This blog post aims to educate showcase some of the places I visited while in Seattle, Washington. The blog post seeks to help travelers find locations they may want to see while in Seattle, Washington.
The city is nestled in between two mountain ranges (the Olympics and the Cascades). I went for my birthday in 2019, and it was by far one of my favorite places to visit. I have always heard of Seattle as a rainy city, but I encountered a blue sky during May.
Day 1: Pike Place Market
I arrived before noon, and the location of my stay was near Pike Place. One of Seattle’s top sights is Pike Place Market. This market has been selling local foods, flowers, and crafts for 112 years! Today, you can browse the bouquets, sample Washington cherries, and wander around to see all the market has to offer – you’ll never discover it all!
BEECHER’s Handmade Cheese: On November 20, 2003, Beecher’s Handmade Cheese opened its doors to the public and became the only artisan cheesemaker in the city of Seattle. This rich, creamy mac showcases two of the shop’s signature cheeses: Jack and Beecher’s Flagship (a cheddar-Swiss hybrid). In August 2012, Beecher’s cheese received the highest honor given to American artisan cheeses at the American Cheese Society annual competition – the coveted Best of Show, beating out over 1,700 cheeses from Canada, the United States, and Mexico. I share the history because the mac and cheese were delicious, just melted in my mouth. The sandwich was good; I got to eat it while watching the workers make cheese.
Starbucks: If you love Starbucks, head to the Starbucks tasting room on the edge of Capitol Hill/9 blocks from Pike Place Market. I visited, and it was so neat seeing them roast beans and do a tasting of blends that you can’t find anywhere else. Plus, it smells incredible in there!
I had to go do homework and get “the supplies,” so I went to Target, got water and snacks before going back to my room since I am a doctoral student and had to do homework.
Day 2 – Walking around Seattle
I took an Uber and visited the Fremont Troll, who lives under the massive Highway 99 overpass. If you are a fan from once upon a time, you know precisely what troll I am referring to. I got my long-awaited selfie with the giant and walked towards the space needle.
Since I arrived before the Space Needle opened, I got Mcdonals as it was nearby. The Space Needle is located on the Seattle Center grounds, but it deserves its own section. As Seattle’s most iconic building, basically, every visitor to Seattle visits the Space Needle. A little history – In mid-2018, the Space Needle re-opened after an extensive renovation. The renovations revealed a stunning rotating glass floor that allows you to look straight down to the Seattle Center below. New glass paneling on both floors also sallows 360-degree views of Seattle and the Puget Sound – without any fencing, metal enclosures, or rooflines from years past.
The Magical Gardens at Chihuly Garden and Glass in Seattle is the second place to go after the needle. The Chihuly Garden and Glass is an exhibit in the Seattle Center showcasing the studio glass of Dale Chihuly. Aside from the beautiful art, a fantastic gift shop at the end of the tour features truly unique items specific to the museum and Seattle. Also, clean and expansive restrooms are around the corner from the gift shop if needed.
If you want the walk, be sure to check out Olympic Sculpture Park (below) as you move out of the downtown area. The vast statues are great for photos. You can continue along the Elliott Bay Trail for another two miles toward Pier 91 (where Princess, Holland America, and a couple of other cruise companies dock), enjoying sweeping views of Puget Sound and the Olympic Mountains. Keep an eye peeled for Washington State Ferries as they pull out of the downtown Seattle Terminal headed toward Bainbridge Island and Bremerton on the Olympic Peninsula.
Around lunchtime, I found myself at Tacos Chukis. Be prepared to wait as this place is popular, but you can order online, which works for me if I hurry. They have the most fantastic sandwich, the Torta Chukis. It includes marinated meat, guacamole, and grilled pineapple– which you have to experience to understand.
The Seattle–Bainbridge ferry is across Puget Sound between Seattle and Bainbridge Island, Washington. On warmer days, go topside for open-air sweeping views. It’s the best place to get your vacation photos of the Seattle skyline and surrounding mountains.
Lastly, get dinner and drinks at The Pink Door! This is one of the top restaurants in Seattle and is located at Pike Place Market. They have entertainment every night of the week. Make a reservation well in advance; this place is popular!
Day Three: Seattle Waterfront
The Seattle waterfront stretches from downtown north along Elliott Bay to the Interbay neighborhood. The pier was built in 1974. It’s been known as Waterfront Park since its beginning. While it may not seem old, the waterfront is tough on the structures that live on it. The sidewalks and trails stretch three miles, and there’s plenty to see and do along the way. The Seattle Waterfront centers on a collection of lively piers filled with seafood restaurants, souvenir shops, and attractions like the Seattle Great Wheel, with gondolas overlooking Puget Sound.
The famous Seattle Gum Wall is a super quirky landmark that warrants a photo if you’re in the Emerald City. Fun fact – it’s nearly 50 feet long, so plenty of room to grab a selfie even with the hordes of tourists.
Seattle Great Wheel is located at Pier 57 on Elliott Bay, the tallest Ferris wheel on the West Coast of the U.S. when it opened in 2012, spanning 175 feet high. Each gondola can fit 8 people, showcasing the Puget Sound and Seattle skyline all at once. Regular admission is $14.
This concluded my trip. I called an Uber to return to Los Angeles.
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Juan Velez Photography 
I’ve never been to Seattle but would love to visit one day once the pandemic crisis comes to an end to see its attractions and nearby national parks 🤗
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