At opposite ends of the nation, the cities of Seattle, Washington and Atlanta, Georgia are two places that have made their mark in different ways on travelers both within the United States and outside of it. Both of these cities have a distinct flair of their own, and enough attractions within them to have a steady stream of visitors yearly. But what is it that makes each city unique? Which city stands out more to the casual traveler and the die-hard jetsetter? In this article, let’s take a closer look at each of these booming cities to see just what makes them great travel hot spots.
Getting Around
Seattle (9/10)
Seattle, Washington is a cornerstone of the Pacific Northwest region of the United States, and has enjoyed a reputation that is partially spurred on by being one of the fastest-growing cities in the country within the past five years. Known as “The Emerald City”, Seattle has gained notoriety thanks to a rich musical history reflected in rock and jazz legends such as Jimi Hendrix, Quincy Jones, and Nirvana who have called the area home in addition to being a home for technological innovation through Amazon which was first founded there in 1994 and via Microsoft whose roots in the city date back to the late 1980’s. And of course, Seattle is home to the massively global coffee chain, Starbucks.
For those who travel here, their Seattle adventure begins at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, or Sea-Tac as those who live there refer to it. From the airport, it’s relatively easy to access public transportation thanks to Sound Transit, the city’s regional transportation system. Those arriving can catch the Link Light Rail train leaving the airport and can be in the downtown area in 40 minutes. If you’re arriving by the rails, Amtrak will let you off at the King Street Station. In addition to the light rail, visitors can take the King County Metro Transit bus system in order to get around downtown and also venture into the outlying suburbs. If you’re looking to have a more scenic ride, there are two modern streetcars available - the First Hill which takes people through Chinatown into the Capitol Hill area, and the South Lake Union streetcar servicing that neighborhood.
And if you want to get more of the local flavor, the renowned Seattle Center Monorail operates daily from downtown to Queen Anne Hill. Another fun way to get around is by the King County Water Taxi which operates two routes between West Seattle and downtown Seattle. Lastly, the city has begun to make modifications to be even less reliant on automobile traffic. Seattle is currently regarded as the fourth-best city in America to walk around in, and there have been more city council board movements to help expand more ridership on the public transit services, with one recent vote gaining approval to extend light rail service west to Tacoma and points in between. On a rating scale of 1 to 10, these elements lead to Seattle getting a score of 9.
Atlanta (7/10)
The city of Atlanta, Georgia has long been heralded as a shining jewel of the American South. It’s the most populous city in the state, and has been prominent for its place in the nation’s history due to its contributions as a seat of the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960’s as well as being a major transportation hub for that region of the country. It has also gained prominence for being a booming city with regards to business and manufacturing, being the home of Coca-Cola and media with CNN being founded here by magnate Ted Turner. Atlanta was also the site of the 1996 Summer Olympic Games. This focus has helped to bolster the rise of transportation in the city, which coincidentally was helped by failed attempts in Seattle in the early 1970’s to have funding for regional rapid transit - part of that funding went on to help finance Atlanta’s own rapid transit system.
Travelers here will find that arriving in Atlanta will be smooth thanks to the presence of Hartfield-Jackson International Airport, which has by some metrics been viewed as the world’s busiest. Delta Air Lines’ largest hub is located here, and there are over 1,000 departures and arrivals here daily. Driving in Atlanta does pose huge problems as traffic congestion is one of the city’s struggles especially during their rush hour commutes. Many opt to use the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) system of subway/rail trains and buses to get around. In existence since 1979, there are two main lines; the orange lines that run south to north from the airport to the Doraville and North Springs area, and the blue lines that run from Indian Creek to the Hamilton E. Holmes station from east to west. The major transfer point for all trains is the Five Points station in downtown Atlanta. The buses can get you around to most places within the city limits as well as the major sightseeing destinations. Bike riding is fast becoming a choice transportation option in the city, with a bike sharing program in the downtown area offering 500 bikes at 65 stations and plans to create 226 miles of bike lanes throughout the city by 2020. The driving issues do pose a problem when it comes to how Atlanta fares transportation-wise, leaving it at a 7.
You might be interested in these Airbnbs!
Sights To See
Seattle (9/10)
Seattle has a plethora of things and places to see on a trip there. For starters, there’s the iconic Space Needle which stands tall and dominates the city’s skyline as it has done since first being built for the World’s Fair in 1962. It’s now the cornerstone for the Seattle Center complex downtown and sees a little over a million visitors a year who head to the top to enjoy the stunning views from the observation deck or the SkyCity restaurant. Another point of interest that many enjoy is a trip to the Pike Place Market. The market is right on the waterfront overlooking Elliott Bay, and is one of the oldest of its kind in the nation. One favorite activity to try while here? Watching workers at the fish markets sling the fish around to the delight of crowds.
Not too far from the Space Needle sits the Chihuly Garden and Glass museum, which is a vivid showcase of glasswork by Tacoma native and famous artist Dale Chihuly. It’s a remarkable space that stokes the imagination. The Olympic Sculpture Park is another public art masterpiece, overlooking Puget Sound as it’s built on reclaimed railway tracks as an extension of the Seattle Art Museum. Sports fans will be interested in Safeco Field, home of the Seattle Mariners baseball team and especially where the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League and Major League Soccer’s Seattle Sounders play, CenturyLink Field. Music fans will definitely want to check out the Museum of Pop Culture, nestled inside a sleek building designed by Frank Gehry and home to a variety of exhibits including interactive ones featuring the city’s music legends. Seattle is also home to a robust network of green spaces like Discovery Park and Gas Works Park which holds a preserved former coal plant and is right by Lake Union. The amount of interests and their variety puts a score for sights for the city at a 9.
Check out some of Seattle’s best tours you can book!
Atlanta (8/10)
Atlanta has a diverse history that’s well represented in the sights that can be seen throughout the city. Ranking high among them is the Martin Luther King Jr. Historic Site, a national park complex that is dedicated to the life and career of the iconic Civil Rights leader. The 35-acre (14.2 hectare) site includes Dr. King’s childhood home, the Ebenezer Baptist Church where he and his father were pastors as well as the King Center and other buildings.
Another destination for visitors to check out is the Georgia Aquarium, which currently is home to over 100,000 animals and marine life and is the largest of its kind in the Western Hemisphere. Just a few steps away is the World Of Coca-Cola, which is the epicenter for everything one wants to know about the globally famous soft drink company and has a multitude of exhibits detailing its history. For those with an eye towards natural beauty, the Atlanta Botanical Garden is near Piedmont Park and has its thirty acres daubed with a dazzling array of flowers and trees. Piedmont Park itself has been an integral part of Atlanta since its early days as an exhibition ground in 1887 which highlighted the city’s prosperity and growth as well as the South during the Reconstruction Era.
Those who enjoy a bit of shopping won’t be disappointed with the Peachtree Center downtown with a nice selection of shops and restaurants. In addition, those intrigued by news media can go visit the CNN Center on Marietta Street and take a guided tour of the building, located in close proximity to the Phillips Arena. And if you happen to be in the city during football season, the Atlanta Falcons play in the Mercedes Benz Stadium which has a unique retractable roof and the world’s largest “video board” clocking in at 63,000 square feet (5853 sq m) to go with 1,800 wireless internet points throughout and can run entirely on solar power. There is also a notable arts scene, with various street murals popping up throughout the metropolitan area and the High Museum of Art which has been regarded by some as the South’s leading such institution. With all of this to be taken into account, on a scale of 1 to 10, Atlanta slightly comes in behind Seattle at 8.
Learn more about the best thing to do in Atlanta, Georgia here.
Food
Seattle (6/10)
Seattle boasts a highly eclectic and flavorful food scene that is the stuff food lovers dream of. Start out with a Seattle dog, a local favorite with a twist - a schmear of cream cheese right on top of a hot dog with the works that can be had at many places around the city. Another local favorite happens to be teriyaki, Seattle style - and the historic Nihonmachi neighborhood is the best place to get it. Those who like fried chicken will need to make a pilgrimage to Ezell’s Famous Chicken, which is so good that Oprah Winfrey reportedly would have orders flown in to Chicago. There’s thirteen locations around the area. And the Pike Place Market offers up some great places that have unique eats from the alien-looking goeducks to clam chowder to cinnamon donuts. And if it’s a cup of java you’re drawn to, Seattle is chock full of cafes not named Starbucks that can satisfy your coffee needs like Vivace in Capitol Hill and Victrola Coffee Roasters. All things considered, on a scale of 1 to 10, Seattle’s food scene gets a 6.
Find out more about the best places to eat in Seattle here.
Atlanta (7/10)
There’s one big reason why Atlanta has been referred to as “Hotlanta”, and it lies in the hearty food scene within the city that’s definitely more than just Southern food. For example, chili cheese dogs are king at The Varsity, which has been an institution in the city since 1928. The city’s expanding diversity is fully appreciated in its food scene - you can snag some authentic Szechuan dumplings from Gu’s Dumplings in the Inman Park district or delicious lamb tips with injera from Desta Ethiopian Kitchen in North Druid Hills. And many check out the local fare to be found along Buford Highway, also known as the Dekalb International Corridor that’s home to many of the city’s international residents.
But if you want soul food, Atlanta will be sure to satiate you. The Busy Bee Cafe has been in business since 1947, and for that long has served up savory fried chicken in the traditional “meat and three sides” offering. There’s also a few notable barbecue places throughout as well as the Atlanta Food Truck Park, open seven days a week on Howell Mill Road. Atlanta is also the home of two fast food chains with unique distinctions, one of which has helped expand its popularity nationwide. The first is The Varsity, iconic due to its sumptuous food served up since 1928 and due to the fact that its main branch on the Downtown Connector’s exchange with North Avenue is considered the largest drive-thru restaurant in the world. The other is Chick-Fil-A, which has gained popularity throughout its four decades and is now enjoying some expansion in northern cities like New York City. These factors lead to it edging Seattle out slightly, with a score of 7.
Hungry for more? Check out our article on the best places to eat in Atlanta.
Nightlife
Seattle (7/10)
For those looking to get into some fun as the sun goes down, there’s a number of places within Seattle that make its nightlife scene a blast. Capitol Hill is home to a nice array of bars and lounges that’s open to all from the speakeasy-styled Tavern Law to Cha Cha. Ballard Avenue Is home to a bevy of top-notch bars as well as the oldest Irish pub in the city in Conor Byrne. If you’re mainly looking to dance, look no further than the 1920’s themed Aston Manor and the popular Foundation nightclub which often features globally-renowned DJs. These elements put Seattle’s nightlife rating at a respectable 7 on the scale.
Atlanta (8/10)
Atlanta is a well-renowned party town, rife with bars and nightclubs that have seen their share of festive nights and still keep on going. The midtown area is home to a bevy of hot spots that draws in huge numbers, from Whiskey Park which can be found in the W Atlanta Midtown Hotel and CosmoLava, which is cavernous and raucous on any given night. The Buckhead neighborhood is a mixture of posh and down-to-earth, and as a testament to that has a good amount of bars and party venues like The Gold Room and The Southern Gentleman. But Peachtree Street is the main drag for Atlanta nightlife, with elite venues such as the Opera Nightclub which is actually set up in a former opera house. But A-Town’s party scene is also influenced heavily by its high regard in hip-hop culture, and that plays a part when several rap artists do events in town. Add to that a throng of gentlemen’s clubs for those looking for risque entertainment and Atlanta’s party scale rises to an 8 on the scale.
Have fun-packed evenings and check out these awesome things to do in Atlanta at night.
Safety
Seattle (8/10)
In terms of safety concerns, Seattle is widely regarded as a safe city overall to be in. It’s seen as a very safe place for those who plan to do a lot of walking around, although it’s advised that caution is needed when near the interstate highways and their service roads that cut through the city especially when sporting events are on. While the downtown area is also safe, it is advisable to steer clear of certain spots once night falls like Belltown. Precautions also have to be taken when visiting the Capitol Hill neighborhood due to some issues with belligerent panhandlers.
Atlanta (6/10)
Admittedly, in terms of safety, the city of Atlanta has had issues with crime in the past. But most of it has mainly been in areas east of the downtown part of the city. Those traveling here may be advised to be mindful when taking the MARTA rail system as there have been some incidents that have occurred on the trains and buses. But overall, Atlanta on a whole is relatively safe for tourists.
Final words on Seattle vs. Atlanta
Final Score:
Seattle: 39/50
Atlanta: 36/50
Seattle edged out Atlanta as the favorite here primarily due to more transportation options and less hassle getting around the city as well as having the slight edge in safety overall. But in truth, you can’t go wrong with enjoying yourself in either city if you prepare in advance to seize upon the best each town has to offer.
History
Get Trip101 in your inbox
Unsubscribe in one click. See our Privacy Policy for more information on how we use your data
Create an account to