Seattle was settled in 1851 on a bank of mud between the
Puget Sound and the fresh waters of Lake Washington. Settle has been burned, gutted and sunk into
the mud in which it was built upon. The
people are resilient and did not let the set backs which came at them
discourage them from rebuilding.
Today Seattle is a hubbub of ecliptic music and food. There are things to do where ever you turn
from a strolling down Pioneer Square to charting a boat for a Whale watching
tour.
Jimmy Hendrix Grave site is place all musicians should visit
at least once. It took me a day to find
the place due to misdirection. So to save you the time it’s located at
Greenwood Memorial Park Address: 350 Monroe Avenue NE (3rd and Monroe)
Greenwood Memorial Park, Renton, WA 98056.
It is only a 20 minute drive from downtown Seattle.
Follow that up with the Experience Music Project (EMP)
located at 325 5th Avenue N Seattle, WA 98109. EMP is dedicated to the history
and exploration of popular music, science fiction and pop culture. It was founded by Microsoft co-founder Paul
Allen. It holds rock memorabilia and technology-intensive multimedia
displays. It also houses a fantastic
tribute to Jimmy Hendrix.
Sky City Restaurant located on top of the Space Needle was a
treat. I was expecting pricey food lacking substance but I was amazed. Not only
was the food reasonably priced but it was full of flavor. This place has some of the best oysters on
the half shell I had ever eaten. The view was amazing. Although it is considered by many as a
tourist trap I do recommend that you visit it once just for the experience.
Pike Place Market is an open market to delight the young and
old. It houses restaurants, shops, fresh
caught fish and produce. Pike Place
Market attracts 10 million visitors a year.
It holds approximately 190 craftspeople, 100 farmers who rent space, 240
street performers/musicians and 300 apartment units for the low income elderly.
There is also an area where the locals sell there arts and crafts. May I suggest indulging in a crepe and hot
cup of coffee as you stroll through discovering the local art work? There is lady there who carves statues and
holiday ornaments for the ash of St. Helen.
Her work is fabulous. There are
scarves, mirrors, jewelry and beautiful photography to choose from. There is also a haunted tour given
daily. There are many ghost tours
throughout Seattle
Some local attractions you might want to put on your must do
list are:
1.
Underground Tour of Seattle – remember the city was
built on mud.
2.
Original Starbucks
3.
Seattle Great Wheel
4.
Pioneer Square
5.
Seattle Monorail
6.
Seattle Asian Art Museum
7.
Japanese Garden
8.
Washington Park Arboretum
Although the list maybe your typical fare sometimes you just
have to go to say you did. The
experience is worth it. But the one
place I highly recommend is Chihuly Garden and Glass. Dale Chihuly is a brilliant artist. He specializes in glass blowing but it is not
your typical glass. Mr. Chihuly’s glass
takes on life of its own. His pieces are
100s of feet high. Each piece of glass is
intricately woven into another making for colorful displays of light. It is
located adjacent to the Space Needle so plan to spend the day in that
area. There is even a café rest and
enjoy the art. His works of art are
displayed in 8 galleries and in the garden area.
There is not just one place to eat in Seattle. The local
eateries are on every street corner. You
have your choice of pasta, Creole, urban and fish. Whatever you are craving Seattle has it. Do not be afraid to take a trip in a Taxi to
the outskirts of Seattle. Some of the
finest eateries are located on the perimeter of the city.
Ristorante Machiavelli is a hidden
gem. It is a family owned Italian
restaurant on the outskirts of the city.
The do not take reservations as the place is small in comparison to most
establishments but it is worth the wait.
Note that it is closed on Sundays so the family can have some rest. The Penne with Roasted Red Peppers is spicy
but not overwhelming. It has a touch of
walnuts and cream.
- Seafood - Elliot’s Oyster House. 1201 Alaskan Way Pier 56, Seattle, WA 98101
- Crepes – Crepes De France at Pike Market Place
- Cajun and Jazz Music - 114 First Avenue South, Seattle, WA 98104
- Urban – Café Fonte 5412 6th Ave S Seattle, WA 98108
There are many reasons to visit
Seattle. My favorite is that it is only
a 2 hour drive from Vancouver.
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