After our visit to Tacoma, we spent about day visiting Seattle between brief visits before and after our cruise to Alaska. We were able to see some of the more iconic attractions of Seattle in a short amount of time and even had a little time to spare to sit and relax.
Pike Place Market:
Pike Place Market held the desired first place spot on our list of Seattle to-dos. Well, maybe it actually held two spots because the chocolatier I wanted to visit, Indi Chocolate, was located inside. Pictures of Pike Place Market truly cannot capture the cornucopia of sounds, sites, tastes and smells within the market. Beginning in 1907, Pike Place Market is one of the longest continually operating markets in the U.S.A. Fresh seafood, produce, flowers and more. Plus, local artisans! An excellent place to pick up your locally made souvenir!
I recommend visiting the market twice. Once when it is bustling and alive and once earlier in the morning when mainly the food vendors are open. If you come before everything is open, there are fewer crowds so you can really take things in and even see some of the artisans set up.
The market houses several floors, so be sure to visit the lower levels. Indi Chocolate is on one of the lower levels and is certainly worth the visit. Indi makes handcrafted, small batch chocolate as well as skin care products. The chocolate is divine!
Across from the market, you will find Seattle's first Starbucks. If you don't notice it right away, look for the long line. Quite the popular spot!
Also, be on the lookout for a little nearby park where you get a nice view of the Puget Sound.
Kerry Park
Speaking of views, Kerry Park offers a spectacular view of the city. The park itself is tiny, but the view is certainly worth a stop. Sometimes you can even see Mount Rainier from the park. During our visit, clouds made it difficult to decipher its snow cap.
Space Needle
No visit to Seattle would be complete without a trip to the Space Needle. Constructed for the 1962 World's Fair, the Space Needle stands at 605 ft. tall. The ride up to the top is pretty quick.
Throughout our visit, we discovered plenty of opportunities to learn about the history and architecture of the structure. There were hands on elements as well. Of course, everyone does come for the views!
Right next to the Space Need is Chihuly Garden and Glass, so a natural accompaniment to your visit. Opened in 2012, the attraction is home to stunning works by Dale Chihuly. Many of these works are artfully melded into a botanical atmosphere. At every turn, we were inspired!
Seattle Noshes
For one of our meals, we ate at Sazerac located in Hotel Monaco. Sazerac features a Southern spin on fresh Pacific Northwest ingredients. We found the menu both interesting and fun. We ended up sharing multiple meals including their Rotisserie Chicken was amazing and Avocado Tartine with BBQ Shrimp. Some menu options were quirky, but we enjoyed our visit over all
We also stopped into Belle Epicurean and enjoyed some pastries, yogurt, coffee and tea. Really, a cute little shop and place to relax for a bit!
Our Seattle Snapshot
Of course, we just skimmed the surface during our visit to Seattle. So much more to do, so much more to see! However, I am glad we spend some time exploring. If you are cruising to Alaska from Seattle, I highly recommend arrive a day or two early so you can explore as well!
Disclosure: No compensation was received for this post. All opinions are 100% my own.
Post a Comment