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!
