After I left Glacier national park, I drove due south west to rendezvous with I-90. From there, I passed through the narrow strip of Idaho that is up there (near Coeur D Alene), which I believe is mostly mining and mountain country. I pulled off the highway to get some gas for the car, but wan't too much to see, and before I knew it, I was in Washington!
I stopped and drove around downtown Spokane quickly, mostly to say that I'd at least seen it. It's a tiny town, but has a hopping little downtown (I think there was an event going on?). I calculated how long it'd take me to get to Seattle (my endpoint for the first leg of the journey), and if there was anything to see between here and there. As my family lives in Seattle, I had been to bits of eastern Washington, so I decided it wasn't worth spending the night out here, so I booked it right to Seattle (also, there is SO LITTLE in Eastern Washington. Honestly, fill up your gas tank in Spokane before heading into that desolate, rest stop-less land).
Ahh, Seattle. The emerald city of the pacific northwest. My family has lived here the last few years, so this is likely my most-frequented city I travel to. So I'll take this opportunity to try and sell Seattle to those who are curious! So why is Seattle great?
Family
OK that's cheating. This applies to a limited number of people reading this, but it matters! When one considers traveling, and all the excitement it encompasses, still nothing compares to the feeling of "coming home". I'm lucky enough to get this feeling in a couple of places (Upstate NY, where I'm from originally being the other). A place to put up your feet and laugh wit those who know you best is the best kind of place. Wherever that is for you, never take it for granted, and go there often.
Travel tip- consider tarting a family here, or forcing your parents to move here. Then you'll have an excuse.
City Vibes
...but not TOO much. I think cities are great, and I love visiting them. Growing up within reasonable driving distance from NYC is a rare treat, and visiting Chicago on the way out here was awesome (see that post). Seattle early bumps elbows with the big east towns when it comes to that feeling of "being downtown". High rises, the crowds, the architecture, it's got it all. What I like about Seattle though, is it don'ts feel too big. It has held on to it's fishing and outdoor outfitter roots (think way station en route to Alaska back in the day), which makes it approachable, and comfortable.
Travel tip- start your morning in Pikes Place, and head down to the waterfront. Walk down to Pioneer square for exploring and lunch in Chinatown. Work your way back up any street to pass museums, shops, the Library, etc. The needle is at the north end. Makes for a 1 or 2 day little loop.
Natural Beauty
This is what sets Seattle apart in my mind. Few cities allow you to have mountains on three sides, a gorgeous water landscape, and still be lush and green almost all year round. The Olympic mountains, a fairly close together collection of jagged peaks (easy not the eyes), lie across the Puget Sound to the west. The Cascade mountains (reminiscent of the Rockies, with their broader peaks and larger range) lie to the East. And who can forget the prominent Mt. Rainier, almost the Symbol of the NW, who stands dramatically to the south.
Travel tip- Go to Kerry Park for the quintessential view of the City and Mt. Rainier in the background. Head east to Issaquah to get closer to the Cascades, or north for nice views of the Puget Sound.
Weather
Seattle gets a lot of flak for having terrible weather. Now, being from Syracuse, NY, perhaps anywhere seems better to me. However, I'm here to quickly state that no, it does not rain all day fro 365 days a year. Seattle still has a four-season feel to it, with two predominant "dry" and "wet" seasons. From late Spring through Fall, the rain mostly stops, and it's beautiful, sunny days. It's really fantastic. Toward the end of the fall and through spring, it starts to drizzle on a regular basis for most days. It's not the down pour that east coasters are used to, but it is consistent. Contrary to a lot of opinions I've heard, most locals LOVE the rain, and look forward to it every year. It's cozy, it's lush, it keeps things green. Seattle, going green since...ever.
Travel tip- August is my favorite time of year to come here. Views are perfect, weather is great.
Well, that's my shout out to Seattle. I'll spend the next week visiting my family and enjoying being home. Enjoy the pictures, and I'll update when I head into Oregon!
