Rachel Belle: You can’t sell Bellevue as a tourist destination

A new tourism promotional video from the City of Bellevue encourages travelers to visit for “Your next great adventure,” but Ron & Don’s Rachel Belle thinks there is little more than a Cheesecake Factory in the Eastside city.

There is more than big-box restaurants and a shopping mall, of which Rachel is reminded. The video itself touts a number of attractions, but it’s hard to define which attractions differentiate it from any other growing metropolitan area in the U.S.

Basically, as far as “exotic” goes Rachel imagines that if someone from England made Bellevue their destination of choice, they would be disappointed.

So what should travelers get from their Puget Sound touring experience? Seattle, at least for some time, will continue to beat-out Bellevue in terms of history.

Seattle has been more accessible to the world for a longer time. As a result of an international port the population saw growth, and so did arts and culture in the city.

The underground tour, the growth of the International District as a part of the U.S. melting pot, and of course Pike Place Market are historic stops for tourists in Seattle.

Bellevue, now a growing metropolitan area is very close to Seattle – but without a bridge over Lake Washington until 1943 – it failed to grow as quickly as the Emerald City.

When the second bridge crossing Lake Washington was added in 1960 things really started booming in Bellevue.

When it comes to competition for tourism dollars, however, it’s hard to imagine Seattle feels much of a threat. Though it will depend on what kind vacation each tourist wants to plan.

Bellevue boasts the high-class dining and upscale shopping worthy of four and five star hotel guests. Seattle has that too, but the view from the Newcastle Golf Course is vastly different then from Pike Place Market.

Luring tourists isn’t the only item on Bellevue’s agenda. The city is making infrastructure improvements, including light rail along the I-405 corridor, which could dovetail with another attraction: talk of a sports arena.

One interested party in a potential Bellevue arena was attracted by future light rail on the Eastside as well as the continuing growth of entertainment venues in the area.

Still, when it comes Bellevue, Rachel says it might be a great location for shopping and eating, “but for vacation?”

Do you think Bellevue is an ideal tourist destination?