Seattle City Guide

City Guide: Seattle—Brimming With Culture, Native American History & Flying Fish

Written by Jane Wilson
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Gotcha!

It was slimy and silvery when it landed in my arms. I looked from the audience of tourists to the cradled piece of salmon thrown by the fishmonger at the next counter. This is common practice at Pike Place Market and I silently congratulated myself, relieved I had not dropped the slippery fish. Was it the catch of the day? I wondered.

Smiles and applause all around, this fish-tossing spectacle at Pikes Place Market is a Seattle mainstay and a must for first-timers. But it’s just one of the many reasons to love this city on the eastern shore of Puget Sound in the Pacific Northwest of the United States.

 

Seattle City Guide

The Space Needle dominates Seattle’s skyline, especially at night (Photo by @_reina86)

 

Not only is it Washington State’s largest city, Seattle also brims with coffee culture, arts, Native American history, sports and abundant nature, as evidenced by the surrounding water, mountains and evergreen forests seen from just about any vantage point in the city.

Here are a few ways to explore and adore the Emerald City.

 

The Historical Farmers’ Market

Pike Place Market dates to 1907, and is one of the oldest continuously operated public markets in the U.S. It overlooks the Elliott Bay waterfront on Puget Sound, and serves as a place of business for many small farmers, antique dealers, comic book and collectible shops, and Native American artists.

A pervasive sense of community and camaraderie hangs in the air, with locals buying produce and visitors snapping photos (and catching fish). A walking and history tour with bites and sips gives you a good flavour of the “market to table” concept embraced at nearby restaurants.

Enjoy the interactive cooking experience at the Atrium Kitchen to taste Native American-inspired dishes such as salmon on cedar plank with huckleberry honey glaze and amaranth with roasted squash and hazelnut gremolata.

Don’t miss a stop at Daily Dozen for scrumptious donuts, and Bonnie B’s Peppers for relishes and pickles.

Seattle City Guide

Eight Generation is the first native-American-owned company in Washington to produce native-designed wool blankets (photo by Richard M Dalton_Photographer Brittney Couture)

A History Revival Through Tradition & Design

Seattle tells a story about its people and traditions which decorate its history. The city was named after Chief Si’ahl, (Chief Seattle 1780-1866), a young warrior known for his courage, and daring leadership. He was the leader of the Duwamish and Suquamish peoples and continued friendly relations with the white settlers.

The Duwamish Tribe was Seattle’s First People and only native tribe. A visit to the tribal headquarters of Duwamish Longhouse and Cultural Center offers an insight into the tribe’s culture and ceremonial place.

Throughout Seattle and Washington State there are signs of a revival of Native American culture, a new wave of Native voices claiming back their stories, traditions and skills, and those of their ancestors. One example is the Seattle-based art and lifestyle brand, Eight Generation, founded in 2008 and owned by the Snoqualmie Tribe, the first native-owned company to produce native-designed wool blankets in Washington State.

The Inspired Natives Project emphasises an “Inspired Natives, not Native-inspired” approach to establishing the authenticity of its 100% Native-designed products. The store is conveniently next to Pike Place, with walls exhibiting the current blanket designs.

 

Seattle

Dale Chihuly is an American artist who was introduced to glass blowing while studying at the University of Washington

Indigenous Canoes in Hollywood

Canoes were a way of transporting and trading for the Native Americans, made from red cedar wood which is prominent in this region. The traditional style canoe of the local Native American tribes inspired the canoe style used in the 2024 Boys in the Boat movie, which followed the University of Washington rowing team on their quest to compete in the 1936 Summer Olympics.

The Conibear Shell House today contains memorabilia from the Boys in the Boat era. The Centre of Wooden Boats is dedicated to preserving and documenting the maritime history of the Pacific Northwest. There is often a demonstration of carving a canoe and explaining the importance of this skill used by the indigenous people, often taking up to three years to complete. In 2025, the United Indians of All Tribes Foundation (UIATF) is building a Canoe Carving Center in Lake Union Park.

Experience waterborne travel with a kayak tour on the Duwamish River with Alki Kayak Tours, committed to the conservation and preservation of Puget Sound as an ecosystem, especially for the spawning salmon.

Enjoy views of Mt Rainer in the distance and friendly wildlife closer in while experiencing the urban/natural waterways.

Salmon on the Menu

Ivar’s Salmon House on the riverfront is a cedar replica of a Northwest Native American Longhouse with an open-pit Native American-style BBQ for preparing alder-smoked dishes.

Canoes hang from the ceiling; historical photographs illustrate the original history of the Native Americans with a 6.8-metre tall totem pole outside and a whale’s mouth at the entrance.

The menu offers a wide range of dishes but the best seller here is cedar plank wild Alaska Sockeye salmon with brown sugar-spice rub, macerated berries, cornbread pudding, and seasonal vegetables. Or, order a trio of salmons to sample the local varieties of King, Sockeye and Coho.

Seattle City Guide

Near Seattle is Snoqualmie Falls, a sacred site for the Snoqualmie tribe

Snoqualmie Falls

East of the city about 45 kilometres (28 miles) is the thundering 268-foot Snoqualmie Falls (taller than Niagara Falls). This is a sacred site for the Snoqualmie Tribe who believe this to be the birthplace of their people and who work to preserve the land “for all people, for all time”.

There are viewing platforms, hiking trails, and a visitor centre that narrates the story of the Snoqualmie Tribe’s Ancestral Lands Movement. Perched in a prime position at the top of the falls is the Salish Lodge & Spa, originally built in 1916 as a rest stop for travellers. Today it offers 86 guestrooms, two restaurants and a spa within a spectacular landscape. Some may even recognize the setting featured in the Twin Peaks TV series from the 1990s.

In the location is Tulalip Resort and Casino, owned and operated by the federally-recognised Tulalip Tribes of Washington.

The resort offers 370 spacious and stylish rooms and suites, a casino, seven restaurants and a spa. The Tula Bene Pastaria + Chophouse is a classic-inspired Italian and steak restaurant. The hotel’s décor reflects its Native American heritage with interesting art pieces around the resort.

Nearby is the Hibulb Cultural Center set within a 50-acre natural history preserve. This learning cultural centre features a longhouse, exhibition, research library and classrooms and is the first Tribal facility certified by the state of Washington.

 

Seattle

Seattle’s Museum of Pop Culture (MoPOP) was by famed architect Frank O. Gehry

More to do

  • Born and raised in Tacoma Washington State, glass artist Dale Chihuly’s work was inspired by the art of Indigenous Tribes of the Pacific Northwest and the waters of Puget Sound, the estuarine system of interconnecting marine waterways and basins. Stroll through the urban Chihuly Garden and Glass site, a colourful tapestry of trees, plants, and flowers purposefully designed to complement the artwork which changes with the seasons.

 

  • Buy a ticket and enjoy the electric atmosphere while watching the local hockey team, Seattle Kraken, at the Climate Pledge Arena. The team wears the emblem of the Muckleshoot Tribe, the first Native American Tribe to sponsor the National Hockey League.

 

  • You can’t visit Seattle and not see the Space Needle, an architectural icon with the world’s first revolving glass floor. From 520 feet above the the ground, the Observation Deck provides a 360° view of the city, the Cascade Mountains to the east and the Olympic Mountains to the west. It was designed to symbolize humanity’s aspirations during the Space Age, built in 1961.

 

Seattle

Taste Washington wines just 40 minutes from Seattle

 

  • The Museum of Pop (MoPOP) Culture is housed in a futuristic-looking building, designed by architect Frank O. Gehry, which presents exhibits such as the art of fantasy, horror cinema, video games and science fiction. And for local fame, check out the dedicated displays, personal instruments and original photographs of Seattle musician Jimi Hendrix and the band Nirvana.

 

  • Fancy a coffee? Join the queue for the oldest existing Starbucks with its original logo in Pike Place or visit one of the six Starbucks Reserve Roastery & Tasting Rooms worldwide for a coffee straight from cask to cup with tours that follow the coffee bean journey. Here rare and small-lot coffees are roasted and packaged before being shipped. Seattle is considered a world centre for coffee roasting and coffee supply chain management.

 

  • Wine in Seattle? Why not! Head just 40 minutes to the Woodinville Warehouse Wineries, the heartbeat of Seattle’s wine country. It’s an enclave of over 25+ boutique wineries offering a range of varietals and winemaking styles, where the distinctive notes of Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay and Syrah can be savoured while listening to stories of the grape-to-glass journey from the winemakers themselves.

 

Where to stay

The Hyatt at Olive 8 is a chic boutique hotel in downtown Seattle, with views of Seattle’s skyline and situated just a few blocks from Pike Place Market and Puget Sound. The eco-friendly hotel has 346 rooms and suites, an indoor pool, fitness centre and yoga studio, a seafood restaurant, and even a bagel shop.

 

Seattle

The indoor pool at The Hyatt at Olive 8

Getting there

Numerous airlines fly into Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA), including Delta, America’s most-awarded airline, which operates daily direct flights from London Heathrow Airport (LHR).

Delta offers various cabin categories and free Wi-Fi. Onboard service and hospitality is attentive and efficient and extra legroom is enjoyed in Comfort Plus. Delta One® is the premium travel experience with personal check-in and access to the Delta One Lounge, Delta Sky Clubs and Sky Priority services with spacious lie-flat seats and chef-curated menus.

For extra comfort, book an airport lounge through Holiday Extras to enter the No1 Lounge at Heathrow Terminal 3. For more information and to book go to HolidayExtras.com

 

Ready to explore? Plan your trip to Seattle today!

 

***

BeSeeingYou In: Seattle, Washington

Good To Know: The Tulalip Resort and Casino is located in Ceda Village on the Tulalip Reservation, a 45-minute drive from Seattle.

WOW! Factor:  Despite Seattle’s reputation as a rainy city, New York, Boston, Atlanta and Houston see more rainfall each year

Tip: Book your visit to the Space Needle in advance—it gets busy!

 

Author bio: Jane Wilson, The Wellness Traveller

Find more travel inspiration at BeSeeingYou

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Jane Wilson

Jane is a travel journalist who specialises in wellness travel, an area which has moved beyond the spa and yoga mat and is firmly on-trend. Think slow travel, rituals, retreats, indigenous therapies and destination medi-spas for the ultimate make-over for mind, body & soul. Whatever the reason, Jane considers travel as an investment in health and wellbeing.

As a regular contributor to BeSeeingYou, you will always discover that healthy twist laced into her articles. Jane writes for a range of UK magazines as well her own online media The Wellness Traveller.co.uk

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