Things to do / Travel Guide
Getting around northwest Washington and the Cascades is not too much of a hassle, with a car. The main challenge in the region is distance, while in the Seattle-Tacoma area, traffic can also be an issue. Traffic in Seattle is, in a word, bad. In fact, according to a recent study, Seattle ranks number two in terms of bad traffic, right behind Los Angeles. If your trip is limited to the urban areas of Seattle, Tacoma, and Olympia, public transportation is quite sufficient and recommended. If, however, you're set on exploring the entire region, having your own car is best in terms of getting around.
By Bus
The majority of public transportation in the Seattle area revolves around a public bus system, called the King County Metro. This is a system consisting of over 200 bus routes covering most of the greater Seattle area. Tickets, which are inexpensive, are nonetheless best purchased in advance, as bus drivers famously do not make change.
Pierce Transit is the best way to get around Tacoma, with bus routes throughout the area. Pierce Transit even offers completely free service on its Downtown Connector, which makes a loop from the city center out to the Tacoma Dome every 15 minutes.
Getting to and from the Olympic Peninsula is also relatively simple. First, there's Jefferson Transit, which operates a bus route from Bainbridge Island up to Port Townsend. There's also Olympic Bus Lines, which offers direct Seattle-Port Townsend service.
By Ferry
The Washington State Ferry System is the most extensive ferry network in the United States, linking the greater Seattle area with many of the outlying areas across the city and the state. In particular, the ferry network makes getting to and from the San Juan Islands, as well as around the Puget Sound, reliable, pleasant, and simple. In Seattle, head to Pier 52 to catch a ferry over to Bainbridge Island or Bremerton, or to Pier 50 to dash across to Vashon Island. Ferries leaving from Pier 52 are able to carry cars and people across the waters, whereas ferries leaving from Pier 50 only carry people.
In addition to the ferries, the Seattle Waterfront is serviced by the Waterfront Streetcar, which makes nine stops (starting at the northern end at the corner of Alaskan Way and Broad Street all the way down to the corner of Main Street and Pioneer Square at the southern end). Tickets can be bought onboard and are good for a half hour from the time of purchase.
By Monorail
Seattle boasts a monorail that links downtown with the Seattle Center in the Queen Anne neighborhood. The high-tech means of travel debuted during the 1962 Seattle World's Fair, was the first commercial monorail system in the U.S., and until today provides an inexpensive public transportation option. Note, however, that the monorail may be offline for renovations, and in any case does not cover lots of ground.
By Car
As driving around Seattle can be quite challenging, with heavy traffic plaguing the area and regular bouts of inclement weather, it is advisable not to travel around in the city by car and instead rely on public transportation, unless you really know the local streets well. If you do rent or bring your own vehicle, note that the only time during daylight hours when the freeways, bridges, and byways are not filled to capacity with traffic jams is generally around midday.
Outside of unpredictable traffic issues, driving around the metropolitan areas of the Puget Sound is easy, as driving conditions are excellent. The only major downsides for drivers of rental cars are the distances.
By Bike
There are certainly enough trails in the region to make biking more than just an activity - it's also a very pleasant way to get around. Planning a bike and ferry trip allows access to both the Seattle and Tacoma areas as well as the neighboring islands. Make sure to give yourself enough time to cover the distances and be prepared for rain!
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