There are so many reasons why I love Seattle. Although there are many things to see in this great city, I’d suggest a few basic things to add to your bucket list! The best part is that you can experience them in more than one way, to accommodate your budget and time frame.

City Lights at Night

One of the benefits of flying into Seattle at night is getting to see how extraordinary the city is by night! You see the constant streams of traffic as you get closer, the buildings all lit up, the coastline….the city is still alive with warmth and color.

Sometimes after a long day of excursions and walking around town, you don’t really feel like going out late. In most cases you probably feel like going to bed around 8 pm. BUT….wherever you are staying, I suggest you at least take a look out your hotel window, or a walk outside to see how beautiful the Emerald City is when the sun goes down.

If you are willing to, I’d highly suggest seeing the Space Needle at night. To get the most for your money, I like to go at sunset when you can get the best of both worlds! Since they have remodeled, they now have two floors that you can view the city. The observatory deck is the top floor, where they now have glass walls on the outer edge so you can have uninterrupted view of the skyline. This floor also features a cafe that serves food, coffee, and alcoholic beverages. The lower level is the rotating floor, that also has glass floors that you can look directly down from, as well as glass walls. If you have the time, it is a wonderful way to be able to see all of Seattle.

You can also view the city from other buildings at night, such as the Smith Tower and the Columbia Center. The Smith Tower was the tallest building in Seattle back in 1914. It features an exhibit on the ground floor, and a bar with signature drinks on the observation floor, both giving a little history to the famous building. The Columbia Center is currently the tallest building in Seattle, and has a 360 view of the city as well! Ticket prices include a night and day viewing.

Another option if you are willing to venture out at night, is to go to a rooftop bar in Seattle, there are several to pick from!

The Waterfront Views

The waterfront is an absolute must see, whatever way you decide to do it! An easy way to get a glimpse is to go behind Pike Place Market’s main building. They have open areas with tables, and views of the water. On a clear day, you can view the Cascade Mountains in the distance! This is a nice opportunity to sit back and watch all the sail boats, ships, and ferries go by. There are several restaurants that have a waterfront view in the market as well, whether it be indoor or outdoor (take your pick!).

Another option for those who would like to take a closer look, is to take a sea cruise or tour! We chose the Argosy Harbor Tour (included with a City Pass if you purchase one). The tour is an hour, which is the perfect amount of time to zip around the coastline and get a look at the city from a different vantage point. They have a full service bar, as well as offering indoor and outdoor seating. Be ready to take some great pictures of the coastline! The tour also offers some good photo opts for the Space Needle from afar.

For those who have a little more time, it’s always a great option to take a ferry adventure. You can go to nearby Alki Beach, or several other destinations. Simply check the ferry listings online and go from there!

Local Coffee

Seattle is known for its great coffee, and they have a large variety of local options to test out. What’s even better for caffeine addicts such as myself, the downtown area has one on almost every block! I was even lucky enough to pick a hotel that served coffee all day.

Starbucks also has many locations in Seattle, since it originated here in 1971. You can also find a Starbucks on almost every block. Although I do suggest venturing out and finding local options to try, if you do want a Starbucks experience, go to the First/Original Starbucks across from Pike Place Market, or the Starbucks Roastery. Both usually have long lines to wait in, but are a fun experience for any coffee lover!

All of the local coffee shops in Seattle I visited at least offered the basics (americano, latte, iced coffee, drip coffee, espresso). It’s always a good idea to ask your barista what is popular or what they suggest, to get a feel for what their signature flavors are! There are some shops that roast their own beans, others even make their own flavored syrups! You never know what you’ll find.

Something all of these shops have in common-friendly and helpful staff! All of the places I visited had some great baristas and were very friendly, which I appreciated as a newcomer.

If you are interested in learning more about each local coffee shop, I will have a blog coming up soon with my local favorites and what they have to offer!

For quick reference here are the names of some shops I’d suggest: Mr. West Cafe Bar, Anchorhead Coffee, Cherry Street Coffee House, Caffe Dior, Caffe Ladro, Monorail Espresso, and Ghost Alley Espresso.

Local Seafood

Many of Seattle’s local restaurants boast fresh seafood, and it’s a great opportunity to try something different! When I was in Seattle last year, I did try Etta’s, a local restaurant on Western Ave. Their menu has lots of different seafood options, but I decided to try the fish and chips. It was definitely a great (and filling) meal! Don’t be afraid to try something new, you may just stumble across something you love.

Many of the local seafood restaurants can be found near the waterfront on Western Ave and Alaskan Way. Some well rated favorites include Cutters Crabhouse, Elliot’s Oyster House, The Crab Pot, Shuckers Restaurant, and Lowell’s Restaurant & Bar.

If you would rather buy fresh seafood to cook at home, Pike Place Fish Co. in the Pick Place Market will be happy to ship out orders to your house, or you can take it with you right away (if you have a kitchen available in you hotel room). Or, you can just watch other people buy their fish and get it thrown to them at the market!

I hope that some of these options have inspired you to experience Seattle in your own way. Which places or sights are at the top of your list of things to do in Seattle? If you’ve already visited, what experiences were your favorite? As always I’d love to hear from you, so feel free to comment below, or email me directly. Join me in future posts for more travel adventures and tips! Happy traveling!