Seattle from a tourist’s eyes
I’ve had the pleasure of working as a local tour guide this summer. As such, I’ve gotten to see my native city with fresh eyes. It’s a city this 29-year resident of Boring Bellevue has never seen before.
I was born in Seattle and have spent all but five years of my life here. I regularly go downtown for sporting events and concerts, the market, Seattle Art Museum, etc. I also have guided tourists on hikes through the historic coal mining area of Bellevue and Newcastle since 2017. And yet, when doing my hiking tours, I never strayed much further than a few miles from home.
This year I’ve spent most of my time in the tourist corridor – picking up many folks in town for an Alaska cruise. I get to enchant them with my favorite haunts in the Pike Place Market, drive a loop that might take us to West Seattle, over one of the floating bridges, to the Ballard Locks, Kerry Park and the Space Needle and Chihuly Museum.
Most tourists, I’ve found, want to visit places on the “Top 10” list, which includes Pike Place market, the Space Needle, Chihuly Garden and Glass, Seattle Art Museum, Museum of Pop Culture, Seattle Aquarium & Waterfront, the Seattle Great Wheel, Seattle Underground Tour, Ballard Locks & Fish Ladder, Discovery Park, and a ferry ride to Bainbridge Island.
Personally, I would skip MOPOP, SAM and Discovery Park, and instead would add West Seattle and a drive by the Amazon Spheres. I’ve found a higher “wow” factor when we add those to the tour.
What have I learned about Seattle as a guide and what have my guests taught me? A lot. Just like Pemco Insurance did in its mid-2000 ads that poked fun at us PNW folks, I got to experience the oddities of our area through the eyes of the tourists I’ve met.
Here are a few of the observations:
Many of the guests I met that season were visiting from elsewhere in the United States. That is a personal observation from my tours, rather than a measure of overall tourism.
Just like we Northwesterners like to travel to warm climates during the winter, folks from hot places come to Seattle in the summer to escape the heat and humidity back home. I met many Floridians.
Pier 91 can be busy when cruise ships are boarding and disembarking. Clear pickup instructions and a luggage plan help the day run more smoothly.
A sightseeing route shows only part of Seattle. Like other cities, Seattle also faces homelessness and housing challenges; a visitor’s impression of one neighborhood does not represent everyone’s experience.
People are shocked by the size of our hills. They’ve asked if the brakes on our cars wear out faster because of all the downhill driving. Some were even scared to be in a car driving down the hills.
We have eye-popping gas prices.
Our metered freeway onramps are quite unique.
We actually follow the rules of our HOV lanes? How absurd. Even so, our traffic congestion is legendary. I and other guides are constantly offering disclaimers for why we’re using our navigation systems and going strange routes – to avoid as many traffic jams as possible.
The Woodinville winery scene is quite impressive with its many tasting rooms, restaurants, breweries and distilleries.
Seattle isn’t nearly as bad as the media portrays us.
It’s true. We really don’t dress well here (unless dressing for the ability to go for a hike or walk outside at any break in the weather is considered “dressing well.”)
Your Seattle tour guides work hard to portray our city as the beautiful, natural place that it is. The takeaway? Next time you’re traveling anywhere, treat your guides well. Share an honest review of your experience and let your guide know what worked well or could improve. Gratuities are optional and appreciated.
