Over the years, I’ve been lucky enough to spend time in Seattle on more than a few occasions. Mostly, I ended up traveling there for the Emerald City Comic Con. To be frank, comic cons used to be at least 50% of the reason I traveled.
Seattle is one of those cities that never ceases to amaze me. No matter how many times I go there, someone always shows me something I’d never seen before. And I know the next time I head there, Seattle will have yet another surprise in store.
Being in the Pacific Northwest
It’s hard to ignore the allure of being in the Pacific Northwest. Being on the coast of the Pacific Ocean, and surrounded by lush green forests and the Rocky Mountains has that kind of effect. There’s a reason why it attracts so many people, many of them permanently.
Naturally, Seattle itself is a huge draw. But there are also other incredible cities in the region such as Portland, Oregon, which might be the best food town in the country. You also have to keep in mind that great Canadian cities like Vancouver and Victoria are really close by.
Additionally, you will find some of the most stunning parks in the United States in this region. That includes National and State parks. Going to the Pacific Northwest without taking advantage of these incredible resources makes next to no sense.
You also can’t forget about the Pacific Ocean. Getting out on the water is rarely a bad idea, even if you’re just going out to relax. But given their migration patterns, this is also a phenomenal place to do some whale watching.
Downtown Seattle
For a lot of people, downtown Seattle and the area around it is the main part of the city they end up spending time in. That’s certainly been the case for me because ECCC happens downtown in the Washington State Convention Center.
Not surprisingly, this part of the city is absolutely loaded with fantastic restaurants and food trucks. There are a lot of places to take advantage of the incredible seafood you can find in this part of the country. That being said, the range of food options is staggering.
The area around downtown is also home to some of Seattle’s most famous features. The iconic Space Needle is close as are Chihuly Garden and Glass and the Museum of Pop Culture. Plus, the nearby waterfront is home to the Seattle Aquarium and the Seattle Great Wheel.
It’s also hard to ignore other downtown destinations such as Pike Place Market, the Seattle Art Museum, and the absolutely stunning central location of the Seattle Public Library. Yes, I am telling you to check out a library. It’s totally worth it as are the city’s incredible bookstores.
Getting out and about
But there is so much more to Seattle than the downtown core. Neighborhoods like Capitol Hill, Queen Anne, Belltown, and South Lake Union absolutely demand to be explored. This is a city of nearly five million people in the combined statistical area. There’s a lot to see.
There are seemingly endless parks, museums, gardens, and shops to explore throughout the city. If you’re a sports fan, you can always check out the Mariners or the Seahawks. And there is more than one zoo to spend the day at.
This is also a city that seems to have figured out how to balance its artistic and business sides, incorporating them into one beautiful melange. Add into that a lot of incredible seafood, and you certainly have a winning combination.
No place is perfect but I have yet to find a negative about Seattle that would deter me from wanting to live there. It might never happen but it’s fun to dream. In the meantime, I have a lot of ground to cover the next time I go back.