We had such a blast in Washington! It was my first time in the Pacific Northwest and WOW – the greenery and trees were breathtaking! Our long weekend was spent half in Seattle (being tourists of course) and half with family that live right outside the city. I definitely recommend visiting around August – Early September. Everyone told us the weather is always best that time of year, and they were not wrong! It was 60s/70s the entire time with no rain or humidity, which made for the perfect escape during the AZ Summer heat. Keep reading for a recap of our trip + my recommendations on food and activities!
TO EAT:
- Smith – We went here for dinner one night and loved everything we ordered. You have to get the burger, FOR SURE, but the chicken sandwich, Mac and cheese, and watermelon salad was also yum!
- Skillet – This was one of the brunch spots we hit. They have really tasty Bellinis and lots of menu options!
- La Spiga Osteria – This Italian spot is so yum! We met up with some friends here and all shared a bunch of apps and pastas. Best decision ever! We loved everything we ordered!
- Single Shot – We Went here for brunch one morning and all agreed it was out favorite spot. They have some tables outside that we sat at and just enjoyed the weather!
- Top Pot – This location is the original Top Pot Donuts. Definitely worth checking out for a morning treat. Its right next to Single Shot.
- The Nest Thompson Hotel – This is a MUST for yummy rooftop drinks with a view of the water. It’s at the top of the Thompson Hotel.
- Rachel’s Ginger Beer – OMG this place was so good! Right next to Pike Place Market, this little spot has all flavors of Ginger Beer and can make any cocktail you want. We went there twice in one day!
Other Recommendations That We Didn’t Get To:
- Mediterranean Cuisine: Omega Ouzeri
- Italian: Tavolata
- Seafood: Westward
- Mexican: Barrio, Cactus
- American: Terra Plata
- Brunch: Olmstead
- Sushi: Momiji
- Vietnamese: Ba Bar
TO EAT:
- Pike Place Market – This one was totally worth the hype. It was honestly way cooler than I thought it would be. We had a blast just walking around and checking out all the vendors. Your an also swing by the gum wall while your here and check out the original Starbucks!
- Space Needle – Definitely worth doing once in your life! I recommend getting their earlier in the morning. We barely had to wait to ride the elevator up and felt like we beat the crowd. The views at the top are insane. It was a really cool way to check out the city!
- Chihuly Garden and Glass Exhibit – This is right next to the space needle. If you book your tickets together for both the Space Needle and Chihuly, you get a discounted price. This exhibit was 100% worth it. I’m not usually into art exhibits or museums in general, but this one was incredible!
- Mount Rainier – This would be about a 1.5-2 hour drive, but worth every second, especially if you love the outdoors. There are a lot of different trail options, but we ended up doing the Natchez Loop which is on the outskirts of Mount Rainier. Very beginner hike in my opinion, but super scenic!!
- Sea Plane – This was a last minute edition to our trip, and I am so glad we decided to go! It’s about a 25 minute ride around the city and over the water. The views are absolutely amazing! You fly out of Renton Airport which is about 30 minutes outside of Seattle.
- Snoqualmie Falls – This was another scenic spot with a beautiful waterfall. This is outside of Seattle as well, but another great outdoors venture!
Other Recommendations We Didn’t Get To:
- Pop Culture Museum
- Paddle Boarding
- Taking the Ferry to Bainbridge
- Lavender Farms
