Visiting Seattle for an interview? If you have under 48 hours in Seattle, you will certainly want to squeeze in some sight-seeing while you are here. The Emerald City is an exciting international tech city surrounded by mountains and water, and offers a variety of places to explore – especially if you are considering calling Seattle home in the future.
The Pike Place Market is at the very top of the list for almost everyone that visits Seattle. On a perch overlooking the Puget Sound, the Market boasts sweeping views of the water. The Pike Place Market stays bustling with crowds of people buying gifts, fresh fruit, local food, and more. The Market is far from a tacky souvenir tourist trap, as the majority of vendors are local artists who create one-of-a-kind Pacific Northwest gifts. You’ll get to see fish being tossed over onlookers as you listen to local musicians playing a tune at the front of the Market. If you are a coffee fan, the very first Starbucks is also located right across the street from the Market.
Head out the back of the Market and quickly lose elevation down a steep but short street, where you will find yourself at the Seattle Waterfront and the Great Wheel. This is a fantastic opportunity to snap some photos from either a Ferris Wheel ride, and walk around the Piers if the Market is a bit too crowded for you.
If you love the water, you can also book a quick boat trip from the Piers, which will give you a phenomenal photo-op of the Seattle Skyline. Hop on the King County Water Taxi to West Seattle (which is only a 10 minute trip each way) or schedule a one-hour narrated boat tour with Argosy Cruises. If you are really feeling adventurous during the spring and summer months, you can hop aboard a professional racing sailboat with Let’s Go Sailing and cruise the Puget Sound for ninety minutes of panoramic views.
Of course, what is a visit to Seattle without a trip to the Space Needle? You might be tight on time, so a trip to the very top isn’t absolutely necessary – you’ll have just as much fun snapping photos of the Space Needle from the surrounding Seattle Center area. You’ll probably catch a glimpse of the Chihuly Garden and Glass, the Monorail (also built for Seattle’s World Fair), and the architecturally stunning Museum of Pop Culture.
If you find yourself in Seattle’s South Lake Union neighborhood for your interview day, Portage Bay has organic, locally-sourced breakfast with a pancake ‘toppings’ bar that will put a smile on your face. Alternatively, if you are in town during the weekend and want to treat yourself to a royal brunch, head out to Salty’s on Alki for an extravagant all-you-can-eat seafood breakfast amid stunning Seattle skyline views. It’s a bit out of the way from downtown Seattle, but worth the drive for the views and the food.
Want to see where the locals in Seattle are hanging out? You can also hop on the light rail to Capitol Hill. This is where you can get a sense of the “Seattle Vibe” with lots of people-watching in a neighborhood packed with little restaurants and bars that stay busy into the night.
If you want to squeeze in some up-scale shopping while you are in town, take a quick trip across the lake to Bellevue Square. Alternatively, this can also be used as a back-up plan if rain limits your outdoor activities. This is a great way to get a feel for the “Eastside,” as you’ll find many people who work in Seattle opt to live East of Lake Washington. You’ll most likely take one of two floating bridges to visit Bellevue (520’s claim to fame is being the longest floating bridge in the world, and I-90 will be the first floating bridge to have light rail service).
Although your time in Seattle might be short, remember to find some time to relax. Stop by a local coffee shop – there’s one on nearly every corner! Enjoy the crisp Seattle air (the temperatures never get too humid, and rarely dip below freezing) and you will be able to see a rich green landscape year-round. Ask your interviewers what they like about living and working in Seattle. Locals are happy to share places to explore, as well as the reasons they call the Emerald City their home.