Stay
Downtown, the centrally located Hotel 1000 offers guests a pampered experience that includes freestanding tubs with waterfront views. Major attractions are equally walkable from the artsy (and slightly edgy) Hotel Max, where guest room doors on the fifth floor are adorned with photos of indie rock legends. For a tranquil stay, book a suite at Greenlake Guest House. The 1920s Craftsman-style B&B is steps from Green Lake Park, an idyllic space with walking and biking trails and one of the many lush parks that’s earned the city its “Emerald” moniker. Or, browse Airbnb for houseboat, sailboat, and yacht rentals and let the calm waters of Lake Union rock you to sleep.
Try these at Pike Place Market
Piroshky Piroshkyâ
Find dozens of handcrafted Russian mini-pies here. Don’t miss the apple cinnamon roll.
Rachel’s Ginger Beer
This craft soda company makes the best Moscow Mule in Seattle.
Pike Place Chowder
Slurp a bowl of seared scallop, New England clam, or vegan.
City Fish Co.
Take home a slab of smoked salmon (it’s shelf-stable for up to three days.)
Ellenos Greek Yogurt
A cup of marionberry pie yogurt is non-negotiable.
Play
Stroll through the Washington Park Arboretum to see full-tilt fall color. The pint-sized Seattle Japanese Garden is located within the 230-acre park, and features a pond, waterfalls, and decorative bridges. Explore Seattle’s burgeoning beer scene in Ballard. Ten breweries are situated within a mile of one another, making for a convenient beer crawl. Chocolate fanatics will appreciate the Theo Chocolate factory tour in Fremont (it’s educational, with samples aplenty), and aspiring chefs can bone up on everything from fried chicken to Filipino desserts at a Hot Stove Society class, a cooking school in the Hotel Ändra led by James Beard Award–winning chef Tom Douglas. At night, watch improv teams battle for comedy supremacy at Unexpected Productions’ Theatresports, located in the Market Theater at Pike Place, or catch a flick at Cinerama in Belltown. The 521-seat movie theater has a wraparound balcony and upgraded concessions like chocolate popcorn and craft brews.
Eat
Kick off the day with Cajun meat loaf and Dungeness crab bennys at Toulouse Petit, a cozy Cajun-Creole restaurant in Lower Queen Anne. At lunchtime, queue up with the locals in Pioneer Square for fresh pasta at Il Corvo or a sandwich at Salumi Artisan Cured Meats. Both spots have a limited menu of budget-friendly selections that change daily. Treat your sweet tooth to a sugar splurge in Ballard with brioche doughnuts at Rodeo Doughnut, deliciously gooey cakes at Hot Cakes Molten Chocolate Cakery, or a slice of bumble berry at Pie Bar—ideally followed by a pour-over from Ballard Coffee Works. Have dinner downtown at Douglas’ newest spot, The Carlile Room, where plant-based plates shine as brightly as the meaty entrées (and dessert is stellar). Later, sip a classic cocktail at Pennyroyal in the Palladian Hotel. The historic Belltown watering hole hosts a tiki party with potent cocktails poured by resident and guest bartenders every Sunday.
Destination: Seattle
Photo by Erin Jackson
