Highlights of the Day
Leaving the mountains behind, we drove into Seattle, stopping along the way to admire a tranquil morning lake. After a satisfying Cantonese lunch in Chinatown, we visited the Boeing Everett Factory and watched Boeing 777 aircraft being assembled up close. In the evening, we explored Pike Place Market and enjoyed fresh Dungeness and Alaska Bairdi crab by the waterfront. A hilly walk back to the hotel turned out to be the perfect way to end the day.
Accommodation: Renaissance Seattle Hotel
Transportation: Public Transportation or Rideshare
Today we drove into the city of Seattle. Not long after leaving the mountain area, we spotted a beautiful lake by the roadside. Bathed in the early morning sunlight, the water was crystal clear. Green trees, white houses, and a blue sky with scattered clouds were reflected on the lake’s surface, creating a calm and peaceful scene. We quickly pulled over to take a few photos.
After arriving in the city, we checked into our hotel and then headed to Chinatown for lunch at Mei Wei Lai Hong Kong Restaurant, a Cantonese restaurant highly recommended by a Hong Kong friend. As expected, the food was excellent and well worth the visit.
In the afternoon, we drove about half an hour to the Boeing Everett Factory. Built in 1967, the factory covers nearly 100 acres and is home to the aviation museum and the Boeing Future of Flight educational center.
We had purchased our tour tickets online in advance. Upon arrival, we were told that we had accidentally bought one extra ticket, and that it would be refunded automatically. The honesty and efficiency left a good impression.
Since we arrived early, we spent some time exploring the building. On the ground floor were various exhibits, while the second floor offered an observation deck overlooking the airfield, where several green airplanes were parked. We later learned that the green coating is a protective primer applied during assembly to prevent surface damage. Once assembly is complete, the planes are washed with high-pressure water and then painted according to customer specifications.
At 2:00 p.m., the official tour began. Before entering the assembly area, we watched a short video about Boeing’s founder, Bill Boeing. His family was originally in the lumber business, and he came to Washington State to manage the family’s timber operations. After attending an aviation exhibition by chance, he fell in love with flying, learned to pilot aircraft himself, and eventually founded his own airplane manufacturing company.
We were then taken by bus to the assembly hangar, where the latest Boeing 777 aircraft were being assembled. Seeing the process up close was fascinating. At the time of our visit, four planes were under construction—one for Singapore Airlines, two for logistics companies, and one custom-built aircraft for China’s Jinpeng Airlines.
According to the guide, the factory typically assembles seven to eight Boeing 777 aircraft per month. He also mentioned that production of the Boeing 737 currently reaches around forty to fifty planes per month, yet still struggles to meet demand. Plans are underway to expand the production lines, which was quite surprising given the sheer scale of aircraft demand.
After returning to the city, we returned our rental car, which immediately made the rest of the day feel more relaxed. From that point on, we could simply wander around the city as carefree tourists.
We then visited the famous Pike Place Market. I even asked ChatGPT to recommend a seafood restaurant with a waterfront view, and it suggested Fisherman’s. However, upon arrival, we noticed The Crab Pot right next door and changed plans on the spot.
Dungeness crab was a must-order, especially after learning that it originates from Dungeness, Washington—a fitting coincidence. We also tried Alaska Bairdi crab for the first time. Both were delicious, though the locally sourced Dungeness crab was noticeably more tender.
A leisurely walk along the waterfront after dinner was the perfect way to digest. It wasn’t until we walked back to the hotel that we realized just how steep Seattle’s terrain is—seven avenues in a row, all uphill. We took it as extended digestion, with a smile 😀
If you’d like to learn more about the itinerary, please click the button below to download a free copy of the customizable itinerary.
