STATE 2 of 50

For our second state, we traveled back west to Washington. We stayed 4 nights in downtown Seattle, then traveled to Woodinville for 2 nights. When it comes to traveling, we are definitely more “city people”. One of our favorite things to do is to eat and drink our way through a city, and Seattle and Woodinville were the perfect places for this.

Seattle, home to the Space Needle and Pike Place Market, is a beautiful city with amazing views – if it isn’t too cloudy and rainy. With 4 days in the city, we were able to hit all of the tourist spots, while still having time to enjoy a cup of coffee and pastry in a quiet area and viewing the city from a local’s eye. Woodinville, just a 30 minute drive outside downtown Seattle, is appropriately known as the wine country, as it is home to 130+ wineries, including my all-time favorite Chateau Ste Michelle in the Hollywood District.

DAY ONE

• Fly into SEATAC Airport and travel to downtown Seattle using the Link Light Rail (public transit).
• Check into your AirBnB, and head to Starbucks Reserve Seattle Roastery, where you can try the Whiskey Barrel-Aged Cold Brew or an Espresso Flight.
• End your first night at The Angry Beaver, Seattle’s only hockey bar! Catch a Seattle Kraken game or test your knowledge with trivia night on Wednesdays.

DAY TWO

• Walk down to Piroshky Piroshky for one (or 5) of their sweet or savory piroshkys (hand held pies). The potato and cheese and the chocolate cream hazelnut roll were amazing! It’s no wonder they were on their best sellers list.
• Stop just a block away for coffee from Starbucks @ 1st and Pike. It’s the sister store to the original Starbucks and is right in front of the Pike Place Market entrance. We were able to watch vendors bringing in that day’s sells, from flowers to seafood.
• Hop on the Seattle Monorail to the Seattle Center. Here, we visited the Space Needle, Chihuly Garden and Glass Museum, and the International Fountain. One main highlight from this center was the moving floor at the Space Needle. Seeing how high up we were was a little scary, but so worth it!
• Next grab a late lunch at Dick’s Drive-In, a fast-food burger chain located only in Washington. Take your food to go, and head to Kerry Park for overlooking sunset views of the city.

DAY THREE

• Start your day with breakfast pastries from La Panier Bakery and coffee from The First Starbucks.
• Head to Pier 57, and ride on the Argosy Harbor Cruise. This is a 1-hour narrated tour around Elliot Bay detailing all there is about Seattle, the ports, and beyond. After, ride the Seattle Great Wheel and visit the local shops on the pier. Here is where the Seattle Aquarium is also located.
• Grab lunch at Pike Place Chowder, where you can sample all of their amazing, and prize-winning, chowders.
• End the day on the Red Light District Tour with Beneath the Streets. It is an adults-only version of their underground history tour of Seattle’s original neighborhoods before the Great Seattle Fire in the 1880s.

DAY FOUR

• Pike Place Market day! In the past two days, you would’ve visited some places located in or near Pike Place Market following this guide, but the market needs a day all to itself. Here are a few places to stop for a drink or a bite:
  • Ghost Alley Espresso
  • Daily Dozen Doughnut Co.
  • Seattle Dumpling Co.
  • Falafel King
  • Mee Sum Pastry
  • Chicken Valley
  • The Pike Brewing Company
  • Seattle Beer Co.
• Make sure to also watch fish fly at the Pike Place Fish Market, stick gum to the infamous Gum Wall, deposit coins in Rachel the Pig for charity (and good luck!) and purchase fresh flowers (especially during tulip season) from one of the many local flower vendors.
• Freshen up after a full day at the market for a delicious seafood dinner at Matt’s in the Market, overlooking Pike Place Market.

DAY FIVE and SIX

• Head to Woodinville’s Hollywood District and stay at Holly Creek Farmhouse Bed & Breakfast (highly recommend booking directly through the website – the owner, Rebecca, is an amazing host and her breakfast is to die for!) The best part is this B&B is just a few steps away from everything there is to offer in the Hollywood District.
• Purchase the Hurray for Hollywood tasting pass through Woodinville Wine Country’s website for wine tastings at local cellars. Make sure to visit Chateau Ste Michelle to tour their bottling facilities while enjoying a glass of their Eroica Riesling, grab a slice of great pizza at Village Wines, or stop for a cold beer at Good Brewing Hollywood Taproom.

There is so much more to this great state, and maybe one day we’ll be back to see more! This guide can definitely be shortened to squeeze in a day or two at Mount Rainier National Park or a ferry ride to Bainbridge Island, both places we wish we were able to visit on our trip. I hope this guide can help you in planning your next vacation to the Pacific Northwest!

-Rebecca

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