Next Stop: Seattle, Washington

Where to go and how to fall in love with the Emerald City.

Katy Prohira
Sep 4, 2018 · 3 min read
Seattle skyline from Bainbridge Ferry.

I spent a little over 48 hours in Seattle, Washington and I think I fell in love in the first 20 minutes.

Driving through the mountains lined with never-ending trees, while the sun was still rising and the fog lifting, felt like I was driving on the set of Jurassic Park; the trees were massive, other-worldly, and awe-inspiring. Humbling to say the least.

As you get closer to the city, tress begin being replaced by buildings and fog with exhaust from the traffic. But the feeling is still there — it’s still surreal.

If you find yourself, as I did, with only a couple days to explore, you want to be sure not to miss this spots.

Pike Place Market.

If only to walk the same foot path Tom Hanks walks before meeting his heart and soul, Meg Ryan in Sleepless in Seattle, you must absolutely visit the Pike Place Market. Fresh fruit, vegetables, seafood (obviously), flowers, and coffee *drool* line the stalls. Little shops with every souvenir you could ever imagine, restaurants, breweries, cafes.

You could spend an entire day and still find something you didn’t see the next time you went. The feeling is energizing, to say the least, and the people watching is the best.

Ferry to Bainbridge.

Once you can’t eat anymore and your arms can’t carry one more bag — you MUST take the ferry over to Bainbridge.

It takes about an hour but with the views of the city skyline and Mount Rainier in the distance, you almost wish it was longer, but get to the port and you’ve arrived in the most charming town. Think Pleasantville. Streets lined with shops, restaurant and houses wind throughout the town and along the coastline. There are parks and a school and the experience itself feels like walking in a museum.

It’s as if time has stood still — that old “Honey, I’m home” vibe. Like I said, Pleasantville. You can walk or bike and enjoy a fish fry on the water.

Gum Wall.

If you want to visit an iconic spot while also being grossed out beyond belief — visit Seattle famous Gum Wall. And add you own (art) piece. It’s worth the Instagram pic, I promise.

Chihuly Garden and Glass.

A little bit outside the city center you will find the Chihuly Garden and Glass Park.

If you’ve seen his installments before, you’ll know they always make a statement and these are no different. The exhibit runs both indoors and outside and is located right beside the Space Needle. So if you’re feeling a little adventurous that day, you can take a ride to the top and get some pictures that basically look like you’re floating above the city.

And no, I did not do that because I value my life and am not some adventure-seeking psychopath.

David Chihuly Glass Sculpture.

Museum of Pop Culture.

Probably one of the coolest places I visited while in Seattle was the Museum of Pop Culture. Upon walking in you’re greeted with what looks like an explosion of guitars that reaches forever feet tall. Seriously, you can’t see the top of it.

You walk in and out of rooms like ‘Scared to Death: The Thrill of Horror Films’ or ‘Fantasy: The World of Myths and Magic’ They even have a room solely dedicated to Nirvana. Yeah, I know. A must see.

Besides these iconic spots, you can’t go wrong walking around the city during the day, drinking probably some of the best coffee you’ve ever had — I mean, this is the home of our beloved Starbucks — and enjoying some of the freshest seafood there is. By night, the cocktail bars and live music are not hard to come by.

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