The Seattle’s Visitors Bureau describes Seattle is one of the most livable cities in the world. It actually receives less annual rainfall (36 inches) than New York City and Atlanta. Surrounded by lakes, rivers, Puget Sound, and mountains, Seattle is a recreation enthusiast’s dream. The lushness of the foliage has led it to be christened “The Emerald City.”
Seattle is a port city and a stopping point for many cruise ships and cargo ships.
The Port of Seattle, which runs SeaTac Airport, also runs Seattle’s ports, both for maritime trade and leisure activities. There are bus, taxi and shuttle connections at both piers to you get to your Seattle destination. If you are arriving by boat, there are bus, taxi and shuttle connections at the piers to get to your Seattle destination.
All of downtown Seattle is easily accessible from the waterfront, a mile-and-a-half north/south stretch along the west side of the city, facing Elliott Bay, which is part of Puget Sound. A major feature of the waterfront area is the Alaska Way Viaduct/State Route 99, an elevated roadway you will need to cross under to get to the rest of downtown Seattle. Be prepared for hills and steps if you decide to walk up into the city.
Along the Seattle waterfront, there are also several docks where you can find water transportation for commuting and for fun. The Washington State Ferry runs ferries to several of the islands all around Puget Sound. There are street connections to taxis and buses to enable visitors to get from one dock to another. The Washington State Ferries to Bainbridge Island and Bremerton take both auto and walk-on passengers, and the Vashon Island ferry is for walk-on passengers only.
Other ferry and boat services along the waterfront include the Elliott Bay Water Taxi, that runs between May and September each year from Seattle to West Seattle, Argosy Cruises, offering many different leisure cruises from Piers 55 and 56 on the waterfront, and the Victoria Clipper, with popular runs to the San Juan Islands and Victoria, B.C. from Pier 69 on the waterfront.
Things to do…
Seattle Center
Pike Place Market
Ballard Locks
Pioneer Square
Seattle Public Library
Discovery Park
Green Lake Park
Seattle Waterfront
Woodland Park Zoo
Seattle Aquarium
Olympic Sculpture Park
Seattle Art Museum
Museum of Flight
Space Needle
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