Seattle is a truly magical city! You’re surrounded by natural beauty constantly: Elliott Bay, Mt. Rainier and the Olympic National Forest are all right at your fingertips. We are a city obsessed with food and cocktails and the dining scene and nightlife here is outstanding. The Space Needle, Pike Place Market, and the Seattle Seahawks are just a few things that make this city so iconic. It boasts first class shopping, coffee and museums. There are so many amazing neighborhoods to visit in Seattle and they all have their own unique vibe. Pioneer Sqaure is the oldest part of the city (and one of my favorites). It actually got its name because it was the last stop pioneers made on their way up to Alaska in the 1890s! And don’t miss Capitol Hill if you are looking for vibrant nightlife and a hip, cool scene.
The Space Needle is great but if you want to do something different and not so touristy, check out the observation decks at Columbia Tower and the Smith Tower. The Columbia Tower is the tallest building in Seattle with incredible views. An adult ticket will cost you $14.75. Smith Tower was built in 1914 and is “Seattle’s Original Skyscraper”. The observation deck grants stellar views of downtown AND there’s a bar up there. Tickets are $12. (A ticket to the Space Needle will cost you $22). You will definitely want to explore more than just downtown!
Local business etiquette and customs
Seattle is a really great place to be for women. It is extremely progressive here.
No Seattle locals carry an umbrella. It is an easy way to spot a tourist. If you don’t want to look like a tourist I suggest not carrying it and instead just wearing a rain jacket. It really hardly ever rains any harder than a light drizzle here!
The oldest Starbucks is here and there is always a line out the door of just dozens and dozens of people. If you want coffee here, I’d recommend you get there very early. Also, it’s Pike Place Market, Pike Place, or The Market but do not call it Pike’s Place.
Seattle is a very casual city. People don’t get nearly as dressed up here as they do in my home state of Alabama. I usually wear leggings or jeans every day. Leggings with a tunic and boots is pretty standard.
Travel and transport
Getting around Seattle is very easy! The Light Rail train runs between the city and the airport frequently, making getting into the city very easy and inexpensive. It takes about 40 minutes to get from the airport to downtown. This is also a great way to get around town once you are here. Uber and Lyft are also available and can now do pick ups from the SeaTac airport.
There is also a good bus system in place, as well as a ferry system to get you from downtown to Bainbridge Island or Bremerton. The Light Rail, bus and ferries all take Orca cards for payment. An Orca card is a reloadable card you load money onto and then use to pay these fares when you get on the bus/ferry/train. The alternative is just buying a single ticket for the train or ferry, but if you know you’re going to be using a lot of public transportation I would highly recommend loading a card up with $20 to $40. You will see the kiosks to purchase Orca cards or single tickets at the outside of the Light Rail at the airport, and you can purchase one there or at any Light Rail station.
Dining and bars
Dining:
- Lecosho (amazing atmosphere and staff, one of the very best burgers in the city – available only at lunch and on the late night menu)
- Matt’s in the Market (one of Seattle’s best and overlooks the
iconic Public Market sign at Pike Place, outstanding contemporary pacific northwest cuisine) - Pintxo (tapas & good Spanish wine)
- Terra Plata (farm to table concept, fabulous brunch, female owner/executive chef)
- Bateau (amazing local steaks, female owner/executive chef)
- Westward (stunning view of Lake Union, great place to sit outside, they have fire pits out there in the winter)
- Joule (love the brunch here)
- The Whale Wins (female owner/executive chef, come here for amazing fresh Pacific Northwest food, great place for oyster!)
- Annapurna (Nepal, Indian & Tibet cuisine)
Bars:
- Von’s 1000 Spirits (massive collection of booze, super fun spot)
- Canon (great selection and good cocktails)
- Rocco’s (great craft cocktails)
- The Upstairs (very hip little spot in Belltown)
- Rob Roy (a dark bar that serves free goldfish at happy hour and fabulous craft cocktails)
- Zig Zag (very old school Seattle cocktail scene)
- Damn the Weather (they have fabulous food here as well)
- Quinn’s (also have an AMAZING burger & foie gras fries)
- Goldfinch Tavern (restaurant & bar in the 4 Seasons Hotel, I recommend coming in for happy hour)
Women’s networks and events
Women Who Love Whiskey, Junior League of Seattle, League of Women Voters in Seattle, Executive Women’s Golf Association.
Maiden Voyage’s partners, IWant2Network offer membership for the best professional networking groups and meetings, locally, nationally and all over the world. See what’s happening in Seattle and join IWant2Network here.
Beauty and fitness
Swink Style Bar, Burnt District Salon & Spa (female owned and operated), any of the Aveda salons, Gene Juarez Salon, Eight Limbs Yoga
