3 days in Seattle

If you’re looking for a Seattle trip with diversity, look no further. These suggestions are aimed to plan a sunny city day, a rainy city day, and an outdoors hiking adventure outside the city. 

Get ready for a bowl full of PNW—from scenic mountain vistas, to west coast sunsets, to art and culture within the city, to incredible food and drink spots. 

Where to stay in Seattle? I knew I wanted to stay near the downtown area, close to the water. I highly recommend the Edgewater Hotel if you have some spare cash. It is a bit pricey, but hey, if this trip is one that you want to go big on I stand behind this choice. It’s the city’s only waterfront hotel. It’s in a great location, about a 15 minute walk along the sound to Pike’s Place. It’s a 5 minute walk from Sculpture Park. The rooms have clawfoot tubs, stone-floored showers, and fireplaces and are built to be like a lodge. And if you get a waterfront room, you have a gorgeous view of the sound, the Olympic Mountains, and Mt. Rainier (depending on how clear of a day). 

The Edgewater is famous because it’s housed celebrities throughout the years, some of the most famous being the Beatles, who attempted to fish out their window, and Led Zeppelin, among many others. 

Sunny day in Seattle 

A beautiful day must be taken advantage of in Seattle. There’s nothing better than waking up, walking outside, and having a clear view of Mt. Rainier and the Olympic Mountains.

I started my day with a walk over to Pike’s Place Market. Here you can grab a donut and head into the first Starbucks for a cup of coffee. On your walk back to the hotel, you’ll enjoy gorgeous views of the sound. 

Next we’re heading into the Capitol Hill neighborhood, which is known for being hip and trendy. Bulk up on brunch at Oddfellows Cafe – you’re going to need some energy before you head to a hike within the city of Seattle. Take a walk through the neighborhood before moving on to the neighborhood of Ballard.

If you’re lucky, you’ll make the Ballard Farmer’s Market, where you can get snacks, flowers, and trinkets. If you still have room after brunch, stop for a bizarre scoop of ice cream at Salt and Straw. 

Discovery Park was one of my favorite spots in Seattle. You would have no idea you’re still in the city. The park is a huge expanse lying adjacent to the sound. You walk, or take a light hike lasting about 20-30 minutes, along a path leading down to the beach. Along the way are incredible vistas of the greenery and flowers framing the sound, islands, and mountain ranges beyond. 

As you approach the beach, take a right. If you continue you’ll approach the lighthouse. 

By this time it’s approaching late afternoon and you’ve worked up an appetite. If you’re ready for a drink and some oysters, head over to Westward in the Fremont neighborhood. This little restaurant boasts views of boats on Lake Union. You’ll enjoy your oysters and your wine lakeside, sitting in Adirondack chairs.  Make sure you save room though – it’s not time for dinner yet! 

While you’re in the neighborhood, head to Gasworks Park for a gorgeous vista of the Seattle skyline. At one point, this was an industrial facility. Rather than let it sit unused as an eyesore, the city turned it into a park.

By this point you’re most likely starving with a huge appetite. Not to worry though—delicious food is nearby. Joule is a Korean-American fusion restaurant with a creative menu of treats perfect to end your day. They’re served tapas-style, so it’s fun to get a few and share among your friends to try a bit of everything. The rice cake with chorizo is to die for. The sesame noodles with pistachios are fire. And the corn bread is amazing.

If you’ve timed your day just right (at the time this itinerary was made, it was mid-May) the sunset is quickly approaching—and you do not want to miss a west coast sunset, especially if it’s your first one, like mine. Head up to Queen Anne, a wealthier neighborhood where the beautiful houses are situated on hills. Find a spot on the sidewalk to drink in those pinks and oranges slowly receding behind the mountains. 

If you haven’t had enough of the views quite yet, Kerry Park is right down the road from you. This park boasts a nice view of the skyline, and if it’s dark by now, you get to see the skyline at night. 

Rainy day in Seattle 

A rainy day is nothing to get upset about because there are so many things Seattle has to offer that are indoors. I like to think of this as the “city day.” Everything on the “sunny day” itinerary isn’t really that “city” — it’s quite outdoorsy. Today, despite the rain, we will enjoy some of Seattle’s jewels. 

I started with a walk through the Sculpture Park. If it’s too cloudy, there may not be a view of the Olympic Mountains over the sound; but it’s still an enjoyable walk through gardens along the water. On the way back to the hotel I grabbed a Mocha at Uptown Espresso. They have a few fresh-baked pastries as well as coffee. If you’re staying at the Edgewater, this is the perfect time to make use of that nice bathtub and fireplace. This is vacation, after all. I’m all about go-go-go to see everything, but remember to R E L A X.

Once you’re ready to move out and about the city, head to the Cherry Coffee House for a breakfast wrap (and maybe another coffee). It’s about a 10 minute walk from the Edgewater. Once you feel energized, walk another 10 minutes to the Chihuly Glass Museum. This museum contains some of the most incredible glass sculptures and creations you’ll lay your eyes on. Make sure you hit the garden, too, which combines nature with glass art. 

You’re right next to the Space Needle, and let’s face it: How can you go to Seattle without a visit to the iconic Needle? So take the elevator up to the top and enjoy the panoramic views. 

Maybe you’ve already had enough coffee today, but it’s SEATTLE. And if you’ve never been to a Starbucks Reserve Roastery, you have to make your way over. It’s basically a brewery for Starbucks lovers. You’ll pay a premium for your latte or espresso, but their menu contains specialty drink items absent from the usual menu. It’s a bit of a hike to get there but well worth it, especially when you’re trying to kill a rainy afternoon. 

At this point you’re probably hungry, even after all the coffee. If you’re in Seattle, you definitely want to splurge on seafood. Head over to Market Grill at Pike’s Place for a halibut fish platter. They serve it with a bit of salad, rice, and bread. 

If you’re hankering for some architecture, head to the Seattle Public Library for a unique design. Then head a bit farther to Pioneer Square, one of the oldest and most historical neighborhoods containing classic architecture. 

Head back to Pike’s Place for drinks at The Nest and a nice rooftop view of the sound.

Hiking day trip outside Seattle

My family took me to Wallace Falls State Park, about an hour northeast of the city. Note that there is no shortage of beautiful state and national parks in the area. Also note that even this state park, an hour out, had a full parking lot when we arrived at noon on a Saturday in May—so plan accordingly. Weekdays are probably better, off-season you may not need to worry, but summer weekends, get there early.

If you’re not from the Pacific Northwest, the drive to Wallace Falls is almost as beautiful as the park itself, weaving among mountains, lakes, rivers, and small towns.

As a Floridian, I found this park mesmerizing. We took the 9 mile hike option (as opposed to the shorter maybe 3-5 mile option). Be ready to encounter waterfalls, lakes, rainforests, streams, and mountain views. 

The longer hike is more strenuous, and the point is to get to the lake. The lake is beautiful, but you decide if it’s worth it to get 40,000 steps in a day. I don’t hike (I’m from flat Florida) and I’m in pretty good shape, and I didn’t have any problems besides some mild altitude sickness (that went away when we stopped going higher). 

You’ll definitely want to bring plenty of water and snacks and pack a lunch. After this day, you’ll close your eyes and only see beautiful PNW views.