Seattle, Washington, USA

After the last review on Portland, Lindsay from The Sydenhams decided to send us another one. This time a guide for Seattle who, from music to food, from where to go to what to see, I believe leaves almost nothing overlooked. Again thank you Lindsay for your wiling to participate and, once more with great pleasure, this space is yours...

How to Best Enjoy Seattle: No trip to the United States is complete without an excursion to the going green, tree-hugging, liberal-loving northwest. The Mecca of the northwest is, without a doubt, the city of Seattle, located in northern Washington. Seattle is best known for Bill Gates, Starbucks Coffee, the band Nirvana and the Space Needle. But there are many other hidden treasures in this city that all travelers should have the opportunity to experience.

How to Plan Best for your Trip to Seattle: In an attempt to assure yourself of the best possible visit to Seattle, it is best to create yourself an itinerary of things you want to do and see during your stay. A little bit of spontaneity is fun, but make sure you have a rough outline of what you want to do in Seattle. Purchase yourself a good guide book, review travel blogs on the Internet and research what the locals like to do in their free time. Many times what the locals do can end up being the most authentic and fun parts of your trip.

Food and Drink: One of the most important things to do while you are in Seattle is to eat. Restaurants in Seattle branch out of the box to create their own unique trends and dining atmospheres. The food experience alone is an attraction to experience in Seattle.

The selection of seafood and fish is unbelievable. Be sure you travel to Pikes Place Market to buy fresh fruits and vegetables, seafood (best fish ever) and local artisan crafts. The walk through the market will take you a whole morning. Stroll through the market, as locals do, and enjoy the atmosphere along with the tasty goods.

On my last trip to Seattle, I discovered a really helpful consumer reviews Web site that helped me to plan my trip in regards to food. The review site is based in Seattle and thousands of locals in the city use the site to rate local businesses and restaurants. It’s a great way to see how the locals feel. I always like to look for the best restaurants, or ones that locals highly recommend, so I don’t end up eating McDonalds because of my lack of planning. The consumer reviews site that I used showed ratings and testimonials about many of Seattle’s best restaurants, cafes and coffee shops. I found all of my favorite kinds of food and went to almost every restaurant that was on my list.

Lastly, drink coffee. You will be in the city that started the world’s coffee trend. Be sure to go into small cafes and restaurants and try the local coffee.

Must-See Attractions and Activities - The Space Needle: No trip to Seattle would be complete without an excursion to the Space Needle. You have seen the Space Needle in movies and on television and it is one of the world’s most famous landmarks. It may be a little overpriced, but it is definitely worth it to see a beautiful view of the city. Make sure to bring your camera. In regards to the restaurant at the top of the Space Needle, I would skip it. The food is overpriced and there are plenty of other fabulous restaurants down in the city that are not only cheaper, but taste better.

Must-See Attractions and Activities - Music: Seattle is one of the best places for music. No matter what kind of music you like to listen to, there is something for you in this city. There are many clubs throughout the city where local, aspiring bands play rock music to small crowds. These kinds of opportunities will give you a taste of the authentic Seattle music scene, plus it is fairly cheap to enjoy local music. The Stranger and Seattle Weekly are newspapers that will have information each week about where to find concerts and who is playing. If you’re interested in classical and jazz, there are options for you as well. Go see the Seattle Symphony for classical music or visit Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley for local, live jazz.

Must-See Attractions and Activities - The Original Starbucks: The rumors are true. There is literally a Starbucks Coffee shop on every corner in the city of Seattle. Not surprising, is it? If you’re a huge fan of coffee, you should definitely visit the original Starbucks. For some, the grounds are holy because this is where the world’s obsession with coffee was birthed. It may be touristy, but the bragging right of visiting the original Starbucks is well worth it. And yes, it is essential that you buy yourself a souvenir coffee cup from the place that started it all.

Must-See Attractions and Activities - People Watching: Seattle is home to many unique and interesting characters. The liberal and accepting environment tends to breed individuals who bask in the fact that they are unique. Often times you will find various musical performers, break dancers or people with other talents showing off in parks throughout the city. People watching, such as this, is a great way to get a strong feel for the distinctive culture of Seattle.

Must-See Attractions and Activities - Bookstores: There are many great new and used bookstores in Seattle. If you like to read, or like to collect rare books, then it would be worth it to visit a few of Seattle’s best bookstores. Check out Elliott Bay Book to find thousands of new and used books, including valuable antique books that are rare to find. If you wander the streets in the city you are bound to find a handful of mom-and-pop bookstores. Who knows, you may find a treasure that would be difficult to find elsewhere!

Conclusion: Seattle is a beautiful city with unique characteristics. If you have never been to the northwest, or visited Seattle, it would be well worth your time to take the trip. Seattle is a great place to eat good food, drink tasty coffee, try new wines, listen to local music and to stroll the streets looking for unique shopping opportunities. Enjoy your trip!

Finally a special thanks goes also to the site from where all the photos for this post came from: the free images gallery at www.pachd.com.