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Seattle is really one of those iconic West Coast destinations. Nestled in the picturesque region of the U.S. known as the Pacific Northwest, Seattle has a little bit of something for everyone. However, if you have limited time in Seattle, here are a few great ways to spend an afternoon and evening exploring this beautiful city.
Seattle City Views from Kerry Park
Address: 211 W Highland Dr, Seattle, WA 98119
Kerry Park is allegedly one of the best spots to take in a good view of the Seattle skyline and I have to agree (if it’s on a clear day). Parking is a little scarce and the park is actually quite small, but it’s worth the stop for a quick snap of the city. My pics unfortunately aren’t that great as the air was so smoky from fires going on in Washington and Canada at the time. I bet this is also a great spot when the city is lit up at night!
Visit Pike Place Market
Pike Place is a definite must, especially for my fellow foodies! This place is huge and there are so many different stands to browse. There are so many vendors – from food (especially seafood) and flowers, to souvenir shops an breweries!
One of the most popular things to see at the market is the fish throwing. We got to see them in action while we were there though you may have to wait around for a few minutes to get your perfect shot. Pike Place Market can get a little crowded, especially if you are visiting in the summer so I would suggest getting there early if you want to avoid some of the crowds.
I would also suggest doing a DIY food tour at Pike Place, with some of my favorites being Beecher’s Cheese (their mac and cheese is to die for!), Piroshky Piroshky, and Pike Place Chowder (get the sampler!). For more info on what to eat at Pike Place, check out this post.
Read More: What to Eat at Pike Place Market
Grab a Beer at Old Stove or Pike’s Brewing
If you’re already checking out Pike Place Market, you might as well quench your thirst from all that walking! Old Stove has some killer beers on tap, and Pike’s Brewing has an eclectic vibe. Even though Pike’s beers weren’t our favorite (Old Stove excels there), it’s worth a visit just to check out the decorations!
Happy Hour at Elliott’s on the Water
We found a nice spot down at the waterfront to have a little happy hour called Elliott’s. My husband loves oysters and he was on the hunt for some good Seattle seafood. We found Elliott’s on Yelp and voila! A waiting list does form for happy hour seating and they won’t start seating you until right at 4:00 p.m., so if you want to guarantee yourself a good spot, get there 10 to 15 minutes early and get your name on that list! Their margaritas are also really good and strong! Perfect fuel for continuing to wander the city.
Visit the Iconic Space Needle
The Space Needle is synonymous with Seattle, and is perhaps one of the most visited attractions in the city! You have to check it out at least once in your life. The futuristic structure was built for the World’s Fair back in 1962, and now serves as an excellent spot to take in a 360 degree view of the beautiful city of Seattle and the surrounding landscape.
You can also dine at the restaurant if you’d like – ticket packages vary depending on what you want to see and do at the Needle. They also sell REALLY expensive beer at the top if you want to enjoy a beer with a view (yep, we indulged).
Getting to the Space Needle
We took the monorail from Westlake Station in downtown, since it happened to be right around the corner from our hotel. The monorail was also built for the 1962 World’s Fair and is the perfect way to get to the Space Needle!
Pro Tip: If you get to the Space Needle in the evening, purchase a later ticket (i.e. get there are 5:00 p.m., but wait to go up at 6:00 p.m.), it saves you a few dollars. Head over to the Chihuly Glass Garden while you wait!
Explore the Chihuly Glass Garden
The Chihuly Glass Garden is simply just a neat place to wander and admire glass art from artist Dale Chihuly. I was so glad we got the ticket combo for this and the Space Needle! The artwork is simply beautiful and we thoroughly enjoyed a walk through this museum. You have to see it for yourself!
Catch a Mariners Game
If you’re visiting during baseball season, be sure to pay a visit to T-Mobile Park for a Mariners Game! This is a stadium with a retractable roof (we visited while it was open since the weather was nice) and it is a beautiful stadium to visit. Pick a seat higher up so you can catch some city views!
Where to Stay in Seattle?
We stayed at the Mayflower Park Hotel in the Downtown area. We wanted to be somewhere in close proximity to everything, or at least have a few things within walking distance. Driving around a big city and trying to find parking is never fun! We were near quite a few restaurants and within walking distance of Pike Place Market. We were also just around the corner from the monorail that took us to Seattle Center, which is where the Space Needle, Chihuly Glass Garden, EMP Museum, etc. are located.
A word to the wise, it seems as though most hotels charge a pretty steep parking fee to park at the hotels. Parking is not easy to come by around those parts either!
Mayflower Park Hotel
405 Olive Way, Seattle, WA 98101
https://www.mayflowerpark.com/
We’d love to go back and spend some more time exploring the city! Some of the things that we didn’t get to do that are on our list for next time: take a boat cruise around the bay and visit the EMP Museum! It also might be interesting to visit the wall of bubblegum and stop into the Starbucks Reserve Roastery.
What are your favorite things about Seattle? And more importantly, where should we eat next time?
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