Is there a spot where you can take in both views of downtown, the sound and the east side and lake washington?

From an airplane.

I was going to follow Happy's lead and say the Space Needle. Then I realized there are several options. Many of the Belltown highrise condo buildings have views both ways. Certain spots on the southeast corner of Queen Anne Hill will get you a distant view of the Eastside skyline, Lake Washington and the Cascades. The close up view of Lake Union and the downtown Seattle skyline is terrific. A great view of Elliott Bay can also be had if you get just the right house. Sorry, somebody already owns it. The eastern edge of West Seattle has spectacular eastern views over Elliott Bay, downtown and a distant view of the Cascades (not quite Lake Washington though.

There's a watertower at Volunteer Park on Capitol Hill that you can climb for free (108 steps up). It's sometimes nick-named "poor man's space needle".

Suze has got me thinking.

Set high above the city, Lakeview Cemetery affords incomparable views of Puget Sound and the Olympic Range. It's also where some of Seattle's most famous citizens (including Bruce Lee) have been laid to rest.

The cemetery is just north of Volunteer Park. If you can't see the Cascades and Lake Washington from the cemetery, you can see them from a small park across the street from the entrace to the park.

Other famous city/water views are from Kerry Park on Queen Anne Hill (Highland Drive) and from Salty's Restaurant in Alki, West Seattle.

Happy Trails to You