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Seattle, Washington Travel Guide

by Dhriti

About Seattle, Washington

Seattle- Washington’s largest city, is known for its unadulterated natural beauty. Situated on Puget Sound in the Pacific Northwest, this dynamic urban city is famed for its mountains, Pacific ocean, lush green forests, and amazing coffee scene. Do you know Starbucks was founded in Seattle?

Seattle, Washington

The city is home to over 140 Starbucks coffee shops, robust art and music scene, strenuous outdoor activities, and tech hubs like Amazon and Microsoft. The choices could be overwhelming in Seattle; hence, here is your ultimate Seattle, Washington Travel Guide to ease your trip to the ‘Emerald City’ The music scene of Seattle is unmatched, and it has played a vital role in the state’s musical culture and popularized genres of Alternative Rock. Moreover, it is the birthplace of Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Jimi Hendrix, The Postal Service, Foo Fighters, and Macklemore.

Furthermore, Seattle has always been a trailblazer of green thoughts. The emerald city promotes several eco-friendly highlights like electric buses, LEED-certified buildings, and a new light rail system. As far as the tourist attraction is concerned, you’ll be spending your days exploring the city’s top highlights like Space Needle, Pike Place Market, Chihuly Garden and Glass, Olympic Sculpture Park, The Museum of History and Industry, and more.

Population ​

Being the largest city in Washington, Seattle is home to over 7.25 lacs people of different backgrounds. The city is currently growing at a rate of 1.47% annually, and its population has increased by 29.46%. Spanning over 142.07 sq miles, the population density of Seattle is at least 9396 people per square mile. The metropolitan area itself has a population of 3.5 million inhabitants, making Seattle the 15th largest metro city in the USA.

Population of Seattle
Seattle Population

Geography

Nestled on the hilly isthmus between the eastern shore of Puget Sound in the Pacific Northwest and Lake Washington, Seattle is surrounded by the sea, rivers, forests, lakes, fields, and mountains. Seattle is a major port city and an air and sea gateway to Asia and Alaska. Its chief harbor Elliot Bay is part of Puget Sound, which makes Seattle a major oceanic port. Seattle lies on Capitol Hill, First Hill, West Seattle, Beacon Hill, Queen Anne, Magnolia, and former Denny Hill. Seattle stands on the Pacific Ring of Fire, making the city a major earthquake zone.

History

Archaeological expeditions suggest in Seattle city history that the land’s first settlers were Native Americans who inhabited Seattle 4,000 years ago. However, the early modern account of Seattle is connected with the expedition to discover the Northwest Passage to trade with North Asia. In 1792, British Captain George Vancouver became the first European to visit Seattle, who was on an expedition to chart the Pacific Northwest. However, the first permanent European settlers led by Luther Collins arrived after 1851 and settled on the bank of the Duwamish River. Later, they moved across Elliott Bay to what is now known as the historic Pioneer Square District. The settlers gave the name Seattle to honor the Duwamish Indian chief Stealth.

History of Seattle

Religion

The majority of the Seattle population is white, and 52% follow Christianity. It has a relatively large minority of Asian and the largest African-American population. Besides, a small population of Latino is growing in Seattle quickly. More than half of the population follows Christianity (mostly protestants), and the rest follows Buddhism (2%), Hinduism (1%), Judaism (1%), and other religions (5%). However, a large portion of the population is irreligious.

Furthermore, Seattle has a large Jewish community, which settled in the city in 1860. Many Seattleites profess no religion and are atheist, agnostic, or unaffiliated.

Culture

The culture in Seattle is circumscribed by history, art, music, and coffee. Seattle is the cultural epicentre of the Pacific Northwest, and it draws on the city’s ethnic diversity, its tradition to support arts, and its status as the state’s educational and economic centre. It has been a melting pot of different cultures, and its ethnically diverse neighbourhoods are the epicentre of rich culture, music, art, and spirit. The smaller neighbourhoods of this big city hold a strong sense of community life. The daily life of a Seattleite is incomplete without the city’s drive-through coffee shops, breweries, boutiques, and weed shops (yes, they are legal here).

Language

Like any other US city, Seattle’s official language is English. However, in Seattle, the percentage of people who speak languages other than English rose to 25.4%, thanks to the city’s burgeoning immigrant communities. Spanish remains the second-most widely spoken language in Seattle. Looking at the city’s diverse population, there are some other languages like Lushootseed, Somali, Chinese, Hindi, Bengali, Japanese, Spanish that the Seattleite speaks.

Currency

The official currency of Seattle is the U.S. Dollar ($, US$, USD).

Government

Since its incorporation as a city in 1869, Seattle has been governed as a charter city with a mayor-council form of government. The Mayor is the head of the executive branch of the city government, and the Seattle City council is the legislative branch, led by a Council President. The Mayor and nine-member city council are elected for a four-year term. The seven council positions are selected based on the city’s seven council districts.

  • The Mayor
    The Mayor of Seattle is designated as head of the executive branch of the city government. The Mayor is responsible for enforcing laws enacted by the Seattle City Council and Directing subordinate Officers in City departments.
  • City council
    The City council is the legislative body, consisting of nine members serving four-year terms. Seven of nine members are elected by electoral districts, and two are elected citywide at large positions. All the nine members of the city Council are responsible for managing and approving the city’s budget and developing laws and policies to promote the health and safety of Seattleite residents.
  • City Attorney
    Seattle’s City Attorney is the non-partisan elected official responsible for defending the city against lawsuits, prosecuting people for misdemeanour offences, and giving law advice to the city.

Climate

Seattle Climate Chart

Seattle’s climate is temperate, classified in the Mediterranean zone by the climatic classification. It has mild, dry, partly cloudy, short summers and cold, wet, and mostly cloudy winters. The temperature of the city typically varies from 37℉ to 79℉ and is rarely above 85℉ and below 28℉.

When to Go

The best time to go Seattle is between May and October when the weather is pleasant. Although summer marks the city’s peak season when Seattle is packed with tourists, accommodation prices rise, and availability drops. However, it is the best season to visit if the weather is your concern and you want to avoid Seattle’s cold winters.

Travel

Accommodation

Being one of the remarkable cities of the USA, Seattle offers a good range of hotels to its guests. It has over 132 hotels and more than 3000 rooms in its downtown area. From luxury hotels to affordable B&Bs, Seattle accommodates all kinds of guests.

The Arctic Club

The Arctic Club

Address: 700 3rd Ave, Seattle, Washington 98104

Contact: +1 206 340 0340

Hotel Ballard

Hotel Ballard

Address: 5216 Ballard Ave NW, Seattle, Washington 98107

Contact: +1 206 789 5012

Fairmont Olympic Hotel

Fairmont Olympic Hotel

Address: 411 University Street, Seattle, Washington 98101

Contact: +1 206 621 1700

The Edgewater

The Edgewater

Address: 2411 Alaskan Way, Seattle, Washington 98121

Contact: +1 206 792 5959

W Seattle

W Seattle

Address: 1112 4th Ave, Seattle, Washington 98101

Contact: +1 206 264 6000

Services

Etiquette

  • Dress Code
    The fun fact about Seattle is there is no dress code to roam around the city. You can wear anything according to your mood. However, some upmarket restaurants, bars, and clubs require their customers to wear a particular dress. You can check in with them before visiting these places.
  • Drinking
    Drinking in public places is strictly prohibited in Seattle. However, the city has some pulsing nightclubs, bars, and pubs, where you can raise the toast with the finest of wine and beer. However, these places allow only adults above 21 years of age. Maintain your social etiquette and don’t create any drama in public.
  • Tipping
    Offering tips at a restaurant is your choice. However, if the service is satisfactory, you can always tip at 15%-20% of your total bill in cash.
  • Photography
    It would help if you acquired a permit to take professional and commercial photographs in Seattle parks and recreational areas. Otherwise, you can always capture your fun moments in Seattle.

Neighborhood

Seattle is known as ‘a city of neighborhoods’. It is home to over 7.25 lacs people, and consists of 127 neighborhoods representing diverse cultures, history, cuisine, and experiences. As one of Washington’s prominent cities, Seattle boasts some of the most vibrant neighborhoods in the country, where there’s no dearth of activities to do in Seattle. Here are some popular neighborhoods:

  • Fremont
    The northern neighborhood Fremont is known for its bohemian vibe, hib bars, indie shops, and quirky outdoor sculptures. If you are in Seattle, visit Fremont’s Sunday Market. Here, you can find arts, antiques, and food trucks. The eateries are always packed with arty residents and tech workers.
  • Belltown
    Belltown was once filled with very steep hills, and it took 30 years to develop the city. Today, Belltown can be recognized by its high-rise condos, trendy shops, indies boutiques, cafes, and galleries. Belltown is not only popular among its residents, even tourists come here to enjoy the live-music performances at Crocodile, an iconic rock venue, since 1991. Visit the Z-shaped Olympic Sculpture Park offers incredible sight of Puget Sound.
  • Magnolia
    Nestled on a peninsula jutting into Puget Sound, Magnolia was once a major trading port of Washington. It is the second-largest neighborhood of Seattle. People often visit Magnolia to explore its beaches, forested trails of Discovery Park, West Point Lighthouse, and indigenous art at the Daybreak Star Indian Cultural Center.
  • Pioneer Square
    Many Seattle residents believe Pioneer Square to be the first neighborhood of the city. The neighborhood grew faster, when Henry Yesler built the first steam-powered lumber mill on the pier there. Today, art galleries, coffee shops, boutiques, and bars have taken over the late-1800s Romanesque Revival Buildings. Visit the Pioneer Square Plaza to see the intricate Iron Pergola and Tlingit Indian Totem.
  • Ballard
    Before it became accustomed with hitp waterfront neighborhoods, craft breweries, trendy restaurants, and indie shops, Ballard was home to a former seafaring community with Nordic heritage. The neighborhood still has the small-town vibe. Ballard has staggering views of the water and olympic Peninsula. Visit the historic Hiram M Chittenden Locks or hike the frosted trails of vast Discovery Park.

 

Museum and Cultural Tour

Seattle Sightseeing

Seattle Food and Wine Tour

High End Dining

The ‘Emerald City’ Seattle is bustling with thriving music, intricate arts, and luscious food scenes. Seattle’s culinary scene is remarkable and people travel from far and wide to relish the fresh seafood, refined chocolates, and local wines. When it comes to beers, the city hosts some of the best breweries, where you can spend some good times relishing the finely crafted beers of the city and delicious food.

Before you visit Seattle, find out the best bars, and best restaurants in Seattle:

Cafe Juanita

Cafe Juanita

Cuisine: Northern Italian

Address: 9702 NE 120th PI, Kirkland, Washington 98034

Phone: +1 425 823 1505

Art of the Table

Art of the Table

Cuisine: American

Address: 3801 Stone Way N Suite A, Seattle,Washington 98103

Phone: +1 206 282 0942

Canlis

Canlis

Cuisine: American

Address: 2576 Aurora Ave N, Seattle, Washington 98109

Phone: +1 206 283 3313

Nell’s

Nell’s

Cuisine: American

Address: 6804 East Green Lake Way N, Seattle, Washington 98115

Phone: +1 206 524 4044

Nishino

Nishino

Address: Japanese, Seafood

Address: 3130 E Madison St., Seattle, Washington 98112

Phone: +1 206 322 5800

Casual Dining

Copine

Copine

Cuisine: French, Contemporary

Address: 6460 24th Ave NW, Seattle, Washington 98107

Phone: +1 206 258 2467

Goldfinch Tavern

Goldfinch Tavern

Cuisine: American

Address: 99 Union St., Seattle, Washington 98101

Phone: +1 206 749 7070

Sushi Kappo Tamura

Sushi Kappo Tamura

Cuisine: Japanese

Address: 2968 Eastlake Ave E, Seattle, Washington 98102

Phone: +1 206 547 0973

Harvest Vine

Harvest Vine

Cuisine: Mediterranean, Spanish

Address: 2701 E Madison St., Seattle, Washington 98112

Phone: +1 206 320 9771

Maximilien

Maximilien

Cuisine: French, European

Address: 81 A Pike St., Seattle, Washington 98101

Phone: +1 206 682 7270

Bars & Lounges

Bar Sabine

Bar Sabine

Address: 5307 Ballard Ave, NW, Seattle, Washington 98107

Phone: +1 206 566 0286

Oliver’s Lounge

Address: Mayflower Park Hotel, 405 Olive Way, Seattle, Washington 98101

Phone: +1 206 623 8700

Tavern Law

Tavern Law

Address: 1406 12th Ave, Seattle, Washington 98122

Phone: +1 206 322 9734

Quinn’s Pub

Quinn’s Pub

Address: 1001 E Pike St., Seattle, Washington 98122

Phone: +1 206 325 7711

Zig Zag Cafe

Zig Zag Cafe

Address: 1501 Western Ave Ste 202, Seattle, Washington 98101

Phone: +1 206 625 1146

Spa & Wellness Resorts

Salish Lodge & Spa

Salish Lodge & Spa

Address: 6501 Railroad Ave, Snoqualmie, Washington 98065

Phone: +1 425 888 2556

The Woodmark Hotel & Still

The Woodmark Hotel & Still

Address: 1200 Carillon Point, Kirkland, Washington 98033

Phone: +1 425 803 9000

Hyatt At Olive 8

Hyatt At Olive 8

Address: 1635 8th Ave, Seattle, Washington 98101

Contact: +1 206 695 1234

The Alexis Royal Sonesta

The Alexis Royal Sonesta

Address: 1007 1st Ave, SeattleWashington 98104

Contact: +1 206 624 4844

Lotte Hotel

Lotte Hotel

Address: 809 5th Ave, Seattle,Washington 98104

Contact: +1 206 800 8110

01

How Far in Advance Should I Book A Flight to Cheap Flight Deals

If you know your journey date in advance, book flight tickets as early as 30 days before departure. If you are planning a trip during peak tourism season, book your flight tickets at least 40 days before.

02

Best Days of the Month to Book Cheap Flight Tickets

Although there are no specific rules to determine the cheapest day of the month to book cheap flight tickets, weekdays are cheaper than holidays and weekends. However, different airlines and destinations have different rules. Some routes are cheaper during weekends, and some airlines offer discounts on holidays for particular destinations. You have to find out the best day to travel by comparing ticket prices on different search engines.

03

What are the Pocket-friendly Months to Book Cheap Flight Tickets

It depends on the destination you are traveling to. During the peak season of any destination, airlines hike their prices. If you are on a budget-friendly trip, plan your journey during off-season or shoulder-season when the prices of both flights and hotels drop down.

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