Ways to spend one day in Seattle
Seattle is one of my favorite places in the United States. It’s one of those cities where every time I visit, I look around and genuinely wonder what it would be like to live there.
Between the stunning scenery, storied coffee scene, and proximity to nature, it’s truly a remarkable place - and you can definitely experience much of what makes this city so cool in as little as one day!
Read on for some recommendations.
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Kick-start your day with donuts and coffee from Top Pot.
Before I visited the city for the first time, I sent out a plea for help from all my Seattle-raised friends, asking for their recommendations on where to go and what to see. An almost unanimous rec came in the form of Top Pot Donuts, a spot they swore baked the best donuts in town.
Naturally, it was top of my list when I arrived - and it should be for you, too!
The flagship cafe is located on 5th Avenue in downtown, and it's all kinds of aesthetics. The two-story space features an entire wall of windows, which floods the shop with natural light. The remaining walls are covered in bookshelves, all colorful titles and leather-bound beauty.
Then there are the treats on offer: rows of artisanal, doughy goodness, from raspberry glazed chocolate cake donuts to maple old-fashioneds. Pair any with a cup of their small-batch coffee and your visit will be off to the sweetest start.
Head down the street to Pike Place Market.
You could spend a good part of your day here - there's just simply so much to do!
Shop for fresh flowers, scope out the catch of the day in the fish market, or sample dried Washington cherries from a local farm. Check out the original Starbucks store and marvel at the fact that this tiny, unassuming little shop would one day turn into a multi-billion dollar global brand.
Just a few doors down, get some of the "world's best" (accurate tbh) mac and cheese from Beecher's and feel your life change. And don't forget to snap a pic under the famous market sign. Pike Place is a Seattle icon, and it's definitely worth exploring!
The earlier in the day you can get there, the better - like any major tourist attraction, it gets very crowded.
Wander down to the waterfront and stroll along the piers.
The Seattle waterfront is literally behind Pike Place Market, and it's a lot of fun to wander up and down the piers. Scope out the Seattle Great Wheel on Pier 57 (which used to be the tallest ferris wheel on the West Coast!), or visit the Seattle Aquarium on Pier 59.
Down on Pier 54, Ye Olde Curiosity Shop holds court as one of the most eccentric souvenir shops around. Open since 1899, they sell such oddities as mummies, taxidermy, and rare shrunken heads.
Get your afternoon caffeine fix from the Starbucks Reserve Roastery.
This place is truly magic. Located in the Capitol Hill neighborhood one mile away from the waterfront, the Starbucks Reserve Roastery is basically a multi-story, immersive escape to Coffeeland.
Inside, you can indulge in coffee flights, try the brand's rarest and most exclusive blends, sip on espresso martinis, or generally just wander around wide-eyed. I mean, they have a freakin' cold brew bar.
I ordered the Hazelnut Bianco Latte, which was basically unicorn dust in a cup. It features Starbucks Reserve espresso with hazelnut-praline infused milk. Though my bank account weeped a little at the $7 price tag, my taste buds were dancing in delight.
Fortunately, Seattle is not the only city blessed with a Reserve Roastery. A version of the wonderland can also be found in NYC, Shanghai, Milan, Tokyo, and Chicago.
Check out the Space Needle and the Seattle Center.
It doesn't get much more Seattle than a visit to the Space Needle! This Pacific Northwest landmark features an observation deck 520 feet above Seattle. Tickets start at $32.50 per person, and can be purchased here.
The Space Needle is located inside the Seattle Center, an expansive arts and entertainment center about a mile and a half from the Starbucks Reserve Roastery.
Originally built for the 1962 World's Fair, the Seattle Center features tons of cool stuff to explore. Among them? The Chihuly Garden & Glass museum, the Museum of Pop Culture (which is worth seeing for the funky Frank Gehry-designed architecture alone), and the stunning International Fountain, which doubles as a playground.
Catch a ride up to Kerry Park to see the sun set over the skyline.
More of a lookout point than a full-blown park, Kerry Park is undoubtedly a must-visit. It features a panoramic vista over the Seattle skyline and bay, accompanied (if you're lucky!) by a view of imperial Mount Rainier in the distance. Head there for golden hour and watch the sun set on a day well spent.
Depending on how much time you've spent on the previous activities, you could opt to walk from the Seattle Center to Kerry Park. They're about 18 minutes apart, and the walk provides a stunning glimpse into the hilly streets and charming homes of the park's Queen Anne Hill neighborhood. (Just make sure you're wearing good walking shoes - those hills are no joke!) Alternately, hop in a rideshare.
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