USA Trip Day 7 - 10 Sep 2014 - Seattle / Pike Place Market Area

Uncle sent us to SFO airport slightly after 7am as our flight to Seattle was set to depart at 9:10 am. 

I realized after our trip that we flew with a different domestic airline every single time! Among all these airlines (Alaska Airlines, Delta, American, Virgin), we would have to say that Virgin planes are the best. While all airlines provide great friendly service and they are not strict with cabin luggage, Virgin planes are just newer with entertainment system for each individual. Other planes were spacious but they were quite old.

Back to the topic on hand, we landed in Seattle Tacoma Airport just before 11:30 am. We then hopped onto the Link Light Rail (a few minutes walk away from the airport terminal via the sheltered walkway). The train took us to International District/Chinatown station, for USD 2.75 per ticket, in about 30 minutes.

From there, it was a short 3 minutes walk to our AirBnB accommodation. Awaiting us was a little artist's loft that had been converted into a very cozy two-floor room. It was also our first time using AirBnb and we were pleasantly surprised with what we had. 

Gotta be careful not to sleep-walk at night though :D

Feeling very hungry after the flight and the commute, we left our loft to explore Seattle on foot and also to search for some yummy bites around 12:45 pm. Along the way to downtown Seattle, we chanced upon a firefighter-themed diner called McCoy's Firehouse. Not only is the theme of this diner really unique, the food and service was excellent as well. Do drop by this diner and give it a try!

Address: 173 S Washington Street, Seattle, WA 98104

Opening Hours: 8am - 10pm

His double cheese burger 

My fried chicken with fries and salad

The portions were so generous and while the food was not of Michelin star quality, they are indeed simple yet delicious dishes!

We then continued on foot and passed by the iconic Pioneer Square. Once the heart of the city, Seattle's founders settled there in 1852. Most of the early structures were made of wood and were destroyed during the 1889 Seattle Fire. These were replaced with brick buildings and today, most of the buildings in the vicinity follow the same architectural design of these original buildings. 

Another key fact to note is that the ruins from the fire were never really cleaned up. Instead, the modern day Seattle was actually built on top of the old city. And that's what makes the Seattle Underground Tour one of the attractions that you have to visit when you're in Pioneer Square. 

The 75 minute tour starts on the hour and is open daily. Additional tour slots are added from May - September during the peak travel season. We really wanted to join the tour to roam around the subterranean old town, along the passageways which used to be main roads, passed the abandoned storefronts. However, it was quite pricey (at USD 19 per adult) so we decided to skip it and just view the museum and souvenir shop.

Eventually, sidewalks bridged the gap between the new streets and the second story of buildings, leaving hollow tunnels (as high as 35 feet in some places) between the old and new sidewalks, and creating the passageways of today’s Underground.

After this, we made our way to the world-famous Pike Place Market. This market dates back all the way to 1907 and is one of the oldest continuously operated Farmer's Markets in the whole country. With more than 10 million visitors annually, it is easily Seattle's most popular tourist destination. The main area of the market has a total of 6 floors and each has its very own distinct and unique character. 

One of the most iconic places in Pike Place is the 'birthplace' of Starbucks. I say 'birthplace' because the first Starbucks store was actually located at 2000 Western Ave since 1971 but moved to this current location in 1977. Ever since then, this Pike Place location has been known as the original Starbucks store.

Address: 1912 Pike Place, Seattle, WA 98101

Opening Hours: 6am - 9pm

Mister is a huge fan of Starbucks and coffee in general, so this was one spot where we had to stop by to purchase some memorabilia, snap some photos and of course, have a cup of coffee.

We then entered the main area of Pike Place Market. Having some leftovers from lunch and wanting to grab a quick breather from all the walking, we found a beautiful spot at Pike Place that overlooked the pier and finished our leftovers.

Within Pike Place Market, there are a few must-see shops. One of them is Pike Place Chowder. Constantly rated as the best clam chowder in Seattle, it is a definite must-have when you're in Seattle. We were hoping to be able to try it but unfortunately, they close at 5pm everyday and we were unable to reach in time. 

While winding down our tour of the market, we passed by a fruit seller and purchased some fresh peaches. Mister really loves these peaches a lot!

As the sun was beginning to set, we wanted to catch a good view of it so we walked down to the pier. For the kids, this would be a great place to play in as there is a small amusement park with a big ferris wheel that would be sure to keep them entertained for long stretches. 

The Seattle Great Wheel - one of the largest Ferris wheels in the US - opened in June 2012 as a new permanent attraction on the city's waterfront at Pier 57, next to Downtown Seattle.

After enjoying the sunset, we wanted to satisfy our junk-food craving so we stopped by KuKuRuZa Gourmet Popcorn. 

Address: 215 Pike Street (Pike & Third), Seattle, WA 98101

Opening Hours: 11am - 8pm

They are well-known in Seattle for having great quality and great selection of popcorn flavours. We chose a combination of caramel and cheddar cheese flavoured popcorn. While they do not sound like they should ever be mixed together, we did so and we assure you, it tastes really awesome. We also stopped by a convenience store nearby and picked up our dinner: simple cup ramen!

A short train ride took us back to our cozy loft and we had our simple dinner. We felt really satisfied with our first day and were just happy to be back resting in our loft after a wonderful day of exploring. 

And here is a short excerpt from Wikipedia about Seattle's history:

Logging was Seattle's first major industry, but by the late 19th century the city had become a commercial and shipbuilding center as a gateway to Alaska during the Klondike Gold Rush. In 1907, 19-year-old James E. Casey borrowed $100 from a friend and founded the American Messenger Company (later UPS). Other Seattle companies founded during this period include Nordstrom and Eddie Bauer. By 1910, Seattle was one of the 25 largest cities in the country. However, the Great Depression severely damaged the city's economy. 

Growth returned during and after World War II, due partially to the local Boeing company, which established Seattle as a center for aircraft manufacturing. The Seattle area developed as a technology center beginning in the 1980s, with companies like Microsoft becoming established in the region. In 1994 the Internet retail giant Amazon was founded in Seattle. The stream of new software, biotechnology, and Internet companies led to an economic revival.

Adios!

xoxo

Miss N