24 Hours in Seattle

Seattle! 

It's by far one of my favorite places on Earth and I'm pretty sure I've been here more than 10 times. My brother lives just a couple hours north so it is a pretty easy place for us to visit. 

After our Christmas vacation my Dad and sister were flying out of Seattle so we all carpooled over together. My Dad was just there for a few hours and my sister was there over night. Here is a little recap of where we went. I've included costs in here as well because several people have said they are visiting Seattle or that it is on their list so I'm hoping this is helpful to your travels as well. 

Pike's Market - Free

To get into Pike's Market is free and it is filled with little stalls where people sell flowers, handicrafts, produce and food. This is also the famous place of the 'throwing fish' which is a fun site to see. 

They open between 8-9am and the earlier you arrive the less people there will be. They close between 5-6pm. We went there in the late afternoon and had dinner in there. Dinner is pricier here but I just had a little cup of soup because after dinner I went across the street and got a big 16oz. cup of mac n cheese from Beecher's Cheese to split with Dave. It's sooooo tasty! 

Check out this awesome broccoli! Has anyone ever eaten it? If so what was it like? I want to try it. 

The First Starbucks - $3-$5

The next day we had a packed day so we started out early in the morning. Our first stop was the first Starbucks and it is located directly across the street from Pike's Market. The line to get in is normally out the door and down the street but because we went early there was no line. They open at 7am and I recommend getting there between 7:00 - 8:00 to avoid lines. Also, they only serve drinks at this location, no food. 

People often think my sister and I are twins. When we both have our hair down we look more alike. Holly had never been here so it was fun to take her here. 

Le Panier - $2- $7

Le Panier is a French bakery just down the street from Starbucks. I get a pastry from there and then head to the Waterfront Viewpoint to eat. The WV is located in Pike's Market behind the aisle where they throw the fish. I recommend this place because it is free and you have beautiful views there of Puget Sound and the Seattle Wheel.

The Gum Wall - Free

This is weird but a really intriguing place to see. Located in Post Alley behind Pike's Place Market you'll find a street whose walls are covered in chewed gum. You can add your own piece to the wall too so be sure to chew a piece on your way over. 

It's funny because supposedly they had just cleaned the wall and it was already covered again. The only thing that looked different to me this time was how bright the gum was. 

I thought this was cool! 

Seattle Great Wheel - $13.00 (adults) / $8.50 (4-11 years) / Free (0-3 years)

You all know I love Ferris wheels! Neither Dave nor Holly had been so we opted to ride this instead of going to The Space Needle this time. If you have never been to The Space Needle I recommend it over the wheel. 

The wheel opens at 11am on weekdays and 10am on weekends. We got there right at opening and there was no line. Typically a ride gets you 3 full revolutions but we got 5 and I'm pretty sure that is because there was no one else around. So, go early if you plan to do this. 

Sometimes Dave will dress up and wear a sweater if I ask him to. Soooo, Holly and I figured out that they had matching sweaters so of course I asked Dave to wear a sweater. He thought I just wanted him to dress up but instead he got to match his sister-in-law all day. He is a good sport. 

Chihuly Garden and Glass - $13 - $22 depending on your age. See full list of prices here.

If you plan to do The Space Needle and Chihuly you can purchase a ticket deal. I believe they are a few dollars cheaper if you book through Expedia.

Chihuly is located next door to The Space Needle so you get some really neat views of both places in this area. Chihuly was an artist that made amazing glass sculptures. This was on Holly's to do list so I went with her. It was a really interesting place and was a cool place to take pictures.

Local Pho - $5- $11

Before we left Asia, Auntie Lourdes told us in two weeks we would miss Asian food and she was spot on! Thankfully we had some good Vietnamese food in Seattle. A big bowl of beef Pho cost $7.95 and it was a massive portion. I recommend splitting. 

This place is located near The Space Needle so you can walk there. 

All of these activities were done within 24 hours so you can cover a lot of ground in little time. Of course I recommend 3-5 days there but you don't have to stay long to see a lot.

Lastly, we stayed at The Best Western located near The Space Needle and again I booked through Expedia. I believe with parking our total cost was around $120 and split 3 ways made it $40 per person, which is a great deal in Seattle. This hotel was within walking distance of all the places I listed in this post so you don't have to pay any extra for commuting. 

Have you been to Seattle? What was your favorite thing there? 

If you plan on going there please feel free to e-mail me and I'll answer what questions I can.