DK Travel : Seattle

Over the last decade, Seattle has blossomed into a bustling powerhouse of influence, steering the future of high technology as well as popular culture. The population of this vibrant metropolis is fueled by the latest in software, espresso drinks, music, and visual art that’s often as far on the leading edge as the city itself. Seattle has emerged as one of the most attractive cities in the United States, with an ever-changing skyline that reflects the pioneering spirit that brought settlers here in the mid-19th century.

Pike/Pine Corridor

Bisecting Capitol Hill are two busy streets offering their own flavor and subculture. You can find many of the area’s gay and lesbian hangouts on the blocks above and below Broadway, as well as a great selection of taverns and stores selling vintage housewares and furnishings. Although the city has tried to discourage their postings, you may also notice colorful flyers stapled onto telephone poles and virtually any surface, advertising band concerts in the vicinity. If nothing else, they draw attention to the pulse that keeps this community living and breathing on the edge.
Pioneer Building

This striking 1892 building of red brick and terra-cotta, designed by Elmer H. Fisher, boasts a National Historic Landmark status. During the Gold Rush years, 48 mining outfits maintained offices here, and it became headquarters for a prosperous speakeasy during Prohibition. It’s also the starting point for Bill Spiedel’s Underground Tour.
Pioneer Square

A treasure trove of Victorian-era architecture and streets still paved with bricks or cobblestone, Seattle’s original commercial center was established in 1852 when Aurthur A. Denny and David Denny arrived with a handful of fellow pioneers. This is now a protected National Historic District.
Pioneer Square

Find art galleries, intricate Victorian architecture, bookstores, and cafés in a constantly changing National Historic District. Pioneer Square’s 20-block neighborhood became Seattle’s commercial center during the boom years of logging, fishing, railroads, and Klondike Gold Rush economies. An exclusive 90-minute underground tour (see Bill Speidel’s Underground Tour) offers a lively look at the 19th-century storefronts that were periodically flooded by tides from Elliott Bay until street levels were raised. Key sights include the Smith Tower, Elliott Bay Book Co. and Café, and an art walk on the first Thursday night of each month.
Pioneer Square Hotel

History buffs and sports fans flock to this 19th-century landmark hotel featuring period decor and deluxe bathrooms. The bustling waterfront, ferry terminal, stadiums, and Pioneer Square historic district lie just outside.
Piroshki on Broadway

A tiny counter-wide place to grab perfectly rolled Eastern European style stuffed pastry. Choose from cases filled with steaming meat and vegetable piroshkis.
Polestar Music Gallery

If Polestar’s room is as small as ConWorks is gargantuan, the artistic vision is equally as imposing. The award-winning curators book acts dedicated to experimental music in a no-frills setting. Patrons listen and learn about contemporary composition, electroacoustic and electronic music, free improvization, and out jazz.
Pollution’s Effects

Smog from automobile traffic now obscures the mountain more and more.
Ponti Seafood Grill

Ponti creates sumptuous Pacific Rim dinners and hearty weekend brunches inside a Mediterranean-style villa. The chef fuses Asian herbs and spices with ahi tuna, scallops, and crab providing a harmonious meeting place for green curries and les fruits de la mer .
Port Townsend

This idyllic seaport, on the northeast tip of the Olympic Peninsula, attracts artists and musicians. Known for its Victorian architecture, key sights include Jefferson County Historical Society, Ann Starrett Mansion, Fire Bell Tower, and Fort Worden State Park. The small town has a bustling waterfront with shops, cafés, restaurants, and a ferry terminal.

Ann Starrett Mansion, Pt. Townsend

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Restaurant price categories

For a three-course meal for one with two glasses of wine (or equivalent) and tax.
- under $20
- $20–$40
- $40–$55
- $55–$80
- over $80
Hotel price categories

For a standard, double room per night (with breakfast if included), taxes and extra charges.
- under $100
- $100–$200
- $200–$250
- $250–$300
- over $300