Greetings from mountainy Snoqualmie! After a long layover in Chicago, I landed last night at Seattle-Tacoma airport about 8:10 pm. Lagging from the time change and long day, I found my second wind as soon as I hopped in my rental car. “Kiss” by Prince blared from my open windows as I drove away from the airport.

Snoqualmie, where my sister lives, lies half an hour east of Seattle. Though I drove in the dark, there was no missing how gorgeous an area this was…billowy shadows of evergreens and a massive lakeside cityscape glittering in the night marked the highway landscape in a way you wouldn’t see on the East Coast. It was an instant revisit to the scenery from Twilight (yes, I went there).

This morning, I woke up to sheets of rain pouring outside. At 5:20AM. I think I’m finally adjusting to Pacific Coast Time. And I’m reflecting on the past four days here. This is my first time visiting Seattle, and it’s been fantastic. In between working full-time, my sister has done a fantastic job playing tour guide and showing me the must-sees of the city. I’ve got an entire separate post on Seattles satellite towns here.

The stay was brief, but memorable. Downtown was far hillier than I’d imagined it would be! Steeeep hills reminiscent of San Francisco are common. It’s also a gorgeous area to drive; the Pugent Sound peeks in at you between buildings. Even the highway exits are stunning, with cascading greenery draping down from the tunnel entrances and exits. It truly is an Emerald City.

Seattle’s nautical town landscape is a must-visit for seafood lovers and a pointedly stand-out element of Seattle, and little Pike Place Market alone will keep you occupied an entire afternoon. Fresh fish, crab, shrimp, and mollusk delicacies abound in market stalls left and right. Grab a picture with one of the fishermen in their rubber waders and aprons.

Pike Place Market

Fresh produce, seafood, tacos, pastries, egg rolls, chocolates, cheeses, meats, breads, coffee…you name it, they got it. A lush array of foods awaits you.

Keep in mind a few stalls are still cash-only. (I bought a blue lace agate ring and had no cash, so I had to Venmo my sister for it.)

As far as coffee…well, this is the coffee capitol of the country. (LA, San Fran, and San Diego - my next three stops - are also listed in the top ten highest ranking cities for coffee.) While I have my one recommendation, it’s pretty difficult to do coffee “wrong” in Seattle.

And, as you’ll see, fall is an absolutely stunning time of year to visit.

Recommendations

For coffee, go to Storyville (contemporary, moody, and cozy, overlooking the market sign and the Puget Sound behind massive open windows)

For a unique flower bouquet, stop by Pike Place Flowers (saw plenty of people carrying striking little bouquets of distinct aesthetic)

For homemade mac n cheese, go to Beecher’s (melt-in-your-mouth good, quite filling)

For a tourist picture, go to the first ever Starbucks (always a line) and the Gum Wall (in an alley straight out of Harry Potter)

For local beer, visit Cloudburst Brewing or Elysian Brewing Company (Space Dust is their popular IPA)

For tacos, check out Taco Chukis (Four tacos for $10)

For biophiliacs (or Amazon fans), drive by the Amazon Spheres (looks like Jurassic World inside glass balls)

To pay for parking, download the PayByPhone app

Have you ever been to Seattle? What recommendations do you have for new visitors? Leave yours in a comment below.

The Emerald City: First Visit to Seattle, Washington

Pike Place Market

Recommendations