THE SEASON IN SEATTLE
Christmas activities abound just a short hop over the U.S. border
Known for its 12th Man, this West Coast city is also renowned for its 12 Days Of Christmas.
And like the Seahawks’ fans overthe-top, ear-splitting support of their NFL team, holiday celebrations, events and activities last almost three times that long in the Emerald City, beginning with the lighting of the Macy’s Star on Thanksgiving weekend, and culminating with the New Year’s Eve fireworks show at the iconic Space Needle.
There’s only seven more sleeps till Santa’s arrival, but twice that until that fireworks display, meaning plenty of time to visit Vancouver’s sister city a couple of hours south on I-5.
Canadians have received a little lump of coal in the form of a weak loonie this holiday season, but there’s still great value in a weekend or even an overnight visit to the vibrant city, as I discovered during a recent visit to the city.
Comparisons are often made between Seattle and Vancouver, with many similarities cited, from a varied and rich foodie scene, a very walkable and compact downtown core, a wide range of accommodations for all budgets, and of course, that iconic, natural West Coast scenery. Yeah, OK, and rain.
But Seattle holds an edge in a holiday vibe that permeates most everything about a visit in December.
That’s mostly due to the shopping experience, with classic department stores — Macy’s and Nordstroms — pulling out all the stops to create that holiday feeling. The former’s massive lit star serves as a beacon for revellers, while its old-school window displays draw weekend crowds two and three deep, particularly the fantastic toy train display at the corner of 4th and Stewart.
The two stores bookend Westlake Center which, along with nearby Seattle Center, plays host to many family activities. Most notable of these is the Holiday Carousel, a festive ride for all ages in Westlake Park.
To help plan your stay, check out Visit Seattle new holiday website at visitseattle.org/holidays.
The sights, sounds, tastes, and adventures of the season, from Argosy Cruises Christmas Ships, a Seattle holiday tradition for 67 years, and Diving Santa at Seattle Aquarium’s Fishtival to Woodland Park Zoo’s WildLights and T-Mobile’s New Year’s at the Needle, are all organized by category, making it easy to create a customized holiday must-do list tailored to their interests and personality.
The new website allows helps you plan an overnight stay with more than 25 holiday-inspired hotel packages to choose from this season.