Morning Day 1: Pike Place Market

Noah Kreyenhagen / © TripSavvy

Chances are you’re staying in or near downtown Seattle so start there. If you’re not staying
downtown, find a parking garage with all-day rates (Pacific Place is central and affordable)
and leave your car for the day. Be prepared to walk and be prepared for some hills.
Downtown is hilly!
8 am: Start your day at Pike Place Market. Grab some doughnuts at Daily Dozen
Doughnuts or a coffee and pastry at the original Starbucks for breakfast. Mornings at the
market are a little quieter than many afternoons
9-11 am: Spend some time exploring the market. Most of the main floor is produce, meat
and flower vendors. The bottom floors have interesting shops of all stripes. Make sure to
take a stroll through Post Alley and stop by the Gum Wall. Yeah, it’s a little gross, but it’s a
Seattle institution. You can even add to it if you want.
Noon: Stop for lunch. Pike Place Market has plenty of places that make great lunch spots,
like Piroshky Piroshky, Beecher’s or even a nicer sit-down restaurant like Tom Douglas’s
Etta’s.
If you have time or got started early, venture behind the market (and down a lot of stairs)
and toward the Seattle Waterfront. You won’t have too much time to really delve in here but
choose from taking a ride on the Seattle Great Wheel or Wings Over Washington and then
peek in at the shops along the water, including Ye Olde Curiosity Shop.
Afternoon Day 1: Explore Downtown Seattle

1 pm: Check out the Seattle Art Museum, which is just up the hill from Pike Place Market.
There are almost always special exhibitions, and the regular collections include everything
from abstract art to ancient artwork.
3 pm: Enjoy exploring downtown Seattle. There are lots of stores to explore, including
Metsker Maps (a treat for geography buffs), locally based Columbia, Fran’s Chocolates,
Macy’s and others large and small.
4 pm: Stop by Cupcake Royale for a snack. These are some of Seattle’s most famous
sweet treats and the flavors are varied and yummy! Afterward, head to Westlake Center at
4th and Pine and catch the Monorail to Seattle Center (or you can walk. It’s about a mile on
foot).

Evening Day 1: Seattle Center

5 or 6 pm: If you haven’t done it before, the Space Needle is worth doing. Yes, there are
lines, but if it’s a clear night, the view is second to none. Even if it’s cloudy, you’ll get a great
overview of the city. Try to aim for sunset for maximum effect. Depending on the time of
year, you might need to switch dinner and the Space Needle to make this happen. After you
go up the Needle, enjoy Seattle Center. There are plenty of other activities here, too, if you
prefer to swap out the Seattle Center for an art break at Chihuly Garden and Glass, some
scientific exploration at Pacific Science Center, or some entertainment history at MoPop.
7 pm: There’s a range of restaurants in and around Seattle Center. For casual, you can
even eat at the food court at Seattle Center (Mod Pizza is really very tasty). For a great
burger and fries, look to Dick’s Drive-In. For sit-down, there’s a Melting Pot on the perimeter
of Seattle Center. Or if you just aren’t ready to leave the Space Needle, you can even dine
at the top of the Needle at SkyCity.
After dinner, take the Monorail back downtown (unless you drove over). Make sure to check
the Monorail schedule so you don’t miss the last train, but trains usually go until 9 or 11
p.m.
At the Seattle Center, get your tickets to the Space Needle right away. You may need
to wait in line, so it’s best to do this early! After you ascend the Space Needle, are
thoroughly wow-ed, and come back to earth, grab lunch at the Armory. Skillet, with their
poutine, ‘ultimate grilled cheese,’ and pork belly & waffle, is my top recommendation and
worth the wait.
Morning Day 2: Discovery Park

Danita Delimont/Getty Images

8 or 9 am: Start your morning the Seattle way—at a coffee shop. There is no shortage of
great coffee shops outside of your first stop, Discovery Park.
10 am: Explore Seattle’s largest park, Discovery Park. The park’s 534 acres include paved
and rough trails alike, meadows, forests and even a beach with a lighthouse. You could
easily spend half a day here but aim to spend two or three hours. Make sure not to miss the
beach and lighthouse as some of the most picturesque views in the city are found here—a
lighthouse, Mt. Rainier, and the Puget Sound await.

Afternoon Day 2: Ballard

On your final day in Seattle, I recommend getting out of the downtown area. Walk from
downtown to Capitol Hill, catch a bus to Ballard or Fremont, or take the water taxi
to Alki Beach. I’ve put suggestions for each of these neighborhoods above, so if you
missed them scroll back up to see what I recommend doing. These neighborhoods all have
a distinctive vibe – and show you another side of Seattle. In each, you’ll likely be rubbing
elbows with more locals than visitors, and can explore more freely. You’ll experience fewer
crowds and more of what we locals love so much about our city.

Noon or 1 pm: Cross the Ballard Bridge and scope out lunch. There’s no shortage of
restaurants of all stripes in Ballard, but highlights include The Walrus and The Carpenter,
where you can enjoy fresh oysters and other local seafood, or The Noble Fir where you can
enjoy customized charcuterie and an impressive lineup of beer. Seattle is a microbrew kind
of city so if you don’t plan on getting a beer for dinner tonight, why not have a lunch beer?
2:30 pm: The Hiram M. Chittendam Locks (also just called the Ballard Locks) is very
uniquely Seattle and yet lower key than many of the bigger sights. The locks keep the salt
water of the Puget Sound separate from the fresh water of the lakes on the channels that
connect them and also adjust for a height difference—meaning you can watch as ships and
boats load into the locks and be raised or lowered.
3 pm: Cross to the far side of the locks and go down the stairs and you’ll find an
underwater view of a salmon ladder. Most of the year, there will be some fish climbing the
ladder, but summer is best to see the most salmon returning home to spawn.
3:30 pm: Wander the park and botanical garden surrounding the locks as well as the
exhibits.

Evening Day 2: Fremont

Seattle is a city of neighborhoods with distinct atmospheres, but one of the most unique
neighborhoods is Fremont with its ample amounts of unique things to see and places to eat.
It’s the perfect place to see a less touristy side of Seattle, as well as a good mix of what
makes this city a fun place to be. You can easily park and walk between all of the sights in
Fremont.
4 or 5 pm: Start with the Fremont Troll, which is located under the Aurora Bridge (it’s a troll,
after all) at N 36th Street. The troll is so big that he’s crushing a Volkswagon Beetle under
his hand. Climb on him and have your camera ready. This is a fun photo spot.
5:30 pm: Walk the streets of Fremont with a focus on Fremont Avenue and N 36th Street.
You’ll find local shops to explore as well as more quirky sights like the Fremont Rocket
mounted on a building at N 35th and Evanston and a real Communist-era statue of Lenin a
block later. You’ll also find glass art galleries, coffee shops and more, but don’t miss the
Theo Chocolate Factory. If you have your heart set on chocolate, check the close time on
the day you’re visiting and adjust accordingly.
7 pm: Have dinner in Fremont. Your options are pleasantly varied, from sushi at conveyor
belt-style Blue C, to Qazi’s Indian Curry House, to brewpubs. If you want to have another
round of Seattle microbrew, head to Fremont Brewing Company. They don’t have food, but
you can get something to go at any restaurant (or PCC Natural Market, also in Fremont)
and bring it along with you.

On your first day in Seattle, see the stuff in the heart of the city. Start your morning at Pike
Place Market; grab a coffee from the Original Starbucks while you wait. Watch the
vendors set up, the crowds swarm, and the fish start flying. Grab breakfast from Daily
Dozen Donuts, explore the market and new Market Expansion, and enjoy an early
lunch at Uli’s Famous Sausage (the only currywurst in town, made just like you’ll find in
Germany!). From downtown, walk south along the waterfront toward Pioneer Square.
Maybe ride the Great Wheel en route. Maybe also enjoy some fish and chips
from Ivar’s if you’re not too full from lunch.
Once you arrive in Pioneer Square, get tickets for the Underground Tour and wander the
streets above ground a bit afterward. For dinner, Altstadt Bierhalle & Brathaus is a
good choice, as is Il Terrazzo Carmine. If you’re eating an early dinner, consider The
London Plane or Copal. End with a cocktail at Damn the Weather. Head back to your
hotel by bus or walk off some of that indulgence.
 BAINBRIDGE ISLAND

HOW TO GET THERE?

You can access the island by ferry. It is so easy. You do not need reservations. You can
purchase tickets on the Colman Dock, pier 52. The address is 801 Alaskan Way (near Ivar’s
restaurant, another spot you should totally check out). Click here for a complete
schedule of arrivals/departures. It takes about 35 minutes one way. Pedestrian and cars
are both allowed. The cost is about $8.00 for a roundtrip. Inside the ferry, there is plenty
of room if you want to just relax and sit, tables if you need to get work done and there is
food and vending machines for a snack along the way. I quite enjoyed it! EVERYONE who
visits Seattle should take a ferry ride and this is the perfect combination of seeing the
cityscape of Seattle and looking at the Pacific Northwest through a completely different
lens.

HOW TO GET AROUND?

Bainbridge is best seen by foot. A short walk from the ferry terminal and you are in the
heart of the town. They do have a few Uber drivers, so if you find yourself in a hurry to
make a ferry back like we did, there are a few on the island.

WHERE TO EAT?

There are a lot of eateries throughout Bainbridge but a local from Seattle recommended
Bruciato, a casual Italian eatery that specializes in Napolitano pizza. It was really
delicious. It’s a great place to have a drink, order an appetizer or share a pizza. And,
bonus… the esthetic was very Instagram worthy. Check them out here (Instagram handle
@pizzeriabruciato). Looking for something in particular? Click here for a listing of their
downtown restaurants to try.

THINGS TO DO:

If you don’t have time for a wine tour (which we didn’t), there is great shopping,
breathtaking views and a quaint, historic downtown. The island is laid back, so take
advantage of the low key, non-agenda atmosphere and take a moment to relax here 🙂 If
you are a hiker or biker (which I’m not, LOL), there are plenty of parks and recreational
spots to see on the island. If you are on a budget, this is the perfect place to be. There is
a lot of sightseeing that is completely free. They have a museum and art shows are in
abundance. You can start with checking out their local visitor bureau to see what’s
happening,

WHERE TO GRAB A CUP OF COFFEE?

Our last stop was Pegasus Coffee House (located at 131 Parfitt Way S.W.) for our
afternoon cup of coffee and this place was charming. Obviously a favorite of the locals,
there was plenty of seating, tables and lounging couches to hang out. There were also
plenty of outlets to charge all our tech gadgets and relax for a bit before heading back to
the ferry.
 BALLARD
1. Ballard Locks and Salmon Ladder

Ballard is perhaps most famous for the Hiram M. Chittendam Locks (colloquially called the
Ballard Locks). Boats of all shapes and sizes load into the locks to move between the canal
and the Puget Sound—workers raise or lower the water level depending on which way
traffic is going. Standing on the platforms on either side of the locks and watching the
process is interesting, educational and sometimes entertaining as you never know what
kinds of personalities might be operating the boats.
Cross over the locks and to the far side of the structure and you'll find a salmon ladder. In
salmon season, it's not uncommon to spot salmon jumping out of the water from the surface
all along the canal, but take the set of stairs down into the interior of the ladder and you can
see the salmon battling the current underwater through glass panels. It’s a surefire hit with
young children, but just about anyone will be a little mesmerized by these large fish
swimming against the current.

2. Breweries

Ballard is a little slice of microbrewery heaven! A number of brew pubs and taprooms are
strategically located throughout the neighborhood, creating a situation that is nothing less
than stellar for beer fans. Microbreweries include Reuben's Brews, Maritime Pacific
Brewing Company, and Hale's Ales—new breweries join the list all the time. If Ballard
doesn't have enough beer for you, there's more in the Fremont neighborhood just next
door

3. Golden Gardens Park

Hands down, one of Seattle's best parks, Golden Gardens Park has everything that
makes the Northwest an awesome place to live. Sandy beaches where you can kick back,
plenty of places to hike along the water or through forests, and some really stunning
views of the water and Olympic Mountains. Other perks of the park include an off-leash
dog park, fishing areas, a boat launch and fire pits. But if all you do is relax for a sunset
here, you’ll be richer for the experience.
4. Ballard Farmers Market

Seattle has no shortage of farmers markets, but Ballard Farmers Market on Ballard
Avenue is one of the best. For one, the variety of vendors is solid. You'll find flowers, meat
and seafood, produce, as well as arts and crafts. Many vendors offer free samples so you
can try what you'd like to buy. The market is open all year round, each Sunday from 10
a.m. to 3 p.m., no matter the weather (but it can be closed if a major holiday like
Christmas falls on a Sunday). If you don't have any food shopping to do, come simply to
hang out and enjoy some live music.

5. Dine Out

Along with a thriving beer scene, Ballard has a pretty lively dining scene, too. If you’re in
the mood for seafood, you’re in for a treat—Anthony’s Homeport, Chinooks and Ray’s
Boathouse are all within the bounds of Ballard. Along Ballard Avenue NW are even more
dining choices, from seafood havens like The Walrus and The Carpenter to Pestle
Rock (Thai) and beyond. Don’t be afraid to wander and see what you come across.

6. Go Kayaking

If you’re exploring a maritime area, the best way to kick things up a notch is to get out on
the water. Rent a kayak from Ballard Kayak—from the water, see the yachts docked along
the Ship Canal or explore Golden Gardens from another angle. Ballard Kayak also leads
tours and you can even go through the Ballard Locks on a kayak on one of their tours.
Ballard Kayak is open in the spring and summer each year.