Weekend Trip to Seattle

A weekend trip to Seattle is the perfect way to enjoy the Pacific North West (PNW). Seattle is full of amazing sites to see, coffee, breweries, and amazing things to do. The Space Needle fills the iconic skyline and is a must hit spot. The Olympic Sculpture Park is an amazing spot to fill the day. Biscuit Bitch is an irreverent way to enjoy a breakfast sandwich. Fuel up at the original Starbucks in Pike’s Place Market, or fuel up at the less famous, but possibly more delicious Monorail Espresso. Fulfill your Gray’s Anatomy requirements of McDreamy style ferry riding experiences. Bremerton is adorable and another good excuse to enjoy those ferries. If you are looking to fill your camera roll with the iconic skyline, then you must hit Kerry Park, it has the most gorgeous views. If you are willing to make the drive a great excursion is Olympic National Park, and getting that stamp in your National Park is well worth it, in the beautiful wilderness. Finally, the most unique getaway is Mason Wing Walking Academy, where you literally walk on a plane mid-flight.

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We have created the perfect packing list to get everything you need for your small town getaway into one lightweight personal item. Flights are getting more expensive, and carry-ons have become a charge for almost every flight. Getting everything you need into the perfect personal item is one of the best tricks to keep costs low.

A Seattle weekend trip best times to visit Seattle are in the summer to enjoy the best weather, however Fall and Spring are also beautiful times to visit. The Winter can be a bit chilly and rainy for this Florida girls taste. If you can find a great flight then you can’t go wrong with weekend getaways in Seattle.

Where to stay

Like most major cities Seattle has a lot of suburb areas, Belltown is a great area to stay because it is so close to everything. Check your hotel, many hotels have bikes for free, but if not there are also scooters (download the apps to rent) or use the public transit bus system.

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Space Needle

Every Seattle getaway weekend must include a trip to the Space Needle. The Space Needle opened to the public April 21, 1962 for the space age themed world’s fair. It took 400 days to build the Space Needle, and cost $4.5 million at the time it was built. It stands 605 feet (184 meters) tall, and from its three main viewing areas, offers 360 degree views. The Loupe is the world’s first revolving glass floor located 500 feet off the ground. The elevator is so fast, it only takes 43 seconds to get to the top.

Although the Space Needle is privately owned, the area around the Space Needle is full of cultural places to explore. The Museum of Pop Culture, MPOP for short, is filled to the brim with movie, television, and music references through time. This is a must hit attraction, and is unique to Seattle. The museum has timed tickets available for purchase in advance on their website. If you are hitting several attractions during the weekend, a City Pass may make the most sense. The attractions have some stactic exhibits, while also having some amazing short term exhibits, Marvel Comic heros, Disney heros and villians, a ginormous guitar sculpture and so much more. If you cannot make it inside, just getting a picture with the architechtual wonder that is the exterior is worth the walk from the Space Needle.

The International Fountain is huge, also built in 1962 for the World’s Fair. It has just gone through a renovation, upgrading water jets, lighting and caulked 5,000 feet of sealant. It’s silver dome is meant to portray a “lunar landscape”. All of the water used in the fountain is recycled and with three natural treatments, it is probably the cleanest in the city.

A Seattle weekend getaway, would not be complete without also seeing the Chihuly Garden and Glass art museum. It is also located in Seattle Center, and is a lovely spot to see the glass designs of Dale Chihuly. Being an admirer of his works of art, you may want to see more in the Missouri Botanical Gardens and the Chihuly Collection in St. Petersburg Florida.

Olympic Sculpture Park

Another great addition to weekend getaways Seattle, is the Olympic Sculpture Park. It is created and operated by the Seattle Art Museum (SAM). It is 9 acres of public park, with modern and contemporary sculptures in downtown Seattle. It is free to get it, and has both permanent and temporary installations. The sculptures are gorgeous, the grounds and beach are unique, and the Paccar Pavilion is beautiful. This is a great way to spend an afternoon strolling, or go at night when everything is lit up.

Biscuit Bitch

As irreverent as it sounds, the biscuits and breakfast sandwiches at Biscuit Bitch are to die for, well at least well worth the wait. Don’t bother asking if yours is ready, it isn’t… they will call you. The signs are not so friendly but the food will blow you away. Slightly worried this might be over-hyped, but I can confirm the wait is worth it and you will be glad you got a unique snack. No weekend Seattle getaways, could ever be complete without something yummy from Biscuit Bitch, order ahead online only, no refunds if you can’t wait so best to check the time it will take. They only take orders until 12:45pm or when they run out, so definitely plan/ order ahead. They will text you when your order is ready and you will like devour it and want more, but what can you do?

Monorail Espresso

Coffee is a staple in the PNW, and no weekend Seattle trip could be complete without multiple coffee pit stops. The first one you should hit, is Monorail Espresso. The ethos here is “top quality espresso and excellent customer service”. With a brand mantra like that how could you go wrong? They have been serving quality coffee since 1980. Monorail Espresso has three locations, Pike Street, Westlake Avenue, and 5th Avenue there is bound to be one close to where you are.

The latte art was beautiful, and the drink tasted even better than it looked. It is worth the detour to stop and get some yummy coffee, from the experts who have been doing it for 40 years.

Pike’s Place Market

It wouldn’t be a weekend trip in Seattle, if you didn’t hit up Pike’s Place Market. This market has been running since 1907 and just wandering and seeing the fish mongers throwing the daily catch around is worth the visit.

This location is filled with restaurants, shops, views of the water, fish mongers throwing the fish, fresh bouquets of flowers, Locust Cider and Brewing Company, Old Stove Brewing Company (overlooks the water), the OG Starbucks, and a wall full of chewed bubble gum that is just so gross you have to see it…

There are tons of retail shops with amazing vendors, local produce and even some unique spice traders. This is a spot you want to allot a couple of hours so you have time to take it all in. If you are feeling kindy trendy, buy a bouquet of flowers and walk down to Pier 57 to see the Seattle Wheel, and take some epic pictures for later.

Take a Ferry

Time to get your McDreamy on… you are in Seattle after all, a ferry ride to Bremerton Washington is the perfect way to spend the afternoon take the Kitsap Ferry (pedestrians only), it costs $10 there and $2 back. If you are taking a car, you have to take the Bremerton Ferry, but it takes a bit more time, you can pretend to be Rose at the front of the ferry if you do take the longer one, as the shorter one you cannot go outside during the ride.

Bremerton

The USS Turner Joy is a Naval Ship you can tour, it was commissioned in 1959, and spent the entire career in the Pacific Ocean. It is 407′ feet long and can go up to 32.5 knots (37.4 mph). The ship is open for tours daily, adults are $16, with discounts for military, AAA, and children. It is a destroyer, and patrolled the Pacific Ocean from 1959 to 1982. It is always so interesting to tour a piece of history and this is a great example.

The International Puppetry Museum located at 9123 15th Avenue NE, Seattle Washington 98115 is the perfect way to spend a rainy afternoon. Established in 1986, by the Carter Family who have been professional puppeteers since 1976 (who knew that was a thing?). They purchased and renovated a church in 1993, which is the current location today. The collection of puppets is over 5,000 from the past few centuries. This is such a unique spot, to see the art and creativity over the years, it is free to enter, but donations are encouraged, what a cool way to spend your weekend trips in Seattle?!

Bremerton has quite a few breweries, and if you are anything like me you want to support local and experience the culture in a place, and nothing hits the mark quite like a local brewery.

The Horse & Cow Bar & Grill has been serving yummy food for almost 70 years! That should tell you all you need to know, this has the goods to last the test of time. Their goal is to make a home away from home for those serving overseas, and they have another location in Guam too. They are open from 11am to `12am every day. The wings are always a great deal, and you can’t go wrong with anything on their menu, but the Hot Rack Poppers, are bacon wrapped cream cheese stuffed peppers that are absolutely incredible.

If you are sans kids then Ashley’s Pub is the best spot for you, located in Downtown Bremerton. It is a craft tap house, pinball and entire wall of board games. It is for all gamers who really love gaming of all kinds, It has 15 beers on tap, but also has tons of bottled, and can options. You can bring snacks, eat snacks there, or order delivery from local restaurants. They have tons of menus of places that will deliver. This is the perfect end to the day. If you are done for the day, but don’t forget to take the ferry back.

Head to Kerry Park

No weekend trip to Seattle, would be complete without the ultimate skyline shot. Be warned you may want to make the drive to Kerry Park during the day, as it is a trecherous drive up, but the view of the Seattle Skyline is totally worth it. While you are there, relax before your drive back down, at Flat Stick Pub. It is indoor putt putt, with the twist of beer wine and cider added to increase the happy quotient. Remember you have drive back down, but definately relax and enjoy the fun of putt putt, with crazy water hazards, course obstacles and no weather delays.

Free things to do in Seattle

Top Free things to do in Seattle

• Seattle Art Museum (first Thursday of every month)
• Seattle Central Park Library (such an engineering feat!)
• Hit Kerry Park
• Wander Pike Place Market
• Marvel at the Olympic Sculpture Park
• Washington Park Arboretum
• Fremont Public Sculptures
• Tour the Frye Art Museum
• Visit a lighthouse in Discovery Park
• Explore the International Puppetry Museum
• Take a walking tour with Seattle Free Walking Tours
• Meander in Gas Works Park (it feels very steampunky)
• Explore some of the other amazing parks, including Green Lark Park or Myrtle Edwards Park
• Tour the Alki Point Lighthouse
• Meditate in a pocket park, Waterfall Garden Park has a 22 foot waterfall
• Literally smell the roses at Seattle Rose Garden

Olympic National Park

Undeniably a destination all to itself, as it encompases nearly a million acres, this is not for the faint of heart. You may not be able to do this in just an afternoon, but dedicating a couple days may be completely worth it. The park has glacier capped mountains, old-growth temperate rain forests, and 70 miles of wild coastline, I could swoon… my hiking shoes are itching to explore.

There are so many things to do, how can you narrow it down? You can go boating, fishing, tidepooling (didn’t even know that was a thing) basically looking at amazing critters that line the coast line in the tidepools that form, you can even camp (check for reservation requirements), hiking, backpacking (if you are feeling very adventurous), view wildlife (remember your bear etiquitte) there is even night sky viewing (if swooning didn’t happen previously, be assured it happened here).

Hiking in Olympic National Park makes for an amazing capstone to a Seattle vacation. Most National Parks discourage bringing your furry friend, if you do bring them, you can take them on the following trails: Rialto Beach, Kalaloch Beach, Spruce Railroad Trail, Madison Falls Trail, Peabody Creak Trail. You must keep them on a leash 6 feet or shorter, to keep them and yourself safe and on trail. As always leave no trace behind, we want these parks to be here for decades to come.

If you are looking to explore the Temperate Rain Forest, The Spruce Nature Trail is a nice 1.2 mile loop that starts right near the Visitor Center. Feeling more motivated, then Sam’s River Loop is 2.8 miles that is flat but takes you through different ages of trees.

If you are more in the mood to climb a mountain, there is Hurricane Hill (worth it for the name alone) is 1.6 miles, has a 700 ft. elevation gain and gives epic panaromic views. If you are more adventurous, you might want to hit Klahhane Ridge, that is 2.8 miles to Klahhane Switchback Trail.

The Lowland Forest are has many hiking options, but there are two that really stand out. Lover’s Lane Loop at 5.8 miles it leads to Sol Duc Falls, and not for faint of heart due to the length. The Marymere Falls is only 1.8 miles round trip, but even though TLC told us not too, you know were are chasing waterfalls every chance we get.

Don’t forget the 70 miles of coastline, this is where you can try your hand, or more correctly your critter spotters at tidepooling. You could get your Twilight on at the always crowded La Push, (i just couldn’t help myself), Rialto Beach is 1.5 miles to arch and tidepools. The Ozette area has the Cape Alava Trail that is 6.6 miles round trip, but it is partly boardwalk, making it more accessible if that is a concern.

While it is a 2.5 hour drive, the road makes a scenic drive, and time spent exploring a new area can never be wasted. You really can’t go wrong visiting a National Park, Olympic really hits all the great things about National Parks. Tons of space to explore, and see new critters, stunning landscapes, fun hikes, and maybe even a new hobby of tidepooling.

Mason Wing Walking Academy

This is a bucketlist item, if it isn’t on your list, maybe you will add it, or maybe you will be thoroughly convinced of the crazy that happens here? Mason Wing Walking Academy is located in Clallam County Washington, and you literally stand on the wings of a plane in flight. Don’t worry you are strapped in, and there is totally a half day of training.

It is a long day, you get there at 8am and training begins, you better pack snacks its a bit stressful and anxiety inducing, but at the end of your training you get to see the earth from a perspective so very few people have seen before. You are sitting in the passenger seat until you get the go signal, then you climb onto the wing. Strap yourself in (literally here) and then you do the roll, and get a zero-g photo! Then you start to dive, and reach 140 mph to complete a loop and another zero g photo!

This is one of those epic experiences you just have to do to know how amazing and life changing it is. Seeing the earth from the sky like that, truly feeling the wind in your face and hair like you never have before. The rush is incredible, and when your 15 minute flight is over, you get a video and all the pictures, so don’t forget to smile you will want to share these with everyone. Who will either look at you like you are a crazy person, or be in awe of your badassness! If they don’t tend toward the latter get you a better circle, that is some life advice right there, you are welcome!