Two Days in Seattle
SEATTLE
I had been wanting to visit Seattle for years so when flights were oddly cheap for a random weekend in August, I jumped on the chance to go. We flew out on a Thursday night and spent all of Friday and Saturday in the city. And while I will definitely be back to visit to parks outside of the city, I’m glad I finally got my Seattle fix.
Day One
We started the first day with breakfast and coffee in Pike Place. After that we visited the aquarium and took the ferry to Bainbridge Island. We finished the day with dinner and makgeolli at Girin.
10 am – noon: Breakfast in Pike Place Market
We arrived at the famous market sign around 10 am. In a strip of shops near the sign there’s a small cafe called the Crumpet Shop. Their specialty is, you guessed it, crumpets, which are like a thinner English muffin. We got several different styles, savory with pesto and tomato and sweet with lemon curd. They were all delicious.
After breakfast we browsed around the market. I loved all of the fresh flowers. We eventually made our way toward the first Starbucks. It’s probably the most touristy thing I’ve ever done but it seemed like something we needed to see since we were in the area. I don’t regret going, but it wasn’t a life changing experience either.
12 pm – 2:30 pm: The Seattle Aquarium
Starbucks in hand, we walked across the street to the aquarium. The aquarium has many exhibits on local wildlife and is a great way to learn about the aquatic habitats of the Pacific northwest. We spent a little over two hours here but you could see most of it in less time if needed.
3 pm – 5:30 pm: Bainbridge Island
Less than a half mile down the street from the aquarium is Colman Dock where you can catch a ferry to Bainbridge Island. We bought our tickets at the dock and boarded the next boat. The trip takes about 30 minutes and is very smooth.
Once we arrived on the island, our first priority was food. We had dinner reservations at 7 so we just needed a light snack to hold us over. We walked from the dock into the small town and settled on a small pizza place called Bruciato. The restaurant had a nice, relaxed atmosphere and the pizza and cocktails were both good. After lunch, we stopped at Mora for ice cream. They had so many flavors that making a choice was difficult, but everything that we tried was delicious.
Before catching the ferry back to the city we walked along the Waterfront Trail. True to its name, the trail runs along the water, passing through some woods and a small harbor. The trail is short, but it was a peaceful, romantic stroll.
6 pm – 6:45 pm: The Great Wheel
Back on the mainland with time to kill before dinner, we hopped over to Seattle’s version of the giant ferris wheel. The wheel was overpriced and touristy but, being that it was a clear day, we got a great view of the city and the sound. The ride didn’t take very long, about 20 minutes, and we got off just in time for our dinner reservation.
7 pm: Dinner at Girin
I learned about Girin while researching makgeolli, a Korean rice wine. While in South Korea, we sampled some and really enjoyed it. But it is difficult to find in the States. We have found it in bottles at the H-Mart near us but finding it fresh is nearly impossible. Makgeolli is a fermented drink and when it is bottled, the fermentation stops. So fresh makgeolli is different than the bottled variety and we were determined to try some. Lucky for us, Girin is one of the few places in the US that makes fresh makgeolli.
Girin is a trendy restaurant with natural decor and an open kitchen. The menu focuses on ssam dishes but also has other Korean staples like japchae. As for the makgeolli, they have two styles. The “lunar brew” is a more mild drink and the “samjoko” is a stronger, funkier version. We went with the samjoko and loved it.
Day Two
Day two started with breakfast at Toulouse Petit in the Lower Queen Anne neighborhood. We spent the rest of the morning at the Chihuly Garden and then the Space Needle. After “lunch” at Hot Cakes, we explored the massive REI flagship store. We ended the day with an “underground tour” and dinner with friends at No Anchor.
10 am: Breakfast at Toulouse Petit
Toulouse Petit is located in the Lower Queen Anne neighborhood, close to the Chihuly Garden, so it was a convenient spot to grab breakfast. My fiance had been there before and I thought the name was funny: we have a cat named Toulouse who is anything but petit. The food was good but the service left a lot to be desired. With a huge number of good restaurants in Seattle, I think I would try my luck elsewhere next time.
11:30 am – 1 pm: Chihuly Garden and Museum
After a short walk through the International Fountain park we arrived at the Chihuly Garden. Dale Chihuly is a renowned glass artist and Washington native. I was skeptical that I would enjoy the museum, unsure of how interesting just glass could be, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. The shape, color, and scale of the pieces are breathtaking, making the museum a truly unique experience.
At the entrance to the Chihuly Garden you can buy a combination ticket for the garden and the Space Needle. The tickets allow entry to the Space Needle only during a chosen window of time, so make sure you leave enough time for the museum (at least an hour).
1 pm – 2 pm: The Space Needle
The Space Needle is an iconic Seattle landmark that falls on the must see list. Yes, it is very touristy, but the history and learning what an engineering feat the tower was when it was built make it worth a visit.
2 pm – 4 pm: “Lunch” and REI
We took a Lyft from the Space Needle to Hot Cakes in the Capitol Hill neighborhood. Since we had a late breakfast and planned an early-ish dinner, we stopped in the molten lava cake shop for a snack to hold us over until dinner. If you like chocolate, Hot Cakes is a must. It’s a little pricey but the cakes are delicious. After enjoying our cakes, we walked over to the REI flagship store. The store is massive and you could easily spend half a day browsing.
5 pm – 6 pm: Underground Tour
The history of Seattle’s “underground” is fascinating. If you aren’t familiar with the story of how Seattle was built or haven’t been to it’s underground, do one of these tours! We took a bus to Pioneer Square where two tour companies, Bill Speidel’s and Beneath the Streets, are located. We had planned to do the Bill Speidel’s tour, which is advertised as the original, but it was sold out. So we walked around the corner and joined a tour at Beneath the Streets. Our guide was funny and enthusiastic. We had a great time and didn’t regret having to use the non-original company at all.
6:15 pm: Dinner at No Anchor
We made a reservation for dinner with some friends at No Anchor, a trendy restaurant with an impressive beer list. The food was creative and delicious. We spent quite a while lingering at the table, catching up, and even though the restaurant was busy, no one ever pressured us to clear out. It was overall a great place that I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend. We ended the night at Molly Moon’s Ice Cream for our second dessert of the day because…vacation.