Travel Tips

Seattle’s Maritime History Plays Important Role in its Current Culture

Seattle Washington is nearly surrounded by water. It is no wonder that water has played a vital role in the history of this great city. Water has also been a serious draws for those choosing to visit Seattle Washington as well. Not only is water of historical significance to this city, it is a cultural phenomenon as well. The maritime traditions of this great city are an important part of its current greatness.

If you are planning a visit to Seattle, one of the very first things you should do is head on over to the Pioneer Square Historic District and take the Underground Tour. This tour will explain to you a significant point in history about the relationship of this city and water. Take a tour of an entire section of the city that was literally buried in order to avoid plumbing problems. Find out where the term Skid Road originated and laugh along as you hear great stories about the colorful history of this part of town.

Many Islands and Island communities abound on the outskirts of Seattle. The Ferries here are integral to the daily lives of commuters and tourists alike. Access to many tourist attractions is easily accessible by Ferry when driving would be impossible. There are often summer concerts at the Ferry Terminal on Pier 52. The last Friday of every month from June through August, they celebrate Picnic at the Pier with live music on the upper level of the Terminal from 3:00 until 6:30 p.m. There are 10 ferry accessible communities in the Puget Sound; each of these communities has a unique flavor that is really interesting to experience. If you can’t visit them all, read about them and visit the ones that interest you most. It is a great day trip and you never know what creatures you will see along the way.

If you love the water, and by this I mean you are like me and feel that a piece of your soul was meant to be at sea, then you simply can’t pass up the opportunity to visit the Center for Wooden Boats. The visit is free and you get to actually see how these beautiful boats are crafted. There is nothing like literally riding the wind in a wooden sailboat and you can do just that on Sunday afternoons for free or you can charter one of their many boats during the right weather conditions. Remember these boats are works of art and should be handled with extreme care. If you’re going to be in town a while you can even take one of their sailing lessons. They offer group lessons (which are excellent for beginners) and one on one training (better for this with basic knowledge of sailing).

Whether you were born with webbed feet or just enjoy the idea of being on water, there is plenty to be seen and done from the water in and around Seattle. From whale watching and sailing, to kayaking, water skiing, and any number of other water activities there is a place to partake in them all in this great area. Not all areas are suitable for all activities so be aware of the water you are near and find out what is and isn’t safe to do in that area. There are some areas where the water simply isn’t safe to be in for health reasons and others where the currents are dangerous and swift. Most importantly have fun exploring the great salt and fresh water in this area and learning their role in the history here.

Seattle, Washington has a great deal to offer its discerning visitors. From the ordinary and mundane to the out and out macabre, you will see it all while visiting Seattle, Washington, if, that is, you know where to look for them. Seattle has a rich history and it seems an even richer future. Nestled among some of the most beautiful countryside North America has to offer, this great city has the best of most worlds-a very mild climate, access to water, land, mountains, fields, and streams. Seattle is like every patriotic song you can imagine and in the middle of it all Seattle is a bustling metropolis.

If you are planning to visit Seattle, I have one word of warning for you. You will probably want to stay. That is of course, if you aren’t too worried by rain. The only real drawback I can see for living in Seattle is that your skin will have a difficult time getting that sun kissed glow that summer brings almost everywhere else in America. But I think I could sacrifice sweltering heat and sticky humidity in exchange for a little rain. In fact, I would welcome a little rain right now; it might actually cool things off.

For those who have tastes that run a little bit off center of ordinary, Seattle has a great bit of entertainment to offer you as well. The first bit is a freebie and not of interest to some (yet it still seems a vastly popular stop for tourists). That place is the Lakeview Cemetery. This is where the bodies of many of Seattle’s founding fathers and most prominent citizens have been laid to rest. Perhaps most startling is the fact that Bruce and Brandon Lee receive more visitors than anyone else in the cemetery. While some may find this fact mildly disturbing, I guess when you think of all the visitors Graceland receives every year it really isn’t all that obscene.

The next stop on the off center tourist traps would be Bill Speidel’s Underground Tour. This tour takes you to the streets of old downtown Seattle. The only thing is these streets are beneath the streets of New Seattle. This is perhaps one of the most interesting tours you will find in the city-other than maybe the Private Eye tours but that’s another story-because it literally takes you into history. At the end of this tour you can get access to Rogue’s Gallery Museum where you will see exhibits relating to Seattle’s Victorian era and other historical points of interest. The tour lasts about 90 minutes and costs $11 for adults. If you have the time, this is one tour that if nothing else, will leave a lasting impression.

If you are in the Pike Place Market area, you really should check out the Market Ghost Tours. These are one hour walking tours of the market where those who work in the building share stories of strange occurrences. You will also get to hear some of Seattle’s interesting history mixed in with the ghost tales. This is a walking tour and might be a little frightening and/or boring for smaller children. But, if you are looking for something different to do, this tour should be right up your alley. Whether you believe in ghosts or not, I would hope that you can at the very least find tours such as this entertaining.

The city of Seattle has a great deal to offer those who are adventurous enough to seek the knowledge, fun, and entertainment that abounds. Some of the tours and exhibits need to be taken with a grain of salt and a sense of humor. All others should at the very least provide some degree of information, education, and fun to those who visit. I hope more than anything that your trip to Seattle takes you off the beaten path at least once. What on earth would you tell the people back home if you didn’t at least have one extraordinary adventure?

As tourist, when we visit a city, it is always interesting to check out the various tours of that city that are offered. Many cities have tours that are similar to basically any other city. Seattle, Washington, however, is different from most other cities. Not only do they have tours that really can’t be compared to anywhere else on earth, they have tours that are delightfully fun and entertaining in and of themselves.

One of the more interesting and most popular tours of Seattle is called Ride the Ducks of Seattle. This tour takes you on amphibious World War Two vehicles throughout the city giving you a great tour of Seattle from land and water. The tour lasts about ninety minutes and will be unlike any other tour you’re ever likely to take again.

The second tour of interest is a toss up with another tour for my favorite land excursion. I’ll tell you about both; hopefully, you will try both and decide which one you like best. This would be called Bill Speidel’s Underground Tour. This tour is strange, hilarious, and fun all at the same time. It is also shocking and disturbing in ways too. The idea that a city was built basically on top of itself is a little strange, but to discover that the original city isn’t ruins makes the tale even stranger to those who don’t know the story. The story is great and the telling is even better. The only drawback to this tour is that young children might find it either disturbing or boring, or both. So be prepared to entertain. The terrain is also not suitable for strollers if you have very little ones.

My next favorite tour is called Private Eye Tours. This tour takes you to scenes of crimes some solved, some unsolved throughout the city. There are three tours that you can currently take. Each one costs $25 per person and lasts about two and a half hours, except for the ghost tour, which lasts three hours. The different tours are: The Queen Anne Mystery and Murder Tour, The Capital Hill Mystery and Murder Tour, and Haunted Happenings, which is also known as the Seattle Ghost Tour. Each of these tours is great fun for those who are not squeamish and make a great gift for a true crime fan or someone who loves those old fashioned detective novels.

If you are interested in whale watching there are several excursions you can take. First of all, during the height of the season (June and July) you have an excellent chance of seeing whales if you watch from the western side of San Juan Islands. This is probably the best way to see whales from land. Beyond that you can take several chartered whale watching excursions. Here are a few of the companies offering whale watching cruises: San Juan Safaris (you can also do a five hour Orca search by kayak with this company), Salish Sea Charters, Island Adventures (this tour offers a discount for early birds and they offer a whale spotting guarantee), and Maya’s Whale Watching Charters, which for a slightly higher price gives you a much smaller boat and puts you much closer to the water for a better view of the whales.

Tours are a great way to get the most of your vacation experience. I hope I have showcased some of the more unique and colorful tours that Seattle has to offer. There are the general tours of the city and walking tours as well, these are just the tours that stand out and leave an impression.