SEATTLE, WA — A first-time visitor from New York City said Seattle felt far different from what she expected, from a steep mile-long walk downtown to an unexpected free snack cart in the middle of the city.
During a three-day stop in the city as part of a weeklong West Coast trip in May 2025, she found the Washington city full of contrasts: urban landmarks, dense neighborhoods and prominent natural scenery.
Train travel from Vancouver to Seattle cost less than flying but took four times as long
The trip began with a train ride from Vancouver, British Columbia, to Seattle that cost $50 in coach, compared with about $150 for basic economy airfare the same day. The train took roughly four hours, while the flight was about an hour.
She said the coach seat felt noticeably more comfortable than the cramped economy airplane seats she was used to, with more legroom and less strain on her neck and back.
A mile to downtown felt steep, and Pike Place Market was far more crowded than expected
After arriving at King Street Station around noon, she walked about a mile to her hotel and quickly realized the route climbed uphill most of the way. Compared with flatter streets in New York, she said the walk felt more demanding than the distance suggested.
She also spent an afternoon at Pike Place Market, where she found crowded walkways, seafood stalls, a used bookstore and heavy pedestrian traffic. The market’s car-free setup was especially striking because the city has been testing a temporary ban on most cars there through spring 2026.
The Gum Wall, a downtown Target and South Lake Union all stood out during the visit
Near Pike Place Market, she came across Seattle’s Gum Wall, where tourists had stuck gum across a brick surface. What looked at first like paint turned out to be layers of chewed gum, which she described as both unsettling and playful.
She was also surprised by a three-story Target downtown and by South Lake Union, where the city’s tech reputation sits alongside parks, Lake Union waterfront views and rooftop trees at a Google building.
Amazon’s free banana stand and Mount Rainier added to the city’s odd mix
In South Lake Union, she found Amazon’s free banana stand, a bright yellow trailer that offers bananas to anyone in the community. The company first opened it in 2015 as a complimentary snack stop.
From a hotel rooftop, she also saw Mount Rainier in the distance and learned it is an active volcano. Seattle officials say the city is outside the main blast flow, though an eruption could affect water and power resources.
Plan smarter with Travel Your Way.