In response to my previous article about what NOT to do in Portland, I was strongly advised to do a follow up one about Seattle. The Emerald City is so different from the Rose City, so it is unfair to raise the question about Seattle vs Portland. Yet, there are things in Seattle that you should take into account when visiting. Read on for my little pearls of wisdom!
By the way, our friends at Redfin have put together a great bucket list of items that you must do while visiting the Emerald City (read my contribution towards the bottom of the post.)
And while the following list is fun to read, but by no means comprehensive, I offer you this kick-ass guide to Seattle, fresh from the press.
Now, without further ado, here is what NOT to do in Seattle>
- Don’t assume it rains all the time. In fact, there are many U.S. cities that get more precipitation year over year than Seattle. (I’m looking at you, Atlanta.) And yes, Portland usually gets more rain than Seattle. Over the past few years, the peak summer months of July and August have been unusually sunny and HOT in this area. Thanks, global warming!
- When it DOES rain in Seattle…DON”T use an umbrella. you’ll just look like a tourist. (Well, you ARE one, but no one needs to know that!) Don that waterproof hoodie jacket, and blend in, baby! Pro tip: Pacific Northwest folks don’t use umbrellas either. Why bother? It’s too cumbersome. We already have our hands full walking our dogs while texting. Nevertheless, here’s a really cool umbrella if you really feel that you need one.
- For a great view of the city, don’t go to the top of the Space Needle, go instead to the Sky View Observatory in Seattle’s tallest building, the Columbia Center, downtown. It is the west coast’s 3rd tallest building (the other two are in downtown Los Angeles). The views at the top of the Columbia Center are better, especially on a clear day, and admission is less expensive than the Space Needle ($15 vs. $22 as of this writing.)
- Don’t assume Seattlites are either grungy hipsters or ultra-Microsoft-y techies. Seattle residents are as diverse as they come. The tech industry is big here, but so is the science industry, which attracts much talent from all over the world, especially Asia.
- Pass by the original Starbucks while at Pike Place Market, just to see it, but don’t bother going inside. There’s nothing in there that’s not at any other Starbucks; it’s always crowded and the coffee is overpriced.
- Don’t assume Seattle is like Portland (the Goddess of public transportation). Even though Seattle’s population is much larger, its public transit system is sorely lacking. Unless you have tons of time (and patience) to navigate the bus system, rent a car and expect to get into a traffic jam (or two, or three…) Having said that, finding things to do in Seattle without a car is easy if you stick to the center of the city.
- Don’t miss the gum wall, in Post Alley, under Pike Place Market. Not for the easily squeamish, but this is a must see! Covered in used chewing gum, the wall is deemed one of the germiest tourist attractions in the world. In late November 2015, work began to remove the gum (inches thick in places) and thoroughly clean the area. Over a ton of gum was removed, and it took about 130 hours total. But lo and behold, shortly after the clean-up, people began to leave their chewy deposits once again.
- Don’t forget the beer! With over 300 breweries in the greater Seattle area, the choices for beer lovers are mind-boggling. And nearby Yakima Valley grows most of the hops in the U.S., making for the freshest local beer. Not into beer? Seattle has a healthy craft cider scene, as well! Gluten-free never tasted so good!
- Don’t miss taking the Seattle Underground Tour. Seriously, I’ve been on this thing 5 times with various friends and family, and it NEVER gets old. Very knowledgeable and extremely funny tour guides will take you on a wonderfully dark and musty journey through Seattle’s rocky upbringing.
- And for you foodies…do not assume it’s all about the fish. Yes, Seattle has some of the finest seafood restaurants in the world. But try to branch out a bit and savor the other great meat and veggie masterpieces from some of the world’s premier chefs. Harvest Beat, Metropolitan Grill and Café Juanita come to mind.
So that’s my Top 10 Seattle no-no’s. Do YOU have anything to add to this list? I am ALWAYS up for comments and suggestions!
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2 Comments
that is not the original starbucks posted . it is in the market not across the street and it’s tiny
That’s not entirely true. The very first original Starbucks address WAS on 2000 Western Avenue, but moved to the location I have stated in my blog post in 1976. If there is another Starbucks actually inside the market, it is not the original one. But thanks for the comment!