Seattle To Go

A few days ago---or has it been weeks?---I said I would go into more details about some of the great things to do on an Inside Passage cruise from Seattle.

Golden Princess is a gorgeous, comfortable ship that offers wonderful value on this itinerary.  Before getting on the ship, however, you should start your vacation with at least a day or two in the Seattle area. 

People who love cities will find much to love in the Emerald City, where trees and water enhance the skyline views.

The signature monument is the Space Needle, built for the 1962 Century 21 Expo (Seattle World's Fair), an event I attended as a boy with my family that I remember well.  If you've never been to Seattle, you need to have a meal up there in the rotating restaurant, or at least go up to see the view, even if it is a bit of a tourist ripoff. 

At Pike Place Market, fish mongers throw around the catch of the day like the Seahawks toss the pigskin, with only slightly less crowd noise for the long, arcing tosses and graceful receptions.  And the admission is free.

Of course, Seattle is the home of Starbucks and Seattle's Best Coffee, plus countless other coffee houses, so you'll want to have a cup or two, even if you don't think you're at all like Frasier Crane or his brother Niles.

There are islands to visit too, which you can reach by ferries and sometimes bridges, plus water activities including amphibius Ducks.

I recommend taking a drive through the beautiful countryside and visiting some of the parks of the surrounding region.  And while you're out in the country, why not head to Snohomish County for some real fun: river rafting?

This is one of the best places for family rafting.  There are lots of companies to choose from, and it is a blast.  You hit some good rapids, and when it slows down, you might have a guide who gives you the chance to try "rodeo," which is where you stand on the inflated rim, hold onto a rope, and lean back while the rest of the rowers rotate the raft until you fly off.

As you can see, there's something for everyone to do before you even step onto the cruise ship.