After spending our first entire day in Washington with nature (at the beautiful Mt. Rainier National Park), we decided to spend our second day with the people of the city of Seattle. Seattle is a port city so there is a lot of commerce that involves fishing and boating (Josh says it reminds him of the Chicago). We decided to make our first stop an obvious one: the famous Pike Place (which also includes the first Starbucks store).
Pike Place Public Market
Pike Place is a colorful arena of handmade crafts, fresh produce, and beautiful views of the waterfront. One of the oldest continuing Farmer's Markets in the country - Pike Place has a lot to offer. Even if you don't need to pick up any produce, strolling through the market is a great way to spend some time.
Ye Olde Curiosity Shop
Located on the Seattle Waterfront at Pier 54, we made our way to Ye Olde Curiosity Shop after stopping at a Starbucks (though not the nation's first) to caffeinate. Curiosity shops are a must-see for us on our travels. If you know of any good ones in your area, let us know! Ye Olde Curiosity shop is a fun stop, full of Washington history.
Space Needle
Of course we just had to stop and see the most iconic image of Seattle - the 605 ft tall Space Needle. Built in 1962, the Space Needle stands out along with Mt. Rainier on the Seattle landscape. The Space Needle along with the EMP Museum and Chihuly Glass and Gardens are all located in the same area along Broad Street so you can venture to all 3 within a brisk walk around a small park. We did not have a chance to take the ride to the top but got a few pictures around the needle and traversed the huge gift shop inside.
Experience Music Project (EMP) Museum
The EMP museum was a surprise location for us. The museum is catered for music + sci-fi + pop culture so both of us were very excited since these three subjects are at the top of our interests. At the time we were there they were featuring a few exciting exhibits including: A Tribute to Nirvana, Can't Look Away: The Lure of Horror Film, and Fantasy: Worlds of Myth and Magic as well as tributes to Hendrix and other Seattle notables. We got to see a lot here and were surprised to find many original costumes and accessories from some of our favorite movies and shows including Labyrinth and Game of Thrones. It was a great place to nerd out.
Washington State Ferry
The ferry is the best way to get a view of the city's coast line. For around $8 you can take a quick tour from Seattle to Bainbridge and back again. The ferry is incredibly smooth, so this is a great option even for those who are sensitive to sea sickness. This is also the best way to get a view of the beautiful Seattle Waterfront from a far. We got some great pictures in on our ride.
All in all, we really enjoyed the city. We like to split our trips up with equal bouts city life and country life. Keep posted for more entries about this west coast road trip.
You can read our other entries about Washington here
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