Travel Diary: Seattle

Couple months ago, two friends and I took a road trip to Seattle. First, let me say, I absolutely loved Seattle; there is so much to do and see. If you are flying there great, if you are driving from Alberta, I would highly recommend you take the Jasper way (not Calgary) the drive itself is beautiful and  there is way less traffic. Driving in Seattle is interesting… I highly recommending getting a GPS as there is a lot of one way streets and a lot of turns to make; also research where to park as it can cost upwards of 40US for few hours. Staying downtown is expensive anytime, but if you are staying downtown you can walk to most attractions in a very short time. We purchased the city pass, which I would recommend, it not only saves you money but give you an unofficial guide of things to see in Seattle. (saves you about 50% comparing if you were to pay for each attraction individually).  

  

Things to do:

Seattle Harbor Tour – We took a Argosy guided tour. It took an hour and was a great introduction to Seattle. The guide goes over fun facts and important architecture which I thought was great.

Seattle Aquarium – Great facility and perfect for families with kids. It is a research facility so there is no acts/performances, and the experience is educational.

Space Needle – Amazing view of the city. This is part of the city pass, but you have to reserve your time slot in order to get to the top. The line is busy (we waited about 50 minutes to get on an elevator to get to the top and about 45 minutes to get back down). If you are scared of heights- worst part of it the elevator ride and the fact the platform is on top of a revolving restaurant so just remember to breath and you will be fine.) The city pass includes two visits within 24 hours so you can go once during the day and once at night.

EMP Museum –  This was probably one of my favorite attractions we visited; it was also part of the city pass. The museum features six different exhibits and they are all done well. It took us about 3 hours or so to get through all of them. It is fun for all ages and the audio guide  is available.

Pike Place Market – The market is huge and I would recommend making a day of it.  From handmade items, book stores, to fresh food and fruits it offers everything. First ever Starbucks is at Pike Place, (line was huge), along with amazing restaurants and bakeries.

Please to eat:

Sarajevo Lounge – call me bias but if you can get good Bosnian food anywhere other than Bosnia you have to go eat there. Comfortable and relaxed atmosphere with good service and delicious food.

Pike Place Chowder -  the line was insane but from everything we heard this is a must eat place if you are visiting Pike Place Market