Seattle - Beyond Expectations

Location coordinates:

47°37'47"N, 122°21'33"W

Kerry Park, Seattle, Washington

It's great when a destination lives up to your pre-conceived notions. Even better is when a location provides the unexpected and broadens your impression of what that place is really like, which is what happened on my recent journey to Seattle. I found plenty of what I expected: beautiful bays dotted with ships and sailboats and ferries, picturesque parks, great food, mind-boggling traffic, and interesting architecture. I was also introduced to characteristics that up to this point I did not associate with the city.

With Seattle's reputation for damp and cloudy weather, it was my understanding that sightings of majestic Mt. Rainier are hard to come by. But our arrival day was clear and bright, and as we flew into the city we were treated to amazing views of the 14,000 foot mountain, it's snow-covered peak contrasting sharply with the lush green landscape of the lower elevations. Most of our four-day visit was sunny and dry . And it was warm - in the mid-seventies. In fact, I'd say the weather was just about perfect. Is it possible the "it's always rainy in Seattle" mantra is a myth?

Another unanticipated finding was the proximity of spectacular mountain ranges that seemed to frame the horizon any direction you looked. Across Puget Sound to the west you can see the Olympic range, and to the east is the Cascade range, with Mt. Baker in the north and Mt. Rainier (shown here) to the south serving as geographic sentries for the Seattle metropolitan area. I always knew there were mountain ranges nearby, but I wouldn't have guessed they were such a visible and pleasing part of the Seattle cityscape.

I was also quite surprised to find downtown Seattle similar to hilly San Francisco. Many of the streets in the city center and immediate surrounding area are so steep that even the best of stick shift drivers would be hard pressed to keep their car from making that heart-thumping roll back when getting the green light.

What I did expect, and most certainly found, was a culturally diverse, dynamic city in one of America's most scenery-blessed regions. The best views combining the city, Puget Sound, and Mt. Rainier can be found in Kerry Park (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kerry_Park_(Seattle)) in the Queen Anne Hill neighborhood just north of downtown. If you're lucky and the weather is clear - which from my photo above you can see on the day we visited it was not - you are treated to a dramatic visual trifecta of skyline, water, and mountains. You can also admire (or envy if you are so inclined) the stately homes of those fortunate enough to live with the best view in town.

It's easy to understand why Seattle's population has increased dramatically since the early 1990s. Fortunately, I won't have to move there to continue to explore the city. With family living there, I'll get to enjoy my status as repeat visitor.