Travel Tuesday: 48 hour Weekend Getaway to Seattle

Check out my article here on bayarea.com:

https://www.bayarea.com/play/travel/weekend-getaway-seattle/

Bay Area, hasn’t the rain been a nice change of pace? I have always loved rain and, because of California’s water shortage, I have grown to appreciate it so much more. Maybe I’m just tired of seeing dead grass everywhere I turn, and dried out city fountains replaced with signs that read, “turned off due to drought.” That said, I can’t help but yearn for destinations where mother nature’s tears are plentiful. Let’s be honest, any excuse I get to dust off my ol’ rain boots and chunky sweaters, I’m all over it like gum on a wall. Which, incidentally, brings me to one of my favorite weekend destinations: Seattle, Washington.

Despite the fact that the Emerald City is home to the Seattle Seahawks football team, it’s an otherwise perfect place to travel to and from the Bay Area for the weekend. Forty-eight hours is a perfect amount of time for a quick getaway. Here’s what you can do to enjoy this lovely city in the Pacific Northwest.

Friday:

8:00 p.m. – Dinner and Drinks

Touchdown to Seattle after a long work week, check into your hotel or Airbnb, and get into your Uber to find a late night dinner. Ask the hotel staff or your driver where they like to eat, and chances are that whatever they say is going to be good. Locals told me about a fun restaurant called Trove where you can choose to cook your own Korean barbecue on a hot tabletop stove or order their scrumptious noodles with a side of kimchi pork dumplings. And if you have room for dessert, try their signature parfaits in souvenir mason jars, which you can also order from their sweet to-go “car” window out front. 

Still awake? 

Stay at the bar at Trove for some delicious concoctions, like the Smoked Brown Cow with mezcal and root beer syrup. Yum!

Saturday:

9:00 a.m. – To Market, To Market…

Get up and get going! Head out early to Pike’s Place Market for your touristy travel photos of the stunning flowers, the literal “catch of the day” at the famous flying fishes, the (ew!) gum wall, cheese making and tasting at Beecher’s, and the nostalgic “First Starbucks” nearby. Go ahead and get your coffee fix here, but for breakfast, I’d suggest a creamy Ellenos yogurt that’s to die for — probably the best Greek yogurt you’ll ever have. You’ll find yourself licking the bowl clean. 

  
Keep walking, and you’ll find yourself engaging in conversations with the many art and craft vendors. Then you’ll be enticed by the wonderful smell of bread — and not just bread: piroshki. You’ll probably find a line out-the-door with other travelers mixed in with some locals because Piroshky, Piroshky is one of the best. These amazing Russian baked goods are a perfect treat to take with you and eat while enjoying the view of the beautiful city. You can choose from the savory ones, like the smoked salmon paté, and the sweet ones, like the apple cinnamon roll. And, if you don’t want to wait, order ahead online.

  

12:00 pm – Tourist Attractions

After you’ve stuffed your face with as many treats as you can, walk over to the Seattle Center Monorail to the iconic Space Needle. As cliche as it sounds, you should go up at least once to say you did it — and the sights up top ain’t so bad either. There’s a bar at the top and remember that Piroshsky, Piroshsky that you picked up? Well, this is a perfect place to munch on yours for a light lunch with the best view in town.

I suggest buying tickets online for the Space Needle because lines can get pretty long, especially on the weekend. Consider buying the combo pack for the Chihuly Garden and Glass Museum next door — a must for lovers of art and all things rad. Chihuly is a wildly popular glass artist, and his art is displayed all over the world. The museum is like a Willy Wonka-like haven for glass sculptures.

3:00 p.m. – Need Coffee with Pie

Siesta, anyone? Well, it may be that sleepy part of the day, but you gotta stay up! Head over to the Starbucks Reserve Roastery for a coffee tasting that’ll surely jump start your engines. Learn about all things coffee (and tea if you’re not a coffee-drinker), and enjoy some delightful pastries to soak it all up while you shop to get the latest home gadgets or mug memorabilia.

  
Then, within the same building, head over to Serious Pie for some serious pizza pie as a snack or late lunch. I suggest you try any one of the fresh salads, the prosciutto pie with arugula, and enjoy some tasty local beer as well. This is a fun dining experience where you get to watch the coffee connoisseurs go to town on their $13 cups of Joe.

  

6:00 p.m. – Get Down Underground 

Next, head over to Pioneer Square to Bill Speidel’s ‘Adult Only’ Underground Tour (they also have daytime tours for all ages). You’ll learn so much about Seattle’s history and even enjoy a cocktail at the bar where the tour begins. Your tour guide will be sure to entertain you as you learn about purple solar panels, poor city planning of  

 the past, and gnarly toilets. During the tour, you will more than likely be checking out the next destination, as the tour is surrounded by many bars and restaurants like Kraken Congee (as seen on the CNBC show Restaurant Startup). Be sure to check them out for a delicious bowl of congee (a popular Asian rice porridge dish) with a twist. This fun restaurant serves many other dishes, has a full bar, and makes delectable desserts as well

10:00 p.m. – Bar Hopping

After your dinner, head out to the bar scene in Pioneer Square for some drinks and mini-golf fun at Flatstick Pub, which only serves local drinks. They have a nine-hole mini-golf course, along with other unique games, which makes for a fun evening out. Don’t drink too much or the giant murals inside will trip you out. And even if mini-golf isn’t your thing, Seattle is home to many, many bars, so you’ll be sure to find something for everyone.

Drinking not your thing?

In Pioneer Square and within a UPS (United Postal Service) building is Waterfall Garden Park where, yes, a 22-foot waterfall lies as a commemorative gift to celebrate 100 years of UPS. Such a serene little spot to check out in an urban area!

Sunday:

10:00 a.m, – Game Day

Okay, so you can sleep in a bit, but depending on which sport’s season it is, you can always check out a game in Seattle — whether it’s the Seahawks, the Sounders or the Mariners. Even if there isn’t a game, the stadiums are worth taking a look at anyway. Whether you’re there to support the home team or the visitors, Centurylink Field (the football and soccer stadium) and Safeco Field (the baseball stadium) are sights to see … and all are surrounded by bars –go figure! Bloody Mary, anyone?

And if sports don’t interest you, be sure to check out the Museum of Flight, as Seattle is home to well-known aircraft company, Boeing. Here at the museum you’ll find all sorts of aircrafts new and old — even a NASA space shuttle and the inside of an old Presidential Air Force One.

1:00 pm – Food Tour

By now you’re probably hungry so make sure you plan a food tour with Savor Seattle Food Tours. They have a variety of tours to choose from so pick wisely. If you’re a big foodie, choose the three-hour gourmet tour where you’ll taste food from an Iron Chef Winner and James Beard Nominees or take a two-hour Hip on the Hill Tour for Seattle’s best bites and drinks from people who think outside the box in the Capitol Hill area, which is a melting pot of delicious ideas.

4:00 p.m. – The Great Outdoors

On a lovely Sunday afternoon, there is no better way to spend your time than outdoors enjoying the crisp fresh air of the Emerald City. Choose from a variety of parks to fit your outdoor needs from walking to running, biking, or even kayaking. For travelers and camera enthusiasts, I recommend going to Kerry Park, where the skyline of the city and the Space Needle are in sight. Stay for the sun setting, and you’ll be sure to make all your Instagram friends jealous of beauty you’ve just captured.

6:00 p.m. – Dinner on the Run

You don’t have much time before your flight, so a creamy bowl of chowder it is. It wouldn’t be a complete trip to Seattle without mentioning Pike Place Chowder. This extremely popular spot has some of the best and meatiest clam chowder out there (though we know the San Francisco bread bowl could give it a run for their money). Head to their second location in the Pacific Place Shopping Center next to the flagship Nordstrom store for shorter lines and more options on their menu.

8:00 p.m. – Homeward Bound

Check out of your temporary digs and say goodbye to all the locals you’ve met along the way. You’ve got your new Starbucks mug in your bag, and you’ve left your mark on the gum wall (ew, again!) in this lovely city. Touchdown back to the Bay and sleep well, my friend. You’ll have so much to tell your co-workers in the morning, so don’t forget to show off that new coffee cup.