast before and it was vastly different from my experiences on the east coast. Not different in a bad way... just overwhelming with all the mountains and water surrounding you.

Finally, there's a train line that runs just behind the parking area. The trains weren't active while I was there, but instead there was a parked yellow train which complemented the yellow, orange, and green of the trees of the hillside. It was very lovely.

Snoqualmie Falls is known for how deep it plunges. I believe the information I read states it drops 100 feet lower than Niagara Falls. That said, I had to check it out.

From Seattle, it's a short 30 minute drive (mid afternoon, Saturday in fall) along Interstate 90, East. I didn't have any real directions other than a guide book that aimed me in that direction. Being the sort to figure signs will get me where I want to go, I took the chance and succeeded.

The park that contains the falls is relatively small. There's a narrow parking lot on the south side of the street where the falls are, and an overflow lot up on the hill behind, with a pedestrian bridge over the road to get you there without being hit by a passing vehicle.

I recall there being a gift shop building though I didn't visit it. Hot-cocoa was for sale near/in that building (I did not try any), and there are restrooms right there for your use.

There was no fee to go see the falls or to park.

An easy stair climb from parking takes you up a small hill where you access a paved path that follows a fence line for you to view the falls. It was low-time for the falls so they weren't as impressive as I had imagined (I didn't expect anything LIKE Niagara, but I did expect more power). It was hard to tell that it dropped deeper than the massive Canadian falls, but it was still very beautiful, and I took far too many pictures.

Walking back to the car, I took up towards the pedestrian bridge to the other lot (I parked up front as it wasn't too busy). The trees at this time of year were bright yellow, orange, and red, setting the walkway on fire with color. I almost enjoyed this more than the falls, but not quite.

Ultimately, I didn't find there was that much to see here, which made it a terrific quick way to spend part of my last day in Seattle. What with the easy drive (a highly recommended one for the sheer beauty of the Cascade Mountain range) I was able to get into nature without leaving my comfort zone of the city.

Overall, the Pike Place Market is awesome. However, as I approached it from the waterfront, it took me quite some time to figure out how to get to "it." I wandered around an indoor-only portion of tacky shops that said it was the "Pike Place Market" (Shops?) and was initially disappointed.

If you come from the waterfront, you need to climb ALL the way up the stairs (the Pikes Place Hill Climb) and push your way through the "shops" (unless you like tacky souvenirs and missing out on the fun of the real market). It's very confusing, but if you're smarter than me, you'll find your way out to the street and into the cacophony that is the Market.

You'll be overwhelmed by the scents of fresh food - and the options of what to snack on for lunch or mid-day bite to eat. Flowers, meat, fish, fruit, bread, pasta, and more all tease your eye. Knowing I had to return to Dallas in a day was disappointing because I wanted to buy one of everything.

Unfortunately I missed much of the market because I had spent so much time being 'lost' in the tourist trap section and I had an appointment to make. However, it is a truly amazing place that leaves me wanting more and someday I will return. I may even spend a half day there only to leave with a picnic basket full of goodies to enjoy at a local park on the way home.

One of the most beautiful drives I've taken in my life was heading east on Interstate 90 out of Seattle on my way to Snoqualmie Falls.

It was late October and I had left Golden Gardens State Park around 2:30 for a late day sight-seeing excursion. The sun had that perfect angle in the sky which only heightened the colors on the mountains. Returning towards the west was just as beautiful, only you're not "approaching" the mountains so much as you're leaving.

If you get a chance while in Seattle and have a car, take the drive. It's only about 30 minutes to Snoqualmie, and the towns along the way are inviting to drive through as well.

Visiting the University of Washington in Seattle was the main intent of my trip. I had decided I’d like to move to a city with a good state school (cheaper I’d hope!), and Seattle hit on much of what I wanted. So I spent my first day – a misty-rainy one, typical weather I had heard – meeting people on campus and enjoying the walk around the tree and ivy lined property.

The school itself is like an ivy-league institution set in the middle of the urban area of Seattle. Sure, Harvard isn’t far off from a similar setting, but that’s an IVY LEAGUE school. To find a state school in this setting was unbelievable! It is truly a beautiful campus, even in the rain. Walking around I couldn’t help but take tons of photos; that said, it was also peak foliage season and the colors, again – even in the rain, were on fire.

If you’re looking at this school, the admin people I met were friendly enough. I was a little put off by an unnecessarily direct question of "BUT WHAT do you want to MAJOR IN?" See, I’m in my early thirties and wanted her to help me identify the fastest path to getting my Bachelor’s, so I could teach. Anyway, beyond that she was friendly and gave me a great recommendation to a nearby café.

Others I met as I walked around were just as friendly. I didn’t feel overly ‘old’ – people seemed welcoming and accepting.

After I ate at the Portage Bay Café, I wandered around the University District, an easy walk outside of campus. "The Ave", aka University Way Northeast, is loaded with funky shops, coffee houses, and overall intriguing places to peek into. It too was lined in beautiful trees and the people seemed to let me keep to myself and enjoy my walk.

After tiring of being out of doors, I headed to the Henry Art Gallery on campus (which was free on Thursdays!). For a college campus, I was impressed with their collection, which was arranged in a comfortable format over three floors. FYI, you must lock up your purse/bags up front before entering the galleries.

There’s a small café on the lower floor, but it stops serving prepared or hot food at 3pm I believe – about five minutes after I arrived. I picked up a croissant and tea and sat while enjoying time off my feet. It was a splendid way to wrap up my day on campus, my first day in Seattle.