Saying “there’s so much to do here” is one of the biggest cliches in travel writing. While the opposite can often be said of small towns with only one intersection, most travel-worthy destinations can appeal to a wide variety of visitors on several levels.
This is certainly the case in Seattle … and then some. Whether on land or sea, the Emerald City and capital of the Pacific Northwest truly has an abnormal amount of things to do, even for someone who’s visited before. Or in the case of my wife, someone who lived there for two decades.
On a recent four-day visit to the most northwesterly corner of contiguous America, here’s what stood out—aside from the bluest skies you’ll ever see (because they’re usually gray):
Whale Watching
Admittedly this can be a hit or miss experience. If wildlife doesn’t show, the party’s over. But given the high number of orcas in the area, Puget Sound Express guarantees sightings of either the killer whales or humpbacks. In this case, we saw a pod of the former playfully and skillfully murder a porpoise and seal for lunch. They even buzzed the back of the boat, almost forcing my wife to tears of joy.
Olympic National Park
Olympic National Park is one of the highest-rated destinations in America—as much for its natural beauty as its typographical diversity. Namely rocky beaches, alpine glaciers, some of the oldest rainforests in the U.S. and meadows covered in wildflowers. Just a two-hour ferry and car drive from the city, highlights include Hurricane Ridge, Crescent Lake and the reverent rainforests. Alternatively, the North Cascades is also a two-hour drive from the city.