{"id":11353,"date":"2019-09-19T06:45:03","date_gmt":"2019-09-19T06:45:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hotelsbyday.com\/blog\/?p=11353"},"modified":"2019-09-19T06:45:03","modified_gmt":"2019-09-19T06:45:03","slug":"how-to-spend-a-day-in-seattle","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog-test.hotelsbyday.com\/blog\/how-to-spend-a-day-in-seattle\/","title":{"rendered":"How To Spend a Day in Seattle"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

To the untrained eye, the iconic rain makes Seattle seem a little sleepy. Quite the contrary, there\u2019s a thriving community of artists and performers, venues exploring the strange and beautiful, and year-round events that tantalize the senses. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

When wondering <\/span>how to spend a day in Seattle, <\/span>it\u2019s easy to settle on visiting the go-to tourist destinations \u2014 but having an authentic Seattle experience means going beyond your <\/span>Seattle day use room<\/a><\/strong> and the city center.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

How else are you going to turn the corner and find a row of yarn-bombed trees, or an independent glass-blowing studio?<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here\u2019s how to spend a day in Seattle like a Seattleite. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Enjoy the Pacific Northwest\u2019s Version of a Beach<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Seattle may not be known for its breathtaking beaches, but picturesque coastlines abound. Alki Beach Park is a magnet for sunbathers in the summer, and you can take scuba diving lessons to see <\/span>actual<\/span><\/i> shipwrecks in the sound. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Carkeek Park | Photo: Seattle Parks <\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Aptly named Golden Gardens showcases golden sand and is a hub for bonfires and locals playing beach-themed sports. The 216-acre Carkeek Park offers a nice slice of coastline, along with a bridge to watch passenger and freight trains glide up and down the BNSF Railway. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other notable beaches include the expansive views and running\/biking trails of Lincoln Park in West Seattle, the quaint town vibe of Madison Park Beach, and the <\/span>largest freshwater bathing beach in <\/span>Matthews Beach Park. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yes, Coffee is Totally a Thing Here<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

You can\u2019t ponder a Seattle daycation without sampling some local coffee. Many Seattle cafes elevate the coffee experience with local coffee roasters and passionate baristas. Capitol Hill is home to Victrola Coffee Roasters, where they freshly roast their beans at their 15th Ave. location\u2014and the University District has Caf\u00e9 Allegro, AKA \u201c<\/span>Seattle\u2019s Oldest Espresso Bar<\/span><\/a>,\u201d which has been a staple since 1975. <\/span>
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For something photo-worthy, the Starbucks Reserve Roastery on Pike St awes with its <\/span>giant copper kettle<\/span><\/a> and coils that wind around the ceiling. Follow the overwhelming aroma to the Scoop Bar to grab coffee beans by the pound or enjoy samples from the Cold Brew Bar and expansive tasting room.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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This isn’t your everyday Starbucks, obviously. | Photo: T.T. Seng<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Learn Something Profound in a Museum<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re a museum enthusiast, the Seattle Art Museum is only the beginning of your whirlwind museum tour. If the weather calls for it, the Olympic Sculpture Park features outdoor sculptures by artists such as renowned sculpture artists, <\/span>Alexander Cander<\/span><\/a> and conceptual visual artist, <\/span>Teresita Fern\u00e1ndez<\/span><\/a>. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

History buff? The Museum of History and Industry (MOHAI) provides an interactive look at the history and future of Seattle with the permanent Maritime exhibit, along with the <\/span>Bezos Center for Innovation<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other awe-inspiring museums include Wing Luke Museum, (a museum dedicated to the Asian Pacific American<\/span> community), Living Computers (an interactive technology museum) and The Museum of Flight.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Indulge in Seattle Neighborhood\u2019s Best Eats <\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you live in Seattle, you likely<\/span> love<\/span><\/i> brunch, and there are many delicious restaurants to prove it. Sample what\u2019s in season at Coastal Kitchen, devour global street food at Nue, indulge in Glo\u2019s and Beth\u2019s Cafe for classic diner\/greasy spoon cuisine, and endless of other brunchtime options. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hungry after all that sightseeing? Opened in 1954, Dick\u2019s Drive-In is a Seattle staple, doing all-American burgers, fries and rootbeer floats to perfection. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Looking for a noodle fix? Each neighborhood has its own favorite ramen place (try <\/span>Kizuki Ramen & Izakaya if you\u2019re in Northgate, or Yoroshiku in Wallingford). Then there are inventive pizza joints like the<\/span> Ballard Pizza Company, where you can get \u201cThe Moses,\u201d aka, the chef makes you whatever the hell kind of pizza they want!<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

After relaxing and getting ready in your Seattle dayroom, get reservations for an exquisite evening at the iconic Canlis. Built in 1950, the modernist architectural wonder serves small-dish fresh seafood, giving patrons the ultimate gastronomic experience. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shop Til You Drop<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Seattle offers shopping options for all types of shoppers. If you\u2019re looking for brand-name goods, head downtown. For something one of a kind, look no further than local neighborhood gems. Walk down both NW Market St. And Ballard Ave NW in Ballard and find yourself overwhelmed with quaint boutiques. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re a vintage hound, head over to Capitol Hill for some fantastic bohemian or 80\u2019s finds. A genuinely unique experience exists at the Georgetown Trailer Park Mall, where eight trailers showcase unique art, \u201970s and \u201880s vintage finds, as well as strange antiques.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Architecture That Will Blow Your Mind<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Want to feel like you\u2019re living in the future? Stroll into the downtown library. Each level has its own unique features and feels like a space-age fever dream. Designed by famous architect Frank Gehry, the Museum of Pop Culture (MoPOP) has waves of undulating metal that are a feast for the eyes. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Museum of Pop Cultur<\/em>e | Photo: Kyle Blasco<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

There\u2019s also Amazon\u2019s biosphere downtown, which looks like it should be in a sci-fi movie. Both architectural wonders in their own right \u2014the Space Needle and Smith Tower offer picturesque views of the city.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stimulating Watering Holes <\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Seattleites love their themed drinking establishments. Check out the Unicorn & Narwhal in Capitol Hill (complete with upgraded carnival food) for an afternoon snack, Shorty\u2019s (Coney Island-themed hot dogs and nachos) and The Octopus Bar in Wallingford (nautical-themed with portholes and captains quarters) for happy hour. Bonus: These bars are all open for lunch! <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Also check out Teacher\u2019s Lounge in Greenwood (school-themed bar with blackboards, school chairs and a variety of beer) and Needle & Thread (prohibition-and-bank vault-themed cocktail bar) are open late afternoon and beyond for a fun night on the town.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tour of the Strange<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Up for the quirkier side of Seattle? Did the Underground Tour in Pioneer Square pique your interest when looking up top tourist attractions? Satisfy your appetite for oddities by paying your respects to the Fremont Troll, scope out not one, but two<\/em> Official Bad Art Museums at the Rendezvous and Cafe Racer, and top it off with some delicious nachos at the Cha Cha Lounge, a Mexican wrestling-themed dive bar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Just a sampling of the myriad “bad art” at The Rendezvous. | Photo: Sarah E. Miller<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Entertainment for the Kids, Too<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Have kids with you? Start the day at the Woodland Park Zoo, which has a tropical bird exhibit, energetic penguins<\/a> and animated orangutans. The Science Center is hands-on, hosting year-round traveling exhibits along with a permanent dinosaur exhibit and planetarium. 
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Park the car, and get into the Duck, an amphibious vehicle that merrily honks at pedestrians while cruising through downtown Pioneer Square up to Fremont before diving into<\/em> Lake Union!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bike Life<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you love riding your bicycle, Seattle has some excellent bikeways. The Burke Gilman Trail is a local favorite. The 27-mile path offers a perfect blend of urban and nature as it winds through both downtown and scenic routes. Up north, the Interurban Trail is nicely paved and lets you ride seamlessly between Everett and Lynnwood. For a beginner-friendly ride, the Sammamish River Trail is mostly flat without sacrificing serene views. 
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\"Mileage
Seattle’s endless hills make bicycling intimidating, but the Burke-Gilman offers relatively flat and accessible pedaling. | Photo: Matthew Rutledge<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

For a more casual ride around the city, you\u2019ll notice stations with several bright green bikes available to rent via Lime Bikes. 
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In downtown, the Bicycle Repair Shop<\/a> answers your questions and lets you rent high-quality bicycles, from mountain bikes to electric rides. 
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Greenlake, Gas Works Park, and Volunteer Park offer more green getaway options within city limits. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Gas Works Park is uniquely Seattle. | Photo: Incredibly Numing<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The City of Ferries<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Ferries are a huge part of Seattle infrastructure. Some locals commute by ferry to work, while others use it as a weekend getaway. Off West Seattle is the Fauntleroy ferry, which can take you to Vashon Island, home to old-school hippies and retreats. 
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Accessible from Pier 52 along the Alaskan Way Viaduct, Bainbridge Island is a quaint town, as well as the home of the 150-acre Bloedel Reserve and the Bainbridge Island Museum of Art. 
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\"Ferry
The Wenatchee heading to Bainbridge Island. | Photo: Tobias Eigen<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Up north, there are the San Juans, a group of islands that have breathtaking views, farmlands, and rustic accommodations. Whatever you end up doing, as long as you\u2019re out and about, you\u2019re bound to find stimuli that suit you. Seattle\u2019s contrast between historical and modern architecture completes a unique urban environment, while stunning natural parks are conveniently within city limits. What more can one ask for? 
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Get your trip off to the right start. Book a Seattle dayroom<\/strong><\/a> to suit your pre- or post-flight needs!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Photo Credits: <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Featured Image: “Seattle Skyline”<\/a> by MILKOV\u00cd<\/a> via Unsplash<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Carkeek Park”<\/a> by Seattle Parks<\/a> via(CC BY 2.0)\ufeff<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Coffee Contraption”<\/a> by T.Tseng<\/a> via (CC BY 2.0)<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Burke-Gilman Trail”<\/a> by Matthew Rutledge<\/a> via (CC BY 2.0)\ufeff<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Gas Works Park”<\/a> by Incredibly Numing<\/a> via (CC BY 2.0)<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Wenatchee enroute to Bainbridge Island”<\/a> by Tobias Eigen<\/a> via (CC BY 2.0)<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

To the untrained eye, the iconic rain makes Seattle seem a little sleepy. Quite the contrary, there\u2019s a thriving community of artists and performers, venues exploring the strange and beautiful, and year-round events that tantalize the senses.  When wondering how to spend a day in Seattle, it\u2019s easy to settle on visiting the go-to tourist […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":40,"featured_media":11380,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[271,909],"class_list":["post-11353","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-city-guides","tag-daycations","tag-seattle"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/blog-test.hotelsbyday.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Seattle-skyline.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog-test.hotelsbyday.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11353","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog-test.hotelsbyday.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog-test.hotelsbyday.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog-test.hotelsbyday.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/40"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog-test.hotelsbyday.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=11353"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/blog-test.hotelsbyday.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11353\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog-test.hotelsbyday.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/11380"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog-test.hotelsbyday.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11353"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog-test.hotelsbyday.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=11353"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog-test.hotelsbyday.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=11353"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}