I’d been to Seattle three times before. The first time, in 2009, I did everything my guidebook told me to do there. The second, in 2011, I explored for a few hours between a train from Vancouver and a flight back to Chicago. And the third time, in 2013, I spent a few days after a trip to Hawaii.
This August, I went back, for the fourth time, and spent five days in Seattle. I had friends I could stay with and just needed to get away for a few.
Part of me always feels like I should travel somewhere new, somewhere I haven’t been before. But, lately, a big part of me just wants familiarity. Besides, I like Seattle. The weather is my kind of weather (read: no winter). There’s so much natural outdoor space. And they pretty much put flannel on the map. What else does a girl need?
Since I’d already been there three times before I had no real plans for the trip. But my friends, Jen and Andrew, made sure that my five days in Seattle were packed.
Here’s what we did with five days in Seattle…
Bainbridge Island
We took a ferry to Bainbridge Island…
Taking the ferry to Bainbridge Island.
Taking the ferry to Bainbridge Island.
Taking the ferry to Bainbridge Island.
Taking the ferry back to Seattle from Bainbridge Island.
Taking the ferry back to Seattle from Bainbridge Island.
Taking the ferry back to Seattle from Bainbridge Island.
Bloedel Reserve
And, once there, went to Bloedel Reserve, a 150-acre public garden. Admission was a little steep at $15 but there are brochures on the ferry that have coupons for $2 off. It was a nice walk, though, a nice way to spend an afternoon.
Bloedel Reserve on Bainbridge Island.
Bloedel Reserve on Bainbridge Island.
Bloedel Reserve on Bainbridge Island.
Bloedel Reserve on Bainbridge Island.
Bloedel Reserve on Bainbridge Island.
Bloedel Reserve on Bainbridge Island.
Bloedel Reserve on Bainbridge Island.
Bloedel Reserve on Bainbridge Island.
Bloedel Reserve on Bainbridge Island.
Bloedel Reserve on Bainbridge Island.
Bloedel Reserve on Bainbridge Island.
Bloedel Reserve on Bainbridge Island.
Bloedel Reserve on Bainbridge Island.
Bloedel Reserve on Bainbridge Island.
Bloedel Reserve on Bainbridge Island.
Bloedel Reserve on Bainbridge Island.
Bloedel Reserve on Bainbridge Island.
Bloedel Reserve on Bainbridge Island.
Bloedel Reserve on Bainbridge Island.
Point No Point
After Bloedel Reserve, we explored the downtown area and then drove to Point No Point, a small beach with a lighthouse in Hansville. We walked for a bit along the beach and sat and watched a seal who was happily napping on the shore, waiting for his mother to return from gathering food.
Point No Point lighthouse in Hansville, Washington.
Point No Point lighthouse in Hansville, Washington.
Point No Point in Hansville, Washington.
Point No Point in Hansville, Washington.
Point No Point in Hansville, Washington.
Point No Point in Hansville, Washington.
Seal on the beach at Point No Point in Hansville, Washington.
Seal on the beach at Point No Point in Hansville, Washington.
Seal on the beach at Point No Point in Hansville, Washington.
Seattle Art Museum
We went to the Seattle Art Museum and, well, looked at art.
Seattle Art Museum
Seattle Art Museum
Seattle Art Museum
Seattle Art Museum
Seattle Art Museum
Carkeek Park
I took a hike in Carkeek Park, stopping by the orchard, walking the beach, only getting slightly lost, and reveling in the fact that I was in a city that actually had nature to walk through.
Hiking in Carkeek Park in Seattle, Washington.
Hiking in Carkeek Park in Seattle, Washington.
Hiking in Carkeek Park in Seattle, Washington.
Orchard in Carkeek Park in Seattle, Washington.
Orchard in Carkeek Park in Seattle, Washington.
Orchard in Carkeek Park in Seattle, Washington.
Orchard in Carkeek Park in Seattle, Washington.
Orchard in Carkeek Park in Seattle, Washington.
Orchard in Carkeek Park in Seattle, Washington.
Orchard in Carkeek Park in Seattle, Washington.
Hiking in Carkeek Park in Seattle, Washington.
Hiking in Carkeek Park in Seattle, Washington.
Beach at Carkeek Park in Seattle, Washington.
Beach at Carkeek Park in Seattle, Washington.
Beach at Carkeek Park in Seattle, Washington.
Hiking in Carkeek Park in Seattle, Washington.
Hiking in Carkeek Park in Seattle, Washington.
Seattle Center
We walked around Seattle Center, admiring the iconic Space Needle up close. (But didn’t go up it, you only need to do that once in your life if ever at all.)
Space Needle in Seattle, Washington.
Seattle Center
Space Needle in Seattle, Washington.
Seattle Center
Seattle Center
Volunteer Park and the Amorphophallus Titanum (Corpse Flower)
We went to Volunteer Park in Capitol Hill, saw the Dhalia Gardens, saw the Amorphophallus Titanum (corpse flower) at the conservatory, attended a picnic for Jen’s kung fu school.
Dahlia garden in Volunteer Park in Seattle, Washington.
Dahlia garden in Volunteer Park in Seattle, Washington.
Dahlia garden in Volunteer Park in Seattle, Washington.
Dahlia garden in Volunteer Park in Seattle, Washington.
Dahlia garden in Volunteer Park in Seattle, Washington.
Amorphophallus titanum – corpse flower – at Volunteer Park Conservatory in Seattle, Washington.
Volunteer Park Conservatory in Seattle, Washington.
Volunteer Park Conservatory in Seattle, Washington.
Volunteer Park Conservatory in Seattle, Washington.
Volunteer Park Conservatory in Seattle, Washington.
Volunteer Park Conservatory in Seattle, Washington.
Volunteer Park Conservatory in Seattle, Washington.
Volunteer Park in Seattle, Washington.
Picnic in Volunteer Park in Seattle, Washington.
Picnic in Volunteer Park in Seattle, Washington.
Volunteer Park in Seattle, Washington.
Capitol Hill, Downtown, Pike Place and Olympic Sculpture Park
And I walked back through Capitol Hill and through all the downtown sites, through Pike Place, through Olympic Sculpture Park.
Rumba dance steps in the sidewalk in Capitol Hill, Seattle, Washington.
Tango dance steps in the sidewalk in Capitol Hill, Seattle, Washington.
Jimi Hendrix in Capitol Hill, Seattle, Washington.
Her mind says do not enter
Pike Place Market
Pike Place Market
Olympic Sculpture Park in Seattle, Washington
Olympic Sculpture Park in Seattle, Washington
Olympic Sculpture Park in Seattle, Washington
Olympic Sculpture Park in Seattle, Washington
Eating in Seattle
And, of course, we ate five days worth of food.
Chicken fried steak with mashed potatoes and kale at 5 Spot Diner in Seattle, Washington.
Key lime pie at 5 Spot Diner in Seattle, Washington.
Beignets at Toulouse Petit in Seattle, Washington.
Pork cheeks confit hash at Toulouse Petit in Seattle, Washington.
Lemon and sugar crepe at J’aime Les Crepes on Bainbridge Island.
Chocolate Peanut Butter Moreo ice cream from MORA ice cream on Bainbridge Island.
Steak and brisket pho from Pho Viet Anh in Seattle, Washington.
Broken Arrow Burger and a Pike Kilt Lifter at The Pike Brewing Company in Seattle, Washington.
Wonton soup at Tup Tim Thai in Seattle, Washington.
Pork phad see iew at Tup Tim Thai in Seattle, Washington.
13 Coins 24-hour restaurant in Seattle, Washington.
Fried ravioli at 13 Coins restaurant in Seattle, Washington.
Hot turkey meatloaf sandwich at 13 Coins restaurant in Seattle, Washington.
Hi, I'm Val. I spent most of my 20s in a standstill, unable to pick which path in life I wanted to take. I wanted the nomadic life of a traveler but also wanted the husband, the condo, and the kitten. Unable to decide which life I wanted more, I did nothing. When I turned 30 I’d had enough of putting my life on hold and decided to start “choosing my figs.” So, I quit my job, bought a one-way ticket to Europe, and traveled for three years. Now I'm back in Chicago, decorating my apartment in all the teal, petting my cats, and planning my next adventure.
” … and reveling in the fact that I was in a city that actually had nature to walk through.” Loved that quote. It pretty aptly describes our motivation for moving to this coast. Also, as the previous commenter has so often said, “I want to see mountains again, Gandalf, mountains ….”
Jennifer Plecki
September 9, 2016at12:18 pmYou know, Seattle is a pretty great place to live. Just sayin….
Joe Meier
September 11, 2016at10:48 pm” … and reveling in the fact that I was in a city that actually had nature to walk through.” Loved that quote. It pretty aptly describes our motivation for moving to this coast. Also, as the previous commenter has so often said, “I want to see mountains again, Gandalf, mountains ….”