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Marvel at the natural beauty of Seattle – from the boardwalk of the sparkling waters of Puget Sound to the Olympic Mountains to the west and Mount Rainier to the southeast. Combine all of this beauty with iconic landmarks like the Space Needle and Pike Place Market, where the sights, smells, and fishmongers delight your senses. Spend an afternoon admiring the glass creations of the nationally famous David Chihuly, then explore history at the Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park. Learn about Washington State’s 380 species of birds, fish, invertebrates, and marine mammals by visiting the Seattle Aquarium. Add in fine dining and plush accommodations and you have the recipe for 14 ways to have the perfect Seattle weekend.
Note: My visit was sponsored by Seattle Grand Hyatt, Hotel Sorrento, Seattle CityPASS, and Eat Seattle. All thoughts and reflections are my own.
Seattle is the largest city in Washington State and is known as the “City of Spectacular Views”. The city can be easily reached by plane, train and car. You can fly to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) or the newest airport, Paine Field, north of Seattle in Everett. If you prefer to drive, Seattle is at the confluence of Interstates I-90 (east-west) and I-5 (north-south). The Seattle Amtrack services and King Street Station are conveniently located near downtown.
Pro tip: We decided to let someone else do the driving and took Amtrak to Seattle. Driving and parking can be problematic in the city center. Amtrak trains are well maintained and very clean. The drive takes about 3 hours from Portland and offers breathtaking views of the Columbia River and Puget Sound. We took public transportation – monorail, light rail, tram and Uber around town. We went to all the major attractions in the city center. It was a great way to visit.
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1. Enjoy panoramic views of the Seattle Space Needle
The Seattle Space Needle is the No. 1 tourist attraction in the Pacific Northwest and the city’s most iconic landmark. The Space Needle was built for the 1962 World’s Fair, is 605 feet tall, and has three viewing areas: an indoor viewing platform, an open air viewing area at 520 feet, and the world’s only rotating glass floor at 150 feet. Take the exterior elevator up for breathtaking views of Puget Sound, Mount Rainier, and the city itself. Glass benches invite you to linger and enjoy!
Pro tip: I recommend purchasing the Seattle CityPASS. You can save about 50% on five of Seattle’s top attractions, including the Seattle Space Needle, Chihuly Garden and Glass, Argosy Boat Tour, Seattle Aquarium, and MoPOP (Museum of Pop Culture). Tickets are valid for 9 days from the first visit. They also have an excellent website with recommendations.
Jo-Anne Bowen
2. Admire the works of Dale Chihuly
Chihuly Garden and Glass shows the glassworks of the American artist and Dale Chihuly, who was born in the Pacific Northwest. Located in the Seattle Center directly across from the Space Needle, the complex includes eight galleries, a greenhouse, and a 26,000-square-foot garden where his glass creations are interspersed with native plants and shrubs. Chihuly was invited to showcase his work and has selected specific works from his career to highlight his journey as he changed the nature of hand blown glass. You can also enjoy the hourly glass screenings in the courtyard.
Chihuly Garden and Glass offers a variety of accessibility support services for everyone. Allow between 2 and 4 hours here.
Pro tip: Look out for my upcoming article, My 4 Favorite Pieces at Chihuly Garden And Glass.
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3. Enjoy the views from the water on an Argosy boat tour
The 1-hour narrated Argosy Boat Tour departs from Pier 55. Learn about Seattle’s history and take in views of the Seattle skyline, Elliott Bay and the Olympic Mountains. Watch port activity with ships in dry dock and giant container ships waiting to be unloaded. There is a full service bar with drinks and snacks.
Jo-Anne Bowen
4. Discover marine life at the Seattle Aquarium
The Seattle Aquarium is located on the waterfront at Pier 59. Spend several hours learning about the underwater world of Washington State. Highlights include the 400,000-gallon Underwater Dome, Window On Washington exhibit, tidal pools with touch zones, and pools of seals and otters.
Plan to spend several hours enjoying the aquarium. Be sure to say hello to Licorice, the resident giant Pacific octopus.
5. Learn about Seattle’s role in the 1890s gold rush
Visit the Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park, a little-known gem in Historic Pioneer Square, just a few minutes’ walk from downtown and near Amtrak King Street Station. Seattle was a hub where thousands of gold miners gathered to prepare for their trip to Canada and Alaska. Start your journey with the historical film in the auditorium and then stroll through the museum with the many exhibits and artifacts from this period. Schedule 1 to 2 hours.
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6. Stroll through the Pike Place Market
Another iconic location in Seattle is the Pike Place Market. Start your journey by picking up a map at the market information booth east of the neon sign or downloading a visitor guide from this link. The market is home to more than 500 companies on nine hectares. Take several hours to hear the fishmongers call for their catch, smell the flavors of the bakeries and delis, admire the fresh farm produce and flowers, and shop for craft markets and unique souvenir shops.
Coffee lovers: stop by the oldest operating Starbucks – this is where they started. There is something for everybody. Schedule 2 to 3 hours.
Pro tips: Try to visit in the morning on a weekday. The market is very crowded on weekends. And look out for my upcoming article, A Unique Food Crawl Through Pike Place Market.
Jo-Anne Bowen
7. Taste PNW Treasures by Eat Seattle Tour
Eat Seattle offers food tours of Pike Place Market led by chefs. We recommend the 2 hour tour. You will enjoy hearing the vendors’ unique stories and tasting their culinary delights from PNW.
Jo-Anne Bowen
8. Enjoy the top view of the Seattle Great Wheel
The Seattle Great Wheel is located at Pier 57 on Alaskan Way, Pier 57 on the Waterfront, and across from Pike Place Market. At 175 feet, it’s the tallest Ferris wheel on the West Coast and one of the largest in the U.S. It reaches 40 feet above Elliott Bay.
You can use this link to buy tickets.
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9. Enjoy the tranquility of the Waterfall Garden Park
The Waterfall Garden Park commemorates the birthplace of UPS (United Parcel Service) at the original location. The park was built to celebrate the 100th anniversary in 2007 and features a beautiful 22-foot waterfall, native shrubs, and benches and tables. The park is located on Historic Pioneer Square, just steps from the bustling downtown area.
10. Cheer on your favorite professional sports team
Seattle has several professional sports teams including the Seattle Seahawks, Seattle Mariners, Seattle Sounders, Seattle Storm, and the newest NHL expansion team: Seattle Kraken.
11. Enjoy live music with the Downtown Summer Sounds
The Downtown Seattle Association offers free activities year round, including the 42nd annual Downtown Summer Sounds July through September with over 100 live performances. You can find a schedule of events under the link.
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12. Watch out for these annual events
Tide + (Photo Credit: Jo-Anne Bowen)
13. Enjoy good food in the city center
The Grand Hyatt has an upscale steakhouse, Ruth’s Chris, and a gourmet to-go deli with New York-style sandwiches and subs.
Visit Tidal +, the local seafood place. We recommend the Ceviche Duo, Crab Dip and Tidal Flat Oysters. Save space for delicious desserts like salted caramel hazelnut or blackberry pistachio mousse.
Andare Kitchen & Bar is the premier destination for trattoria-style dining with delicious Italian dishes such as meatballs and calamari.
The Stella in the Hotel Sorrento offers both indoor and luxury outdoor dining. We enjoyed the linguini and clams and tagliatelle bolognese, served with olive specialties and endive salad.
Jo-Anne Bowen
14. Sleep in luxurious accommodations
The first 2 nights we enjoyed our luxury accommodation at the Grand Hyatt Seattle, in the heart of downtown and within walking distance of the Convention Center, the Seattle Space Needle, Chihuly Gardens & Glass, the Seattle Aquarium, Pike Place Market and the Waterfront. We really enjoyed our room on the 23rd floor with a view of the harbor and the skyline. The artwork in the hotel is breathtaking with stand in light glass panels, Italian onyx lights and murals, as well as artwork by various American and Canadian artists.
Jo-Anne Bowen
We enjoyed a queen suite in the historic Sorrento boutique hotel on our second two nights in 1909. Be sure to admire the mahogany woodwork and rookwood ceramic tiles in the fireplace room. The hotel is on the National Historic Registry. Some people think that the ghost of Alice B. Toklas occasionally visits the fourth floor.
The city of Seattle has put on a new coat! The streets are beautifully clean and safe with numerous lower pots decorating the lampposts. We were very pleased with the friendliness of the residents. People stopped five times to help us find different places. One weekend is not enough for all that Seattle has to offer. This time we focused on the city center. Now we’re planning another long weekend around the Seattle Waterfront and Bainbridge Island. Schedule your visit soon. I am sure you will be as excited as we are!
/https://specials-images.forbesimg.com/imageserve/618720992e41c4973abab648/0x0.jpg "Eating And Drinking Around Seattle")
