Secrets of Seattle

(ARA) - When you think of Seattle, you probably think rain, Space Needle, fish market and coffee. But Seattle is one of the few American cities in which you can explore its history both above and under ground.

If you're planning your next vacation to the northern West Coast, don't miss out on the fascinating stories of Seattle that haven't seen the light of day since the 1800s.

When the city was first established, a large fire destroyed most of the downtown. The city leaders made two rules:

1. All new buildings would be made of brick or concrete.

2: All new structures including city streets, would be built a story higher; the entire area is under sea level and had frequently flooded in the past.

A great rebuild happened, with businesses rebuilding at minimum two-story structures. The first level was designed to be a basement, and the second story the decorative front entrance to the business. Once the buildings were ready, the city came in and raised the street level up one story, installing ladders and sidewalks underground so the businesses that survived the fire and couldn't add a second story could remain on the lower level.

The entire underground area was condemned in the early 1900s and almost forgotten, but tourists can catch Bill Speidel's Underground Tour now to see some of the restored buildings. Visit www.undergroundtour.com for more information.

In addition to the underground tour, here are some other ideas for seeing the historical side of Seattle:

Not far from any of the downtown Seattle hotels is Pike Place Market, one of the city's biggest tourist attractions, which has been in business since 1907. If you visit in the morning, you can catch all the activity of vendors setting up, and the seafood is at its freshest, right from the waterfront.

If you are a coffee fan, don't leave Pike Place Market without stopping by Starbucks for a cup of joe in the original store. If you have a few days, there's plenty to see and do in Seattle including traveling to the top of the Space Needle, catching a ferry around Puget Sound or visiting one of the many museums.

You can find plenty of hotels in the middle of all these great activities in the downtown area so you won't have to spend money on cabs or car rental. Combine great hotel deals with cheap flights using online travel sites like Travelocity.com, which will help you save money for your trip.

Courtesy of ARAcontent