Getaway to the Emerald City

Need a weekend away?  I did, so a couple of weeks ago I decided to go to Seattle for a change of scenery.  Living in Vancouver, it was only a few hours’ drive, but the city is easily accessible by air if you live further away or you can grab the Seattle Clipper from Victoria. 

This was my first visit to Seattle, so I wanted to see the main sights. On Saturday morning I skipped the free hostel breakfast in favour of grabbing a bagel and latte at a nearby coffee shop. The early start gave me some great photo opportunities in the empty streets around historic Pioneer Square.

Next stop was the famous Pike Place Market. Arriving before the crowds allowed for a more intimate and leisurely tour of the market. Watching the fish mongers throwing their fish around was the highlight!

By early afternoon I was on the other side of town and near the Space Needle and the Seattle Centre. There is quite a bit to see here, including the Experience Music Project/Science Fiction Museum, Pacific Science Museum and of course the Space Needle itself. From here, I jumped on the monorail back to downtown.

My next port of call was the waterfront area. There you’ll find restaurants, cafes, shops and the Seattle Aquarium. It’s a great place to take a stroll and enjoy the excellent mountain views and fresh sea air.

The next day, I met up with a relative and we had some great dim sum in the International District. Then it was time to head back to Vancouver, with a stop at Kurt Cobain’s old home and the outlet malls. I had a great time in Seattle; it is a perfect sized city to explore in a weekend or a few days. I look forward to going back and exploring some of the city’s outlying neighbourhoods.

I stayed at HI-Seattle which is located in the International District. I found this location pretty convenient; it is just one block from Union Square and the Sound Transit Link Light Rail. It does not take too long to walk downtown and Pioneer Square is just a five to ten minute walk away. I found the hostel really comfortable and the staff were very helpful and friendly. The hostel has a clean, spacious, modern kitchen if you wanted to prepare your own food, however, there are some great places to eat right on the hostel’s doorstep. Your stay at HI-Seattle includes free breakfast too. For more information >>

For more information on Seattle >>

Do you have any suggestions of what to see in Seattle? If so leave a comment below.

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