Tag: Seattle

The Heartbeat of a City

Posted on by The Retired Alchemist

When I travel to a big city, my favorite time of day is the early morning. It is when a city is coming to life. Coffee stands are just opening and the aroma of fresh grounds fills the air. The traffic is picking up with commuters on their way to work. The garbage trucks are rumbling down the street. It is the heartbeat of a city. It is a steady thrum that enlivens your nerve endings. And every single city that I have traveled to has a different vibe. A different heartbeat.

One of the best things about retirement is the ability to be spontaneous. When you want to travel, there is no need to plan around school vacations or ask for time off from work weeks ahead. When Mr. U suggested we make a quick trip over to Seattle last month to watch one of our favorite college basketball teams play, my first inclination was to say we did not have time. It was a few weeks before Christmas and I had lots to do. Then I paused and thought, isn’t this one of the great joys of retirement… to be able to take short trips on a whim?

Seattle is just a quick 4 1/2-hour drive for us. The weather was good, and the roads were clear over Snoqualmie pass, so why not take a spontaneous road trip? If you have not been to Seattle, put it on your travel list. It went through some rough times during COVID, as most big cities did. However, it is gaining its unique, artistic, waterfront vibe back again.

The space needle is particularly beautiful at night.

Of course, Seattle is probably best known for the Space Needle, which is worth seeing. It has been several years since I rode the elevator to the top. As expected, the view is amazing, and a little unnerving if you are not crazy about heights, like me. Now I prefer to just look up at it in awe.

Pike’s Market Place

If you don’t see anything else, you need to see Pike Place Market located in downtown Seattle by the waterfront. It is one of the oldest and largest farmer’s markets in the county and is the heartbeat of the city. You will find colorful flower bouquets, fresh seafood, unique art, restaurants and plenty of eclectic shops. It is three levels and spans 9 acres so wear good walking shoes.

Downtown Seattle is also home to the very first Starbucks. If you want coffee there, plan to wait in line awhile. While you are downtown you might want to see the “gum wall” in Post Alley. It is a brick wall with thousands of wads of multi-colored chewed gum stuck to it. Not very sanitary, but definitely unique.

The Farmer’s Market is a feast for the senses.
The Pike Place Fish Market is known for the fish mongers that throw fish to their customers. Have you ever tried catching a slippery fish as it sails through the air?

Other districts and neighborhoods to explore

Seattle has several fun neighborhoods and districts to stay at or explore on foot. This time we stayed in the historic Queen Anne District. It is close to the Seattle Center and Climate Pledge arena where the game was. We parked our car at the hotel and were able to walk everywhere, which helps save the stress of finding a parking place… which is also better for your marriage health.

The morning after the game, we decided to get up early and see the city as it came to life. We walked up the hill to the 5-Spot restaurant for breakfast. The 5-Spot was voted the best breakfast in Seattle multiple times and it did not disappoint. I almost forgot to take a picture it was sooo good.

The hollandaise sauce on the chorizo benny was unlike any I have ever had (left). The cooks wore some great shirts (right).

If you are traveling to Seattle for a sporting event, Pioneer Square is close to the professional baseball and football fields. If you like a bohemian vibe, stop by the Fremont area. It is a quirky, artistic neighborhood and home to the Fremont Troll that lives under the bridge. I wrote about a micro trip we took to Kirkland, which is just to the east of Seattle here. There are many more unique nooks and crannies in the area that I have not seen, which is just a good excuse to go back.

If you prefer to get out of the city and into nature, there are numerous hiking trails for all levels around Seattle and in the nearby Cascade Mountains. Seattle is surrounded by Mount Rainier, Mt. Adams and Mt. Baker. Or, if you love sightseeing from the water, you can take a boat cruise on Lake Washington or Lake Union. You can also drive just north of Seattle and catch the Anacortes ferry to the San Juan Islands.

The view of the Cascade mountains was breath taking.

The game outcome

I know you have been waiting patiently to hear the outcome of the game. 😊 Gonzaga is my alma mater, so I am a devoted fan of the Zags. This was a close game against UCLA, but the Zags pulled off the win, which made the trip a little more fun.

Great game, especially since the Zags pulled out the win.

The heartbeat of a city

Next time you have the chance to take a trip, don’t decline because you don’t have time, or a hundred other excuses. Seize the opportunity and go. And when you travel, slow down and take in the sound of the trolley bell, the street busker music, or the aroma of hotdogs being sold next to a newspaper stand. Let it sweep you up in the moment. Stop, breath it in and listen for the heartbeat of the city.

Cheers to the retirement years!