A week ago, I arrived in Seattle! I’m spending October living and working from a lovely apartment about 10 miles north of downtown, only a few blocks from Lake Washington. I’m adjusting to life in the fast lane—literally—compared to the laid-back atmosphere of Bend, Oregon. Traffic is nuts and the drivers are aggressive maniacs. But with my history of borderline road rage, I’m fitting right in. Seattle has so many iconic views and sites, and I’m enjoying being a tourist for a few hours each day.
I spent a long weekend in Seattle back in 2019 and knew I wanted to spend some time here while exploring the Pacific Northwest. I said goodbye to Bend last Friday morning, drove through the Mount Hood National Forest, and made a quick stop at Little Crater Lake for a photo or ten. I continued on through Portland, with another stop in Olympia to check out the Washington State Capitol, and finally Seattle.
I ended up arriving around rush hour, though I’ve come to realize afternoon rush hour typically lasts five hours here. After meeting my wonderful Airbnb host, unpacking the car, and getting my things settled, I set out to explore the neighborhood and find “my” grocery store for the month. I really should write a whole post about how it’s been adjusting to a new neighborhood, culture, and routine each month. I’m quite proud of myself so far!
Seattleites take outdoor recreation seriously. Nicknamed the Emerald City, there is access to nature everywhere around Seattle. The other day I drove only a few miles from my place to Saint Edward State Park and hiked a couple of the trails, which take you right down to the shore of Lake Washington.
I’m excited to get to at least one of the three national parks in Washington—hopefully, this weekend—and will keep exploring city and state parks as well. After spending September in an area with almost exclusively pines, it’s great to be around leaves again—especially during the fall-color season.
The weather has been great so far. I believe it’s a little warmer than usual this time of year, and it’s only been cloudy in the mornings a few days this week. By afternoon, it’s been full sun—perfect for more tourist trips!
I’ve created a photo gallery of favorites from my tourist adventures so far in Seattle, and I’ll keep adding to this gallery throughout the month. Enjoy!
