Concerts. Theater. Mariners. Sounders. Festivals. Breweries. Food tours. Shopping. Restaurants…whew.
When it comes to exciting and unique activities Seattle will flat out spoil you. Time to grab your friends, pack your bags and head to Seattle to close out summer in style. Here’s our guide to helping you plan a quick trip to the Emerald City.
Stay
Situated in the heart of downtown Seattle, the magnificent Crowne Plaza Hotel towers above surrounding buildings, offering panoramic city views from every one of their spacious rooms. Having trouble deciding what to scratch off your must-do list? Start by challenging your friends to some friendly competition with a game of mini- golf or table tennis on the rooftop patio. On Thursdays, be sure to join the hotel’s party on the patio for live music, outstanding food and some of the finest local brews, wines and spirits.
If you and your friends are wine aficionados like us, you will love getting wined and dined at the smart, stylish Hotel Vintage, where every room is dedicated to a local winery and vineyard. Luxurious rooms combined with breathtaking city views create a cozy, urban retreat. Indulge in an array of spoil-you-silly amenities, including in-room facials and body treatments, yoga mats, loaner bikes and access to a host of travel amenities . While it may be hard to pull yourself away from your room, be sure not to miss the nightly wine hour reception featuring Washington wines.
Eat
From some of freshest seafood around to rich, decadent chocolate, Seattle has an endless supply of phenomenal eats just waiting for you. Start your day off right with a stop at Belltown’s best kept secret for breakfast, Tom Douglas’ Lola. This Mediterranean inspired restaurant serves up mouthwatering, hot, made-to-order doughnuts with seasonal jam and vanilla mascarpone. However, be sure to save to room for a trip to the city’s public market and get a taste of Seattle’s culture in every sense of word.
Stroll through the vibrant stalls of the culinary Mecca on the Savor Seattle Pike Place Market Food & Cultural Tour, where each stop seems tastier than the last. Nibble on bites from local artisans and restaurants, watch cheese being made through the glass window of the famous Beecher’s shop, see fish fly through the air and breathe in the sweet smell of just baked piroshkies (a little insider tip – the apple and salmon varieties are sure to make your mouth melt every time).
Skip the busy line at the original Starbucks in favor of washing your treats down with a cold brew at the stylish Storyville Coffee before shopping the array of handmade wares also housed inside the market, which range from woven rugs and baskets to intricately made jewelry.
After a day of exploring, dine al fresco on the deck of the nearby The Pink Door, which brims with homespun Italian-American fare, including caprese salad made with juicy, ripe organic heirloom tomatoes and cioppino filled with fresh prawns, clams, scallops and mussels, live entertainment and stunning views of Elliot Bay.
You can also pop over to Pioneer Square to take advantage of Taylor Shellfish’s brick-walled, fresh oyster bar and other seafood creations. Or, follow the locals to the cozy, candlelit Clever Bottle in Belltown, one of our favorite joints for sharing small plates of cheese and salami with friends over well-made cocktails or glasses of wine.
If your adventures take you further from the market, you can dine outdoors at the lively Revel, a bright, art and music filled Korean fusion restaurant that fits right in the quirky Fremont neighborhood. Dine on Asian comfort food such as dumplings, savory pancakes and noodles or head to the Grill Shack on the patio for almost every cut of meat imaginable.
When it comes time for dessert, give in to Seattle’s sweet side on the Chocolate Indulgence Tour and treat your taste buds to more than 15 delicious chocolate tastings. You will also get a chance to indulge in creamy cheesecakes, cupcakes and cookies from the likes of the Confectional, Frans Chocolates, Cupcake Royal while picking up tips on how to serve these crave-worthy confections.
Drink
While in town, “study up” on Seattle’s micro-brew scene and taste the taps at three distinct breweries on the Seattle Brewery Tour. Each spot has its own characteristics and charm, not to mention its unique style of beer, from intense, big-bodied brews that use double the ingredients regularly used in brewing at Bad Jimmy’s, to hoppy Manny’s Pale Ale at Georgetown Brewing Company and to the smooth, award-winning Hefeweizen at the popular Pyramid Brewery. Like the beer, information on all the culture and technical aspects of brewing will be freely dispensed, giving you new appreciation for what goes into a beautiful brew.
If you want to sample Washington’s famous wines, venture just 30 minutes outside of Seattle, to the quaint, scenic valley of Woodinville, where an abundance of wineries and tasting rooms intersect to create a unique haven for sampling the region’s delicious grapes. Reconnect with your friends as you visit three of these boutique wineries on the Woodinville Wine Trail Experience and sip your way through generous samples of bold red and crisp whites.
Washington has long been known for the its spectacular beers and wines, but spirits are close on their heels, with more microdistillieries being housed in the state than anywhere else in the country. Jump on the craft bandwagon with the Seattle Distillery Tour and explore the inner-workings and giant glistening stills of small-batch producers such as Sound Spirits Distillery, Letterpress Distillery and Copperworks Distillery. Chat with the distillers themselves to learn about the history of the burgeoning craft distillery scene and discover how the spirits used in your favorite cocktails are created. Of course, you will also get to sample a variety of unique concoctions, many made with local ingredients, such as limoncello blended with Washington blackberry honey or Aquavit made from fresh dill, caraway, coriander, fennel and anise.
If all the tastings leave you wanting a second tour, we recommend that stopping at the bottle-adorned Capitol Hill bar Canon. Ranked sixth on the list of World’s Best 50 Bars by Drinks International magazine, the snug bar is a must-visit for cocktail lovers. Peruse the 100 drink menu-book to find a drink that suits your fancy or go for the “shrouded roulette” and pick a base spirit and allow the talented bartenders do the rest – you won’t be disappointed. Beer more your scene? Check out one of the ten breweries found within just five square miles in Ballard, which is quickly becoming a hotspot for top-notch beers.
See
The Emerald City may be notorious for its rain, coffee and flannel, but the city is also home to a thriving arts scene, featuring everything from live music to theatre. If you want to be kept on the edge of your seat all night long, we have just the thing. Described as “part circus, part dinner theatre, and always magical” and as “the hottest ticket in town,” Teatro ZinZanni’s Dinner and Show combines improv comedy, music, dance, acrobatics and sophisticated humor to create a thrilling theatrical performance.
While the venue has a rotating list of productions, each show is unique, with audience participation factored in as part of the fun, so don’t be surprised if someone twirls down beside you and your pals. During the course of the evening, you will also be treated to a scrumptious five-course dinner and delicious libations, which are sure to create a night unlike any other.
Also on the musical circuit is The 5th Avenue Theatre, a historic space with Chinese-inspired design and coffered ceilings where Broadway opens productions and local acts come to life. Likewise, on either end of downtown are the theatre’s sibling auditoriums, the Paramount and Moore Theaters, which host a wide variety of performances, from ground shaking rock revival concerts to comedic acts that will cause you till laugh until you cry.
If you prefer stadiums to the stage, the star-studded Mariner team roster, the Mariner moose mascot, hot dogs and fresh poured beer at Safeco Field ballpark are hard to beat on a sunny day. Or you can head next door to Century Link Field to tout your futbol clout and catch a Seattle Sounders game, just hearing the roar of other dedicated fans as they scream team songs and chants is worth the trip.
Play
Soak up the last golden rays of the Seattle summer by experiencing the great outdoors. Explore beyond the downtown city limits to historic Norwegian Ballard neighborhood to watch gigantic yachts and multi-sailed boats navigate the popular Hiram Chittenden Locks as they travel from the salt water of Puget Sound to the fresh water of Lake Union and Lake Washington. If you visit between mid-August to September, be sure to stop by the fish ladder to see the large king salmon and silvery coho salmon “climb” up the ladder as they return to spawn in fresh water. You can also hop on the Argosy Locks Cruise to experience what it is like to glide through the complex locks system first-hand as well as ogle the fantastic house boat community from the movie “Sleepless in Seattle.”
Afterward, use your time in the charming city of Ballard to discover some of region’s hidden gems, and skip the bustling departments stores in favor of shopping the neighborhood’s unique boutiques. For soft throws, novelty accessories, scented candles, clever letterpress greeting cards and books, we suggest the unique and stylish Camelion Design, a local hotspot for luxe home furnishings. To pamper your feet, head to re-souL to stock up on well-designed modern shoes as well as handmade jewelry from local designers.
If you are looking for something even more funky, head to the artsy Fremont neighborhood to peruse the array of eclectic stores. One of our favorites is the Fremont Vintage Mall. More like a museum than a store, this underground basement shop offers a treasure trove of curios that range from vinyl records to vintage clothing that will satisfy your thirst for past decades. Before you leave town, don’t forget to embrace the quirk, and stop by the statue of Lenin or climb up on the lap of the Fremont Troll for a picture.
Whether you want to sample local wines, taste incredible cuisine or catch an impressive performance, Seattle offers an endless array of captivating activities. Spending a weekend in Seattle is the ultimate way to enjoy some relaxing downtime with your friends.
Clipper Recommends:
- Looking for more adventures around town? Check out our list of Seattle things to do for a ton of fun festivals and activities.
- Get an extra dose of delicious treats by stopping by Melorose Market on Capitol Hill for locally grown eats and one of the best wine spots in the city at Bar Ferdinand or check out some of Seattle’s other hidden gems.