The Space Needle, Mt. Rainier, Microsoft — these towering giants of nature, architecture, and industry all symbolise Seattle in many people’s minds. But more than anything, the first glimpse that travellers get from looking out their window on a flight to Seattle is a city of water (and not just the frequent rain). Seattle’s geography is defined by rivers, lakes, canals, and of course the beautiful harbour on Puget Sound with its view of the Olympic Mountains.
The waterfront is one of Seattle’s main attractions, providing shopping at Pike Place Market, restaurants, hotels, the Seattle Aquarium, and the Seattle Art Museum. From the waterfront, you can embark on a narrated cruise or a whale watch.
The Seattle Centre is a two-minute monorail ride from downtown. Originally built for the 1962 world’s fair, but continually evolving, the Seattle Centre is a beautifully designed complex of gardens and fountains, restaurants, shops, and theatres, and of course the Space Needle.
When booking a flight to Seattle consider planning a day trip to Mount Rainier National Park where outdoor enthusiasts can hike in summer amid the wildflowers and waterfalls or ski the glaciers in winter.
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Yes, it does rain a lot in Seattle. But on the other hand, it is rarely unpleasantly hot, and winters are a lot milder than in other places of the same latitude. However, the latitude does mean that winter days are short (which may be the reason that Seattle has become the coffee capital of America). Though winters are not severe, they are chilly, and it can snow. Whenever you go, be prepared for at least some rain and cool evenings.
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Peak Season:
There is much less rain from April to October, and because the summer weather is mild, any time during this half of the year is pleasant. Summer is the most popular time. It stays light till 10pm in June and July. Summer is when the big, primarily outdoor festivals are held. During the occasional summer rain, there is nearly always something to see in the theatres and performance halls. Higher rates tend to be from around mid-May to mid-September.
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Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA)
Distance: 13 miles south of Seattle
Drive time: 30 mins
SeaTac's website provides access to shuttles, buses, public transit, taxis, limousines, and on-site and off-site rental cars. Shuttles and buses serve designated areas. To find one that goes to your destination, check the list (part of the SEA website). Metro Transit is the public transit system serving downtown Seattle.
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Seattle is a very compact city, so it’s ideal for walking (but remember that it’s quite hilly). The Metro system is excellent, with a Ride-Free zone that encompasses most of downtown; there is no charge for buses between 6am and 7pm. On weekends and holidays, all-day passes are available that cover buses and the Waterfront Streetcar at all times, both inside and outside the Ride-Free area.
For a visit to the Seattle Centre, ride the Seattle Monorail. This elevated railway, built for the 1962 world’s fair, gives a great view of the city. Another way to combine sights with getting there is to take a water taxi to Seacrest Park in West Seattle, for the popular Alki beach and its paved walkway.
Seattle is a difficult city for driving, with bad traffic congestion, mostly one-way streets, and scarce and expensive parking. If you want to go as far as Mt. Rainier or the Olympic peninsula, you’ll need a car, but leave it in the hotel parking lot when you're in town.
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- For useful information about the city and its attractions for visitors, it’s hard to beat the city government’s website, seattle.gov. The page on visiting is the most relevant.
- Seattle Weekly is the city's main arts-and-entertainment weekly, with detailed information on current film, music, theatre, and arts and an extensive dining guide and database of restaurant reviews.
- From the top of the Space Needle, you get a spectacular view of the city and the harbour.
- The Experience Music Project, at the foot of the Space Needle, is an amazing museum of American popular music, in particular the rock music of the northwest. The brainchild of Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen and designed by avant-garde architect Frank Gehry, among its exhibits are interactive rooms where you can be a rock musician on stage.
- Seattle offers a variety of harbour cruises, narrated, with meals if you choose; the sunset cruise is spectacular. There are also whale watch cruises. If you have the time and are willing to spend the money, they’re worth it. But for much less of an investment, you can take a ferry to destinations around Puget Sound and you may well see dolphins, if not whales.
- One of Seattle’s hidden treasures is the lovely Kubota Garden, a 20-acre Japanese garden, with native northwest plants and a waterfall, in South Seattle, operated by the Seattle Parks and Recreation Department.
- On the plus side of the long rainy season, Seattle has lots to do indoors. This city is an excellent place for film, the performing arts, and professional sports. Seattleites read a lot, too, so you’ll find plenty of bookshops.
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