For any first-time visitors like myself, going to Seattle in the middle of summer was a treat. The weather was in the high 70's with sunshine and a crisp view of Mount Ranier in the distance. I came to celebrate the lovely Alma's bachelorette party and bridal shower in July of 2019. My dear friend Rita, who traveled from LA and I from SF, hugged each other as we arrived to the Seattle airport. Upon arrival, Alma hosted us for breakfast and prepared the most delicious waffles, so here's a quick plug for her tasty food blog, A Little Dough.
Fun fact - Rita, Alma, and I all met on the same night during a Christmas Party with our parents 10 years ago. The Arab family connection was instant 😜
The Airbnb
Rita and I stayed in an Airbnb located in Capitol Hill. The location couldn't have been more perfect, as it was close by to many sight-seeing spots downtown. The area was safe, with plenty of restaurants, shops, and bars close by.
City Pass
Rita and I purchased a Seattle City Pass to maximize the amount of things to see, and it included many top tourist attractions for us to explore. A large portion of our itinerary was practically formed around the fun activities from the list and I highly recommend it (especially since we got to skip all of the long tourist lines!) Check out the CityPass website to see if they have activities available in your city.
The Itinerary
Chihuly Glass Garden Museum
This museum was full of delicate, intricate glass pieces by Dale Chihuly. The experience was enchanting, as each corner turned was full of colorful art.
There are two art rooms that have a staff member taking photographs, so you could get a high quality photo included as a souvenir for no additional charge.
The final part of the museum included a glass atrium, which also showcased the space needle that lingered up above.
Space Needle
The City Pass includes a day time and night time ticket to visit the Space Needle since the experiences are both unique.
We came back the next evening in the last hour before closing, so there was an extreme calmness in our evening visit - the polar opposite to our day time trip. We were one of the few visitors at the time, so it felt like we had the whole space needle to ourselves. I highly recommend you to do the same!
Museum of Pop Culture
This museum showcased famous contributions to pop culture including music, film, and games.
There is a sound lab with recording rooms that you can create music in. I enjoyed experimenting with the microphone audio while singing! Rita caught a few videos of me living out my dreams of being a pop star 😜
Kerry Park
A small, public park located in Queen Anne Hill, this viewpoint was great because you can see the bustling downtown and the majestic Mount Rainier in the horizon. We took an Uber over here and soaked up the harbor and the skyline view.
We befriended two women while here and sat on the park bench for nearly an hour, exchanging stories with one another. We met the nicest people while in Seattle!
Seattle Aquarium
The aquarium is located close by to Pike Market Place. We walked through the exhibits and enjoyed the colorful marine life. Spotted: Nemo and Marlin.
Starbucks Reserve Roastery
For all you Starbucks fans - this is the ultimate one to exist! As Starbucks originated in Seattle, this location is a tribute to the global coffee company. There is a delicious bakery that sells sandwiches, pizza, and dessert.
They have a roastery tasting bar, library, and coffee bean factory. Taking a peak inside the library and closer look at the coffee bean making process!
Argosy Cruise
We took a 1 hour narrated sunset cruise along the harbor of Seattle. Boarding took place at Pier 55 and departed promptly. Make sure you arrive a few minutes early and bring a jacket, as it got a bit chilly when the sun set.
Enjoying the gorgeous views of the Seattle Great Wheel and city skyline on a summer evening.
After our cruise, we had a delicious fish and chips dinner at Elliot's Oyster House, located right beside Pier 55.
The Seattle Great Wheel
After seeing the iconic wheel lit up amongst the skyline, we decided to take a spin. We were one of the last visitors, so they gave us an additional turn around the wheel. Definitely a fun tourist experience!
The Gum Wall
You can find this iconic sticky wall close by to Pike Market Place downtown on Post Alley. Make sure to have gum on hand so you can make your mark here!
The Pink Door
Rita and I circled around numerous times to find this restaurant since the entrance was so unassuming and there was no signage. After a few walks around the block, we found the literal pink door and were greeted with live music. With no reservation made, we waited nearly an hour to get seated, but there was a large booth near the bar where we hung out. We were later seated outside with a lovely view of the city and ate delicious Italian food.
Pike Market Place
We visited the famous market a few times to see it both in the day and the evening. The day time was the highlight, as it was lively being amongst the crowd of people enjoying a summer day.
My favorite experience was getting a custom made bouquet of flowers for only $7! I couldn't believe how reasonable it was. We made friends with the florist and brought those flowers back home to our moms as it was the last stop before heading to the airport.
The original, first ever Starbucks is located on Pike Market. There's always a long line to enter, since it's a hot spot to visit! We bought souvenir collector mugs from here as gifts ☕️
Alma's Bachelorette Party
We attended an intimate breakfast at Alma's with pastries, appetizers, and mimosas to kick off the start of her bachelorette party 🥂💕
We then headed to Chateaue Ste. Michelle Winery to meet up with a large group of Alma's friends. We sat outside in a reserved seating area, where we enjoyed wine, bride tribe goodies, played games and snacked on tasty donuts.
In the evening, we went to Queen Anne Beerhall to kick off a night out to celebrate our bride to be! We enjoyed drinks and food here, then walked over to a bar named Ozzie's for some dancing and karaoke, where Alma sang her heart out to Don't Stop Believing 🎶
Alma's Bridal Shower
The next morning, we got ready to attend Alma's bridal shower. The event took place in an indoor terrace in the stunning Golf Club at Newcastle. The decor and venue was so elegant! We were treated to brunch to celebrate our future Mrs. Green 👰🏼
There were little goodies for guests to take home, such as succulents and cookies. We celebrated with a delicious cake after brunch had been served.
The view outside showcased the beauty of the state of Washington ✨
Seattle will always hold a special place in my heart after my first visit there! I spent precious time with Rita exploring a new city and celebrating our old friend's bridal festivities. It doesn't get much sweeter than that! Next stop... Salzburg, Austria for the wedding!