Seattle Travel Guide

Seattle was a dream – but I knew it would be. I’ve always loved the Northwest, even though I had never been there. From pictures, it always reminded me of Scandinavia with its lush green forests and ocean shores. We were only in Seattle for about 2.5 days, but I felt like we got to see so much, so here’s a little Seattle travel guide to recap our trip and give you all the pointers on where to go and what to eat!

We arrived on a Wednesday night and took the link light rail for only $3 per ticket. It takes about 40 minutes to get from Seattle–Tacoma International Airport to downtown Seattle. It was super easy and such an excellent public transportation experience.

We woke up Thursday morning and walked to Pike Place Market. I cannot say this strongly enough, but GO DURING THE WEEK. The difference between when we went our first time Thursday morning and when we went before we left Saturday morning was enormous. Thursday morning, there were hardly any lines to all the restaurants and shops I had mapped out, and Saturday was crazy busy. Now, I don’t have any problem with people. I like the hustle and bustle of cities and markets, but we got to experience more when it wasn’t as busy because you’re not spending all your time waiting in lines!

One of my favorite foods at Pike Place Market was yogurt from Ellenos, a Greek yogurt bar. We tried passion fruit and marionberry flavors and loved them both! Two other favorites were savory pastries from the Polish bakery Piroshky Piroshky and croissants from La Panier.

We walked through the market and loved seeing all the seafood, fresh fruit, and endless rows of flowers. The Seattle Gum Wall is in an alley just under the market, so we also checked that out! It’s a sight to see, but it also grossed me out (ha!).

Then we walked along the waterfront, strolled through the piers, and rode the Seattle Great Wheel. It was our first time getting a good vantage point of the city. We then walked to Pioneer Square, a historic neighborhood with beautiful architecture and many little shops.

That evening, I got to try clams for the first time at Ivar’s Acres of Clams. Honestly, the seafood was a little disappointing. Part of the excitement of a city on the water is wanting to try lots of fresh local seafood, but we struggled to find places where it was affordable. The cheapest seafood meals started at $30, and most were between $50-$70. I’m much more about the local hole-in-the-wall than the fancy-overpriced restaurant. Then we had some fantastic ice cream at Shug’s Soda Fountain and Ice Cream and went to the Space Needle!

Friday, we booked a full-day whale-watching trip with Clipper Vacations. We took a three-hour boat ride to Friday Harbor on San Juan Island. It was the cutest little town on the water, and the boat ride was a perfect way to see Puget Sound and all the islands. We then went out for a 2.5-hour whale-watching tour to see two families of orca whales. Because they are endangered, they are heavily protected, and boats aren’t allowed to get super close, but we loved learning about them and seeing them from a distance! Our ride back to Seattle had the BEST city view, and we finally saw Mount Rainer!

Saturday morning, we went to the Seattle Aquarium. They had great mammal exhibits for the harbor seals, sea otters, and sea lions! We also loved seeing a squid up close and being able to touch all the sea anemones. Apart from that, the aquarium felt a little small, and I think the Denver Aquarium has much more to offer regarding fish and different exhibits.

We had the perfect weather while we were there. Two full days of cloudy skies but no rain, which is pretty ideal for when you’re doing lots of walking! It kept the temperature perfect for lots of sightseeing. Then, on the last day we were there, we had gorgeous clear blue skies – so picturesque. Have you been to Seattle? Comment below with your favorite part!