A Car-Free Getaway Via Light Rail
Go from airport to waterfront to urban without the hassle of a personal vehicle!
Note: this itinerary presupposes that you are travelling with a bicycle. You can, of course, pay extra to stow your bike in the cargo area of the passenger plane, or bring a foldable bike.
Do you value travelling at a human speed? Renting a car for a vacation can be a hassle... why not experience the greater Seattle area by bicycle and public transit? Turn out you can fly directly into the heart of the PNW and get to a luxurious seaside hotel at a *walkable* waterfront, complete with promenades, dining and drinks, without ever sitting in traffic and thereby draining away your precious vacation time.
Ready? Let's go!
Begin at SEATAC. This giant airport is a hub for the Greater Seattle Area. What's remarkable, however, is that it can get you pretty far without needing a vehicle. Indeed, you may be much better off without a car as traffic on Interstate 5 can be the worst.
There's a light rail station at the SEATAC Airport. Simply walk off your plane, get through the terminal and step onto the light rail car. You can buy your ticket from the kiosk and simply walk your bike onto the train. Head north. The track will take you through the heart of Seattle and further north to the Lynnwood Transit Center.
From the Lynnwood Transit Center head to the Everett Waterfront via the Interurban Trail.
The Interurban is a paved route that heads north to the seaside city of Everett. Everett has a lot going for it. It's a city undergoing changes, and some of that change looks like new bike infrastructure. After exiting the Interurban Trail, take a bike lane (ideally Hoyt Avenue) to downtown or the Grand Avenue Pedestrian Bridge. From there, waterfront access is a breeze.
See what Everett is up to here.
Lodge at the Hotel Indigo on the Everett Waterfront. Besides some incredible views of the Salish Sea and the Olympic Mountains, it serves as a fantastic jumping-off point for a weekend on the Everett Waterfront. You can eat onsite at the Jetty Bar & Grille or at any of the other many fine dining restaurants in the Port of Everett. If you like seafood, you're in the right place!
If you want to dine with the smallest carbon footprint, try the Sno-Isle Food Co-op in downtown Everett (a bikeable mile from Hotel Indigo) for truly local foodstuffs.
From Hotel Indigo, you're within striking distance of the Everett Transit Center, a regional public transportation hub that can take you into the rural areas of the county via bus -- perfect for rural bicycling or hiking.
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