Sublime Seattle

There is so much to see and do in and around this Pacific Northwest hub

The Pacific Northwest is rich with places to explore. And Seattle is the perfect hub. You can take an easy day trip from Seattle to majestic Mount Rainier National Park; drive 174 miles south to Portland, Oregon, or about 143 miles north to Vancouver, British Columbia (be sure to bring your passport); head east to the hops- and winegrowing environs of Yakima and Walla Walla; jump on a ferry to neighboring islands in Puget Sound; and more.

Just know that wherever you go from Seattle, you’ll most likely find yourself returning to Seattle, for the food, the markets, the museums, the art galleries, the music scene, the brewpubs and the diverse culture.

Seattle must-sees

Iconic spots in and near downtown Seattle include the legendary Pike Place Market, the Space Needle, the Pacific Science Center, the Great Wheel, MoPOP (Museum of Pop Culture), the Seattle Art Museum and—one of my favorites—the Seattle Underground Tour.

Just opened is the Seattle NFT Museum, the first museum in the world dedicated to NFT (non-fungible token) digital art. Most of the art displayed at this museum is available for sale (unsurprisingly, QR codes connect you directly to the marketplace).

Distinct neighborhoods

Seattle comprises a multitude of neighborhoods, each with its own distinct personality, that offer additional unique experiences.

For example, if it’s Sunday, visit the nearby Fremont Farmers Market, in friendly, funky Fremont. It’s jammed with food trucks and 150 street-side vendors selling local produce, fresh baked goods, artwork and clothing.

Then, work off that food by heading to some of the country’s best public parks. Just minutes from Fremont, you can bike, skate or stroll along the 2.8- mile Green Lake Park path, or spend an afternoon at the 19-plus-acres Gas Works Park, located on the north end of Lake Union. At the end of the day, head to Kerry Park, in the Queen Anne neighborhood, and watch the sun set over the Olympic Mountains.

A few miles from Fremont you’ll find the Ballard neighborhood, home to the Ballard Locks, the junction between the salt water of the Puget Sound and the fresh water of Lake Union. It’s fascinating to watch commercial, research and pleasure vessels of all sizes and descriptions being raised and lowered in the locks on their way in and out. If you go between June and September, you can see countless salmon swimming through the fish ladder.

Ferries, ho!

Go north of Seattle and catch the Mukilteo ferry to Whidbey Island, then drive north about 47 miles to Deception Pass State Park. There’s beautiful hiking along cliffs that drop into Puget Sound. If you can brave the heights, walk across the Deception Pass Bridge, a 1,487-footlong span crossing Canoe Pass that connects Whidbey and Fidalgo islands.

A great day trip is the 20-minute ferry ride from Fauntleroy (in West Seattle, an area worth a visit in itself) to Vashon Island. There’s an annual strawberry festival in July, but the island is worth the trip any time of the year to visit the orchards, the independent farms and the wineries. If you like, drive to Tahlequah, on the south end of Vashon, and catch a ferry to Point Defiance, a huge urban park in Tacoma. Tacoma is also home to the LeMay—America’s Car Museum, the Tacoma Dome, the Museum of Glass and a downtown corridor with great restaurants and shops.

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