The Perfect Getaway to Seattle
While we are obviously BIG fans of weeks-long, carefully planned adventures, sometimes we just want a simple weekend getaway to clear our minds. Seattle had been near the top of our list of places to visit for a while, so when we found ourselves wanting a little break from Austin before Gabriel started a new job, it was the first place that came to mind.
After a 4-hour hop to the PNW, we were welcomed with gloomy skies, a cold chill, and the promise of all the coffee our hearts could handle. The first order of business? Visiting the original Starbucks on Pike Place! It’s located right across the street from Pike Place Market – and right next to a cheese shop that we visited later on – and was just a quick walk from our hotel.
Because we arrived on a Wednesday, the next day started as any good day in Seattle must: cozied up and working in the Starbucks Roastery. Y’all, this is the ULTIMATE remote working location, not to mention the coolest coffee shop we’ve ever seen.
Our favorite areas? The wall of cold brew and the traditional Italian bakery!
We spent a few hours working, sipping coffees, eating pastries, and marveling at the genius design in every detail. Then it was time to get out and see the city! Seattle is such a great place for people who prefer to walk everywhere. We walked through downtown and out toward Kerry Park because it is said to have one of the best views of the skyline. And we agree! The fact that we got to walk through some charming neighborhoods was an added bonus.
We ended our walking tour exploring the area around the Space Needle. Unfortunately, it was too late in the day to actually go up, but we did find the sweetest little Bubble Tea shop right at the moment we were both having a (seriously weird) craving for it.
To finish off a perfect Seattle day, we found an incredible sushi fusion restaurant, Japonessa, which brings together classic sushi and Latin influences. We decided to ditch the cameras for a the evening and fully immersed ourselves in the dining experience. Suffice to say, it was some of the most inventive sushi we’ve ever had.
Day three was all about checking off some big Seattle must-dos: Bullet Proof Coffee, the Space Needle, Top Pot Doughnuts, Pike Place Market, and Beecher’s Handmade Cheese Shop. These are the days when we feel like we are living our BEST lives! First up…
Bullet Proof Coffee. For those of you who have never tried it, it’s coffee with “Brain Octane” oil and butter that’s supposed to be more energizing than normal coffee. Did we feel more energized? Not really. But it tasted like buttery toast, so I’d drink it again!
The Space Needle was built for the 1962 World’s Fair and has become one of the most recognizable – and most photographed – buildings in the entire world. It was built to symbolize humanity’s dream of space exploration. As you make your way through the building and to the elevator, you get to learn all about the history of the project and the plans for the future. The ultimate reward comes on the observation deck, 605 feet in the air, where you get a remarkable view of Mount Rainier, Puget Sound, Olympic mountains, and the entire city. We didn’t get the full 360-degree view because the deck was under construction, but what we did get to see was breathtaking.
After a few hours at the Space Needle, we decided to give our feet a break and rode the train toward the waterfront. Our mission: tasting some PNW doughnuts that so many people rave about! Our target: Top Pot Doughnuts. At first whiff, we knew these were going to stand apart. It took everything in us not to buy and eat a dozen in one sitting!
Now that we were properly sugared up, the last stop of the day was Pike Place Market. Our hotel was situated within walking distance, so we had walked in front of and below the market a few times at night. But we had yet to see it during the day when the fishmongers were still throwing and the stalls were bustling with energy.
Remember the cheese shop next to the original Starbucks on the first day? Well, we figured this was the perfect time to cross the street and get some cheese at Beecher’s Handmade Cheese Shop. It’s set up with a large viewing window so you can actually watch the cheese-making process. Talk about mesmerizing! From there, we decided to hit one more coffee shop for some late-afternoon work and grabbed a pizza to eat in our hotel room. Why, you may be asking? The Olympic Opening Ceremonies were on that night, and that’s something we try not to miss — even while we’re traveling.
Last day, best day…and busiest day!
We strategically planned to have a later flight so we could make the most of our time in Seattle. We started our day a little differently, deciding to hit up an actual breakfast spot rather than our typical coffee shop. One of the most recommended places in Seattle was Biscuit Bitch in Pioneer Square, y’all, it lived up to the hype! The line, the crowd, and the noise were all worth it for the over-the-top biscuit creations they were serving up.
Then it was time for a walking tour of Underground Seattle. Walking tours are so underrated, and we don’t understand why. Whether it’s a paid one or a free one (this one was paid), you get a completely unique view of the city and insights from an expert that you otherwise would never know. This tour was underneath and around Pioneer Square, which is Seattle’s original neighborhood. Having seen a lot of cities built on cities in Europe, we were fascinated to see this in the States. (Sadly, we weren’t allowed to take many photos on this tour for safety reasons.)
Now, honestly, it would be a disservice to Seattle to not hit up a new coffee shop every single day. Our goal this time was to find the best coffee art in the city, and I think we succeeded at Moore Coffee Shop.
Our last stop of the trip — and, honestly, one of the most exciting — was the Museum of Flight. We packed our suitcases into an Uber and made our way out to the museum. We had several hours to explore the exhibits before we had to head to the airport, and that was plenty of time to nerd-out.
One of the coolest parts of this museum was getting to walk through a gutted 747. We have yet to fly in one still, so getting to see the interior (which they had converted into a mini exhibit on the history of the model) was fun.
And that, as they say, was that! In 4 days, we managed to not only check off a ton of Seattle bucket list items but completely fall in the love with the city. There’s just something magical about the PNW that makes us feel like we could live there. For now, though, we’ll just keep planning our return trip. Hey, the coffee’s not going to drink itself!
Big hugs,
Jules