"Nice to meet you, Stephanie. Where are you from?"
"Washington State, not DC"
"Whoa! Seriously? That's so cool!"
Essentially, as a UCB student who's not from California or China, I'm a mythical anomaly on par with unicorns and Tupac. And while I love Berkeley, Seattle will always have my heart. So this post goes out to all my California friends who think Seattle is the bomb, because it really, truly is.
#5) Exercise
Whether you live in the heart of Seattle or the outer edges, biking and walking is pretty much the best way to get around. Somehow, Seattle missed the boat on the mass public transportation (unless you want to count the light rail, but no one really does). So, thankfully, there's tons of trails that take you as far as your little legs can carry you. The Burke Gilman trail is the most famous because it's one of the longest bike trails around, and it also has the most beautiful views you can get on two wheels.
But, if walking is more your thing, have no fear, unless of course you're scared of hills. A lot of non-Washingtonians learned through the recent weather reports that Seattle is one of the hilly-est major cities in the country. They weren't lying. We're talking hills where drivers stay a healthy distance away from the car in front of them during stop lights, just in case that little '86 Subaru junker has a temperamental stick shift. So, it's safe to say that while you're strolling around the city, your calves will burn. And it feels so good.
If the weather keeps you indoors (you are from California after all), go climb the Pinnacle at REI. This gargantuan indoor rock wall will get your heart pumping and reward you with the best view around once you get to the top. Having done it 4 times, I highly recommend it.
#4) Theo's Chocolate Factory
After all that exercise, you need to reward yourself with some world famous chocolate from Theo's. This relatively new company prides itself on Fair Trade, delicious chocolate made from the world's best organic ingredients. Founded in 2006, the shop and factory are one building in North Seattle. If you get there early enough, you get the honor of taking a tour through the factory and tasting all of its scrumptious goodies. But, even if you're more of a late arriver, there are still free samples of every type of chocolate they offer.
While you're there, don't forget to mark your hometown with a pushpin in their world map, posted in the store. Visitors from Argentina to the Arctic have joined the ranks of hundreds of little pushpins, making you feel that much tinier in this 7 billion person-filled planet. Also, important note! Don't think Theo's is just for girls. I took a couple (skeptical) guy friends there, where they bravely faced the Ghost Chili Salted Caramel. As for me, I played it safe with their Pink Salted Vanilla Caramel. So this is definitely a destination for everyone of all ages and taste buds. Just as their website proudly states, Theo is the only organic, Fair Trade, bean-to-bar chocolate factory in the United States. But beyond that impressive claim to fame, they make some darn good chocolate.
#3) Art
Seattle may not have the impressive art of Paris or New York, but we do have some really fantastic modern art, both professional and amateur. By professional, I'm of course talking about the Olympic Sculpture Garden that sits right on the edge of the water, outside of the Seattle Art Museum.
Personally, I'm not a huge modern art fan myself, but this is definitely worth seeing. If nothing else, to just watch the ships pass in and out of the Sound.
There is also Gas Works Park, albeit a little ways away from the heart of Seattle. This park is an abandoned (you guess it) natural gas plant. The plant itself is closed and barricaded, but some light-hearted politician created an adult-sized playground full of colorful faux machine bits and pieces.
There are benches everywhere to sit and cuddle with your honey on those moderate 60 degree days, or you can be more adventurous and climb all over the displays. After all, what's art without audience participation?
Which leads me to the amateur side of Seattle "art." In the back alley of Pike Place Market (which is awesome, but not on this list), there is the infamous Gum Wall. Exactly what it sounds like, this 50 foot wall, named one of the Top 5 germiest tourist attractions, has collected gum from thousands of people since 1993. Once upon a time, the wall connected to the Market Theater, who refused to let the gum-chewers in. In an act of defiance or laziness, they mooshed their gum onto the outer wall. Hence, a legend was born.
So join the ranks of Russell Brand, Nirvana, and myself and go stick some gum on the wall. It should be noted that some claim Bubblegum Alley in San Luis Obispo has the Seattle Gum Wall beat, but I honestly have my doubts.
2) Bars
As far as quantity of bars go, Seattle is definitely not even close to the top, unless of course you're counting pubs. Seattle has a range of bars, from the glitzy appletini-style bars to the underground, beer-only pubs. The U-District is the place to be for college students due to its proximity to UW, but it also has some little known Irish pubs, such as Flynns. This bar is mainly college students, but it has a raised wooden platform known as the Treehouse where groups of 10-15 can oversee the entire bar with an air of buzzed superiority. These are the places where you can get the largest selection of microbrews in the country. A friend went to the East Coast, where he quickly learned that "microbrew" is a foreign word in that side of the country. California is pretty decent with their selection of microbrews, but for a truly novel beer taste, you gotta go to Seattle or Portland.
If flashy is more your drinking style, Capital Hill is the place to be. Known for its parties and liberal lifestyle, Capital Hill is the place to be for a hot and crazy night on the town. There's been a bit of talk about Seattle's Red Light District, all centered in Capital Hill. But to get more of a history on that, you'll have to take the Seattle Underground Tour. (Yep, its a tour of old Seattle, which is underneath the Seattle streets we all know and love)
#1) Music Music Music
Perhaps some Seattlites disagree with me on my #1 choice, but honestly, I couldn't think of anything better suited for this position. The land that brought the world Bing Crosby, Pearl Jam, Fleet Foxes, Modest Mouse, Brandi Carlisle, Dave Matthews Band, The Foo Fights, Jimi Hendrix, The Postal Service, and of course Nirvana, does not disappoint in an abundance of quality live concerts.
The selection of venues really can't be beat. Whether you want a larger than life experience at WaMu Theater or the Tacoma Dome...
Or you prefer the intimate setting at the Showbox Market or The Triple Door, Seattle has the venue for you. I've experienced it all, from the reserved Snow Patrol concert at the historic Moore Theater to the rowdy Flogging Molly concert at the outdoor concert stage, Marymoor Park.
It all depends on your personality, but if you're adventurous enough, there is always some music just around the corner. While our large venues are nothing special in comparison to others, our small venues are popular enough to put some envy in other cities' eyes. A lot of popular bands choose to play at small pubs and bars. Last year, The Wombats played at The Crocodile, a tiny, indie 21+ club. At the time, I was 1 month from 21 and heartbroken, so fingers crossed they come back soon. It's these types of venues that shape the music culture of Seattle, and I think the musicians know it. For the megastars, it reminds them of their early days and reconnects them with individual fans; for the up and coming, it's a great way to solidify a loyal fan base. But either way, its an opportunity to bring the artist and the audience together to appreciate the art of music without the busyness of strobe lighting and giant TV monitors. The greatest quality of Seattle concerts is that they bring everyone back to the basics.
That, boys and girls, is Seattle in the tiniest of nutshells. Hopefully, I've given you one or two reasons to brave the rain and visit the best city in the world, my home, Seattle, Washington.
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