New Frommer's Seattle Travel Guide
2009 Edition of Guidebook to Seattle, with Side Trip Recommendations
Feb 11, 2009
The author of Frommer's Seattle guidebook, Karl Samson, may live over the border in Oregon but he's also written Frommer's Washington State guide and knows Seattle well. In his introduction, My Seattle, he describes what it is that he loves about this city, which includes its "drop-dead gorgeous setting on Puget Sound" and the fact that "it's a little bit quirky, a whole lot of fun." In the 274 pages that follow, he persuades the reader of all these things.
Samson is an enthusiastic writer, which is a real bonus when so many guidebooks can come over as a little bit bland. He clearly enjoys his time in the city, and his positive take on it will help any visitor plan and enjoy a trip there. To help with the planning, here are his Most Unforgettable Seattle Experiences:
- Eating at Pike Place Market
- The Olympic Sculpture Park
- Taking a Seattle Underground Tour
- Seeing the Ballard Neighborhood
- Taking a Cruise
- Volunteer Park
- Riding a Water Taxi to Alki Beach
- Sea Kayaking on Lake Union
As with other Frommer's guides, there are several lists of 'Best of' recommendations, including the Best Splurge Hotels, Most Unforgettable Dining Experiences, and the Best Things to Do for Free (or Almost) in Seattle. Not to mention the unfortunately obligatory Best Things to Do on a Rainy Day. These include hanging out in bookshops and going wine tasting in Woodinville, and may well have most visitors longing for a little of Seattle's famous rain.
Does it really rain so much in Seattle? Here the city displays that quirky side that makes it so appealing. Yes it does, says the author, but on the other hand, No it doesn't. How come? It depends what's being counted. The city does have more rainy days than most places, but the total rain that falls is usually less than in places like Boston, New York, and Washington DC.
It's obvious that it rains in the nearby Olympic National Park, as here can be found the only rain forest in the United States. A visit to the National Park, and maybe going biking or even llama trekking, is just one of several excursions that the book also covers. Others include the San Juan Islands, Mount Rainier, the Woodinville Wine Country and the Mount St Helens National Volcanic Monument. If time is more limited, the author covers the shorter Ferry Excursions that Seattle also offers.
Other features of the Frommer's Seattle guide include:
- a pull-out street map
- three detailed walking tours
- restaurant maps
- hotel maps
- three maps showing the Best of Seattle in One, Two, and Three Days
In short, this Frommer's Seattle 2009 guide gives readers a lot of bang for their buck.
Practical Information
Frommer's Seattle 2009 costs $17.99 in the USA, $19.99 in Canada, and £11.99 in the UK.
For further details see the Frommer's Online Bookstore.
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