Your Seattle Weekend: Orca whale watching, 14,000 foot volcanoes, and exploring Capitol Hill

By Bill Malcolm*

14,000 foot Mt Rainier as seen from Space Needle

The Pacific Northwest never fails to amaze. And this trip was no exception. I saw 2 pods of Orca whales on the ferry from Bainbridge Island to Seattle. The boat cut power to 7 knots while we watched the whales.

Mt Baker and Lake Union from Space Needle

And "the mountains were out" during my visit meaning I saw Mt Rainier (14,000+ feet), the Olympics, and the Cascade Ranges plus Mt. Baker to the north on a visit to the Space Needle. Next door at the Seattle Center they were celebrating Hmong New Year with native dances, a talk on their history, and special foods like papaya salad.

Getting there

I took Alaska Airlines non stop to Seattle. It's the only remaining regional airline which features great service with a Northwest flair.

Getting around I took Sound Transit Link light rail (just $3 from the airport). The light rail line is also great for getting to the gayborhood (Capitol Hill) and to the U District (home of the University of Washington). Purchase an Orca card which is good on all types of transit.

Seattle has great Amtrak service including down to Portland and up to Vancouver, B.C.

What to do

Bainbridge Ferry

Take the ferry to Bainbridge Island ($9 round trip). Great views of downtown Seattle. Enjoy the new waterfront on your way where walking paths beautifully landscaped have replaced a double decker freeway.

Just south of downtown is historic Pioneer Square.

No visit to Seattle would be complete without a stop at the iconic Pike Place Market. Grab lunch and a fresh carrot juice. Watch the fish vendors throw the salmon around. Enjoying stunning views of the Olympic Mountains and Puget Sound over lunch.

Take a walk around the beautiful UW campus with great views of Mt. Rainier. Hike along Lake Washington and the Montlake Cut (which runs to Lake Union).

Join the Frontrunners Saturdays at Green Lake Park at 9:15 a.m. rain or shine for a walk around the lake. It's a friendly group and a great way to meet the locals. They go to brunch afterwards. Or grab a salad at the nearby PCC Market in Green Lake Village.

Enjoy the view of the mountains from the Space Needle in Seattle Center. The $49 charge is worth it. Then take the Monorail back downtown.

Explore the gayborhood, Capitol Hill, just above downtown via Pike or Pine Street. Explore the shops and restaurants along Broadway. The undies store (aka UnderU4men)  is fun. You will find them at 709 E Broadway. They also have several art galleries. And enjoy a Dick's Deluxe hamburger and fries. Sunday is their farmers market.

Then head up to Volunteer Park for great views of the Olympics as well as home to the Asian Art Museum. I did a lot of "volunteer" work when I went to the U.

Nightlife

The Cuff Complex has dancing. Get there before 8 p.m. to avoid the cover. Sundays is now karaoke time.

The Union Bar is friendly and fun. You will find them at 1009 East Union. They have a nice outdoor patio.

Urban hipsters and grunge types will like Pony. Enjoy the sexy photos from a bygone era. Enjoy the patio.

The Madison Pub is a lot of fun. You will find them at 1315 E. Madison. They have lots of TV screens to watch your favorite sports team. Free lunch during Seahawks games a plus.

Wildrose is the women's bar and has been around quite a while. Wildrose is the West Coast's oldest lesbian bar. You will find them at 1021 E. Pike.

You will find all the bars near Capitol Hill.

Where to Stay

I stayed at the Sheraton Grand (1400 Sixth Avenue) which was right downtown and near the Westlake Village light rail station and a short walk to Capitol Hill. Because I was with a conference, I did not have to pay their resort fee. Always check for such rip off fees (aka amenity fee/destination fee) before booking.

Bargain hunters will like The Baroness on First Hill and its sister property Inn at Virginia Mason. Both are handy to Capitol Hill and downtown albeit a steep hike up from the Symphony light rail station.

Where to Eat

The Rhein Has at 912 12th Avenue has great beef goulash and brats.

I grabbed a salad at the PCC Community Market in Green Lake (400 NE 71st). When travelling alone, I prefer hot food and salad bars over sit down restaurants. They are cheaper and healthier. Indeed, Seattle has some of the highest restaurant prices in the country (New York City and DC notwithstanding.

Be sure and have some salmon during your visit. It's a Northwest staple.

For More Information / Insider Tips

Seattle is very hilly. Like San Francisco, many of the neighborhoods sit atop hills (Capitol Hill, Queen Anne). Like San Francisco, it also has a homeless problem and is also very expensive.

Avoid the peak summer tourist season to save on hotel costs.

While it rains a lot, there can be sunny days even in the winter. And it is never bitter cold. The plethora of evergreen trees give it a unique feel. But it gets dark early in the winter being so far north.

Seattle Gay News (sgn.org) is your source for local happening and gay events. Editor Madison sometimes runs my columns.

The Stranger is the alternative weekly.

You will be amazed by the stunning setting that is Seattle. I always enjoy my visits. You will too.

*Bill Malcolm's syndicated LGBTQ travel column appears in select publications around North America and on line including the IGLTA.org travel blog. He focuses on value and unique experiences. A graduate of the University of Washington, he has a special fondness for the great Pacific Northwest. He pays his own way so unlike other travel writers is not encumbered by receiving freebies. And he avoids hotels and hotel chains with undisclosed rip off resort fees.

About the Author

Bill Malcolm Bill Malcolm is North America's only syndicated travel columnist. He focuses on value and pays his own way. He takes local transit and seeks to go where the locals go. He has appeared 100 times in LGBTQ publications and on websites including the IGLTA travel blog. You can find his work in GRAB Chicago, Erie Gay News, Seattle Gay News, and other places. He does this as a volunteer and does not charge for his work. He boycotts hotels and hotel chains with resort fees, amenity fees, destination fees, and other made up junk charges. He resides in Indianapolis. Follow him on Facebook.