The Emerald City

Seattle is a photographer’s fantasyland, a gastronomer’s smorgasbord, and a nature lover’s nirvana. This port city boasts a bustling social calendar, no matter the time of year. Go big, or gear down; be busy or give in to meditative recalibration. Go once and you will yearn to return. The biggest decision you’ll have to make is deciding the length of your stay.

Seattle consistently makes the list of top American cities known for their parks and trail systems. That, along with the abundance of year-long greenery, makes self-guided cycling or touring with a group an excellent way to explore The Emerald City, as Seattle is often called. With nearly 500 parks, the area offers endless places from which to sit and contemplate life while taking in the beauty of Puget Sound and the mountains that surround it, including the famous Mts. Baker, Rainier and St. Helens.

A visit to Pike Place Market is a must. Putting yourself in the hands of the pros is the best way to get up close and personal with the Market. A walking tour company called Savor Seattle was just named in the top 10 American food tours by USA Today. Spend a few hours with them, and you’ll come away informed, entertained and well-fed. The vendors at Pike Place Market are independent, small family businesses; something that hasn’t changed since the market started in the early 1900s.

In 2016, after a 100 million dollar renovation, the Seattle Space Needle unveiled the world’s first (and only) revolving glass floor 500 feet above street level. Called The Loupe, the views at every turn are spectacular. Guests can enjoy an outdoor stroll around the Needle on the observation deck or take in the sights from the revolving Loupe Lounge while sipping Champagne, cocktails, and top-shelf spirits like Louis XIII Cognac and Clase Azul Ultra tequila.

The Chihuly Garden and Glass museum is steps away from the Needle and features the works of Dale Chihuly, a world renowned glass blower from Seattle. If you’ve walked through the Bellagio hotel in Las Vegas, you will have no doubt noticed the thousands of pieces of his handiwork that make up a 2,000 square-foot display in the ceiling of the lobby. In the Garden and Glass museum, the artist’s creations hang from the ceiling and sprout from the ground in areas inside and out of the building. You can easily spend a few hours there, especially if you get waylaid at The Bar, the onsite restaurant that serves local brews and spectacular Washington wines, along with dishes made of Pacific Northwest seasonal ingredients.

Water, water, everywhere, and experiencing it from the forward deck of a luxury yacht is a beautiful way to while away the days. Boatsetter is a boat rental and yacht chartering company with a fleet of options to accommodate all levels of sailors—from the sit-back-and-drink-rosé types, to experienced boaters ready to hoist the flag and set sail on their own. The area around Seattle has a multitude of lakes, bays and inlets for waterlovers to be in it or on it, as well as piers and patios for those who simply want to be near the water to soak up the serenity it provides.

Landlubbers with a penchant for luxury would do well to secure a suite at the Level Seattle on Boren Avenue. The best of everything is at your fingertips here: the view, the amenities, the location, and all the finer things in life that come with luxury accommodations available in 1 to 3-bedroom apartment-style units, and penthouse suites ranging from 1,200 to 4,400 square feet in size. All guests have access to the games room, meeting rooms, karaoke lounge, movie theatre, indoor and outdoor pools, hot tub, gym, Peloton spin studio, outdoor BBQ areas, and more. Rooms are equipped with in-suite laundry and full kitchens, so if you want to enjoy a home-away-from-home, made-from-scratch meal with all those fresh ingredients from Pike Place Market, you’re set.

Getting to know Seattle can be as low key, or as lux as you like. Take in nature, take in the water, take in great food with a dose of spectacular scenery and vistas at every turn. This city should be high on your list of North American places to visit.

www.visitseattle.org

When to visit:

June, July and August are prime good weather months and the busiest; shoulder months of May, September and October are a magical time, too, but with cooler weather and less tourist traffic. Christmas in Seattle is also a great experience. A summer spin on the Ferris wheel is a beautiful and relaxing way to see Seattle from a unique perspective, but save the date for December 31 where you can ring in the New Year complete with countdown, bubbles, music, and spectacular views from your private gondola.

Plan your trip:

Let the locals help! Buy the book 111 Places in Seattle That You Must Not Miss by Seattle resident, Harriet Baskas.

Get the Seattle CityPASS to help with your attraction itinerary.

How to get there:

If arriving by air, several airlines offer direct flights that land at Seattle–Tacoma International Airport (Sea-Tac). If you’re visiting Vancouver, consider extending your vacation and book a trip to Seattle with Harbour Air. The flight from downtown Vancouver to Lake Union (Seattle) takes just over an hour and that includes check-in time and clearing customs on the U.S. side on arrival. No muss, no fuss, and a scenic seaplane ride, as well.