Singing in the rain: 7 reasons Seattle rules right now

Seattle’s calling. If you like what you see below, check out our Last-Minute Sale on Seattle—plus other cities such as San Francisco, Chicago, LA and more—now through July 5, 2015. Click here for details.   

Ahh, Seattle. That beautiful, emerald city in the Pacific Northwest that is surrounded by mountains, covered in clouds and jolts its citizenry awake each morning with strong coffee. All day long this city hums with funky cool neighborhoods, a stellar dining scene and thrilling arts and nightlife. Here are 7 reasons Seattle is not just a raining city, but a reigning city…

Ace Hotel

…because the Ace Hotel chain started here
If you’ve ever lazed in ahammock at the Ace Hotel and Swim Club in Palm Springs, dined at the Breslin at the Ace in Manhattan or chilled rooftop at the Ace in L.A. then you must bow and pay homage to the original Ace Hotel which opened in 1999 in Seattle’s funky cool Belltown neighborhood officially jump starting a trend in shabby chic lodging for hipsters everywhere. Modest in comparison to its siblings, the original Ace is nevertheless a cheap and cheerful place to throw down for a couple days in one of the city’s most wildly eclectic ‘hoods.

…because the Chapel of St. Ignatius is so cool it makes us want to go to church
This oddball architectural wonder belongs to Seattle University and functions as a host to Roman Catholic liturgies, but trust us when we tell you it doesn’t look like any church you’ve ever visited before. Architect Steven Holl’s concept for the building was that of “seven bottles of light in a stone box” which translates to various colors of light passing through St. Ignatius at different times of the day to represent different aspects of Catholic worship.

Smith Tower

…because Smith Tower stands as an icon to the golden age of skyscrapers
The 38-story Smith Tower (named for typewriter and firearm magnate Lyman Cornelius Smith) looms large in Pioneer Square as an early testament to the early 20th century technology that enabled buildings to aim sky high. It was the tallest building on the West coast until 1962 when it was overtaken by Seattle’s own Space Needle, but still remains a tourist attraction thanks to its Observation Deck (which is currently under renovation).

Related: Here are 15 things you should never to say to a Portlander.

…because they have some of the coolest named restaurants ever
The London Plane? The Whale Wins? Sitka and Spruce? Totokaelo? Um, yes we’d like to try all of these, please. Seattle’s dining scene is among that nation’s finest thanks to its abundance of fresh caught seafood and careful attention to ingredients that have been locally sourced. Our current favorite is the unfussy and causal Tallulah’s, a neighborhood gem that resembles mid-century Northern California. Also check out Paseo, Melrose Market, Columbia City Bakery, The Walrus and the Carpenter, Crush, the Pink Door and Wild Ginger.

Pike Place Market

…because one side of Pike Place Market is covered in chewing gum
There’s an icky, sticky side to Seattle’s justly famous Pike Place Market that many folks don’t know about and that’s its Gum Wall, a brick alleyway where visitors to nearby Market Theater began plastering their used gum onto the wall in the mid-1990s and has since become a bona fide tourist attraction that stretches 50 feet wide and 15 feet tall.

…and because they have a museum devoted entirely to popular culture.
If all museums were this fun and experiential, we’d be the biggest culture vultures on earth. The EMP Museum describes itself as a museum dedicated to the ideas and risk-taking that fuels contemporary pop culture and that translates into traveling exhibitions like the Current “Star Wars and the Power of Costume” and perennial favorites such as Infinite Worlds of Expedition in which visitors can embark on their very own deep space odyssey.

…and because you can get a wicked good cup of java here.
CEO Howard Schultz describes his newly opened Starbucks Roastery and Tasting Room as the Willy Wonka of coffee so we’re imagining Wonka as a tech-savvy, West Coast lumbersexual who worships the coffee bean (instead of thecacao bean) and has a penchant for lofted ceilings, really comfy chairs and small batch, upscale cups of joe. Early reviews  have been mostly ecstatic which is no surprising in America’s coffee capital. Not an S’bucks fan? Check out local and loved Milstead and Co. instead.

Tagged: Destinations