How to Spend a Long Weekend in Seattle
Seattle, also known as The Emerald City, is an incredible place to visit
Photo: 123rf
Seattle, also known as The Emerald City, is an incredible place to visit. I recently spent four days there on vacation and was delighted by everything the city had to offer. I enjoyed the sites, the food, and even squeezed in some relaxing down-time for myself. Here’s what I recommend…
What to do: When in Seattle it’s all about local, craft, beer, coffee, and food. And there is no shortage of any of these things anywhere you go. Go ready to walk, see, eat, drink, and have fun!
Where to stay: To help keep costs down I stayed at a hostel in a neighborhood called Belltown. The hostel is called “City Hostel,” serves free breakfast, has a full kitchen, and includes wifi. I liked the neighborhood the hostel was located in, it’s centrally located, with good places to eat and drink, and is well connected to public transit.
Getting around: Seattle is a pedestrian-friendly city. Getting around by foot and by bike is easy. Have comfortable shoes and be ready to walk up and down a hill or two. Public transportation is easily available and you will have no trouble getting a Lyft or Uber to take you anywhere.
Day One
Morning: Early morning yoga class in at Eka Yoga, they offer Ayurvedic–based yoga classes. Afterwards head over to Uptown Espresso for a velvety frothy latte. Grab a big leather chair by the window and people watch from the comfort of your chair.
Afternoon: For lunch go to Pike’s Place Market. Walk through the market seeing fish being thrown across the aisles, grab a bite to eat, snack on fresh made mini-donuts, and pick up some local fish and produce to cook.
Evening: Happy hour is a thing in Seattle, you should have no problem finding a good place to enjoy. I really liked Buckley’s in Belltown. I also enjoyed the Black Bottle, which served up a delightful variety of small plates, good beer, and solid wine selection.
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Day Two
Morning: Go to Macrina Bakery for coffee and their cinnamon brioche bread toasted with some butter. Take a late morning/early afternoon Yoga at Be Luminous, they offer free towels and a shower for all guests. For lunch, grab a bowl of delicious pho and some fresh spring rolls from Vinason Pho and Grill.
Afternoon: The Seattle Sky Needle is a must-visit. Ride all the way to the top for amazing views, or take pictures from below. After the Sky Needle, walk over to the Museum of Pop.
Evening: Make dinner with the local goods you got at Pike’s Place Market yesterday.
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Day Three
Morning: Sleep in, make breakfast, and get ready to head out for the day. You are going to a neighborhood called Ballard, a fun place to pass the day eating, shopping, and exploring. Start your Ballard adventure with a coffee from Cafe Umbria.
Afternoon: In Ballard there are no shortage of places to eat, for lunch I recommend a Puerto Rican restaurant called La Isla. They have traditional dishes, with vegan and gluten free options included – all delicious! After lunch you can explore the little shops, I really enjoyed The Dandelion Botanical Company and The Buffalo Exchange. Stop into the Ballard Beer Company to try some local brews. Before you leave Ballard, walk up a block or two into the residential part of the neighborhood to see their beautiful front yard urban gardens.
Evening: Eat dinner in Ballard or head to hostel to make dinner.
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Day Four – Last Day!
Morning: Sleep in. Pack. Check out. Pike’s Place Market for lunch or cook whatever food you have left.
Afternoon: Spend the afternoon enjoying some unique local beers from a brewery called Cloudburst. Their beers are all one of kind as they experiment with different local ingredients. On a sunny day they roll up the front gate to let the sun shine in.
Evening: Grab dinner in Chinatown, also known as the International District. If you want more shopping (and have the space in your luggage) you can check out the original Nordstrom’s.
Alternative ideas on things you can do in Seattle:
- Day trip to Vashon Island
- Attending a Mariner’s baseball or Seattle Seahawks game
- Ride on the Seattle’s Great Wheel
- Visit more of Seattle’s many museums.
There is no shortage of things that can be done in this Seattle, just walking down the sidewalk is an adventure. Enjoy your trip!
