Category: Guides

 

Seattle’s new waterfront is taking shape and dramatically changing the city’s landscape. Get ready for an easy-to-navigate urban shoreline with recreational, entertainment and dining options galore – mere minutes from The Emerald‘s front door in the center of downtown Seattle and steps from the waterfront at Second and Stewart. Future residents at The Emerald will love easy walking access to all that Seattle’s waterfront offers.

 

Waterfront Park is Seattle’s future 20‑acre shoreline cultural destination. Eat, play, and relax at this vibrant public park, starting with Pier 62, minutes from The Emerald. This new park, part of the ongoing waterfront redevelopment, offers breathtaking views of the Olympic mountains, Seattle’s skyline and Mount Rainier – with plenty of space to social distance.

 

The Emerald’s future residents can enjoy a leisurely stroll to the end of Pier 62 and appreciate the new solar-powered LED lighting along the pier’s edge. “Pier 62 features a new floating dock, integrated lighting, and other design elements that open up this one‑acre site on Seattle’s central waterfront as a canvas for a range of year‑round public uses.”

 

Pier 62 Seattle floating dock. Image by Robert Wade.

 

The rebuilt Pier 62 was designed to be a flexible park space with views of Elliott Bay, the Olympics and the Seattle skyline. A floating dock provides direct access to the water and will include art by artist Stephen Vitiello. New grating along the seawall increases light to the nearshore salmon habitat below. The rebuilt pier also includes new handrails and embedded LED lighting.

 

The new Seattle waterfront will feature a two-way protected bike lane from S King Street to Pier 62. The bike path will have raised buffers on both sides to separate people biking from people walking and driving. People riding bikes on the existing Elliott Bay Trail near the Olympic Sculpture Park can join the waterfront bike path at Bell St, continuing down to join the existing Elliott Bay trail at S King St. Have you seen the new sidewalk in front of Pier 62? You can now walk the wider, flat trail from Ballard to West Seattle via the waterfront. View a waterfront map here and take a Virtual Waterfront Tour.

 

“For the first time, we will really connect Pioneer Square, the historic piers, Pike Place Market and the aquarium—they will all be basically part of one parks system,” says Marshall Foster, director of the city’s Office of the Waterfront. “That is something that doesn’t exist today, and it will thread those neighborhoods together,” making the waterfront a single, unified downtown district, rather than a series of disconnected destinations.

 

The park promenade will be the core of the new waterfront — providing a new linear park from Pioneer Square to the Seattle Aquarium and improving access to Colman Dock and all the activities on the waterfront. The promenade will join the Overlook Walk on the north end and the rebuilt Railroad Way on the south end, providing access to the historic Pike Place Market and Pioneer Square neighborhoods.

 

Bay Steps at Overlook Walk which will connect the waterfront and Pike Place Market.

Image: James Corner Field Operations, courtesy of the City of Seattle

 

The Overlook Walk will create an elevated public park and connection between the waterfront to Seattle’s urban core. People can walk on the elevated pathway from Pike Place Market to the waterfront without ever crossing the new Alaskan Way. Overlook Walk will have expansive views of Elliott Bay, informal play areas, new public plazas and landscaping.

 

Pier 58, currently known as Waterfront Park, will be redesigned to create a public park and improve access, safety and flexibility to the pier, while offering expansive views of Elliott Bay and the Olympic Mountains.

 

The aquarium is an epic new amenity. Along the central Seattle waterfront and just below the new Overlook Walkway, the Seattle Aquarium will be expanding, complete with a 350,000-gallon shark tank that will be visible to people walking through the plaza below.

 

“The Seattle Aquarium’s new Ocean Pavilion will be that place to inspire a new generation of ocean conservationists through science, yes, but also through empathy, urgency and agency. The expanded aquarium campus will serve as a new education platform that aspires to engage the entire community — including the expected 20 million additional waterfront visitors per year — in conversation about what we value.” – Seattle Times

 

Waterfront Seattle will rebuild Alaskan Way from S King to Pike streets, and build a new street, known as Elliott Way, from Pike to Bell streets. The new surface street will span a total of 17 blocks from Pioneer Square to Belltown, with two lanes of traffic in either direction for the majority of the street.

 

The new seawall includes habitat enhancements to restore the salmon migration corridor and improve ecosystem productivity. All seawall features were designed to be integrated with other key Waterfront Seattle improvements, including the future park promenade, the rebuilt Pier 62 and Pier 58.

 

Between Colman Dock and Pier 48, a new habitat beach supports the waterfront ecosystem, including enhancing the salmon corridor by adding rocks and nearshore vegetation.

 

Envision Saturday strolls along the Seattle waterfront, taking in the views from the landscaped pedestrian promenade and enjoying Bluff Walk Slides, part of the Overlook Walk. Just one of the many reasons so many future residents will enjoy calling The Emerald and its premiere location, home.

 

Information gathered from Waterfront Seattle, Seattle Aquarium, Waterfront Park, Seattle Waterfront, and Seattle Magazine.

Many of the best hotels to try in Seattle are within the convenient, cultural hotspot of the city’s downtown area. The bustling Pike Place Market with its artisanal wares, famous celebrity restaurants and renowned art displays can all be found in Downtown Seattle. To make things even better, especially for travellers, the downtown area is extremely accessible with multiple avenues of public transport, such as the light rail and city buses.

To get the most out of your Seattle visit, we’ve compiled some of the best locations you can stay.

Pike Place Market
When you want to enjoy the Waterfront Park, the Seattle Art Museum or one of the piers, Pike Place Market is a great location to stay near. Many of the views overlook glittering Elliott Bay, and you’ll be able to walk or commute easily to Pike Place Market. The market itself is famous for being the longest running, open air farmer’s markets in the US and is absolutely worth exploring. With a large variety of unique products for sale, you can find specialty foods, fresh produce, collectibles, antiques and artistic work you won’t find in a store anywhere else.




Pioneer Square
The historic heart of Seattle, Pioneer Square is a cozy combination of old charm and new architecture. It has some of the city’s oldest buildings, including the Klondike Gold Rush Museum. A wealth of gold rush history is housed in the Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park, which was once a critical stop for travellers heading to Alaska. Another experience worth noting is Bill Speidel’s Underground Tour, a Seattle staple. This tour will take you on a strange but hilarious stroll through the history of Seattle as you walk through the entombed sidewalks and streets that were built before Seattle’s Great Fire of 1889.

There’s also no shortage of beautiful views: when you stay around Pioneer Square, you’ll be close to art walks so you can visit a wide variety of local art galleries. You can also find no shortage of shops, boutiques and parks to see all the vintage charm Pioneer Square has to offer visitors.

The Waterfront
The Waterfront area offers some beautiful views of Puget Sound and is currently being redeveloped. A brand new family friendly aquarium is headed to The Waterfront that will offer closer views of oceanic wildlife. You will easily be able to find fresh seafood or take one of many boat tours to see everything that Puget Sound has to offer. Staying around the area will keep you close to the beautifully lit piers while providing some of the best views of the bay. Ferries regularly come and go from the waterfront so you can easily get in a boat ride or travel across the bay while catching some views of marine life.

The University District – U District
Staying near the University District, or U District as the locals say, can get you an eclectic mix of historic charm, youthful culture and relaxed sight-seeing. Within U District, you can find U Village, offering different shops and stores to fit any need. There are also many local pubs and indie eateries frequented by students, and you can catch games at Husky Stadium. The tailgating parties in the U District are famous for their fun and quirky gatherings.

Like other areas of the city, you can also enjoy local art at the Henry Art Gallery or Burke Museum. As you might expect from any cultural university area, there are also plenty of concerts and performances to see at the local theaters.

Capitol Hill
This area is home to some of Seattle’s most iconic music venues and gardens. If you enjoy beautifully crafted spaces, you’ll love the Victorian styled conservatory at Volunteer Park, which features five display houses of different cacti, ferns, palms, bromeliads and more.

Another extremely instagrammable place for travellers is the Japanese garden at the center of Washington Park Arboretum. After a stroll through the beautiful parks, you can stop at the Seattle Asian Art Museum to view timeless pieces both ancient and modern. You may also decide to stroll the commercial corridors of Pike and Pine Streets. You will find great food, bars, nightlife and shopping all stomping grounds for local residents in Capitol Hill. You’ll also be in easy distance to The Crocodile, a popular showroom that’s seen the likes of Nirvana, R.E.M. and Pearl Jam perform.

Belltown
Once an industrial area, Belltown has transformed into an upscale venue with everything from high-end condos and fashion boutiques to vintage cinemas and arcades. Belltown is famous for its nightlife, featuring a variety of lively nightclubs. If you stay in the area and prefer something quieter, you’ll also find plenty of laid back lounges and dive bars within easy walking distance.

Many people enjoy the old charm of the cinemas for some family friendly night activities. If you want to enjoy some of the fantastic local favorites, stop in at Top Pot Doughnuts – A fantastic donut chain in Seattle featuring a two story location in Belltown. You can savor fresh and homemade old fashioned donuts and there is a delectable treat for any taste. If you are looking for something savory, some of the top restaurants in Seattle are located here. Including professional chef Tom Douglas, who is well known amongst locals. Stop in to any of his restaurants to enjoy top of the line, high quality food with a wide variety from Mexican to Italian foodfare. You’ll find no shortage of delicious bakeries and some of the top restaurants of Seattle.

Queen Anne
This part of the city features hilly terrain that will offer sweeping views of the city. Staying in this neighborhood will give you quick access to a variety of family-friendly activities the area is famous for, including some of Seattle’s largest celebrations and festivals.

Queen Anne also has plenty to see, as the area houses the iconic Space Needle and monorail, both historic and fun places to visit on your tour of the city. You can visit the Science Fiction Museum, enjoy a laser show at the Pacific Science Center, activities and learning at The Children’s Museum, or take a stroll through Discovery Park to add some fun, educational activities during your visit.

South Lake Union
South Lake Union has an upscale and thriving flavor to it, as a hub for Amazon and the biotech industry at large, you’ll find no shortage of hip bars and eateries to indulge in. You’ll also be able to visit the Amazon Spheres, an incredible visual spectacle of an indoor jungle space complete with banana stands and underground bar.

There’s also no shortage of water activities to enjoy at South Lake Union. Rent a stand up paddleboard, kayak the currents of Puget Sound, or hop on a local cruise for a tour across the water.

Finding the Best Place to Stay
Every part of the city offers something unique, so you can find an activity for anyone when deciding where to stay in Seattle. Whether you want some family-friendly fun touring museums and aquariums or a more romantic walk around the piers after drinks, you can find no shortage of unique restaurants and venues to make your trip truly memorable.

If you find that Seattle is the best place for you to reside permanently, you can find luxury condos like The Emerald that will keep you centered in all the downtown excitement while providing the quiet security and gorgeous views from an immaculately designed high-rise condominium lifestyle.

 

The Emerald’s premiere location at Second and Stewart places you in the center of downtown Seattle – just one block from the iconic Pike Place Market, steps from the waterfront and surrounded by the city’s best culinary and cultural destinations. Imagine living at Seattle’s new collection of modern high-rise condominium homes rising above an iconic downtown and having fall favorites from the iconic market at your fingertips! From pumpkin spice caramel popcorn to pumpkin pie yogurt, toffee pumpkin braids to hot toddies – Pike Place has 500+ small businesses to assist celebrating autumn, all just a short stroll from The Emerald.

 

Pike Place Market gives the scoop on fresh from the farm produce: “Juicy plums, Asian pears, and sweet potatoes are overflowing the shelves at six produce stands in the Market right now. As we enter October, look for pumpkins, winter squash, and crisp Pacific Northwest grown apples.”

 

Choice Produce sells pepper strings and wreath all year round, but Pike Place says, “they are the freshest and most colorful in the fall”. These eye-catching arrangements make great gifts and can be eaten or used as decoration.

 

Cobb’s Popcorn has partnered with MarketSpice to create a Pumpkin Spice Caramel popcorn and offering favorites like the Maple Bacon Caramel, Brown Butter and Sea-Salt and Vanilla Salted Caramel. For Halloween, they’ll be popping specialty black kettle corn!

 

Honest Biscuits introduces a caramel apple biscuit made with local organic apples and house-made caramel. In November, look for their sweet potato biscuit and , similar to a cinnamon-apple roll. Honest Biscuits will also sell an Apple Chai seasonal drink starting in mid-October.

 

Le Panier celebrates the season with apple, cinnamon and pumpkin baked treats. Pick up a Roule Cannelle (croissant swirled with cinnamon and sugar) and Kouigan Aman Aux Pommes (fresh apples & sugar on a buttery croissant dough) fresh from the bakery. By mid-October, Pumpkin macaron and Pumpkin tarts will hit the display case.

 

MarketSpice has all the fall flavors you are seeking to steep, from Pumpkin Pie Spice tea to Caramel Apple tea and their famous Cinnamon Orange tea.  Spice Cider Mix with allspice, orange peel, cinnamon and cloves has also made its debut for the season.

 

Piroshky Piroshky’s Toffee Pumpkin Braid has fall written all over it. Pike Place Market describes it as a, “buttery autumn blend of cinnamon, allspice, ginger and cloves, braided into their signature sweet dough and topped with an aromatic pumpkin glaze and crunchy toffee almonds.”

 

Don & Joe’s Meats start accepting pre-orders for your Thanksgiving Day feast on November 1st.

 

Experience all the fall feels from these market spots within a short walk from The Emerald:

 

Barque Brontes Bakery Cafe: pumpkin spice lattes and pumpkin cheesecakes

Bottega Italiana: Pumpkin, rum raisin gelato and cinnamon gelato

Daily Dozen Doughnut Co: Maple bacon, apple crumb, cidermill, apple stick

Ellenos: Pumpkin Pie Yogurt with real pie chunks! They make it from scratch (so you don’t have to)

Old Stove Brewing: Sabro Fresh Hop IPA and Festbier Lager for Oktoberfest

Rachel’s Ginger Beer: Black pepper chai (makes a marvelous hot toddy)

Sunny Honey Co.: fresh honeycomb & real maple syrup

indi chocolate: Pumpkin spice lattes and truffles

The Confectional: Mini pumpkin cheesecakes

The Crumpet Shop: Maple butter crumpet

Woodring Northwest: Kentucky Whiskey Caramel sauce for apples

 

More than the city’s beloved public market, Pike Place Public Market is a vibrant neighborhood comprised of hundreds of farmers, craftspeople, small businesses and residents. Make it a Market Day any day, just one block walk from The Emerald.

 

Image credit: @ellenosyogurt

When you live in Seattle, you live close to some pretty amazing places. Mt. Rainier is one of Washington’s most stunning natural features with 369 square miles of hiking trails, scenic roads, campgrounds and rock climbing terrain. To get the most out of your trip from a cozy downtown apartment to the cool mountain air, however, it’s important that you bring some day trip essentials.

To help you pack for a beautiful day on Mt Rainier, we’ve compiled a list of eight simple must-haves to keep you comfortable and safe out in nature.

Weather Appropriate Clothing
While it may go without saying that you should bring a coat if you plan to be outdoors in snowy weather, it’s important to have the right clothing on hand when you’re spending extended periods of time outdoors. Weather can change quickly at high elevation, so knowing the weather beforehand and having an emergency poncho ready in the case of rain will keep you dry and comfortable. These are just a few clothing items you should take with you during typical hiking seasons (late May through September):
– A lightweight jacket
– Long-sleeve, moisture wicking shirt (for bugs and sun)
– Hiking shoes
– Quick-drying pants
– A hat (for sun and to stay warm in colder weather)

Perhaps you are feeling more adventurous and want to climb further up the mountain? Mt. Rainier is a glacier that is icy and cold, and hiking the mountain verges on the border of mountaineering. Crampons are another necessity if you plan on venturing up Mt. Rainier, and can keep you from slipping and sliding as you hike through ice and slush.

Basic Navigation
You’ll want to pick up a map either beforehand or at a ranger station, as reception for smartphones or other mobile devices can be spotty out in the middle of nature. You can also find hiking GPS systems built specifically for wilderness use. These devices have a much broader range of reception and can help keep track of where you are on a trail.

Though it may be old-fashioned, a compass isn’t a bad idea to have, either. Should you happen to wander away from the trail, it will help you get your bearings and a general sense of direction to find your way back.

Sunscreen
You see it on every list for beach-going essentials, but in the mountains it’s no less important. Even when you’re hiking on a cloudy day, your skin is vulnerable to damage caused by radiation from the sun. To keep your skin happy and safe, be sure to bring some sunscreen in your daypack on your Seattle to Mt Rainier day trip.

Perhaps surprisingly, it’s even more important to have sunscreen on hand when snow is on the ground; those snowflakes reflect even more of the sun’s rays back at you. To avoid swollen lips and sunburn, apply sunscreen liberally to your face, hands and other exposed parts of your body. The tip of your ears, the bottom of your chin and the back of your neck are easy places to miss.

Flashlights and Headlamps
While it may be a romantic notion to hike under the stars where you can see the sky clearly, it’s a very good idea to have some light on hand regardless of whether you intend to hike during the day or night. Having light on hand could be a lifesaver if you find yourself away from the trail during darker hours of the day.

Headlamps are ideal for keeping your hands free while you hike or set up a meal when it’s dark out as well.

First Aid Supplies
While the thought of injury while out in nature can be a nerve wracking thought, it helps to be prepared for basic injuries. To avoid infection and general discomfort, you should be sure to carry bandaids and antiseptic supplies to handle small scratches. Many first aid kits available at the store will also include additional helpful items, such as ice packs, anti-itch creams, antiseptic wipes and gauze.

You also shouldn’t neglect any medications. Take your daily dose with you and also be mindful of allergies. Even if you don’t suffer from typical allergies from plants, if you have any susceptibility to insects or other problematic allergy sources, it’s best to be prepared.

Hiking Snacks
Besides your day trip lunch, you should also take some snacks to keep your energy up as you hike. It may be tempting to bring some sugary treats or otherwise indulgent junk food, but these quick fixes won’t sustain you through the day. Nutrient bars (and granola) are a popular hiking snack with a vast variety of brands and flavors for you to pick something you like. Nuts and trail mixes can also provide protein and energy rich food to keep you going.

Water
Bringing water isn’t really a question of “if” but “how much?” One general rule of thumb is two cups (about half a liter) for each hour of hiking you plan to do. Most bottles you can buy at the store hold about half a liter, so if you plan to tackle a longer trail, you may want to take along a more accommodating hiking water bottle or reservoir.

Another consideration for long hikes in areas where you know there will be water is water cleansing supplies. These days you can find hiking straws with filters built into them, but there are also cleansing tablets and other filtration systems that will give you a broader option of available drinking water while you’re on a mountain trail.

Other Extras
Everyone has their personal reasons for getting out of the house to enjoy nature. Be sure to bring that extra something to help you get the most out of your daytrip, whether it’s a camera, a journal for your thoughts or binoculars for bird watching.

If you like the idea of having a Seattle to Mt Rainier trip nearby for your next hiking adventure, you can check out some luxury Seattle condos at The Emerald to keep adventure at your door while living in downtown style.

Parking in Downtown Seattle

Seattle has been relatively quick to adapt to its booming population growth–primarily through the extensive implementation of public transit and walkable communities. To show you the latest trends and changes in Seattle’s traffic, public transportation and parking, we’ve compiled some of the most interesting facts, especially if you are interested in potentially moving to Seattle’s vibrant downtown area.

The Facts on the Street

Over the years, Downtown Seattle neighborhoods have continued to address traffic obstacles and develop a variety of new solutions to alleviate, track and increase parking options. One such innovation is the introduction of new services and apps allowing for a new collection of 6,000 discounted parking spaces to become available. Services like DowntownSeattleParking.com powered by ePark, allow drivers to easily scan participating parking garages and find spaces available in real-time.

The city of Seattle has seen a notable change in the number of cars on the road due to the decrease in car ownership over time and increase in rideshare and car sharing options. Car ownership per household in Seattle has been on the decline since as early as 2010. This has been an increasing trend due to millennials, the city’s ever-present green mentality, and its efforts to launch and promote new public transit systems and technologies. With an increase of Seattle residents making use of light rail, bus systems and on-demand apps, fewer and fewer families are finding purpose for a vehicle to purchase, maintain and pay insurance premiums for, resulting in relief in traffic congestion. Altogether, this decrease in residential car ownership across Seattle has totaled up to roughly 3% – the highest drop in the nation despite the city’s growing population.

Seattle’s Evolving Public Transportation System

Over the last decade, Seattle has been prioritizing major investments in transit capacity in an effort to link every area of the city. Today, Downtown Seattle residents and visitors have access to resources including Link Light Rail, Seattle Central Monorail, King County Metro Transit buses, South Lake Union streetcars, taxis, rentals, car sharing, bike sharing and even more systems to get them where they need to go. With reloadable public transit cards and mobile apps for digital tickets, the growing use of technology has only made it easier to pay fares and travel quickly across the city. What’s more, the city continues its fight in reducing cars on the road through development standards in favor of residential buildings without parking built close to public transit.

Seattle’s Sound Transit Link Light Rail service started in 2009 and provides fast, frequent service between Downtown Seattle, Rainier, Sea/Tac Airport, CenturyLink and T-Mobile Park stadiums, and more. As of March 2016, the Puget Sound Rail had a major expansion to the University of Washington and Capitol Hill. This important three-mile expansion will help nearly 70,000 riders daily by 2030. Trains typically run every 6-15 minutes for 20 hours a day, 7 days a week. Making use of this impressive light rail system will save residents the hassle of traffic and time as the system continues to grow and the city expands.

The Sounder Commuter rail will also help downtown Seattle residents by taking nearly 14,000 riders out of traffic during peak commuter hours. This impressive train runs every 20-30 minutes and travels at the speed of 80 miles per hour, to help reduce congestion and traffic in the city.

In addition to Seattle’s trains and light rails, the Seattle Streetcar Network named “Modern Streetcar”, connects commuters and residents with a transition hub. Now the train lines connect and over time, the planned streetcar extensions will connect all of Seattle to the major train lines and downtown giving residents the ability to choose between many options of transport and avoid traffic congestion.

One of the many benefits of living in a downtown luxury condo like those found at The Emerald is the simple fact that you’ll be immersed in a thriving, walkable neighborhood with easy access to public transportation. Whether you aim to work or play, you’ll find popular dining and entertainment venues, large commercial centers, incredible nightlife, farmers markets just minutes away.

Seattle Bike Commuters

Due to rapidly growing public and private improvements at bike facilities, bike commuting has become a popular option for people of all ages in Downtown Seattle. The city of Seattle has even been recognized as the best bike city in America. It has been reported that the city offers some of the best bike lanes in the country with various barriers that protect riders from traffic. Conscious efforts have been made to protect cyclists including narrowing of lanes and inserting speed humps and traffic circles in an effort to reduce traffic speeds. Bike commuting is an efficient and inexpensive way to get around and provides bikers the spontaneity of a car without worries about traffic, rising gas prices, and expensive city parking. Biking can also help as an aid in getting you to other transit options, like the King County Metro or Sound Transit Link Light Rail systems.

Parking at The Emerald

Residents at The Emerald have access to some reserved parking accommodations. The Emerald has 62 parking spaces onsite for residents, and that number has increased through our partnership with luxury boutique hotel, Thompson Seattle hotel located directly across the street. Current and future owners can enjoy a suite of amenities including access to a limited number of convenient, subterranean garage parking with electric vehicle charging stations and 24-hour, seven-day-a-week curbside valet service.

But options for getting around Seattle don’t end there. The Emerald is also proud to offer residents the option of luxury car-sharing through our partnership with Envoy Technologies. Residents can enjoy clean, sleek, and efficient electric Tesla Model X and Model S vehicles for a cruise whenever they need to get somewhere in style. Access to this Tesla fleet doesn’t even require a key: residents can download Envoy’s easy-to-use app for secure and instant access to the vehicles.



As Seattle continues to strive toward fewer cars on the road and a greener city, we’re in full support. While you’ll definitely have less of a headache going green and taking public transport–or walking around our beautiful city–there are options for multiple parking spots for your vehicles at and around The Emerald.