A Weekend in Seattle

Dear lilioftheworld.com reader, this is Dani, your co-editor. Given the approaching MLK Day, today we will visit the Pacific North-West (PNW). Specifically, we are going to Seattle. Moreover, this journey took place before the pandemic of 2020. Enjoy the next couple of paragraphs.

Prologue

In fact, this was the fastest trip I have ever organized in my life. After working for 16 hours per day for two endless weeks in the office, I informed my manager I need a break. He approved my vacation, starting the following day. Furthermore, I checked for plane tickets and to my surprise I found unbeatable prices for three days in Seattle, starting the following morning. Above all, I desperately needed to disengage from work, thus I didn’t think twice. I booked a room on Airbnb and the trip planning was almost done. Five things to do in Seattle:

• Visit the Pike Place market
• Get a cup of coffee in the original Starbucks shop
• Get on top of the Space Needle
• Visit the museum of flight
• Have some Cuban food on Capitol Hill
• Enjoy a walk on the promenade

Welcome to Seattle

Seattle is the largest city in the Washington state. However, we need to mention that Washington D.C. is not in Washington state. The federal capital is on the East coast. Moreover, the state is on the West coast, right south of Canada. Furthermore, Seattle is home to four well-known companies – Boeing, Amazon, Microsoft and Starbucks. It is known as the “Emerald city”, whereby the reference is to the lush evergreen forests of the area. Above all, it is a very vibrant city. The vibe strikes you from the SEATAC airport, home of Alaska Airlines and gateway to Asia and Hawaii for Delta, Hawaiian, Korean Air, Singapore Airlines, EVA Air and others.

Pike Place Market

One of the most iconic places in Seattle has the name Pike Place market. It is a covered shopping area, full of small shops, where one can buy almost anything. In fact, the place is famous for the fish store, whereby the employees throw up fish to their coworkers for weighting and packaging. Moreover, the packaged food get thrown up back at them for final delivery to the customer. It is a spectacular show and visitors are having great time there. On the lower level, right next to the main entrance, is the gum wall. It is a recent addition to the hypstery inspired attractions – locals and visitors put their chewing gums on the wall. Above all, it is an interesting addition with questionable hygiene. The authorities clean the wall every so often.

Pike Place Fish market

Starbucks

Right across the street from the market is the original Starbucks. The company was founded by three classmates that graduated from University of San Francisco on 30 March 1971. Furthermore, Starbucks was the name of the chief mate in the book Moby-Dick. The original shop sold whole grain coffee and spices.

Today it is a multibillion company with 30 000 coffee shops in 70 countries around the world. Consequently, it is not a surprise that the notorious coffee flavor for Starbucks is Pike Place – named after the market the store was located next to. Moreover, beware that the waiting time is between 20 and 40 minutes in line for a cup of coffee.

The original Starbucks shop and the evolution of Starbucks logo over the years

The Space Needle

The Space Needle is an observation tower in Seattle, located on a walking distance from the Pike Place market. They built it at the raise of the Space Age. Furthermore, it is 520 feet tall and it was finished in 1962. The workers and their families had dinner at the restaurant on the lower level. An electric motor which has power of 1 hp rotates the restaurant.

The Space Needle observation deck view

Moreover, the gas torch at the top was so bright at night that the locals thought the tower was on fire at first. The upper deck offers stunning views to the city and Mount Rainier. The panoramic elevators are a must-have experience and do not get scared if the guide stops the elevator half way through the ride – they will give you some amazing details about the place.

Boeing

The space and aircraft manufacturer needs no introduction. I will dedicate a separate article to everything one can see visiting the two locations Boeing offers to tourists – the Future of Flight and the Museum of Flight. Moreover, if you haven’t gotten a chance to get onboard the only supersonic commercial airliner Concord or if you have always dreamed about seeing the interior of Air Force One, the museum next to Boeing’s factory at Renton airport is the place to be.

Concord on the outside and inside

It also hosts the prototype of the Jumbo Jet (Boeing 747-100) – the first wide-body aircraft in the world. Furthermore, the first commercial airliner that has fuselage made of composites is also available there – Boeing 787. We should make the note, though, that the HQ of the company is in Chicago.

Museum of flight and Boeing 747

Capitol Hill

Capitol Hill is a residential neighborhood of Seattle where Joe Sutter – the father of the jumbo jet lived. It overlooks the nearby Renton airport, and it has great view to the rest of the city. Today Capitol Hill is the hipster neighborhood of the city. It is full of independent cafeterias, theaters, cinemas and galleries.

Gum Wall

Additionally, do not miss the opportunity to get some Cuban food at the famous Paseo restaurant. Above all, I should admit the slow cooked pork was a bit too fatty for my tasting, but one will certainly find a dish they like. Walking down from the hill is a great way to overcome the food comma.

Paseo restaurant and a Cuban sandwich

The Promenade

Once you get yourself back to downtown, keep walking towards the water and soon after you will end up at the promenade. It offers great views to Pike Place market and the city. Moreover, the sound of waves, splashing at the shore, brings that tranquility that we all need in our fast pace daily routine.

The promenade and the Skyline 

Epilogue

Being a European, I took the light rail back to SEATAC airport (the airport is shared between the cities of Seattle and Tacoma, thus the name). It was time for me to catch my flight back home. Moreover, it was time to get ready for the next busy week at work.

Meanwhile, you can read some of my other stories:

• Hong Kong
• Pittsburgh – a city of great stories
• The Thousand Islands article
• Miami – My Independence Day Weekend in Paradise
• The story about the San Francisco Bay Area
• Comparison of the Airlines in the US

I think that that’s it! In conclusion, I want to thank You for visiting Seattle with me!

Any comments / remarks / notes / recommendations are welcome!