Discovering the delights of Seattle

Jimi Hendrix, Nirvana, Sleepless, Starbucks, Frasier, Amazon or Flying Fish.

Everybody has their image of Seattle, but most are gained from afar.

With the major development of cruises along the Northwest passage and beyond to Alaska that situation is changing rapidly. Coupled with an increasing frequency of direct links from Europe and in a flight time that is less than Florida the whole region is experiencing a rapid upturn in popularity.

What is so attractive? A long list of attractions, superb food, friendly people and for me a feeling of being so remote from home of frontiersmanship.  If you are booked on a cruise and decide not to make the most of the vibe so evident throughout the city, then you will be so much the poorer.

So, what can one do? Well, the first thing one must realise is that Seattle has some fabulous neighbourhoods so don’t just stick to the downtown area.

A quick cab ride out to West Seattle bought me to the infamous Easy Street Records which not only has an unbelievable collection of vinyl records for sale, about 45,000, but it also has a very nice cafe as part of the shop.

Each set breakfast has a name and I opted for a Dolly Parton stack which consists of two large pancakes, two eggs and two strips of bacon. I was tempted by the Johnny Cash but an 8oz Sirloin seems excessive at 9am. What a place! The whole atmosphere was relaxed, food was great and of course the background music eclectic excellence.

Once breakfast was finished, I had a stroll around the hood and the Easy Street culture was evident everywhere. Small independent, quirky retailers, no massive global or even national brands and its uniqueness made it that much more attractive and interesting.

Another Uber took me back to the big city and I was off to the famous Pike Place Market to explore the stalls selling fresh seafood, fruits, vegetables, and flowers. Here you can see Flying fish as the fishmongers throw the produce around. They throw with some gusto, some distance and with a high degree of skill.

My thought was where do they train for this?  Make sure you sit down and have a coffee, Seattle is famous for it, and take in the atmosphere of the place. There is a high degree of tourist city about it although lots of locals are present and the commerce taking place is genuine.

Seattle is surrounded by stunning natural landscapes. The city is nestled between the Puget Sound, an inlet of the Pacific Ocean, and the Cascade Range, which includes majestic mountains like Mount Rainier. The combination of mountains, water bodies, and lush greenery is something you would want to make the most of.

First up is Space Needle, an iconic Seattle landmark with an observation deck that offers 360-degree views of the city. It’s close to everything including Chihuly Garden and Glass exhibit where one can see beautiful glass art installations by artist Dale Chihuly. The Needle, which was built for the 1962 World’s Fair along with the monorail that speeds above your head in the city, definitely has an early Star Trek quality about it.

The 1962 World Fair theme was ‘The Age of Space’ so it is hardly surprising. Slightly more up to date is the Seattle Great Wheel, a giant Ferris wheel on the waterfront where one can take a ride for stunning views of the city skyline and the waters. The most modern view is, believe it or not, at the Sky View Observatory.  Higher than the others it offers interactive help, a bar, food and the most sweeping views of the city and Washington state.

If you’re at the Space Needle go downstairs to the Museum of Pop Culture (Mo POP), a unique museum that explores music, sci-fi, and popular culture through interactive exhibits. Visit the Seattle Art Museum, which has an extensive collection of contemporary and traditional art from around the world. Take a stroll through the historic Pioneer Square neighborhood, which has a vibrant art scene and interesting architecture.

Finally, if you do nothing else in Seattle ensure you visit the Museum of History and Industry (MOHAI). Here you can learn of the history of Seattle and the surrounding areas, the role Native Americans had, the effect of the Klondike Gold rush, the great fire, and the developments of new industries such as Boeing and Microsoft. Exhibits include the rise of pop culture from Hendrix to Nirvana, Starbucks’ first ever poster and the fact that Carnation Milk comes for just a few miles away.