Something has to be in the air of Seattle to be the birthplace of successful companies such as Microsoft or Starbucks, and musical groups such as Nirvana. Will it be the Pacific breeze? Who knows, just in case we have breathed its air in full lungs to try to spread its entrepreneurial spirit, now we have to wait for it to take effect. Leaving aside its more material side, Seattle is a versatile and dynamic city, underground and at the same time hooked to trends, with a vintage touch aligned with the most contemporary hipsterism.
The first thing that attracts attention is the silhouette of the Space Needle, the most peculiar tower, and symbol par excellence of Seattle (if you have seen Grey’s Anatomy, you know what we are talking about). Compared to other towers of the continent such as the Toronto Tower, it does not have a remarkable height (“only” 184 meters), although it was a feat in 1962, the year it was built. You can climb to the observation deck and contemplate the city from above, and get scared in the glass floor areas. Admission costs between $ 32.50 and $ 37.50 (depending on visiting hours), and you can buy them online or at the box office.
Near there, in the alley of Post Alley, you will find the Gum Wall, a very colorful wall for the simple fact that it is full of gum! The tradition of sticking the gum on these bricks began in the 90s when people waited to enter the Market Theater, and it has ended up becoming one of Seattle’s most disgusting attractions.
One of Seattle’s most interesting and personality neighborhoods is Capitol Hill, the neighborhood that hosts the city’s largest LGBT community. If you like to wander around, stop for a beer and go shopping… you have to stop by. And also why not to cultivate a little, here is The Elliott Bay Book Company, a bookstore with more than 150,000 new and second-hand titles.
And the Pioneer Square area also has to be included in your plans: full of brick buildings, trendy premises, and ambiance, especially at lunchtime.
The Columbia Center is another building that will delight those who are eager to fly: from its viewpoint ( Sky View Observatory ), you can see the city too much (yes, including the Space Needle). We did not go for lack of time, but they told us that it is very cool. This is the tallest building in the state of Washington, with 284 meters, and the entrance costs $ 22.
We found the Seattle Central Library a curious stop: it is a steel and glass building that is a very photogenic place. Also, on the 10th floor, there is a free-viewpoint that will give you a curious view of the city.
Did you know that Seattle is the first Starbucks in the world? It was founded in 1971 and, since then, to know how many liters of coffees were drunk in the streets of Seattle (and the world!). And yes, entering even to know this historic place is a must. Peeeero, if there is a Starbucks that drives everyone who visits it (especially Instagram) is The Seattle Roastery. Of course, do not forget to try other coffees, because Seattle is one of the cities with more coffee culture in the world, going alone to Starbucks would be like eating at a Domino’s Pizza in Naples. Some of Seattle’s best coffee shops are Milstead and Co. and La Marzocco Café.
Amazon headquarters is also one of the best things to see in Seattle, especially thanks to its glass domes. There is also good news for geeks: tours can be made to get to know the offices of this famous company (Tuesdays and Thursdays at 10 am and 2 pm).
In 1889 Seattle was destroyed because of a huge fire. To know its history and to see places that were buried under the ruins, there is a very popular excursion called Underground Tour. You will walk through tunnels and passages while your guide tells you all about the past of this ghost town. Curiosity: apparently, the fire started when an apprentice Swedish carpenter, became the Swede (sorry, bad joke) and forgot hot glue next to some wooden chips.
If you have time and you feel like a moment of tranquility, we recommend you approach one of these two parks: the Olympic Sculpture Park, it is an urban park that, as you have already imagined, is characterized by being dotted with statues.
The Seattle cultural scene is versatile and always evolving, but there are a handful of museums that you should keep in mind. One is the Museum of Pop Culture (the MoPOP), created by Paul Allen, co-founder of Microsoft. Here you can surround yourself with personal objects of great music, such as Kurt Cobain de Nirvana, David Bowie, or Jimy Hendrix himself.
Another is Chihuly Garden and Glass, an almost unreal world where you will be surrounded by colorful, immense, and somewhat crazy glass sculptures. It is a tribute to the artist Dale Chihuly, a must in Seattle.
The Seattle Art Museum is also worth it, especially if you are passionate about ethnic art. Eye: it has different locations, so if you decide to go, you must plan your visit well.
Are you more numbers than letters? Then surely you are more interested in visiting the Pacific Science Center, entirely dedicated to science. It will please both small and not so small!
We are not done with the neighborhoods of Seattle; Fremont is one of the most fashionable now. Here you will find endless shops, restaurants, and a craft brewery that you have to visit: we talk about the Fremont Brewing. The pints cost about 5-6 $, and there is also the possibility of tasting several beers. Eye: they do not sell food, so if you want, you can bring something to eat yourself, what they do give free are apples and mini-pretzels hehe.