A few years ago I set off on a solo tour of America using Amtrak trains – my “Me, Myself and I” tour. I flew into Chicago, took the train for about three nights to Seattle, then headed down to LA (one night was quite enough – not my sort of place) and on to New Mexico, where I finally met Ron and Rob, the Texans, who until then had only been Instagram friends. Then came West Texas, New Orleans with Roxy, Maryland, a brave drive through Virginia to Shenandoah, and the train back across the middle of the country.
First stop: Seattle. My only knowledge of the city came from Frasier (not even filmed there) and Grey’s Anatomy. The journey in, through Minnesota, North Dakota, Montana and Idaho and up into snowy mountains before the Pacific appears, was spectacular.
My Seattle recommendations:
- A boat trip around the bay – absolutely beautiful.
- Pike Place Market – fresh produce, flowers and loads of places to eat.
- The Pink Door, tucked away near the market, for fresh, seasonal, local food.
- The Seattle Art Museum – and the city itself is a delight to walk around.
- I stayed at the Mayflower Park Hotel, which, as luck would have it, has an award-winning dirty martini in Oliver’s bar.