Day 1
9 AM
Wake up at the Fairmount Olympic Hotel, in the heart of downtown Seattle. This hotel, which is part of the history of Seattle, is an attraction in itself. Built in 1861 to welcome the University of Washington, it was transformed into a play house in 1911 and, finally, into the Olympic Hotel in 1924. Breakfast at the Georgian, the hotel's magnificent and chic dining room, is a must. This little moment in the lap of luxury will lend a royal air to your weekend.
11 AM
Once your two feet are grounded, head straight to the market place. Head down Pike Street towards First Street. Around noon, the market’s excitement reaches its climax. If the sun is out, the street becomes alive; the fresh fish merchants will even go as far as throwing fish over the customers. The florists are everywhere just like fresh fruit and cheese shops. This colourful and fragrance-full spectacle reminds me of the Jean Talon Market in Montreal, simply put, the best place to fill up your senses and your belly.
2 PM
If you still have some room left when you leave the market, you absolutely have to stop by the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, a must for your sweet tooth. The window display alone will make your mouth water with its chocolate-dipped apples, caramels and candies. Inside, you’ll be able to observe the chocolate makers at work and will be unable to resist having a little taste here and there. Be careful, you may waste a lot of time choosing from the full array of available chocolates and sweets. Hurry up, Seattle is waiting!
2:30 PM
A few blocks away, on First Avenue, you’ll find the SAM, Seattle Art Museum. It’s currently presenting the Kurt exhibit, showing Kurt Cobain through various works of art. The works of art from the early nineties up to today, featuring artists such as Rodney Graham, Douglas Gordon and Elizabeth Peyton, force the public to reflect upon the influence that Kurt Cobain has had on a whole generation. Originally from Aberdeen, a small town close to Seattle, Cobain meant a lot more to his many fans than the grunge movement’s guiding light. The exhibit will be on display from May 13 to September 6, 2010.
6:30 PM
Walking through the SAM will without a doubt get your appetite going. The Wild Ginger restaurant on Third Avenue offers a succulent, Thai-inspired menu. We love its satay bar, the lounge’s atmosphere and its affordable prices.
8:00 PM
You can’t spend time in Seattle without seeing a concert. The Seattle Weekly’s website (seattleweekly.com) maintains a day-to-day list of the shows available in the city. Using the site’s search engine, you will quickly find an act you’d love to catch, depending upon your preferred kind of music, the date or the time of choice.
The jazz fans among you will find a great venue right next to the Wild Ginger, The Triple Door bar, where you can catch national and local musicians night after night. You can thus bring your evening to a close with some great music and of course, while enjoying a refreshing Mango mojito, the house specialty.
Day 2
10 AM
Seattle’s monorail is the day’s first stop. It will bring you directly to Seattle's centre, where you can find a lot of attractions like the famous Space Needle. This 605-foot high landmark symbolises Seattle to its many tourists. You can get to the top through a glass elevator that travels at a speed of 10 miles per hour. From atop the tower, the view is absolutely spectacular. You can see the city in its entirety, enclosed by Lake Washington and Elliott Bay. The SkyCity restaurant, on the Space Needle’s top floor, rotates constantly: for those of you who will decide to have lunch or dinner there, you’ll get 360 degree view of the city.
1 PM
Right next door to the Space Needle, the Experience Music Project and Science Fiction Museum attracts one’s attention simply through the original non-linear architecture. It’s well worth your while to visit it. You can catch the temporary exhibit Taking Aim: Unforgettable Rock ‘n’ Roll Photographs, displaying pictures from the history of rock’s greatest moments, selected by music legend Graham Nash. The exhibit presents pictures of Neil Young, Elvis Presley, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin and Kurt Cobain.
3 PM
Back to the downtown core via monorail; time to head off to the Seattle Aquarium. A visit to the Aquarium lets you discover the life below the surface of Elliot Bay. The giant aquarium will impress the young and the young at heart, just like the sea star basins and illuminated jellyfish tunnel.
The Port of Seattle, located between Puget Sound, an inlet of the Pacific Ocean that penetrates into the west coast of the American continent and Lake Washington, is among the 10 biggest ports in North America.
6 PM
If the ocean’s cool air stirs your love of fish and seafood, Anthony’s Pier 66 restaurant will surely fulfil your needs. With its two patios overlooking the bay, you can enjoy the catch of the day, fresh obviously, while watching the sunset. Since the temperature is much cooler on the waterfront, the owner has set up his patios with heating lamps. For those among you who are more sensitive to the cold air, blankets are also provided.
A walk down Alaskan Way, the street that lines the Port of Seattle, with a delicious ice-cream cone as your dessert, is the best way to end your evening and a wonderful way to close your busy weekend in Seattle.
This Porsche 911 GT3 is being used the way its supposed to?Hooray for Hollywood
