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I recently went to Seattle for the first time to visit my brother who lives there and had a great time exploring the city with a local! As one of the largest cities in the Pacific Northwest, Seattle has tons to offer and is surrounded by water, mountains and forests making it the perfect place for nature lovers.
If it’s your first time visiting Seattle, here’s a guide to all of the must see spots in the city!
WHAT TO DO
Whether you’re looking for museums, views or just getting outside in nature, the city has something for everyone.
Pike Place Market — no visit to Seattle is complete without a trip to the iconic Pike Place Market! It is one of the oldest operating farmer’s markets in the US and is the perfect place to spend a morning wandering through the stalls and quirky shops.
Gum Wall — while you’re at Pike Place Market, don’t forget to stop by this ‘work of art.’ The Seattle Gum Wall is covered in thousands of pieces of colorful chewing gum and is located in Post Alley underneath Pike Place Market!
The Original Starbucks — Are you a Starbucks fan? Well then you’ll want to stop by the first ever Starbucks store (opened in 1971) across from Pike Place Market!
Chihuly Garden & Glass — Dale Chihuly is one of the most well-known glass artists and a Washington native. This museum and garden has many of his works of art on display and they have done a beautiful job. This was one of my favorite stops in Seattle!
Top of the Space Needle — The Space Needle is conveniently located next to Chihuly Garden & Glass so you could easily do both in one afternoon! Since the Space Needle is so iconic of the city, I really wanted to get to the top. The lines and wait time were pretty crazy but I do have to say the views were gorgeous. My recommendation would be to buy your tickets online in advance and go at an off hour!
Kerry Park — Another great spot for city views is this small public park on the south slope of Queen Anne Hill. Grab some coffee and head here to take in the views of downtown Seattle and — on a clear day — the mountains!
Capital Hill — This hip neighborhood in Seattle is perfect for perusing indie shops, laid-back coffee spots and restaurants. If you love music, stop by the Spin Cycle to take a look at the records or go see a show at The Crocodile.
Gas Works Park — This iconic park is located on the former Seattle Gas Light Company gasification plant and is known for its panoramic skyline views of the city. Pack a picnic and take in the views!
Rent a Duffy Boat — What better way than to take in Seattle than by boat? Rent an electric Duffy boat and cruise around Lake Union for some of the best views of Seattle!
Seafair — One of the biggest events in Seattle takes place over the summer and is celebrated citywide — there are neighborhood events, boat shows and air shows! Last summer for Seafair, we joined some friends on a boat and watched the Blue Angels fly over from Lake Union… so much fun!
Visit Mount Rainier National Park — If you are itching to get out of the city, I recommend checking out one of the nearby national parks. We visited Mount Rainier National Park — just an hour and 45 minutes outside of Seattle — and I was blown away by how incredibly stunning the park was!
WHERE TO DINE
From diners and southern cuisine to Mexican, Japanese and more, Seattle has a diverse (and delicious!) dining scene.
Biscuit Bitch — With a tagline like “Trailer park to table” inspired cuisine, my interested was piqued! This hole in the wall spot serves up some of the best biscuits I’ve ever tasted — and it’s right near Pike Place Market so make sure to grab one if you’re nearby.
Glo’s — If you’re a diner lover and are looking for some homey dishes like giant pancakes and hashbrowns, this is your place.
Sushi Kashiba or Wataru — In the mood for omakase style sushi? Sushi Kashiba has been touted as having the best sushi in the city and owner Shiro Kashiba was trained by Jiri Ono. Wataru is run by chef Kotaro Kumita who was previously a protege of Shiro Kashiba and serves up Edomae style sushi.
JuneBaby — I first heard about this restaurant on David Chang’s show, Ugly Delicious (in the ‘Fried Chicken’ episode!), and then heard they were a semifinalist for Best New Restaurant in America by the James Beard Foundation. I have yet to try it but I have heard that Sunday is the day to go for fried chicken and “Moonshine Hour!”
Spinasse — This rustic Italian spot serves delicious Italian dishes in Capital Hill… perfect for when that pasta craving hits!
Stateside — Another great restaurant in Capital Hill! Stateside serves Vietnamese fusion dishes like Crispy Fresh Duck Rolls and Dungeness Crab Sesame Noodles.
Bateau — This contemporary steakhouse is perfect for a fun, classy dinner out. James Beard and Eater award winning Chef Renee Erickson is a master of meat!
Little Neon Taco — A buzzy, modern Mexican taqueria that serves tacos, tortas and cocktails.
WHERE TO STAY
Seattle has a great range of lodging options for every budget — and more nice low and moderately priced options than most cities I’ve seen!
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