The Perfect Seattle City Break: How to Spend 3 Days in the Emerald City
My journey to America’s Emerald City started at Humberside airport, which is honestly a traveller’s dream. Because of its small size, I breezed through security and baggage in minutes, making the short 50-minute hop to Amsterdam completely stress-free. From there, it was onto the long haul leg of my well-planned Seattle city break. Yet another dream flight, the service was friendly and the movie selection kept me well-occupied until we touched down in the Pacific Northwest. Landing in Seattle was also smooth sailing, and for a faster exit, the Mobile Passport Control (MPC) app is a great way to skip the longest queues.
To get to my hotel, I opted for Link Light Rail. Great value, it’s just a ten-minute walk from the terminal and takes you straight into the heart of the city in about 40 minutes flat. I would highly recommend getting an Orca card, as it’s the easiest way to pay for your transportation, including the light rail, the buses and the monorail. Once at Symphony Station, I hopped off and took the short, eight-minute walk, suitcases and all, to the Kimpton Vintage Hotel.
The Kimpton is a lovely property that beautifully showcases Art Deco style throughout. It is centred around a cosy lobby with a large fireplace and incredibly welcoming staff. My room was a Premium King, bright and airy with massive windows looking out over the stunning Seattle Library.
The building itself is steeped in history; it used to be a wine cellar, and they honour those roots by naming every room after a Washington winery and hosting a complimentary wine hour every evening. Before heading out to explore, guests can enjoy a great breakfast at the hotel. There is a lovely on-site restaurant too, but as it is quite intimate, I would recommend pre-booking a table for your evening meal.
The first full day of my Seattle city break was a whirlwind. I started with a half-day tour that headed through the stadium district, passing the massive Lumen Field and the nearby statues of the metropolis’ sporting legends. From there, we crossed the Lacey V. Murrow Memorial Bridge to reach the mist-covered Snoqualmie Falls in the Cascade Mountains.
One of Seattle’s famous floating bridges, Lake Washington is too deep for traditional supports, so the road sits on massive concrete pontoons. It’s an engineering marvel with a bit of a dramatic history, as the original bridge actually sank during a storm in 1990 while it was being refurbished! It was a unique experience to feel like you are driving right on the water.
The tour was also a treat for music fans; we passed the famous recording studios associated with Seattle’s grunge scene, where bands such as Nirvana, Pearl Jam and Soundgarden recorded landmark albums. Afterward, we looped back to the city to see the iconic Fremont Troll and Pioneer Square.
When the city tour finished, I spent an hour on a “Beneath the Streets” walking excursion. It was an interesting look at the forgotten 1890s-era sidewalks buried under the current city after the Great Fire of 1889, the experience providing a unique glimpse into Seattle’s past.
Back on the surface, I headed to Pike Place Market, a historic and colourful, nine-acre labyrinth that has been running since 1907. I made sure to stop by the Pike Place Fish Company to see the famous fishmongers throwing the catch of the day (see my earlier YouTube video), and I couldn’t miss seeing Rachel the Piggy Bank.
I also took a detour to the Gum Wall, it’s quirky and colourful, and visited Truffle Queen, a popular specialty food and wine shop offering a variety of truffle-infused products, including olive oils, hot sauces, nut brittles, and truffle salt; wine tastings are available throughout the day. And, of course, being a coffee fan, I had to walk past the original Starbucks at 1912 Pike Place to see where the global empire began.
For the rest of the afternoon I walked along the waterfront. Located on Pier 57 (Miner’s Landing), the Crab Pot restaurant was highly recommended to me, but I decided to keep moving and headed toward the Seattle Great Wheel where I took to the sky for some great views of overlooking the urban landscape. The Crab Pot’s claim to fame is its Seafeast, where giant steamed buckets of various seafood, including crab, shrimp, clams, and mussels and more, are served on butchers paper, with diners using mallets to crack open the crab legs and enjoy the feast with their hands.
Back on terra firma, I passed the Edgewater Hotel before continuing onto Pier 69, the Victoria Clipper terminal. Primarily famous for being the only direct, high-speed passenger ferry link between downtown Seattle and Victoria, British Columbia, these catamarans have transported over 8 million passengers across the Salish Sea. Equally iconic, the hotel is famous for its rock-and-roll history, having hosted legends like The Beatles (who famously fished out of their window) and Led Zeppelin. I explored the beautiful lobby and restaurant; it sits right on the water and has the most incredible views over the Puget Sound. It was the perfect place to pause and take it all in.
During my Seattle city break, I had front row seats to one of its unique sights, the Boeing trains, transporting the massive aircraft fuselages to the factory in Renton. Just past the tracks, and the end point for my afternoon walk, lies the Olympic Sculpture Park, a nine-acre outdoor gallery. A creative urban-scape, here you’ll find striking large-scale sculptures set against views of Puget Sound and the Olympic Mountains, with winding paths that invite slow exploration. It’s one of those rare spaces where high rises, contemporary art and nature feel completely connected.
On Sunday, I decided to take the Monorail ride down to the Seattle Centre to see the Space Needle & Chihuly Garden and Glass. Standing at the top of the Needle, the expansive views of the city and the surrounding landscape are truly impressive. It also features a restaurant and bar where you can grab a bite to eat or drink while taking in the 360-degree panorama.
Back on the ground, the Chihuly exhibition is completely unique. The indoor galleries are filled with beautiful, intricate glass sculptures, and the way the vibrant, twisted pieces in the outdoor garden blend in with the natural flowers is unlike anything else I’ve ever seen. Even if you aren’t an ‘art person,’ the sheer scale and colour of the installations against the backdrop of the Space Needle is a must-see.
To savour the local flavours of the city, I joined the Simply Seattle Food Tour. Our guide, Will, was fabulous and made the two hours fly by. As part of the experience, we tucked into Beecher’s “World’s Best” Mac and Cheese which absolutely lived up to the name and sampled some incredible local artisan chocolates and Pike Place Chowder.
For the grand finish, we ended our foodie expedition at the Sky Observation Deck. There’s something special about watching the entire city layout beneath you with a favourite tipple in hand especially on your birthday! Seeing the skyline from every angle as the sun began to set was the perfect “cheers” to a successful stay.
Lost in Seattle
While three nights allowed me to see the heart of the city, Seattle has so much more to offer, so it’s worth spending more time here. If you’re a music buff, the Museum of Pop Culture (MoPOP) is a must-see, or if you want to see the local side of life, head to the Ballard Locks.
Also a paradise for sports fans, head down to the stadium district to catch a Seahawks American football game, watch the Mariners play baseball at T-Mobile Park, or join the passionate crowds at a Seattle Sounders or Seattle Reign football match at Lumen Field. If you prefer the ice, the Seattle Kraken play their home games in the impressive Climate Pledge Arena.
For those who want one last view of the skyline, hopping on the Bainbridge Island Ferry at sunset is the perfect way to say goodbye to the Emerald City. Whether you’re here for the food, the history, or the roaring crowds at a game, Seattle has a magic all its own.
Want to plan your own unique Seattle city break? Combine a visit to the Emerald city with a tailormade holiday in Washington state, and call our USA specialists on 020 8776 8709 or email us at america@frontier-travel.co.uk. ATOL PROTECTED No 5405 ABTA W3207
