Who knew that Seattle has so much life with so many things to do and see. It has majestic mountain views, a trendy downtown life and let’s not forget about their delicious seafood options. I totally recommend adding this city to your bucket list and the best part is you can check off all the hot spots in just three short days. Rain or shine, Seattle will not disappoint! Here are my top picks to do while visiting this beautiful city.
First Stop: PIKE PUBLIC MARKET CENTER
Ok, this is by far my favourite spot in Seattle! The Pike Public Market is one of the oldest markets in the country. It’s charming with winding alleys and cobblestone grounds. The scent of fresh bakery and beautiful flower bouquets will instantly make you smile. You’ll also find fresh vegetables, cheeses, meats, seafood and all the local delicacies, like their famous chocolate covered cherries. You may even stumble upon some unique treasures and antiques at their shops on the lower level. Give yourself time to wander and explore. I could easily spend a full day here, but if you’re in a time crunch, I would plan for at least a half day at the market.
Here are some must-see spots to see and eat while at the Market…
THE FIRST ORIGINAL STARBUCKS SHOP
The first ever original Starbucks is located in the Pike Market area. It was established in 1971 and the store has kept its early appearance over time due to its historic significance. Be prepared to wait in line though because this place is definitely a tourist attraction.
HEAD DOWN POST ALLEY…
HAVE SOME CHOWDER
You’ll find the best claim chowder at the Pike Place Chowder shop! They’re known for their award winning soup and unique flavours. TIP: If there’s a huge line, order take-out online and your food will be ready shortly. This way you can by pass the line and take your food outside to eat on their patio. The patio tables are fist come first serve. I tried the classic chowder and I was completely satisfied!
A QUICK BEVY
Instead of ordering a soft drink at the chowder place, hop right next door to Rachel’s Ginger Beer store. They handcraft their ginger beer in Seattle with all fresh ingredients. There are so many interesting and delicious flavours to try. My pick was grapefruit ginger.
VISIT THE GUM WALL
Market Theater Gum Wall is a local landmark which eventually turned into not only a whole wall full of gum but a full on alleyway right beside the market theatre box office. Great backdrop for the perfect Instagram pic!
WATCH THE FAMOUS FISH TOSS
When you purchase seafood at the Pike Place Fish Co. they perform their famous fish toss which made their stand the most popular stand in the market. Watch them throw and catch fish from quite a distance before they wrap them for their customers.
INDULDGE IN DESSERT
Last but not least, you must try the crepes at Crepes De France at the market. This little hidden gem seriously know how to make an exceptional crepe! They have both sweet and savoury choices. I tired one of each. For sweet I ordered the strawberry creme, and for savoury I tried the dill smoked salmon. They were both amazing, but surprisingly I was really digging the smoked salmon. Perfecto!
THE SPACE NEEDLE
So I know towers aren’t always the most exciting activity you’re looking forward to when you go on vacation, but I feel like the Space Needle is a must-see only because it is the city’s biggest landmark and is considered an icon of Seattle. I was hesitant with the admission fee but let me tell you, it was definitely worth it. The views were stunning and you also have a choice of walking on a rotating glass floor! I was chicken and lasted 5 seconds on the glass floor, but got a quick snap for proof that I at least went on it. lol!
The MoPOP MUSEUM
I rank this contemporary popular culture museum my second favourite tourist attraction in the city. There’s literally something for everyone at the MoPOP museum; music, movies, video games, fashion and more! They have about a dozen exhibits to look at and also interactive stations like the “Sound Lab” and the “On Stage”. I highly recommend this museum and I would give yourself two hours plus to explore.
All original costume pieces and props from the most popular horror films were on display.
*OPTIONAL: CHIHULY GARDEN AND GLASS MUSEUM
I wrote OPTIONAL in the heading because I feel like this one can be skipped. (I decided to add it just incase this is something that really does interest you because there is an opportunity to buy a package deal of the Space Needle, MoPOP and the Chichuly Museum for a discounted rate. I was unaware and paid full price for all three separately, so make sure you look into that.) The Chihuly Museum displays beautiful glass blowing artwork by Dave Chichuly. There are three mini… (and I mean extra mini) exhibits that can easily be seen in 15 mins total. The glasshouse is a great opportunity for pictures, but for the price of one ticket, I felt like I wanted to see more or at least learn about how they were made. Don’t get me wrong, I appreciate artwork, but for some reason I was expecting more!
VIEW THE SKYLINE OF SEATTLE
Head to Kerry Park for the most stunning view of the Seattle skyline. Take pictures and admire the beautiful city. Vendors are close by, so enjoy an ice cream or beverage while watching the sunset!
PIER 56
Pier 56 is a great place for an afternoon stroll by the waterfront. They have little souvenir shops and the best seafood restaurants in town. I stopped at Elliot’s Oyster Bar for lunch and the oysters, fried oysters, and crab cakes were AMAZING! I’m drooling just thinking about it.
I heard Ivars Fish Bar is the best spot for fish & chips. I kind of wish I stopped to try those as well. If you go, let me know your thoughts!
Shinsei – Grays Harbor, WA
CAPITAL HILL & STARBUCKS RESERVE
Capitol Hill is a vibrant area full of cute shops and restaurants. It’s a great place to walk around and get a coffee. If you’re a coffee lover, the Starbucks Reserve must be on your list! It’s the ultimate coffee experience with a selection of the rarest, most extraordinary coffees. There’s also a full on bar where you can enjoy cocktails and food. It’ll be hard to leave without purchasing some of their in-house roasted coffee beans or some kind of cool Starbucks merchandise.
AMAZON HEADQUARTERS & AMAZON GO
Amazon is a billion dollar company and their headquarters is right in the heart of Seattle. The Amazon spheres is an architectural showpiece where Amazon employees can work surrounded by plants from around the world. There are tours of their campus but unfortunately they’re only on Tuesday and Thursdays and you must book ahead, so I wasn’t able to go on the tour, but you can still browse around the lower main level of the Amazon Spheres and take pictures.
If you don’t have Amazon Go in your home town then you might find this convenience store pretty cool and worth the visit. There’s no registers or checkouts. You simply walk in, pick out what you want and walk out. Mind blowing! lol!
I was interested in how it works so I did a little research and this is what I found… “It works by using the same types of technologies found in self-driving cars, such as computer vision, sensor fashion and deep learning. This technology can detect when products are taken or returned to the shelves and keeps track of them in your virtual chart! When you leave the store with your goods, your Amazon account is charged and your are sent a recipe.”
BOEING FUTURE OF FLIGHT TOUR
Ever wonder how a plane is built? Well, here’s your chance to get all your questions answered at the Boeing Future of Flight Tour. The Boeing tour is a one-of-a kind opportunity to view 747, 767, 777, and 787 Dreamliners on the assembly line in the largest assembly plant in the world before they take to the sky. I learned so many interesting facts about the company and the planes that bare their name. Make sure you book in advance to avoid disappointment! There are time slots for the tour and they fill up fast during the summer.
1) Boeing is the first airliner with an airframe construction primarily of composite materials.
2) Boeing 787 unit cost $338.4 M which doesn’t include the engine or interior of the plane!
ITINERARY
Well, those are my top picks for places to see and do in Seattle. If you’re planning a 3 days vacation, I would recommend this itinerary…
Day 1: Pike Public Market, the Space needle and Chihuly Museum
Day 2: MoPop museum, explore Pier 56 waterfront and view the Skyline and watch the sunset at Kerry Park
Day 3: Boeing Tour, Amazon Headquarters and Capitol Hill
These are mostly daytime activities. I suggest Capitol Hill for night life and for some good shopping deals, you can head to the Seattle Premium Outlets.
RESTAURANTS
Here are some additonal restaurants that I think are worthy of sharing…
Crawfish King
Exit 5 Korean BBQ
Hani Hani Hawaiian Food
Jinya Ramen Bar
Ginza Sushi Restaurant
Desserts: New York Cupcakes
Piroshky Piroshky
Lolli & Pops
Meet Fresh Taiwanese desserts
Mango Mango Dessert
Hope you all enjoyed my little tour of Seattle! I absolutely loved the city and I can’t wait to visit again in the future. If you’ve visited before, let me know your favourite spots in the comments below. Don’t forget to follow me on Instagram, and please feel free to share or pin. I leave you with my favourite picture of the whole trip; an epic view of Mt. Rainier from the plane as we headed back home. What a way to end the trip!
xo
