Flanked by water on two sides and sat under the guise of large mountains, Seattle has an enviable locale in the extreme northwest of the USA. The home of Starbucks is the perfect destination from which to conduct driving tours by rental car from Seattle, with a region rich in natural splendor and competitive national travel deals.
Getting there
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (Sea-Tac) is a big domestic hub 25 minutes south of downtown Seattle by road. It is also served by overseas connections, while Amtrak provides the Amtrak Coast Starlight from LA and the Empire Builder from Chicago. By rental car to Seattle, the main I-5 runs from San Francisco and Vancouver, with I-90 approaching from the east.
Key attractions
The Space Needle affords the best views over the city, Puget Sound and the mountains. There’s a large number of museums and galleries, including the Science Fiction Museum and Museums of Flight, while the Seattle Aquarium is always a hit with visitors. For seafood, visit Pike Place Market, the oldest (working) one in the country.
Out and about
By car rental from Seattle there’s a huge amount to see. Vancouver is just a few hours north, while off to the east is the stunning Mount Rainier National Park, featuring spectacular scenery and the lofty Mount Rainier itself. Mount St Helens is also within reach of Seattle by rental car, while closer to home is the service town of Everett, noted for its Boeing factory.
Leisure options
Alki Beach is a popular place to head in the summer and at any time for cyclists and skaters, while kayakers rave about Lake Union. For boating, consider a tour of the San Juan archipelago, which are good for bird and whale watching. In town, a huge number of tours are run, including so-called дunderground toursе, and there are more parks here than you could poke a stick at. The Burke Gilman Trail is a must for serious hikers. Keep tabs online for national deals on travel to Seattle.
Safety
Seattle is relatively safe; though avoid public parks and Rainier Beach at night. Washington State has vast areas of wilderness, which come with obvious risks, so observe all potential hazards, including distances, terrain and temperature while hiking.