Seattle must-sees, Santa Barbara dining: Travel letters

Regarding “Soaking Up Seattle” by Christopher Reynolds, July 29: To do Seattle like a real local, one needs to not just stay in the downtown area but also explore West Seattle, which is an entity in itself.

Longtime Seattle inhabitants also do not miss taking in Alki Beach, Lincoln Park, the Frye Art Museum, Saltwater State Park, shopping/eating at the Junction (West Seattle’s local downtown, with businesses, restaurants, etc., that line the cross streets of California and Alaska avenues). One also must stop at Spud to have its delicious fish and chips.

Gail Noon

San Pedro

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Reynolds nailed it from a local’s standpoint. As a Seattle native, I always show visitors Archie McPhee, Dusty Strings, Elliott Bay Book Co. and Ray’s Boathouse. My wife and I now live happily in San Diego, where we do not miss Seattle weather or traffic. Yet Seattle is fun to visit, especially during the two weeks of summer.

I recommend staying at Residence Inn on Lake Union. Get a high-floor, lake-facing room. Each room has its own private balcony or deck overlooking the southern end of Lake Union. It’s wonderful watching seaplanes take off and land. Kenmore Air is within walking distance of the hotel and has the best seaplane tours of the local area.

Les Dunlap

San Diego

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Kudos to Reynolds on his insider’s tour stops in Seattle. One to add: the newly opened Chihuly Garden and Glass museum next to the Space Needle. Dale Chihuly personally curated the collection of his spectacular blown-glass chandeliers, sculpture and environments, as well as its excellent Collections Café, which features his personal collections of accordions, bottle openers and just about everything else in addition to wonderful and fairly priced meals.

Judy Yamada

Pasadena

Dining in Santa Barbara

I wonder how The Times could have published the letter from John Rosati containing a blanket statement about all restaurants in Santa Barbara [July 29]. The editors should know that such blanket statements denigrating all eating establishments except one could not possibly be true, even if it’s just a reader’s opinion.

Having eaten at nearly a dozen two- and three-star restaurants in Paris, I think I have some idea of what a good restaurant might be. Although the best places in Santa Barbara are not up to that standard, there are many, many top-flight restaurants in town besides Downey’s.

Mike Cregan

Santa Barbara

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I am amazed at the letter stating that there are no decent restaurants in Santa Barbara. He certainly did not try two fine Italian restaurants, Olio e Limone or Via Maestra 42; three fine-dining California cuisine ones — Julienne, Wine Cask and Bouchon — or Seagrass, a fine seafood restaurant, to mention a few. There’s delicious dining by the sea at our Four Seasons Biltmore or the local’s beach restaurant, the Boathouse. Ask a local for a recommendation.

Linda Beuret

Santa Barbara