Local Expert
Carolyn
Being a "military brat" has allowed me to live around the US and overseas, but I have to say that Seattle is my favorite city to live in so far.
Since moving here over three years ago, I've been…
Being a "military brat" has allowed me to live around the US and overseas, but I have to say that Seattle is my favorite city to live in so far.
Since moving here over three years ago, I've been steadily checking out and comparing restaurants in the area. With the thousands of great places in the city, I could be doing this for years to come! Yeah, it's tough to be me.
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If not a hotel...house boat!
Remember that incredible house boat that Tom Hanks' character lived on in Sleepless in Seattle? Well, if you have a couple of million lying around, you can purchase it. It has been up for sale since early this year. Of course, most of us don't have that kind of money, but that doesn't mean we can't dream.
Or perhaps it doesn't require dreaming or mondo cash, but instead a little alternative planning. Here are two options for getting a glimpse into the floating home lifestyle:
Rent: Forego the hotel room and rent a houseboat of your own. Unfortunately, due to increasing regulations of the Seattle shoreline, it can be difficult to find someone who is able to rent their boat for short-term periods. This is, of course, where the Internet comes in. A quick search for "house boat" on Craigslist reveals at least one vacation rental by owner that is still available. Besides being one of the most unique ways to spend one's vacation in Seattle, East Lake Union is a great home base for the traveler, as it is just north of the downtown core and easily accessible to and from all of the hot spots.
Tour: The second option is the Lake Union Houseboat Tour. Run by "Houseboat Lady," Jeri Callahan, the houseboat tour runs an hour and is filled with Seattle trivia and maybe a little gossip regarding the increasingly dwindling "villages" that make up Seattle's houseboat community. Tours are $40 per person.