Weekend Layover: Seattle
Seattle’s 650,000 residents are wedged into a hilly strip of land sandwiched between Lake Washington and the Puget Sound, and the toothy Olympic and Cascade mountain ranges. You’ll never be far from water, trees and, yes, coffee. On clear days (and there are more than you’d think) views abound. To the south, Mount Rainier looms, stoic on the horizon. To the north, the seemingly always snow-covered Mount Baker and Shuksan.
Visitors may wonder about seasonal affective disorder, but a local might tell you that the overcast skies are comforting (they also make blue-sky days brilliant). The following is a local’s classic weather spiel. “No, it doesn’t rain here all the time. Yes, it’s more of a drizzle. Actually, other cities in the U.S. get more rain. Yes, please leave your umbrella at home.”
Locals, however, have been diffused by the tech boom that’s only becoming more pronounced (Seattle is one of the fastest growing cities in America). Amazon and its ever-expanding South Lake Union campus is bringing tens of thousands of new employees to town; their cranes seem to be a permanent fixture at the edge of downtown. This is a stark contrast to the early 1970s when a population decrease prompted a billboard placed near the airport that read: “Will the last person leaving Seattle turn out the lights?”
Only about ten percent of Seattle’s residents live downtown, so the city’s neighborhoods—from Capitol Hill to the Central District and Wallingford to Queen Anne—have distinct vibes and styles that often match that of their residents.
If you plan to venture out of the city on your trip, then renting a car is a good idea. Otherwise, public-transit options are good enough to get you where you’re going. The bulk of the city’s attractions are close to downtown, so take the light rail from the airport to your hotel and then take the bus, or use the rideshare company Lyft to get from place to place.
Day 1
Morning
Grab breakfast at Portage Bay Cafe in the University District near the University of Washington. It’s a popular spot so make a reservation in advance. You can’t go wrong with their giant, classic pancakes ($10.50), and they come with a trip to the breakfast bar, which has piles of fresh fruit, nuts, maple syrup and whipped cream. Take the 48 bus two miles north to Green Lake, a 250-acre lake in the middle of a residential neighborhood. Walk off your breakfast around the lake’s 2.8-mile perimeter or rent a kayak or stand-up paddle board from Green Lake Boat Rentals during spring and summer.
Afternoon
Swing by Gas Works Park, a converted gasification plant on the north shore of Lake Union. The grassy hills surrounding the rusty machinery offer views of the downtown skyline across the lake. Walk west for a half mile along the Burke-Gilman Trail, an 18-mile running and bike path, to the popular Fremont Brewing Company, a family-owned brewery founded in 2009. Order an Interurban IPA and sit inside around the fire or outside at one of many long picnic tables. Walk a few blocks up the hill to the infamous Fremont Troll, a large troll clutching a Volkswagen Beetle under the Aurora Bridge, before grabbing lunch at the homey RoRo BBQ. Order the pork ribs ($16.99) with a side of macaroni and cheese and succotash.