Seattle - June, 2025
Getting to Seattle felt the longest drive in the history of driving, but it wasn't without charm.
The approach to Seattle from Sacramento is stunning. I really hope that people who grew up or live in that area never take its natural beauty for granted. Even stopping for gas was kind of beautiful. The immaculate gas station was tucked into a sweet little notch with mountains on two sides and a bridge-covered stream on the other. It felt like a Berenstain bear would wander out of the forest at any moment.
The beauty was only marred by the shear distance we never seemed to be prepared for in the west. I bravely suggested we drive straight through from Sacramento. We had originally planned to break up the 12 hours of driving into two days, but I was anxious to get to Seattle. Portland traffic and a few stops for gas made the trip nearly 15 hours, and I was seriously regretting my choice. Despite my passenger princess status, I struggled to control my road rage while Elliott sweetly suggested I "close my peepers" every ten minutes. I too would have chosen to be unconscious, alas.
But FINALLY we got to west Seattle, and I was so, so, so happy to be there.
Alki Beach
West Seattle boasts beautiful beaches. The water was cold in June, but the beach is beautiful. We spent a couple afternoons just relaxing by the water. There are bicycle and watercraft rental options near the water taxi dock, so it’s easy to catch a ride from downtown and explore either Puget Sound or the restaurants and shops lining the beachfront. I also gave bonus points for the snowcapped mountains in the distance.
About a year after we got married, Elliott and I embarked on a three-week honeymoon that included a week in Seattle. During that trip, we took the water taxi from downtown to West Seattle, rented bikes, and sat on Alki Beach drinking champagne out of plastic cups while we slowly roasted in the sun. It was such a lovely memory, and I knew immediately that we would try to make our way back someday. When we pulled up to our rented home in West Seattle, I felt so relieved to have ended a 15-hour drive with my marriage intact. I also felt a little smug, to be honest. A year after our honeymoon, I was even more convinced I married the best man I'd ever met. And so here we were again, this time with Sally in tow.
It’s not called “Emerald City” for nothing. The climate supports some of the most casually beautiful yards I’ve ever seen.
I was really excited about the house we had chosen because it had a 98 walk score. What is it about being able to walk to places instead of drive? It's obviously healthier, both physically and mentally, but I think there's more to it. Whenever I’m walking with a purpose or an errand to run, I feel a quiet sense that this is exactly how life is meant to be. Walking in a new, exciting, beautiful place is one of my favorite activities.
There are so many beautiful, walkable green spaces in Seattle. We loved the Seattle Chinese Garden.
The house was divided between a main floor and basement, and the two self-contained areas were rented out separately. Our downstairs neighbor was a younger woman with a giant, sweet dog. To Sally's consternation and my delight, her dog would frequently climb the stairs to our deck and stare at us through the screen door. When we acknowledged her, her body would go into full wiggle. So cute.
Bainbridge Island is a short ferry ride away, and it has some of the best forest paths.
West Seattle is one of the coolest communities in Seattle. Residents think of themselves as living on an island, and they have strong feelings about their status ("West Seattle = Best Seattle"). I think they are totally right. The West Seattle neighborhood has so much to offer:
High walkability
High concentration of quality grocery stores
Parks and gardens
Beautiful beaches
Heavily wooded hiking areas
Multiple options for access to downtown Seattle, including an inexpensive water taxi (or it's an 11 minute drive with no traffic)
Elevation changes that produce stunning and unexpected views
The best dog-sitter in the land
Compared to downtown Seattle, very little public drug use or visible homelessness (if that kind of thing scares you)
I have often said that if I could magically transport everyone I love to a single city to live for the rest of my life, it would be Seattle.
The Seattle Aquarium is a must-see!
In 2015, Ink the Octopus was caught in a nearly successful attempt to escape his tank at the Seattle Aquarium. When I asked about this, the staff member said that they had to place a camera to keep an eye on him after they noticed fish disappearing from nearby tanks.
“The ocean is queer!” We visited in June, and Seattle takes Pride month very seriously. The aquarium presenter told us all about the “trans” fish that would change their sex when it became necessary to breed. As a Midwesterner, I was a little surprised that a public institution would take this approach, but it was delightful to hear LGBTQ topics presented publicly in a silly, light, age-appropriate way. Plus, I think the fact that there are queer fish just makes the world more fascinating. I hope to meet one in the wild someday.
There are a few things that Seattle does better than any other city I've visited:
Summer weather
Access and proximity to nature
Stunning terrain
Variety and access to activities
Weirdness (it's JUST the right amount)
Direct flights to Hawaii
Public market (Pike's Place Market is unmatched)
Honorable mentions go to:
Public transportation (thousands of people literally take boats to work)
Variety and quality of food options
Stadium district
Cultural diversity
Elliott and I had amazing seats for a Sounders match at Lumen Field. The stadium district includes Lumen Field, where the Sounders and Seahawks play, and T-Mobile Stadium, where the Mariners play. It is accessible by public transit and easy to get to from downtown. When we opted to drive ourselves, we were able to easily find parking within a half mile of Lumen.
When I asked Elliott if there was anything he didn't like, he said "It was hot that one week, and the A/C didn't work very well." Again, if you visit in the summer, make sure the place you're staying is air conditioned. Otherwise, Seattle is just wonderful.
Next stop: Indianapolis