My parents recently bought a boat with a cabin that they dock in Seattle, Washington. So for Christmas, we decided to take a spontaneous trip to Seattle. We spent two days exploring the city and at night we relaxed on the boat. Seattle is a really fun city with a cool vibe! It’s a seaport city so you have the waterfront area to explore, great sea food, and tons of urban areas to discover. In this guide I will be sharing some of my favorite spots to explore and eat while in Seattle!

 

What To Do & See

 

 

 

 

Pike Place Market

 

Pike Place is one of those iconic places when you think of Seattle. Pike’s is a public market place that overlooks the waterfront, making for some gorgeous views. You can’t miss the neon signs that indicated you’ve arrived. You can find fresh flowers, fruit, vegetables, and fish all year round. The bottom level of the market is filled with cool shops and book stores. The market was decorated for Christmas when we visited which made it really special!

 

Tip: Take the stairs down to Ghost Alley. It will lead you straight to the popular gum wall for a photo op! Ghost Alley is located to the far left of the market at the main entrance.

 

 

Post Alley

 

Post Alley is an alleyway parallel to Pike Place. This alley is lined with restaurants, coffee shops, and stores. It’s a fun little alley to explore with colorful store fronts and lights. If you aren’t already full from the samples at the market, this is the perfect place to grab a bite to eat!

 

 

The Original Starbucks

 

If you walk far enough down Pike Place, you will find yourself at the Original Starbucks. This was the first Starbucks store ever opened! They now have locations all over the world but a lot of people don’t know that Starbucks actually originated in Seattle. I’ve never actually been inside because there has always been a long line when I’ve visited. One of these days I will order my favorite, a white chocolate mocha, from the first Starbucks! 😉

 

 

Moore Coffee

 

Moore Coffee is located a few blocks down from Pike Place. I love this spot because they are known for their cute latte art! My sister and I order mochas; she got a cat and I got a snowman. A chocolate croissant was the perfect treat to pair with our coffee. The coffee shop is ran by a hispanic family so when we visited, they were playing spanish music which my mom loved (she is from Colombia). It’s a cute coffee shop worth visiting!

 

 

 

The Space Needle

 

What’s the first thing you picture when you think of Seattle? It’s the Space Needle, right?! It’s a huge Seattle landmark that you can see across every skyline shot of Seattle. It’s actually an observation tower with gorgeous views from the top. You can take an elevator to the top for $22. There’s also a restaurant at the top if you want to dine in the sky. There are also a lot of museums in the area to browse like the Chihuly Garden and Glass Museum and the Museum of Pop Culture (pictured above).

 

 

Kerry Park

 

Kerry Park is a historic neighborhood in Queen Anne with a gorgeous view of the Seattle skyline. If you love city views as much as I do, then this spot is a must see! You can take some amazing photos here. We made it here in the evening when the sun was going down. We loved walking through the neighborhoods and admiring the beautiful old homes in this area.

 

Tip: It’s located on the corner of Second Avenue West and West Highland Drive.

 

The Fremont Troll

 

The Fremont Troll is another really unique spot in Seattle. It’s a public sculpture of a troll crushing a car that was carved by a builder and his University of Washington architecture students. The troll usually has a blue eye that was painted over in white. It’s fun spot for photos!

 

Tip: You can easily find parking on Troll Ave right in front of the sculpture.

 

 

Capitol Hill

 

Capitol Hill is a diverse area full of trendy restaurants, indie shops, and coffee bars. You’ll know your in the area when you see the rainbow colored crosswalks. Some of my favorite shops are Retrofit Home, Rove Vintage, and Totokaelo.

 

Tip: At the top of the hill you’ll find a historic mansion district and the beautiful Volunteer Park Conservatory. We didn’t visit this time, but this greenhouse is worth seeing!

 

 

Everyday Music Records

 

We actually have an Everyday Music record store in Portland so I was pleasantly surprised when I found one in Capitol Hill. If you love records like I do, then this is a fun spot to browse. They have a huge collection so you can definitely find a few gems to add to your collection.

 

 

Elliot Bay Book Company

 

There is something so comforting about a book store and Elliot Bay Book Company is no different. There are numerous aisles to explore and goods to shop. Elliot Bay Book Company has something for everyone. We took a pit stop in Little Oddfellows at the back of the book store to rest our feet and charge our phones. We also fueled up with coffee and pastries. The banana bread was amazing!

 

What To Eat

 

 

Oddfellows Cafe

 

The popular Oddfellows Cafe (also in Capitol Hill) is a great spot for some brunch! It’s always full, but the wait usually isn’t too bad and they’re food is delicious! This charming cafe has an American history vibe with an old American flag hanging at the doorway and old paintings hung on the walls. There are plenty of tables to sit at and a cute bar where you can order coffee and pastries. I like to sit by the large windows and people watch.

 

 

 

Poquitos

 

My family had lunch at Poquitos, a mexican restaurant in Capitol Hill. The interiors of this restaurant are gorgeous! They have an indoor area and an outdoor area. We ate in the outdoor area where we sat next to a table top fire pit to keep us warm. I had the tortilla soup which was amazing and warmed me right up!

 

 

 

 

General Porpoise Doughnuts

 

These are my absolute favorite doughnuts in Seattle! Seriously, when I’m home in Portland, I dream of these doughnuts! They’re round cream filled doughnuts that are too die for; my favorite kind is the Chocolate Marshmallow. It’s even more delicious paired with a warm coffee drink. General Porpoise is located in Capitol Hill near the very chic, Bar Melusine (another favorite spot but it was closed unfortunately).

 

Another great way to see Seattle is by boat! You can find boat rentals in Seattle through GetMyBoat! Here is a link to their Seattle boat rentals page. 

 

There are so many things to do in Seattle, it’s hard to fit everything in one weekend! If you are planning a trip to Seattle, I really hope you add some of these spots to your list. I put together a Seattle Travel Diary from our visit that you can reference too. Check out the video below!

 

 

 

XOXO