Hotels near Seattle Lake Union Seaplane Base - LKE, Seattle

Many things to see. Pike Place Market is just a few miles away as well as the Seattle waterfront. Ivars restaurant is a favorite and has been here for decades. If you're up to do some real exploring Leavenworth is about 2 1/2 hours away. Nice Bavarian styled town in the mountains. During the winter months it can be a challenge as you're traveling mountain passes. Casino gambling you have several choices. Snoqualmie Casino (31 min) or Tulalip Casino in Marysville (1 1/4 hrs). Nature lovers can head towards Mt. Rainier. If you love to be on the water Washington State Ferries are a cheap way to get on the water if you walk on.

We attended a ball game and because there was only street parking and very busy. We decided to walk to location after hotel staff gave us the 411. Therwas a 15 min walk so we enjoyed the sights. There was plenty of spots to eat and chances to enjoy the city.

Seattle is a very expensive city to visit. It has great coffee shops but our dining experience was okay. Food was not anything special. Wonderful breweries, great museums, and plenty of hiking. People are kind, navigating the city can be challenging and parking is not cheap.

I loved the city vibe, it's busy and feels like there's life going on, which isn't always the case in American city centres. Pikes Public Market is a great place to explore and the views across Puget Sound to the mountains are amazing. If you like cafes and coffee shops, you won't be disappointed. There are loads of them. One disappointment was the over priced Museum of Popular Culture. It doesn't offer much that feel original and for $40 entrance you'd expect a much wider collection. There was nothing about popular culture through history and printed media wasn't represented as far as I could see beyond the temporary Manga exhibition. Music was also a bit limited. Vaguely mentions punk, nothing on new wave... I mean pop culture is huge so they couldn't do everything and if you like horror and science fiction you'll be happy.

So much to do with families there, especially at Christmas time. The Figgy Pudding Caroling Competition, Pike Place Market, Lights at the Seattle Zoo, model train at the Armory, and for shopping, there's the Christmas Market and the "Urban Craft Uprising" at Seattle Center. Plus the ferris wheel...

Donald told us the place was a battle zone. I didn't see that. I saw a healthy, diverse, bustling city full of tourists and a thriving economy. Did Donald lie to us? There is still a problem of homelessness that needs to be addressed. There needs to be more affordable housing and shelters for the poor. But, I guess that's a national problem. Regardless, I had a great time, ate well, attended excellent concerts, found fun bars and friendly people. Also, they seem to know coffee here. No wonder they are sleepless.