Happy Monday from soggy Dallas. It was a rainsoaked weekend, but I’ve discovered the best way to love rainy days…pink rain boots! I was more than happy to pull them on every day, and trudge through as many puddles as I could find. I did take them off long enough to meet this guy though!
My friend, Jen, was in Seattle over the weekend as part of the Bloom Workshop, and while chatting with her about it, I realized I never posted the {Trip Report} from our time in Seattle this Spring! The timing seems fairly apropos seeing as we got 8-inches of rain this weekend.
Sidenote: Are you familiar with the Bloom Workshop? Those girls do an amazing job, and it looks like a stunning day! Fingers crossed they come through Dallas sometime soon!
The funny thing is, when we visited Seattle in late-May, Dallas was having one of the wettest months on record. In fact, every local we met said the same thing, ‘Oh, I hear Dallas is really getting hit hard! Pretty funny you had to come to Seattle to escape the rain!’ In fact, we never saw a drop of rain all weekend!
But enough about the weather…you may recall we took an Alaskan cruise out of Seattle, and since neither of us had ever been, Mr. SP and I flew in a day early and soaked up as much as we could of the Emerald City in 24-hours.
We managed to see, eat and experience quite a bit, but barely scratched the surface, I’m sure. We’ll start with my travel uniform…clearly I’m excited to be getting away!
Black Maxi Dress | Scarf (similar) | Hat | Striped Bag | Sandals
After dropping our bags, we headed straight to Pike Place Market and mingled with the gawking tourists, and determined locals who efficiently worked their way through the crowds for fresh seafood, veggies and incredible flower bouquets!
Jacket (similar) | Striped Oxford (similar) | White Jeans | Fringe Bag (similar)
Scarf (similar) | Watch | Sunglasses
Scarf (similar) | Watch | Sunglasses
Travel Tip: If your visit is short, you’ll likely stick to the heart of the city so no rental car is needed. We used our usual Premier Transportation for the ride from SeaTac airport to the hotel, then Uber for the quick trip to the cruise terminal. The rest of the time we walked.
Jacket (similar) | Striped Oxford (similar) | White Jeans | Fringe Bag (similar)
Scarf (similar) | Watch | Sunglasses
Scarf (similar) | Watch | Sunglasses
We first split a bowl of rich, creamy mac-and-cheese at Beechers Handmade Cheese, then headed over to Pike Place Chowder. But apparently the ‘city’s best cup of chowder’ comes with a 2-hour wait! #pass We found a bustling lunch counter inside the market, and as far as I’m concerned, that was the best cup of chowder!
We walked by the original Starbucks…which of course had a ridiculous line, as well. They know it’s the same coffee available at every other Starbucks in the world, right?! We stopped at a handful of cozy coffee shops, but Cafe Ladro was a favorite.
The nearby Gum Wall is equal parts mesmerizing and horrifyingly disgusting.
I’m don’t typically shop while traveling (not enough room in my compactly-packed bag!!), but I couldn’t resist walking through the original Nordstrom.
My sister-in-law highly recommended the city’s Duck Tour, and while that’s not something we’d usually do, we loved it! True it was completely cheesy, but in a funny, self-deprecating way…and given our limited time in the city, it was a fun way to see more of Seattle’s neighborhoods, historical district, and experience Gas Works Park, the downtown skyline, and those famous houseboats from the vantage point of floating through Lake Union.
{Where We Stayed}
Renaissance Seattle Hotel // The hotel was provided as part of our Alaskan cruise package, so I can’t speak to it’s amenities vs. cost (usually I’ve done my own research when recommending hotels), but we really enjoyed our stay. It’s a great location for easy walks to all the major sites, has comfy & quiet rooms and attentive staff.
{Where We Ate}
Beechers Handmade Cheese // This busy spot is world-famous for their mac-and-cheese, and while the lines can be long, it moves quickly and efficiently. We grabbed a seat at the counter and watched them make their large batches of cheese.
The Pink Door // This place is hard to find (tucked away in a tiny alley), but rewards you with a fairytale space that includes waterfront views & an overhead trapeze artist as entertainment. It’s cozy, casual, and comfortably romantic.
The Daily Dozen Donut Company // Make peace with the line & enjoy chatting with the interesting people waiting along with you for the melt-in-your mouth, magical hot donuts. Skip the fancy flavors and go for the powdered sugar ones that sell as fast as they’re made. Take your bag of heaven across the street to Victor Steinbrueck Park and enjoy your diabetic breakfast overlooking Elliott Bay and Mt. Rainier.
In our last hours, we wandered through Pioneer Square and neighboring Occidental Park, gazing at the handsome Victorian buildings and totem poles.
Then it was a quick stop at Pike Place Market again for a $10 bouquet of peonies that brightened our cabin for the entire cruise. (Thanks to a sweet reader, Melisa, for that tip!!)
We saw just enough of Seattle to know we’d love to go back and experience more of the city and surrounding areas. What are your favorite spots and stops in Seattle? Include them in the comments for others traveling…and our return trip!
See more {Trip Reports} here, and all about the Alaskan cruise below…
{More Alaska posts}
Trip Report | Skagway
P.S. Did you catch last week’s chat about Favorite Beauty Products? One of my picks, RemeLift, (the ‘Botox in a Bottle’) just had a major price drop! It’s half-priced through the end of the year!
SUCH A FUN POST!!!! You looked DARLING….and now I want a hearty breakfast of donuts, clam chowder, and mac and cheese. And probably some queso on the side. Just because.
Thanks for all the helpful information. I'm pinning this for future reference!
Mmmm…I LOVE Beechinors! For anyone with a layover in Sea-Tac, they also have a store inside the airport (I think Terminal C…..the Alaska Air terminal) and you can get the same mac & cheese without having to fight the crowd down at Pike's.
We did a lot of the same things as you while we were in Seattle – and our favorite place to eat was Toulous Petit on Queen Anne's hill – it is amazing! And their Happy Hour has been ranked as one of the best in country – and for good reason. 🙂
http://www.sexsoncharolais.com/2015/07/seattle.html
I miss those bouquets!! Tom Douglas restaurants are great…. Etta's and Dahlia Lounge. Also, 25 minutes east of the city, Snoqualmie Falls is a must see. Gorgeous waterfall. (We used to live in Snoqulamie.) And the Salish Lodge by the falls has a great brunch.. order the smoked salmon hash.
Our family loves visiting Seattle. We're usually there for the Seahawk games though. 🙂
What did you think of the food at THe Pink Door? I ate there years ago and was disappointed, but agree that the atmosphere is amazing!
My husband and I were in Seattle last year for a wedding and had such a fun trip! We stayed at the Grand Hyatt which is across the street from the Nordtrom. The rooms are fabulous with floor to ceiling windows that are outfitted with electronic black out curtains and the bathrooms are amazing. We enjoyed visiting quite a few breweries while we were there and also a gin distillery called Oola. One of the highlights of our trip was going to Mario Batali's parents' deli Salumi, and we also had a great meal at Spinasse. Oh, and two more, oyster hh on the water at Elliot's and a visit to the Ballard locks to watch the boats pass through. I can't wait to visit again.
Unfortunately, the Duck Boats will no longer be running in Seattle. There was a horrific collision between a Duck Boat and a tour bus last month with several fatalities.
I saw that…such a horrible tragedy. But according to the Duck Tour website, they are still having tours. xo
The duck boats will no longer be running on the bridge the accident happened on. They will alter their route. It was a horrible accident, such a sad thing to have happened.
I love seeing my hometown (and current residence!) through the eyes of a visitor, reminds me why I've never left this neck of the woods.
What a great post for me to save! My husband and I are spending a week in Seattle for Christmas! So all please share more about what to do and experience during that week of Christmas?! Thanks so much! xo
Seattle is SUCH a fun city!! i love loved the mini donuts at the market 🙂 xo jillian – cornflake dreams
Wait…were you in Seattle during Bloom?! I'm so sad I missed you if so!! So fun to meet Jen and thanks for the shout out :)))
What a gorgeous post – I love all your pictures, especially of the iconic PPM! I really hope I will be able to visit Seattle for the first time soon. Perhaps it will be sooner rather than later as I am moving to NYC. Yay! 🙂 xo
I live just a three-hour drive from Seattle – it is such a fun city to explore! Haven't been in a couple years (!!!) though, so now I'm itching to go for a weekend!
So funny, those were my same thoughts about the Gum Wall! I had never heard of it; we just happened to find it when we were walking around. It made for some interesting vacation photos of our children!
The timing on this post is perfect – I have a quick trip to Seattle in a couple weeks! We used a lot of your tips on our most recent trip to Puerto Rico, so I know I'm in good hands 🙂
So…anything interesting to report from the original Nordstrom?
I'm so glad my posts were helpful on your last trip! Honestly, we went in to Nordstrom, and right back out! It's huge and was packed!!! And I have one here, so didn't feel the need to spend our limited time there. But if you don't have a nordstrom nearby, it's def fun to walk through! Have a great trip!
So glad you enjoyed your time in Seattle! I live north of the city but love playing tourist from time to time. 🙂