48 Hours : Seattle Leads The Way

The jewel of the Pacific Northwest is one of America’s greenest and grooviest culture capitals

- Alicia Erickson

Drenched in a mesmerising spectrum of greens, Seattle has rightfully earned its title as the Emerald City. Thickets of trees hug azure lakes and the aquatic sprawl of the Puget Sound. On clear days, the majestic snow-dusted Mount Rainier glimmers against pale blue skies. Seattle, which thrives as much on the outdoors as it does on innovation, presents an intriguing blend of nature, music, art, grunge, technology, and a groovy gastronomic scene influenced by both the flavours of the sea and the land’s bounties.

The city was built on territory that belongs to the Duwamish tribe and was named after Chief Siah’l, a Suquamish and Duwamish leader of the 19th century. As the late 20th and early 21st centuries rolled in, Scandinavian immigrants became Seattle’s primary settlers. While evidence of this Scandinavian heritage is sprinkled across the city, they are most prominent in the maritime neighbourhood of Ballard, in Scandinavian bakeries and in the National Nordic Museum nordicmuseum.org).

Seattle's Six Best Hikes

DISCOVERY PARK

Discovery Park unfolds over 500 acres of lush property in the centre of Seattle. Meandering trails take you through grassy fields and forest groves, atop the Magnolia Bluff overlooking the Cascade and Olympic Mountain ranges, and across beaches of sand dunes, driftwood, and waves lapping at your feet.

WASHINGTON ARBORETUM

An extension of the University of Washington, the Arboretum, or Botanical Gardens, is an urban oasis on the shores of Lake Washington. Trails wind through 230 acres of flowers, trees, and greenery from ecosystems around the world.

BURKE GILMAN TRAIL

Extending for 32 kilometres from Golden Gardens Park in Ballard to the city of Bothell, the Burke Gilman is a multipurpose recreational urban trail. Hop on it for a bike ride or a walk as you cross the city.