SEATTLE In a (Really Big) Nutshell
Written: May 18 '00 (Updated Jul 17 '00)
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Pros: Great place to live, visit as a tourist, dine out, and use as a hub for day trips.
Cons: Rain, but you already knew that - try to visit during the beautiful summers.
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| kifwebe's Full Review: Seattle |
This is not just an ordinary comprehensive review of a world-class city - it's an interactive review that will constantly evolve over time. How is that you ask? Well, there are literally hundreds of superlative reasons to both visit and live in The Emerald City, and attempting to review it as a whole is a daunting task. Therefore, I'm going to try something I've never done before, and create the foundation for what I'll call a living review. If you are not a member of epinions.com, please skip the remainder of this paragraph - members read on. Because comments often go unnoticed, especially by non-members, I'm going to incorporate your comments and experiences regarding Seattle into the review by updating the appropriate sections with your additions! Don't worry, you'll receive full credit for your contributions. Because this is an experimental epinion, I can't promise to incorporate your comments. If you're a member of my web of trust, your comment is 99.9% likely to make it in. If you aren't, please leave your comments and I'll incorporate them if they're relevant and not offensive. (I don't have to agree with you - after all, your name will be attached to the additions.)
I lived in Seattle for nearly 2 years during a job assignment, and I fell in love with the area, its people, and its laid back atmosphere. I've felt compelled to write a review of this phenomenal city for quite some time now, but I knew it would take quite a bit of time to do it the justice it deserves. That's how the idea for this living review came about. What follows is the skeleton onto which you (hopefully) will build.
TOURIST ATTRACTIONS
Seattle has a ton of places to visit as a tourist. You've probably heard of most of mine, and I've listed them because in my opinion they're worth checking out. I've also provided day trip ideas in a separate section later on.
1. Pike Place Market: This place is justifiably famous, with dozens of shops ranging from antiques to leather goods to toys. Yes, this is where the fish you're about to purchase is thrown around like a hot potato, and it makes quite a spectacle at almost any time of day, but especially on weekends. What you'll find is that most people are there to watch, not to buy. They don't just throw fish for fun, so if nobody's buying, nobody's throwing. And by the way, if you do want to buy fish, there are several shops within the market, and as it turns out the "throwing" shop is the most expensive. Pike Place Market is also a great place to buy fresh fruit and flowers for relatively cheap prices.
2. The Space Needle: The Space Needle is Seattle's most defining landmark. My perceptions of the Space Needle prior to living in Seattle were that it looked like something straight out of The Jetsons, and that it was located in downtown Seattle. As it turns out it does have a space age cartoon-like appearance, but contrary to my perception it isn't located downtown. There are vantages from which you can see the Space Needle against a downtown backdrop, but in fact it's a bit isolated from the city's tall buildings. (Magnolia Hill and West Seattle are great places to take postcard pictures of the Space Needle and downtown.) The Space Needle does have a rotating restaurant inside which I wouldn't necessarily recommend. For starters, it will cost you a minimum of $30 per person and the food is not as excellent as its reputation led me to believe it would be. The novelty of eating atop the city of Seattle wears off rather quickly, so I'd suggest heading to a restaurant in nearby Lower Queen Anne or Belltown after a visit to the top. The best time to take the trip to the top ($9) is just before dusk. That way you can get great views of Mount Rainier in the distance during sunset (on a clear day) and see the lights of the city after dark.
3. SafeCo Field: Home of the now Griffey-less Mariners, this stadium is the best I've ever seen. Not only does it have a retracting roof and natural grass, but it's a great place to take in the views of the city and Mount Rainier. As far as watching a game, I can't imagine a better atmosphere. There are dozens of balconies that provide a variety of vantages of the game, and most are accessible to everyone. It's great to grab a beer or soda and walk around to the different levels to see the game from different of angles. Pitchers warm up in the bullpen behind a sheet of glass several feet away, which allows you to truly experience the speed at which the baseball travels. And there are a variety of food options within the confines of the park. As far as I'm concerned, it's the paradigm for modern day stadiums.
4. The Underground Tour: This is a great tour to take if you want to learn a bit about the history of Seattle. As you may know, a portion of Seattle lies one story below street level in the Pioneer Square area. A combination of tragic fires, floods, and mudslides caused this to happen, not to mention that much of Seattle's downtown isn't built on the most solid of ground in the first place. As a matter of fact, a good portion of it was marshland at one time. For a more complete history of the city including the reasoning behind Seattle's ridiculous dual-gridded street pattern, the story behind the name Seattle, and the underground city, head down to Pioneer Square, where you'll find a place called Doc Maynard's (610 First Ave.), a bar by night and the tour's beginning by day.
5. REI: This is REI's flagship store. If you aren't familiar with REI, it's an outdoorsman's paradise. You can buy anything and everything there that pertains to camping, hiking, canoeing, biking, rock climbing, or backpacking. It has its own climbing wall, an outdoor bike track, and a rain chamber, all of which are provided to you, the customer, to be used to test out equipment before you buy. You can spend a couple of hours perusing the store, and chances are you'll make an impulse purchase. Be careful though, there are a lot of attractive gadgets capable of draining your pocketbook.
6. The Museum of Flight: If you're an airplane buff, you'll want to check this place out. Their collection contains aircraft from all of aviation history, including some of the first planes ever produced by the Boeing Company. You can also tour the original Air Force One, which is currently out of service, and visit many authentic full-sized aircraft of all types. The entrance fee is $8.00, and is worth a visit for people of all ages. It's located at 9404 East Marginal Way near Boeing field (which is the airport visible from I-5 as you approach downtown Seattle).
-----Additions by other Epinions Members to Tourist Attractions-----
1. Kayaking on Lake Union, by jasonkirk: "Go along Eastlake until you come to a large Chinese Restaurant (I forget the name). Park here and you will find a place where you can rent kayaks. The cost is reasonable (about $10-$15 per hour). You can choose solo or two person models. They will give you a crash course in how to use the boat (it's easy) and then you are on your way to paddle along this lake and take in the scenery of downtown, the mountains and Gas Works Park. It's a nice cool time when the weather turn warm." -jasonkirk
2. Elliot Bay Bookstore, by janesbit1: "I've been to Seattle at least 8 separate occasions and one of my favorite hangouts is the Elliot Bay Bookstore near Pioneer Square downtown. This is not your typical chain type Borders or Barnes and Noble, but is in the noble independent tradition. It's huge with books on virtually any subject that you can browse for hours without hassle since there's many others doing the same. Be sure to go down to the basement section where you'll feel even more bohemian. You can get some gourmet coffee, read, or visit at your leisure!" -janesbit1
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-----TRANSPORTATION AND HOTELS, by sonja1211-----
"Seatac Airport is located 20 miles south of Seattle, close to the business area of Tukwila, as well as the shopping area (Southcenter). It is served by most major airlines, and Alaska airlines calls Seatac its home. Not only is Seattle a big hub for Pacific Northwest, it is also a major gateway for Asia, and there are even non-stop flights to Europe (British Airways to London, or SAS Scandinavian to Copenhagen). Hotels in Seattle are as diverse as the city itself, and I would highly recommend The Four Seasons Olympic (where the movie "Disclosure" was shot, and a favorite hotel of the stars visiting Seattle), The Westin (with its two circular towers, favorite of the President), Sheraton Downtown (6th Avenue), Hyatt Bellevue (the Grand Dame of Pacific Northwest), Edgewater Hotel (as the name suggests, a portion of the hotel juts out into the Bay), and, my personal favorite, The Vintage Park Hotel (on 5th Avenue, close to the Fifth Avenue Theater)." -sonja1211
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SEATTLE'S NEIGHBORHOODS
1. Lower Queen Anne: This was the area that I called home. Lower Queen Anne is a great place to live because of the array of outstanding restaurants, grocery stores (there are 3 within spitting distance of one another), views of the Puget Sound, and of course proximity to both Seattle Center and downtown. Parking is about the only headache, especially during any of the numerous festivals that are held at Seattle Center throughout the year (Bumbershoot Music Festival, Folkfest, Bite of Seattle, and many others). Key Arena is also located in this neighborhood, so basketball fans like myself can catch a game without fighting traffic to get back home. Just about everything is within walking distance of this area, or contained within its boundaries. Examples include the Seattle Symphony, the ballet, the Space Needle, the art museum, and downtown malls and movie theaters.
2. West Seattle: This is as close as you're going to find to a beach community in Seattle. There are other places in Seattle you can find beach, but this really feels like you're in another place. The buildings on the waterfront are generally condos or apartment buildings touting views of the Puget Sound and downtown Seattle. The views justify a trip into West Seattle in and of themselves. It's also a great place to play beach volleyball or Frisbee, roller blade, run, or bike. It's outdoor atmosphere won me over on my first visit to the area. Not to mention West Seattle is filled with great restaurants.
3. Green Lake: This area is a bit more residential in feel than the previous two. It's filled with families and people who take pride in their neighborhood. The lawns are manicured and often lined with flowers (the rain keeps them blooming almost year round). Green Lake is so named because of, well, Green Lake itself. There's a jogging track that surrounds it, and it's always crowded with people trying to lose those extra pounds while taking in the sights. There is a community center located right on the lake, and its surrounding grassy area is a popular place to relax, play soccer or tennis, or walk the dog. I had friends who lived in the area, so I spent a lot of time there. It's within 15 minutes of downtown, but it maintains a very suburban feel.
4. Capitol Hill: This is one of the more eclectic neighborhoods in the Seattle area. It's a great place to people watch, and there are a number of bars in the area that are worth checking out (my favorite is The Rosebud). This area has a very young feel and is also within walking distance of downtown and very near the Seattle Center area. Housing near downtown Seattle is hard to come by, and this is one of the most competitive areas.
5. The University District: Seattle is home to the University of Washington. The university is located about 10 minutes north of downtown Seattle, and is unique amongst neighboring communities, as most areas surrounding campuses are. The campus itself is very beautiful, and during the spring the cherry blossoms are in full force. It goes without saying that bars and restaurants are plentiful here. (My favorite is the Big Time microbrewery.) You can also rent kayaks on Lake Union, which borders the U-District to the south.
6. Belltown: This area is probably best known for its bars and restaurants. You can catch a live show at the famous Crocodile Club or check out one of the numerous restaurants on 1st Street. It's an expensive place to live because it is essentially downtown which makes it hard to beat for location. Nearby are Seattle Center, SafeCo Field, and Pike Place Market. My favorite place in Belltown is a pool hall called the 211 Club. You can check your pretentiousness at the door here, as it's pool for pool's sake. There's no music or loud talk, and you'll be scolded for whistling. On the other hand, there are over 20 tables there, and all are kept in meticulous shape. And the sticks make it hard to play anywhere else afterwards. If you're a serious pool player, it's as good as it gets.
-----Additions by other Epinions Members to Neighborhoods-----
1. Ballard, by hikini: "Ballard is a quaint neighborhood that has grown tremendously in the last 10 years. It was one of the original Seattle neighborhoods and was/is populated by many Scandinavians, particularly Norwegians. Ballard borders Shilshole which runs along Puget Sound. A beautiful place to watch the sunset and see the multitude of sailboats. Along Market street are dozens and dozens of ethnic shops and eating places - a really fun place to spend an entire day." -hikini
2. Sister Cities, by loveandprayers: "Certainly tourists would not want to miss Bellevue Square, Meydenbauer Bay (Bill Gates' old homestead until moving to Mercer Island), the Kirkland Marina (with Anthony's Home Port Restaurant) and finally the Redmond bicycle trail which goes along the Sammamish Slough through Bothell until it reaches the University District." -loveandprayers
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DAY TRIPS FROM SEATTLE
1. Snoqualmie Falls: Within an hour you'll be well into the mountainous region that surrounds the Seattle area. Snoqualmie Falls is a beautiful natural fall that can provide one with a great excuse to get out into the open and experience one of Seattle's major benefits - its location in the Great Northwest. There are plenty of hikes in the area surrounding Snoqualmie Falls, especially in the Mount Si area, some of which are challenging, while others are simple enough for anyone. If you are into the outdoors, you'll love Seattle, and Snoqualmie Falls is a great place to introduce yourself to the area. If you're a golfer, you'll find a number of courses in this area, some of which can be played for less than $25 per round (Mount Si, Snoqualmie Falls, Twin Rivers - none of these are high quality, but the price can't be beat.) Also try the Cascade Loop and the North Cascades Highway for scenic drives in the area.
2. Mount Rainier: This is the most recognizable landmark of the entire region. Mount Rainier IS the Northwest. It's truly beautiful on a clear day, when it can be seen from downtown Seattle. I would recommend taking a day to visit this landmark, especially during the spring and summer months when the surrounding forests and wildflower fields are in their finest form. Mount Rainier National Park is best visited during the week, because as you can imagine it gets pretty crowded on weekends and holidays.
-----Comments on Mt. Rainier:-----
"Viewing the sunset from Mount Rainier was the highlight of my trip to Seattle. Absolutely breathtaking." -shartion
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3. The San Juan Islands: The San Juans are located in the Puget Sound north of downtown Seattle. If you like hiking, this is one of the most serene, untouched, and densely forested areas you will find anywhere. If not, it can be a real pleasure to hop on a ferry in the downtown Seattle ferry port and visit the islands by car, perhaps stopping into some of the small cafes and shops you'll encounter. The ferry ride can be one of the best parts of the trip, because it weaves amongst the island scenery during its journey.
4. The Skagit County Tulip Festival: This takes place every year in the month of April in the town of Mount Vernon Washington, about 55 miles north of Seattle. Last year was not a great year for tulips, so unfortunately my experience was not all it was cracked up to be. However, even in an off year there were fields filled with daffodils and tulips, which brought out the rural feel of the area and made the mountains in the background much more dramatic than usual. And again, this area has some great golf courses (my favorite is Avalon - it has 18 holes and is of high quality, $45 - $50 per round).
SEATTLE RESTAURANTS
1. Racha: Racha has the best Thai cuisine I have ever eaten in any city in the U.S. (I haven't been to Thailand yet, nor have I found a Thai restaurant elsewhere abroad). Coming from me, that's a big statement - Thai and Indian are my two favorite cuisines. I've eaten in probably 50 Thai restaurants in the last 3 years, and this one takes the cake in nearly every category. It's a relatively small restaurant, with seating for around 60 people at capacity, and on weekends and at peak dinner hours there can be a wait, although it's usually not more that 10 minutes. The menu can be a bit overwhelming, with a comprehensive list of noodle dishes (the self proclaimed house specialty - there are 4 types - Sen Lek, Sen Mee, Sen Yai, and Ba Mee), salads, appetizers, and entrees, with all of the mainstays of a Thai menu. The wine selection is a bit lacking, but I never much cared for wine with Thai food. My recommended menu: appetizer - spring rolls (glass noodles, carrots, cabbage, deep fried and delicious, served with sweet and sour sauce) $4; salad: larb gai (I prefer this without chicken, super spicy) $5; entree: golden cashew with tofu and brown rice (tofu, cashews, green onions, peppers, chilies, fabulous sauce) $8; standby dishes like pad thai (recommended by friends) and house yellow curry are excellent as well. Racha is located at 537 1st Avenue North in Lower Queen Anne. It's convenient to the Space Needle and Seattle Center.
2. Angelina's: This place should have warning signs explaining to customers that they're about to overeat. The thing is that you know that going in, and yet you can't help but do it anyway. I'd recommend trying this restaurant with a group of friends so that you can take full advantage of the menu. This is truly a treat for both the taste buds and the stomach alike, and some of my most memorable eating experiences occurred within its home-like atmosphere. The fare is Italian, and I've never been displeased with anything I've eaten there. All of the pasta dishes have an "upgrade" option, which means that with your pasta entrée, you will be the happy recipient of a house salad, a cup of minestrone soup (some of the best I've ever had), and an antipasto platter which includes a variety of peppers, cheeses, olives, and mixed salad items. All of this comes to around $12 per person. Here are some insider tips: If you love olives, ask your server for a serving and you'll probably receive a generous bowl at no charge. Also, ask the server to provide you with olive oil and balsamic vinegar for a great concoction in which to dip your bread. The wine selection is great, and don't even think about skipping dessert. After that, loosen your belt and enjoy a cup of coffee at a leisurely pace. Great food - check! Great service - check! Reasonably priced - check! I'm nowhere near Angelina's at the moment - doh! Angelina's is located in West Seattle at 2311 California Avenue SW.
3. Pyramid Ale House: I had to throw this place in, because while the food is better than average for a brew house, Pyramid ales are best served right out of the kettle. Pyramid Ale House has an excellent selection of beer (I wrote a review in which I cover my seven favorites - shameless plug) that either compliments the food or stands on its own. You can get Pyramid ale in bottles in the grocery store, but its actually much better at the brew house itself. The menu ranges from fish and chips to steaks to salads, with a number of tantalizing appetizers to get you warmed up. Since I've become a vegetarian, I have limited options at Pyramid, but I can recommend the garden burger and the hummus and pita without reservations. It's nothing special, but did I mention the beer? The Pyramid Ale House is located right across the street from SafeCo Field in downtown Seattle, so it's a great place to go either before or after a Mariner's game. If that doesn't get you there, it's at 1201 First Avenue South.
-----Additions by other epinions members to Seattle Restaurants:-----
1. Favorite local chain, by hikini: "The one restaurant I would add to your list is a local chain called Azteca. My favorite location is on Shilshole, right on the water. It's a gorgeous building where you can sit and watch the boats as they pass through on their way to or from the Government Locks (another place to see in Ballard) and not only the view is great, but the food is great as well." -hikini
2. Dick's, by jasonkirk: "This hamburger chain puts In-N-Out to shame. The burgers are greasy, the fries are even more greasy and the shakes are so good you'll want two. This is a local chain that has about 10 locations. My favorites are on Capital Hill and near the Pacific Science Center and Key Arena. The prices are cheap and don't forget to ask for tartar sauce . . . it'll cost you an extra 5 cents.
3. Anthony's, by bigrwa: "Anthony's is an incredible restaurant, there's one in downtown that's hard to get to (but worth it) and one in Federal Way. Incredible seafood, a ling cod in dill that is out of this world, the best steamed mussells I've ever had and a decadent all-you-can-eat Shrimp Fry on Tuesdays." -bigrwa
4. The Salmon House, by bigrwa: "The Salmon House is in downtown Seattle, and it has the best salmon I've ever had. I think it's owned by Ivars now, but they cook salmon on cedar planks and it is done in native American theme decorations. Very tasty.... is it lunch hour yet?" -bigrwa
5. Longshoreman's Daughter, by twirlgirl: "For great pancakes, you can't beat "Long Shoreman's Daughter!" -twirlgirl (Longshoreman's Daughter is located in Fremont.)
6. Starbucks?, by atom: "It has LESS Starbucks than San Francisco, or at least it feels like it. At least in Seattle, Starbucks has competitive chains (Seattle's Best, Tully's), whereas in SF, there aren't enough Peet's interspersed between the 4 Starbucks on one block to blind you from the eyesore of so many Starbucks. Plus, Seattle has tons o' independent coffeehouses." -atom
7. Honey Bear, by atom: "I loved that place." -atom (Honey Bear is located in Greenlake.)
8. Ivar's, by janesbit1: "I wish we had Ivar's fast food seafood here instead of the national chains. Ivar's has real fish and chips, and their chowder ranks with some of the best I've had in sit down restaurants. They don't kill the fish with greasy batter that makes the taste indistinguishable from chicken like LJS does. I always enjoyed the Ivar's located close to the Aquarium where you can sit outside and feed chips to the seagulls." -janesbit1
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So there you have it, Seattle in a nutshell. And hey, if you're in Seattle, keep in mind that Portland, Oregon and Vancouver, B.C. are within a few hours and are also excellent places to visit. Or, take a ferry to Victoria, B.C. and spend the night before heading back to Seattle. There are tons of activities there as well, which might just fill a future review.
Epinions members: Feel free to let me know what your favorite sights, restaurants, and neighborhoods are in the Seattle area. I'll add your comment to the appropriate section of the review surrounded by quotes and followed by your epinion ID. Thank you!
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
kifwebe
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Location: :noitacoL
Reviews written: 29
Trusted by: 210 members
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