Seattle’s intriguing history leaves a lasting impression on visitors
Seattle, Washington has a fantastic offer to propose to its most demanding visitors. From the ordinary and mundane to the downright macabre, you’ll see it all during your visit to Seattle, Washington, if you know where to look for them. Seattle has a rich history and looks like an even richer future. Located among some of the most pleasant countryside America has to offer, this great city has the best of most worlds: a very temperate climate, access to water, land, mountains, fields, and streams. Seattle is like every patriotic song you can imagine, and in the midst of it all, Seattle is a bustling metropolis.
If you’re planning a visit to Seattle, I have a word of caution for you. You will most likely want to stay. That is, naturally, if you’re not too worried about rain. The only real drawback I can see to living in Seattle is that your skin will have a hard time getting that sun-kissed glow that summer brings almost everywhere else in America. But I think I could trade sweltering heat and sticky humidity for a little rain. In fact, I’d appreciate a bit of rain right now; it might actually cool things down.
For those with tastes that are a bit off the beaten path, Seattle also has plenty of entertainment to offer. The first part is a freebie and doesn’t worry some (however, it still looks like a very popular stop for tourists). That place is Lakeview Cemetery. This is where the bodies of most of Seattle’s founding fathers and most marked citizens rest. Perhaps most surprising is that Bruce and Brandon Lee receive more visits than anyone else in the cemetery. While some may find this fact a bit disturbing, I suppose when you think of all the visitors Graceland receives annually, it really isn’t that obscene.
The next stop in the out of the way tourist traps would be Bill Speidel’s Underground Tour. This tour usually requires walking the streets of old downtown Seattle. The only thing is that these streets are under the streets of New Seattle. These are possibly the most interesting tours you’ll find in the city, other than Private Eye tours, but that’s another story, because it literally requires history. At the end of this tour, you can access Rogue’s Gallery Museum, where you’ll see exhibits related to Seattle’s Victorian era and other historical points of interest. The tour lasts around 90 minutes and costs $11 for adults. If you have the time, this is one turn that will, if nothing else, leave a lasting impression.
If you are in the Pike Place Market location, you should really look into Market Ghost Tours. These are hour-long walking tours of the market where building employees share stories of strange occurrences. You’ll also get to hear some interesting Seattle history mixed in with the ghost tales. This is a walking tour and can be a bit scary and/or boring for younger children. But, if you are looking for something different to do, this tour should be for you. Whether you have faith in ghosts or not, I hope you can at least find tours like this entertaining.
The city of Seattle has much to offer to those adventurous enough to seek the knowledge, fun and entertainment that abounds. Just some of the tours and exhibits need to be taken with a grain of salt and a sense of humor. Everyone else should at least provide some degree of detail, education, and amusement to those who visit. I most look forward to anything your trip to Seattle requires going off the beaten path at least once. What the hell would you say to the people back home if you weren’t having an extraordinary adventure?