Seattle will always feel like home because that’s where I spent my first 23 years of life and most of my friends and family still live there. I never planned on moving until I met my husband who is in the military. Although moving away has been a great experience, I still miss Washington and go back to visit a few times each year. I love that Seattle has the waterfront, bustling downtown area and surrounding neighborhoods that have so much character. Plus it’s absolutely gorgeous, especially on a sunny day (the rain does stop every now and then!). I feel so lucky to have grown up here because it truly is a unique area. Below are some of my favorite spots that I like to hit while I’m in town. I also enlisted my foodie friends to make sure I have some of the best restaurants. Hope this helps if you’re planning a trip to the Emerald City!
Do:
- Take a ferry ride to Bainbridge Island
- Underground Tour
- Go to the top of the Space Needle
- Pike Place Market: original Starbucks, flowers, gum wall, fish throwers
- Ride the Great Wheel and walk around the waterfront
- Tour the Theo Chocolate Factory
- Go for a walk in Discovery Park
- Browse through books at Elliot Bay Book Company
- Go to a UW, Seahawks, Sounders or Mariners game
Shop:
- University Village (check out the Amazon bookstore and Aritizia)
- Downtown – Nordstrom flagship store and the shops around 5th and Pine
- Peridot Boutique
- Boutiques in Fremont
Eat:
- Molly Moon’s Homemade Ice Cream
- Trophy Cupcakes (triple chocolate is my favorite!)
- Serious Pie (wood-fired, thin-crust pizzas)
- Oddfellows (their homemade biscuits are soooo good!)
- The Pink Door (amazing lasagna!)
- Bar Melusine (pictured below, very Instagram worthy)
- Top Pot Doughnuts, General Porpoise or FROST (in Mill Creek)
- Hot Cakes (known for their molten chocolate cakes, which are amazing!!)
- Have a Seattle Dog from a street cart (recipe coming to the blog soon!)
- Radiator Whiskey (adventurous eaters will like the smoked half pig head)
- Salty’s on Alki Beach (seafood with a view)
- Bateau
- The Walrus and Carpenter
- The Whale Wins
- Noodle Bar at Trove (creative take on noodles & amazing rice cakes)
- Manolin
- Sitka & Spruce
- RockCreek | Seafood & Spirits
- Via Tribunali (Neopolitan-style pizza)
- Il Corvo Pasta
- Toulouse Petit
- Azul (further north in Mill Creek)
Drink:
- The Nest at Thompson Hotel (rooftop bar with a beautiful view of the waterfront)
- Breweries: Floating Bridge Brewing, Optimism Brewing Company, Fremont Brewing, Pike Brewing Company, Outer Planet Craft Brewing, Elysian
- Needle & Thread inside Tavern Law (speakeasy with craft cocktails where Rob and I went on one of our first dates!)
- Barnacle Bar
- Zig Zag Café
- Purple Café & Wine Bar
- Keys on Main (dueling piano bar where we went for my bachelorette party)
See:
- UW Campus (cherry blossoms in the Quad during spring)
- Kerry Park
- Chihuly Garden and Glass (pictured above)
- Gas Works Park
What a great guide! I have been to Seattle once, but it has been some time. I’d love to go back when I have more time. Those cupcakes look so yummy!
Amy Ann
Straight A Style
Seattle is gorgeous! I ate the best salmon of my life at the Pink Door! The EMP Museum is so much fun! The boutiques at Freemont are awesome. I also enjoyed the Ballard area…and of course the iconic Pike Place Market, and the first Starbucks shop. You, lucky Seattle girl! ;) Xo, Elsa
http://cafesocietyxxi.blogspot.de/
Those are all great spots, too! I’ll have to add those in! Thanks, Elsa!
Oh, Seattle in the summer. It really is the most beautiful place on the planet, isn’t it? You know, for those fifty glorious days of sun and warmth that the city gets : ). I spent the first 24 years of my life there as well so this post just makes my heart happy. Thank you for suggesting the Underground Tour, I really think it’s about the coolest thing you can do in the city and not that many people know about i!
It definitely is! So glad you liked the post :) thank you, Kasie!
Beautiful photos – thank you for sharing your guide! xoxo <3
Thanks, Antonia!
SO when I think of Seattle I think dark, rainy and grey but you really showed a BRIGHTER side of Seattle! I love all of these photos!! I hope to visit someday soon!
Courtney Bentley || http://www.courtneyvioletbentley.com
Thanks, Courtney! haha it definitely gets that reputation and it’s true more often than not, but summers are amazing :)
Me and my friends were literally talking about visiting Seattle. This post is totally bookmarked! Love the photos Jamie.
PS – i love how long the “where to eat” section was. I am so excited to visit now haha
xx,
Amanda
http://www.thegirlfromvegas.com
Haha! You can tell where my priorities are ;) thanks, Amanda!
Great post! I love Seattle!
Lauren
http://www.outfitsandoutings.com
Thanks, Lauren! Me too :)
Loved seeing all your photos from this trip! So fun.. and the good! Oh my yum!
Thanks, Christie! Yea we basically ate our way through the city… haha
Seattle is such a gorgeous city! I love visiting the water front and all that great food! Great post, Jamie! xo
Luci’s Morsels | fashion. food. frivolity.
Thanks, Luci! I love the water front, too!
Such great guide! Can you believe I’ve never been to Seattle?! I’ll have to keep this tips in mind when we finally get to go.I hope you have a fantastic weekend!
Love, Lindsey
http://thenomisniche.com/
Thanks, Lindsey! You must visit :) I think you’d love it!
Looks like a really lovely city to visit
Beauty Candy Loves
Definitely one of my favorites :)