Seattle

Seattle A Wonderland of Parks, Arts and Culture

Seattle is a major seaport and is one of the largest cities in the Pacific Northwest.  Dating back to over 4000 years since its first inhabitants, Seattle has been through some dramatic changes over the years to get it to the booming city it is today.
The first Europeans started arriving in Seattle in the mid-19th century with the first European visitor being George Vancouver in 1972.
Seattle went through some turmoil between 1865 and 1869 with it being incorporated as a city in 1865, then dis-incorporated in 1867 after petitions were signed and then reincorporated again in 1869.
Lumber was what kept the Seattle economy afloat in those early years, but the business district was destroyed in the Great Seattle Fire in 1889.  Building the area up again saw Seattle becoming a major transport center in 1897, supplying points for miners from Alaska.

World War I benefitted from Seattle’s shipbuilding boom in the early 20th century.  Seattle then gained a large population boom between 1990 and 2000, with an increase in 50 000 people.  Microsoft moved to Washington in 1979, which resulted in large corporations such as Amazon.com and AT&T, to name a few, moved to Seattle bringing hundreds of available jobs with them.

Both Jimi Hendrix and Pearl Jam come from Seattle, but the most famous must be the Space Needle landmark, which has been used in movies and TV series.

Performing Arts is a big part of what Seattle is all about, so while visiting the area having a night out listening to the Seattle Symphony Orchestra or going to a Broadway style musical is something that shouldn’t be missed.  Benaroya Hall, McCaw Hall and 5th Avenue theatre all are home to the Seattle Opera, Seattle Symphony Orchestra and the Seattle Youth Symphony Orchestra.

Spend a day soaking up the rich history and culture of this vibrant city at the Kiodike Gold Rush National History Park, the Museum of History and Industry or the Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture.

Seattle is home to some of the most amazing arts, from sculptures and modern art to unique Asian art, so if art is your passion then you must visit the Henry Art Gallery which opened its doors in 1927 and is still exhibiting some fine masterpieces today.  Other art museums which shouldn’t be missed is the Seattle Art Museum, Seattle Asian Art Museum, Frye Art Museum and the Olympic Sculpture Park.

If you are travelling with children then there are some museums that they may find interesting such as the Seattle Metropolitan Police Museum and the Museum of Flight.  You can also always spend the day enjoying the Woodland Zoo or the Seattle Aquarium.

If you want a relaxing day of walks and a picnic, then be sure to visit Green Lake, Discovery Park, Myrtle Edwards Park, Seward Park or the Burke-Gilman Trail.  These will have you gasping at the pure beauty of the area and you stroll around the lakes or forests and get closer to nature.

Holiday accommodation is plentiful and there are a large number of hotels offering affordable deals, so you can arrive and enjoy your holiday adventures to the fullest.  One of the most affordable options must be the Days Inn Seatac Airport.  This hotel is close to the Raceboat Museum and offers a fitness facility.  The air conditioned rooms all have premium cable televisions and complimentary breakfast is included in the room rate.

At a slightly higher price, you can take advantage of what the Hotel Sierra Bellevue has to offer.  This three star hotel has an indoor pool and fitness facility and is located close to the Bellevue Botanical Gardens.  A complimentary breakfast is on offer to get you started for a busy day of fun and exploration.

Visit Seattle these holidays and soak up the culture, arts and outdoor adventures this city has to offer.