Cool City Seattle – Emerald City

Urban charm with a view of the water

Grassy parks, urban oases, fashionable cafés abound, but what truly defines the Seattle landscape is water – stretching as far as the eye can see. The most populous city in the U.S. Pacific Northwest, Seattle lies nestled between Puget Sound and Lake Washington, 178 kilometers south of the Canadian border. It has been given the nickname Emerald City because of the lush greenery springing up everywhere like a natural carpet.

The charm of the old town

Pioneer Square is a good place to start a relaxed downtown tour. Here, historic Renaissance-style buildings can be found beside art galleries, lively restaurants and small boutiques. In 1852, the first settlers established their homes in this neighborhood, which is fondly referred to as Seattle’s birthplace. Another highlight in this oldest part of town is Waterfall Garden Park, located in the courtyard of the original headquarters of the United Postal Service. The nearly seven-meter-tall waterfall is both a popular attraction and a quiet escape.

There’s always plenty going on at loud, bustling Pike Place Market, Seattle’s oldest famers’ market, where merchants have been selling their wares and haggling with customers since 1907. Spread over multiple stories, more than 220 stores and restaurants offer everything from artisanal crafts to fresh seafood.

Heading for the Waterfront

Hidden away on the top floor, there’s a coffee shop, the Storyville Coffee Pike Place, which serves great brews and is ideal for coffee lovers in need of a break and a quiet place away from the hustle and bustle. After putting the sights and sounds of the busy market behind you, it’s time to allow your gaze to wander across a wide expanse of water.

Head for the Seattle Waterfront and take a stroll down the promenade beside Puget Sound, where seagulls, street artists and the salty air combine to slow your pace and let you thoroughly enjoy your surroundings. If you’d like to get even closer to the water, why not rent a paddleboard or join a kayak tour on Lake Union and watch the houseboats, shipyards and distant skyline slide quietly by. There are several beaches to choose from in Elliot Bay, of which Alki Beach is the most popular: It once served as a film location for the classic favorite “Sleepless in Seattle.”

Above the rooftops of the Emerald City

Kerry Park in the Queen Anne neighborhood is a well-loved gathering place especially – but not only – at sundown. When the weather is clear, you can see Mount Rainier rising prominently in the background, but spectacular views of the Seattle skyline are always guaranteed. At night, the illuminated 184-meter Space Needle is impossible to miss. The famous Seattle landmark was built as a centerpiece for the 1962 World’s Fair. It has an observation deck and a restaurant with a revolving glass floor, and draws around one million people every year.

Like a wave that never entirely comes to rest, Seattle fuses opposites to form a fluid whole comprising movement, nature and urban living.