Capitol Hill Walk (Self Guided), Seattle

While you are visiting a city you obviously want to get into the hub of things, explore, sightsee, shop and dine, but sometimes you just feel like unwinding and taking life at a gentle pace. Seattle’s Capitol Hill is perfect for spending a lazy day people-watching, having a long, leisurely meal, pottering around the shops and relaxing in the sun. This district is unlike any other in the city, with its lively blocks, its grunge rockers and LGBT community rubbing shoulders with elegant tree-lined avenues and stately homes. A great diversity of people live and work in this area and it is fun just to sit on a sidewalk cafe and watch them go by. There are also some good galleries and museums to browse, such as the Frye Art Museum, and the popular Broadway Farmers Market which is open every Sunday and offers a wide range of locally produced fresh fruit, vegetables and farm produce.

Stroll through the superb Cal Anderson Park, where you can watch people practicing various activities ranging from games such as informal bike polo to organized sports featuring local teams. It is a popular place for the area’s seniors and students who like to play chess on the large chessboards that are feel to all. It’s also a great place to sit in the sun and catch up on your book list or to take the kids to amuse themselves in the playgrounds.