A rainy, waterfront city surrounded by mountain ranges – we are definitely not in Kansas anymore. Seattle, The Emerald City, takes its name from the surrounding lush landscapes. As water seemingly permeates everything, love for this city can grow from seedling to declarations of “I can’t wait to come back here” in as little as 24 hours. Keep reading and you’ll see why.
*NOTE: This itinerary has an emphasis on pescatarian and gluten free food options. See (p) or (gf) accordingly, but always double check allergens with servers as ingredients and recipes may change.*
The Original Starbucks
Taking an early morning bus from Port Angeles to Washington’s capital city (a surprisingly affordable, comfortable, three hour journey with free snacks and a beautiful sunrise ferry ride), my partner and I arrived in Seattle in need of caffeine. Starbucks has over 15,000 locations in the United States and over another 15,000 more around the globe. It’s hard to believe it all started in a small shop at Seattle’s Pikes Place Market in 1971.
A trip to the original Starbucks is a must do for any coffee aficionado. A barista for many years, I was thrilled when I heard that the original Starbucks uses a manual machine and that there were seasonal specials not available at other locations. You can also purchase merchandise that is only available at this site and see the original Starbucks logo. This should help you distinguish it from the many other Starbucks in the area, as does the line. When we visited, the line was long and took about thirty minutes, but it was worth the wait.
Pikes Place Market
Next, wander across the street to peruse the stalls of Pike’s Place Market. Here you can collect souvenirs, view the crafts of local artisans, and fill your stomach with a plethora of delicious morsels. Founded in 1907, Pike’s Place Market has been a staple of the Seattle community for over one hundred years. There are a few things you can’t miss: the famous sign out front, the flying fish, and the view from the deck.
The iconic clock and sign reading “Public Market Center” is single handedly the best place for a photo in Seattle. With hues of red from the brick street and lettering next to greens of the plant life and paint, a picture here will be a worthy memento from your trip. Head inside to Pikes Place Fish Co to see the local employees throwing fish. The workers are good sports and while they know you probably aren’t going to be packing away pounds of haddock in your suitcase, they toss the fish for the delight of smiling tourists and their snapping cameras. Walking through the stalls, grab a unique flavored hot cider from Tiny’s Organic (p)(gf) to keep you warm as you head out to the back deck for views of the bay and a bit of bird watching. You’ll have to head downstairs to see the famous gum wall. Though it’s a bit disgusting, imaginative eyes can see it as a colorful art piece. Willing tourists can leave their mark, or their saliva rather, on Seattle. From down here you can easily walk on to Miner’s Landing, where I enjoyed a clam chowder from Alaskan Sourdough Bakery (p). Here you can also stop at the Seattle Aquarium, though we were told by a local that this wasn’t worth the thirty dollar entrance fee.
GameWorks Seattle
Although not something we would typically do on vacation, we had a blast at GameWorks Seattle. If you have a little bit of time to kill or are seeking a reprieve from the rain, this arcade is filled with entertainment, from old school (like PacMan and Dance, Dance, Revolution) to new age (with Virtual Reality set ups that can have you in a different world). GameWorks feels hip and modern. It’s both family friendly or perfect for friends. Along with fueling your competitive edge, you can fuel the rest of your day, as they sell food and drinks. If you decide to partake in the games, you’ll have to purchase a playing card and add points to it. Games were a bit expensive, depending on how many points each machine would take. As we are not avid Dave and Busters goers, this was a bit of a treat for us and justified the price. If you won’t be back anytime soon, consider handing your playing card off to someone else as you exit.
Ghostfish Brewing Company
While it was definitely out of the way, we knew we had to go to Ghostfish Brewing Company. Traveling with a partner with celiac and myself being a pescatarian, vacation meals can be a bit stressful. Seattle was up to the challenge and did not disappoint. Ghostfish Brewing Company is a dedicated gluten free brewery and kitchen. With their extensive tap list, there is something for every palate. The atmosphere was hip, with industrial and wood elements, had games to bring to your table, and the staff were friendly and informative. With delicious flights (p)(gf) and equally amazing food, particularly the fish tacos (p)(gf) and the soft pretzels (p)(gf) (how often do you find gluten free beer cheese?!), Ghostfish Brewing Company is a must do not just for the gluten free community but for all beer lovers.
Space Needle
Nothing is as emblematic of Seattle as the Space Needle. The Space Needle first opened on April 21, 1962, under chief engineer, John Minasian, who also worked for NASA. This was the first day of the World’s Fair in Seattle, which brought to the monumental event some of the world’s biggest names, including Elvis Presley, Walt Disney, Prince Philip of Great Britain, and Neil Armstrong. Throughout the expo in 1962 the Space Needle had an estimated 2.65 million visitors; it gets about half as many now per year.
A trip up into the Space Needle is a can’t miss (unless you are afraid of heights like me). Tickets are $24-$39 per person and provide sweeping views of the city. On a clear day, you might have the pleasure of seeing Mount Rainier. For big spenders (with experiences starting at $69 per person), consider having a drink at Loupe Lounge. Here you can add to the exhilaration as you sit and sip on the world’s only rotating glass floor. Enjoy panoramic views of the city as the lounge completes its rotation every 30 min.
Chihuly Garden and Glass
Directly next to the Space Needle is the home of several other masterpieces of design. Chihuly Gardens and Glass Museum highlights works of art from Northwestern artist Dale Chihuly. With colorful, whimsical pieces spread indoors and outdoors, a theater showing video of Chihuly’s processes, and an inventive cocktail bar, you could spend hours here. Prices for tickets range from $17.50 to $30, but there are package deals to pair with the Space Needle and receive discounted admission. To hear a first hand account of going up in the Space Needle and visiting Chihuly Gardens and Glass museum, check out our other Seattle blog HERE.
Amazon Spheres
In a perfect blend of nature and architecture, plant and steel, the Amazon Spheres reflect and hold the beauty of this lush, futuristic city in a way that has us rethink the urban workspace. As it is an in-use Amazon office, there is limited visitation availability to the public. The Spheres’ botanical gardens are open to guests from 10am-6pm the first and third Saturday each month. While free to visit, you must register in advance and tickets become available 15 days prior to the date. Even if you are not in Seattle on a day you’re able to enter these beautiful greenhouses, their stunning architecture is still worth observing from the outside. Looking for a quick snack after your visit? Head to nearby Askatu Bakery, an Asian American-owned, woman-owned, allergen friendly bakery. Their London Fog Shortbread (gf)(p) is worth the trip in and of itself, but be aware it is a bit pricey. While they are gluten and dairy free, some foods do contain meat, please check with your server.
Capitol Cider
As we had spent our previous day snacking on just granola bars in Olympic National Park, we unintentionally made our time in Seattle about serving our insatiable appetites. In the hip and lively Pike/Pine district, it’s easy to be drawn from the rain sodden streets into the warm interior of Capitol Cider. With exposed brick and paintings lining the walls, you feel like you could have been transported to colonial Boston. I thoroughly enjoyed the fish and chips (gf)(p) while my partner savored the calamari (gf)(p). As the city’s first cider bar, they are proud of their delicious selection of ciders, meads, and craft beers. While their kitchen is gluten free, a few of their beers do contain gluten, so double check with your server. On weekends after your dinner you can head downstairs for more drinks and games, or on Wednesday evenings to enjoy live jazz.
Starbucks Reserve Roastery
Bookend your day with the world’s favorite coffee chain. Just a six minute walk away from Capitol Cider is the Starbucks Reserve Roastery. In this industrial, hipster setting you can see where the magic happens – where the beans are roasted that is. With several sections of seating, you’d be shocked that you might still need to pounce at what becomes available, but it will be worth it. As an avid Starbucks fan and lover of cocktails, this place was heaven. There are three bars in the space; the Main Bar for coffee, the Arriviamo Bar for cocktails, and the Princi Bar for food. They have also opened a new Experience Bar by reservation that provides an artisanal coffee immersion. You can’t miss the Starbucks Reserve® Espresso Martini flight (p) or the Brandy Corretto (gf)(p). See for yourself how perfectly your favorite coffee mixes with your favorite spirits. Be mindful of your time as unfortunately Starbucks Reserve Roastery closes at 8pm.
Stay at the CitizenM
In the heart of the bustling city on the intersection of Westlake Ave N and John Street, walkable from most major landmarks, is a surprisingly affordable futuristic oasis of comfort. CitizenM Hotel Seattle South Lake Union was one of the most high tech yet relaxing hotels I have ever stayed in. You enter the main door to a large, modern, vibrant lobby/bar with several areas to sit and have a drink or conversation. Check in and access key creation is performed by you on a computer that allows you to pick the type of room you want. Typically more options with views will be available the earlier you arrive. Although the rooms are small, when you are planning on spending most of your day out exploring the city they are cozy to come back to. A tablet allows you to control the television, light intensity and color, as well as the curtains, which when the black out mode is on really makes day feel like night. You’re sure to get a good night’s sleep before a flight home or (our recommendation) heading out to adventures in Washington’s stunning wilderness.
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