Seattle in Three Days
I am officially back from Seattle and adjusting to real life again. It's been quite a few days of adventure, getting sick, resting and a whole lot of "Grey's Anatomy."
My parents and I left Thursday morning to make it down to LAX for our flight around 12:30. We stopped for breakfast and so on. We thought we were good on time, but hit major traffic once we were almost to the airport. By the time it broke up and we went to our usual parking lot, we saw the lot was full. We eventually found another one and had to catch the shuttle over to our airline terminal. Luckily, we were already pre-checked for TSA, so we were able to bypass the longer lines and get through quicker, which saved a ton of time, and still allowed us to have a few minutes to spare and catch our breath.
During the flight, I was able to watch "Gifted" starring Chris Evans and Jenny Slate, and it was one of THE best movies I've seen in awhile. If you haven't seen it yet, please do! It's inspiring, funny and heartwarming. What more do you need?
Thursday Evening:
We got to our room to settle in and freshen up, because plane rides always just make you feel a little gross afterwards, and then went out on the town. We drove down to the waterfront and ate at Anthony's Fish Bar near the pier. I had a crab roll, which might have even been better than the one I tried in New York. Their fries were also seasoned to perfection! It was actually surprisingly good for being just a little "to go" spot. It was warmer than usual for Seattle (I hear and assume), but it was starting to cool down, and helped being so close to the water.
After we finished eating, we took our time walking the pier, taking in the ocean breeze and watching the sun set. The pier has a ferris wheel, shops, and a place called Miner's Landing, which was filled with restaurants, an arcade, ice cream shop and other souvenir stops. It was so cool. I wanted a "Grey's Anatomy" sweatshirt to feed my obsession and I saw online that they sold them in Simply Seattle. I was so excited when I found the merch and was able to change into it before our ferry ride across the waters to Bainbridge Island. I felt just like Meredith Grey (minus McDreamy). It was the perfect ending to the evening, watching the sun set and not feeling the pressures of every day life. Ah, vacation.
Friday:
We got a bit of a later start than we'd anticipated, but were still able to squeeze in everything we wanted to do for the day! Our first stop was Pike Place/Public Market and of course, the first Starbucks. There were SO many cute booths with jewelry, art, journals, and other Seattle original items. I wanted them all, but alas, didn't. I saw so many neat trinkets I wanted to buy for family and friends, but it was impossible to get something for everyone. I was so inspired by the artists and creatives that sell their work everyday. Shockingly, I didn't really buy anything. However, I did stop for a photo at the restaurant in the market that was used in "Sleepless in Seattle." I also bought myself flowers, because that was a goal of mine. It was my favorite portion; being able to take photos of people in their element as they crafted bouquets and capturing the colors of the flowers.
I also had to get my morning coffee fix at the first Starbucks. My parents got in line at the bakery next door, Piroshky Piroshky, and I waited for coffee. It was packed and crazy, but the employees were very friendly and patient with everyone. Once you were done with the first line, you waited in the next one to hear your name called out. It took awhile, but eventually I had my grande Pike Place white flat (something or other) in my hand. My parents had joined me at this point and we continued our trek through the market and around the area. Seattle feels like a mix of San Francisco or New York City. Though, I guess most downtowns of bigger cities are reminiscent of one another. I just don't spend a lot of time in downtown Los Angeles to notice.
After a few hours had passed, we decided to have lunch at a place recommended to us called Von's. They had THE best Mac 'n' cheese, with the most beautifully designed noodles, and so creamy and cheesy. I also the atmosphere of the pub area; very classic.
Once we finished lunch, we decided to head further into town where the Space Needle and other attractions are. We walked around and enjoyed the street fair atmosphere around with popcorn, cotton candy and other treats lining the pathway. There were trees and plants all around, and it was shady for the hot afternoon, which was nice.
We went to the Museum of Pop Culture, which had a few exhibits featuring Nirvana, Jimi Hendrix and the Hall of Fame for Science Fiction. There was also a Marvel exhibit, but we didn't pay extra for that. It was interesting and gave me a taste for certain music and movies that I'd never seen, but I didn't connect with it as much. I did get to see a painting that Justin Timberlake created. So that was exciting, because he's one of my favorites.
The Chihuly Gardens impressed me the most of anything. I love art and seeing how people express themselves, but the sea glass was unlike anything I'd ever seen before in person. I was fascinated by the colors and shapes, and it was so fun to photograph with my new camera. I really had a blast walking through the halls, wondering what we were going to see next. The outdoor gardens were exceptional, too, with the Space Needle in the background.
Once we were done at the gardens, we had a little time to kill. We grabbed a Starbucks at the food court nearby and took the 10-minute monorail through a tiny portion of the city. Tim McGraw and Faith Hill were also playing the arena next door, so we walked down to check it out, but only saw their buses and talked with the security guard.
Soon after, my mom and I got in line for the Space Needle. After being around it all day, we were starting to rethink our decision, because it looked rather intimidating. But, we sucked it up and did it anyway, and the height wasn't too bad. However, the crowd was too much for me. It was hard to see much of the view going up in the elevator. Part of the Needle was under construction, but it was still fine to get around and see. There were just A LOT OF PEOPLE anticipating the sunset, which was beautiful to see. We took our photos and enjoyed the view, but made it down a little quicker. I was overwhelmed with the amount of people and wasn't about to squeeze through to get another picture through the glass. It also smelled pretty bad. By the time we came down, I felt a little more nauseous and was just tired out. I am glad I did it though. It was another bucket list item and such a staple of Seattle, it would've been crazy not to.
After a few hours had passed, we decided to have lunch at a place recommended to us called Von's. They had THE best Mac 'n' cheese, with the most beautifully designed noodles, and so creamy and cheesy. I also the atmosphere of the pub area; very classic.
Once we finished lunch, we decided to head further into town where the Space Needle and other attractions are. We walked around and enjoyed the street fair atmosphere around with popcorn, cotton candy and other treats lining the pathway. There were trees and plants all around, and it was shady for the hot afternoon, which was nice.
We went to the Museum of Pop Culture, which had a few exhibits featuring Nirvana, Jimi Hendrix and the Hall of Fame for Science Fiction. There was also a Marvel exhibit, but we didn't pay extra for that. It was interesting and gave me a taste for certain music and movies that I'd never seen, but I didn't connect with it as much. I did get to see a painting that Justin Timberlake created. So that was exciting, because he's one of my favorites.
The Chihuly Gardens impressed me the most of anything. I love art and seeing how people express themselves, but the sea glass was unlike anything I'd ever seen before in person. I was fascinated by the colors and shapes, and it was so fun to photograph with my new camera. I really had a blast walking through the halls, wondering what we were going to see next. The outdoor gardens were exceptional, too, with the Space Needle in the background.
Once we were done at the gardens, we had a little time to kill. We grabbed a Starbucks at the food court nearby and took the 10-minute monorail through a tiny portion of the city. Tim McGraw and Faith Hill were also playing the arena next door, so we walked down to check it out, but only saw their buses and talked with the security guard.
Soon after, my mom and I got in line for the Space Needle. After being around it all day, we were starting to rethink our decision, because it looked rather intimidating. But, we sucked it up and did it anyway, and the height wasn't too bad. However, the crowd was too much for me. It was hard to see much of the view going up in the elevator. Part of the Needle was under construction, but it was still fine to get around and see. There were just A LOT OF PEOPLE anticipating the sunset, which was beautiful to see. We took our photos and enjoyed the view, but made it down a little quicker. I was overwhelmed with the amount of people and wasn't about to squeeze through to get another picture through the glass. It also smelled pretty bad. By the time we came down, I felt a little more nauseous and was just tired out. I am glad I did it though. It was another bucket list item and such a staple of Seattle, it would've been crazy not to.
By that time, it was dinner time. We grabbed a bite to eat at one of the restaurants in the food court we visited earlier and drove around the city a bit before going back to our hotel. Another long day, but so worth it.
Saturday:
We started off with breakfast at our hotel, which was good. And complete with Starbucks coffee, so we were fueled and ready for the day.
We booked tours at Safeco Stadium, where the Mariners play and CenturyLink Field, where the Seahawks play, the day before. We're big baseball fans and my dad loves sports, so we always try to check out the stadiums we're near. Safeco Stadium was gorgeous; the grass was so green and there's always something so special about seeing the empty stadium and catching that first glimpse of the field. Our tour guide was great and not only pointed many facts about the stadium, but also the city itself. Seattle is apparently the fastest growing city. I can believe it after visiting!
Our next stop was CenturyLink Field, which we were worried we'd be late to. But, we got there just in time. It was fun getting to see an NFL Stadium up closer. I forgot that I have been to Nissan Stadium, where the Titans play in Nashville, but haven't seen it complete with field. I was looking forward to that moment, but unfortunately, they were setting up for a concert, so I still didn't see it. But, it was cool to see where the locker room was, sit in a suite and check out some of the more exclusive areas that you aren't allowed in during game days. It's a beautiful stadium, as well. They also took us down a special hallway lined with framed signed jerseys of artists who've played at the stadium, since we couldn't really do much on the field.
By the afternoon, I was starting to poop out from the heat and had a headache coming on. We found a cute little place called The Melrose Market with a few eateries inside and ate at a local farm fresh restaurant. I had a summer salad with kale and greens, topped with tomatoes, cucumbers and such with a creamy dressing. It was very good, but I wasn't feeling well, so I didn't eat as much.
By the afternoon, I was starting to poop out from the heat and had a headache coming on. We found a cute little place called The Melrose Market with a few eateries inside and ate at a local farm fresh restaurant. I had a summer salad with kale and greens, topped with tomatoes, cucumbers and such with a creamy dressing. It was very good, but I wasn't feeling well, so I didn't eat as much.
The Starbucks Roastery was just across the street, so we took a little while to wander the store, check out the pastries and see how the coffee is made in the giant industrial machines. It's such a beautifully crafted space. There's also a bar and they sell more sandwiches/salads than they do in a regular Starbucks store. I wanted to buy all the merchandise, but alas...I didn't. It was a really neat hipstery area that felt a lot like Nashville's up and coming area, 12 South. We walked around the block, but didn't see much else, so we went back to the car to find our next destination.
I decided I did want to see Meredith Grey's house from "Grey's Anatomy" after all, so we drove around and eventually made our way to the Queen Anne Hill neighborhood, one of the most prestigious areas. The houses were like something straight out of a movie; very diverse and full of character with trees shading the streets over. Around the corner was another stop I'd written on my list, Kerry Park, which is a beautiful lookout spot to see all of Seattle. We took photos, watched a cruise liner pull out of the dock and people watched as tours and even a wedding party stopped to get that perfect view. It was very peaceful, but also very hot and I needed sugar after that. So we went to McDonald's to get something to drink.
My dad wanted to see Washington University, so we drove further out to see the university. It was stunning - older buildings and a giant stadium. We walked over a bridge and checked out the water below, where people were boating and such. Perfect summer day for people to enjoy themselves.
From there, we found ourselves driving out to Discovery Park, where there was a lighthouse, trails and we were so close to the water/beachy area. I could've spent the rest of the evening just standing there, feeling small. That good kind of small. The sun was setting and everyone was enjoying themselves near the lighthouse; climbing rocks and taking pictures. It was so picturesque for photo shoots and more.
It was a farther drive back into the city, but we were able to see Tom Hanks' boathouse from "Sleepless in Seattle," which was really neat. It was a private area, so we couldn't walk out on the dock, but it was a pretty quiet area with tour spots. People were walking and biking around.
Our last stop was dinner on the waterfront. We went to one of the fish and chip stands, and grabbed seats outside, while trying not to get attacked by seagulls. That was entertaining, and the fish was AMAZING. We went back to the hotel after that to get packed, print our boarding passes and turn in for the night. We were wiped out, but again, a very fulfilling day.
Sunday:
We woke up at 4 a.m., so we had plenty of time to check out, get to the airport, drop off the rental car and check in the luggage. Which we did. Although, we waited in the baggage line for a good while, only to get up to the front and have them tell us we needed to get the baggage tags from the kiosks across the way. They let us in shortly after that. We had our boarding passes and we were ready to go. Only this time, I didn't have pre-check, so my parents and I had to go to another gate if we wanted to make it together. After what felt like longer than it was, we had breakfast at Seattle's Best and made it to our gate.
On the flight home, I watched "Table 19" and part of "The Fault in Our Stars," both of which I'd never seen. "Table 19" was cute and not the typical chick flick or rom com, and "FIOS" was cuter than I anticipated. Now I just need to finish it.
Seattle is one of the perfect long weekend getaways. There's plenty to do and you might not squeeze it all in, but you can pick a few main attractions and activities and give yourself a little downtime in between. It's a fun, artsy town with a mix of everything. I hope to go back again soon!
~Shelby
On the flight home, I watched "Table 19" and part of "The Fault in Our Stars," both of which I'd never seen. "Table 19" was cute and not the typical chick flick or rom com, and "FIOS" was cuter than I anticipated. Now I just need to finish it.
Seattle is one of the perfect long weekend getaways. There's plenty to do and you might not squeeze it all in, but you can pick a few main attractions and activities and give yourself a little downtime in between. It's a fun, artsy town with a mix of everything. I hope to go back again soon!
~Shelby
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