Amtrak to Seattle

For our anniversary, this Memorial Day weekend my husband and I took the Amtrak up to Seattle.

We have done this journey before and enjoyed it.  It is an overnight journey from San Jose, and I suggest you book a sleeper car with your own bathroom/toilet facility.  It was a good tip. The room we stayed in had a bunk bed where on the bottom bunk, you sleep with your head at the door,  and on the top bunk you sleep with your head at the window. I would also suggest you take a sweat suit to sleep in.  Don’t book cabin A, it’s smaller than the others.

The meals on board where excellent, and it is such a lovely scenic journey going through Oregon and Washington.  The train was full, 700 passengers, from all over the world.   You always meet interesting people on board.

This time we stayed at the Fairmont Olympic Hotel.   Great location in the heart of the city, footsteps from the most exciting attractions, including the famous Pike Place Market, the waterfront, and space needle.   There is a multitude of museums, theaters, shops and restaurants to explore.  It reminds me of San Francisco, only prettier.  Fresh fish is on the menu no matter where you go.

The Washington State ferry service is outstanding and this time we took a boat ride to Bainbridge Island, which is only 35 minutes away.   Well worth visiting, great restaurants and shops.   You can go to the San Juan Islands, Whidbey Island, or Victoria, in Canada all very easily from Seattle. 

The view of Mount Rainier is wonderful no matter where you are, at any time of year.  There was still snow on its 14,410 foot mountain top and is a great destination for hiking and camping.

Although we were lucky with the weather, it does drizzle in the Pacific North West often so you should always carry a brolly (umbrella).     

There is so much to do in this city, and it is an easy place to walk around.   One must see is the Ballard Locks and fish ladder and the scenic University of Washington.  In the evening, check out Capitol Hill’s nightlife at a restaurant, or club.    I also recommend if you are interested in aviation, taking a tour of the Boeing plant.  There are many local tour companies who will take you around to the various attractions.   It is also convenient to take the local bus service around if you don’t want to walk up and down the hills.

Many of the cruise ships are now sailing to Alaska from Seattle so you can spend a few days exploring Seattle before or after your trip.

I always think of Seattle as being a garden city.  There are ten gardens which I love, and recommend highly.  The University of Washington Medicinal Herb Garden, the Soest Herbacous Garden, Parsons Garden, Bradner Gardens Park, Elizabeth Miller Botanical Garden, Shakespeare Garden at Seattle University, the Streissguth Garden, Dunn Gardens, Bloedel Reserve, and the South Seattle Community College Arboretum.  If you are a garden buff like I am, you should go and see one of them.   At this time of year, the Rhododendrons and Azaleas were absolutely magnificent.    It was a city in bloom.

Maureen Jones is president of All Horizons Travel  at 160 Main Street. Members of her staff are experts in business travel, cruises, and all types of leisure.