Travelogue: Seattle

Last weekend was my second time in Seattle and I seem to fall in love with it a little bit more each time. The people are so wonderfully friendly and down-to-earth, the food is amazing, and there's plenty of greenery to make you feel like you are gulping down the freshest of air. Here is a list of things I enjoyed and would recommend for any Seattle visitor.

Must-see attractions:

Chihuly Garden and Glass - absolutely gorgeous glasswork installations and there's even an outdoor Glasshouse with some impressive sculptures. Go close to the sunset time so that you can explore the Glasshouse during day hours and at night. The pieces are breathtakingly delicate and vibrant.

Chihuly Garden and Glass Exhibit

Seattle Wheel - This isn't for those with a fear of heights, but it's definitely for you if you enjoy a good view. This is another attraction to checkout during sunset because there's nothing more gorgeous than watching the sunset from a little pod high up in the sky. You have the water on one side, the city on the other, and the sky all around; it's so easy to get lost in the magic of it all, especially during sunset.

Seattle Big Wheel on the Water

Kerry Park - grab a cup of coffee from Stumpton's in Queen Anne and drive over to Kerry Park to check out on of the best view's of the city's skyline. Come at night to see the city lit up and the Space Needle's vibrant and distinctive silhouette.

View from Kerry Park

Public Market: It's absolutely touristy but it's also uniquely Seattle, so it is definitely worth a visit. If you are a Starbucks addict like me, get here early and get your favorite concoction from the first Starbucks, which is conveniently right across the Market. Lots of beautiful flowers and other great things to check out at this place.

Public Market 

Must-eat Places:

1) Serious Pie - in my two visits, I have had three meals here. The pizza is absolutely phenomenal. If waiting isn't your thing, get here at 11:30 AM for an early lunch or at 6 PM for an early dinner with happy hour.

2) Dahlia Bakery - located right around the corner from Serious Pie makes this the best place to grab a quick dessert after some delicious pizza. I favor the Coconut Creme Pie bites, but they also have delicious brownies and baked goods of all varieties. The store front in pretty small, so expect to grab and go unless the weather is good. Then there are two table to eat out front.

3) Macrina Bakery - a great place to grab a breakfast pastry and some coffee or a delicious sandwich. If you go to the Belltown location, expect a crowd. 

4) Toulouse Petit - voted one of the best brunch and happy hour spots in all of United States, so try to come for one of those. I went for happy hour here and I can say their food and drink menu was extensive and delicious. I agree with the assessment of one of the best places for happy hour. 

5) Purple - an amazing baked brie and wine cellar to die-for make this one of my favorite places in the city. If you are in the mood for some good wine and a place to dress-up a little, this is your place. 

6) Fremont Coffe House - drive over the Fremont neighborhood for a quick get away from the city and enjoy and cup of their amazing coffee and latte art on the little patio. It's a relaxing place to sit and think or plan out your next steps. You can also walk around and explore the quirky Fremont neighborhood while you are there because it offers tons of little shops and stores that are fun and capture some of Seattle's spirit. If not this one, definitely check out some coffee shops while you are there. Seattle seems to be a veritable treasure for these and I had a lot of fun exploring some local places that offer delicious brews.

7) Ding Tai Fung - I was introduced to this little gem in Bellevue by my friend and I am so glad I tried it! Apparently it's a pretty popular restaurant in Taiwan and it's fame is definitely obvious. We put our name down for dinner at 5 PM and then wandered around the adjacent mall for an hour and a half before they texted us that our table was ready. The place is packed but the service is great and the dumplings are amazing! Some of their noodle dishes and the black sesame buns are also a must. Go for dinner and go hungry so that you can try lots of dishes. 

8) Molly Moon's - delicious homemade ice cream with an extremely generous scoop-size. The small is easily big enough for two people. I got a split-small-scoop of early grey and the salted caramel; just thinking about it now makes my mouth water.

9) Bathtub Gin & Co. - a great little speakeasy with excellent cocktails to unwind and kick off the night.

10) Paseo - I am a vegetarian, but one of my meat-eater friends assure me that this is one of the best sandwiches she has ever had in her life. They definitely have the crowd to prove it because even though we went for a late lunch at 3 PM, there was a line for food. A great street-food place that seems to attract lots of locals, so that's always a good sign. 

Packing:

What you have to pack: comfortable shoes that can stand the rain, a lightweight rainproof jacket with a hood, and lots of pants or jeans 

What you can leave at home: flashy dresses and high heels. Most of Seattle seems to rock the Casual Chic look, so it's very rare that we saw anyone who was dressed up. Save the dresses for Los Angeles and embrace your inner chic-hippie look. 

What else is there:

If you feel like you can do more, here's some other things to do: 

Space Needle - worth seeing once but Kerry Park has a better view of the skyline.

Gasworks Park - great views of the city again and a place to check for every fan of the movie, 10 Things I Hate About You.

Discovery Park - all the eating got you feeling a little gross? Go here and hike one of the many green and gorgeous trails that give you a workout and a view.

Ballard - walk around this cute little neighborhood and check out the many stores and cafes it has to offer. There's also a great farmer's market on Sunday mornings.

Mount Rainier - Want to get away from the city? Take the three hour drive up to visit the grandiose Mt. Rainier and take in the sweeping views of the beautiful mountainside. It will make your believe in the beauty of mother nature like no other. 

Mt. Rainier - Snow in May