In Seattle Travel Guide post I will share my travel experience and impression about Seattle and share the most popular activities you can do during your trip.
I had heard so many wonderful things about Seattle that it had been at the top of my trip wish list for quite some time.
Seattle, located in the Pacific Northwest, is known for rock music, Starbucks coffee, and fog.
We chose Seattle since it wasn’t too chilly there this time of year (January) and we wanted to travel somewhere a bit close to LA.
There had been some incredible stories about Seattle that piqued my interest, and I wanted to experience it for myself. Because San Francisco is one of my favorite cities in the United States, the major thing I heard about Seattle was that it shares so many similarities with SF that it inspired and motivated me to visit.
Seattle Travel Guide
We went to Seattle for only two nights during the week and stayed at the Holiday Inn downtown. It wasn’t the nicest location or hotel, but it been enough for a short stay, especially when we spent the majority of our time seeing the city.
We took off from LAX (Los Angeles) and landed in SEATAC airport (Seattle). We took The Link light rail, which runs across downtown Seattle, connecting SEATAC Airport with the University of Washington. It stops at a variety of areas during the route, such as the stadium district, the International District and Chinatown and downtown Seattle. It’s a fantastic and cost-effective choice for anyone traveling to the airport or from airport to downtown.
As our hotel was only about 15 minutes walk from the University of Washington we didn’t take another train.
Seattle | First impression
Well, if you are following me on Instagram, you probably already know that I am a major admirer of busy cities where you feel like you are a part of the city’s life, cities like San Francisco, Manhattan, and Boston, to name a few. I’m not the type of person who falls in love with a city simply because it has gorgeous structures or only one significant tourist attraction.
When we exited the train station, my first impression was that the area was comparable to Boston’s downtown, in that it was a mix of the two cities – San Francisco and Boston. My high emotions began to fade as we walked to our hotel, as the only things I could see were vacant streets, gloomy weather, and one to another similar structures. Seattle, if I had to choose a color, would be grey and blue.
If you are thinking of traveling to Seattle and wondering when is the best time to travel – September and October are perfect for a first time visitors. The chilly winter weather can discourage even the most enthusiastic travelers.
I wouldn’t say that Seattle is a total disaster or OMG I am never going to visit there again. Seattle is a unique city, because even being vacant and cold it has a unique architecture and it’s for sure worth visiting at least once in your life. If you are a quiet city lover you for sure will fall in love with Seattle.
I think because of covid and winter there were nothing to do. Especially if you are not vaccinated or don’t have a covid negative test there is nothing to do for you besides strolling in the streets.
We went sightseeing on our first day of the trip. We walked the entire downtown Seattle area, including the well-known Space Needle, Pike Place Market, and the first Starbucks location, explored the city, and returned to our hotel.
Surprisingly, the second day was sunny, and the city looked completely different. We explored the entire downtown area again, went back to Pike Place Market (it was late and there wasn’t much to see the previous day), wandered around the Waterfront, and grabbed a lunch on the go to enjoy under the Seattle Great Wheel.
Things to do in Seattle, Washington
1. Pike Place Market
Pike Place Market is a must-see attraction. Where else can you see fish fly? There are alleys dedicated to specific delicacies, so whether you’re searching for exciting, gourmet cheeses or big and meaty pieces of meat to bbq, you’ll find them here.
You might wish to pay a visit to the original Starbucks coffee store if you’re a Starbucks lover (or so if you’re not).
2. Gum Wall
Gum Wall is a wall in Post Alley under Pike Place Market in Downtown Seattle that is covered with old chewing gums. Since the early 1990s, when visitors waiting for concerts would glue gum to the wall to pass the time, the Seattle Gum Wall has been collecting gum.
3. Space Needle
The Space Needle, which rises more than 600 feet above the city, is one of Seattle’s most iconic landmarks.
The Space Needle, which was built for the 1962 World’s Fair, provides amazing panoramas of hills, waterways, and islands. It has a 360-degree panorama view of downtown Seattle.
4. Seattle Art Museum
From African paintings to Asian woodblocks and silkscreens, the museum have it all.
There are several other Native American flutes, crafts, textiles, and totem poles on exhibit.
5. Waterfront & Seattle Great Wheel
You can take a ferry to Bainbridge Island for lunch and a wander around this quaint city from Pier 52. Despite its tiny size, there are lots of wine sampling options and eateries to choose from.
Because each gondola is completely enclosed, you can ride even if it’s a bad weather outside.
In the summertime, cooling system is provided; in the winter, heating is available.
The ride will take you over 175 feet in the air, where you will be treated to panoramic views of the Seattle city as well as the water surrounding the harbor.
6. Chihuli Garden and Glass
The spectacular Chihuly Garden and Glass is placed directly close to the Space Needle.
The creativity and passion of Dale Chihuly, a famous glass artist, are featured in this exhibition.
There are eight galleries, a lovely garden, and the main Glasshouse to explore here.
7. Museum of Flight
It houses libraries, instructional centers, educational records, and maintenance facilities, in addition to a remarkable collection of aircraft and spacecraft.
8. Museum of Pop Culture
This non-profit museum has a diverse collection of exhibitions including music, cinema, entertainment, sports, and much more.
9. Chinatown and International District
The Chinatown-International District is divided into three sections: Chinatown, Japantown, and Little Saigon. It is the heart of Seattle’s Asian population.
10. Pioneer Square
Pioneer Square, Seattle’s first district, was established in 1852 and is well worth a stop. At the little Pioneer Park, which features a pergola, a fountain with a statue of Chief Seattle, and a Tlingit glass ceiling, visitors can learn about Seattle’s early history.
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