Seattle, wrapped up in a sweet lil bow

Travel posts can be overwhelming.  I remember trying to read some for our trip to Thailand, feeling overwhelmed by all the info and then my ADD would kick in and I would end up watching dog rescue videos.

I recently took my hubs to Seattle for his birthday for the weekend.  I haven’t done Seattle as a tourist in a while so it was fun to experience the city that way.  Below I wrapped up my favorite spots in a nice lil bow for you. 

Enjoy!

Where to Stay:  We stayed at the Alexis Hotel.  Aside from the hotel being modern and gorgeous it was all about the location, location, location.  We were able to walk to so many great spots. Parking in Seattle (if you drove there like us) can be tricky.  Also when we went it was windy and cold so not having to walk very far was a huge bonus.  We were so close to the pier, Pike Place, shopping and great dinner spots.  The hotel is a mix of chic luxe with modern elements.  The staff is friendly, they have bikes on site you can rent and they are a dog friendly hotel!  Seeing all the fur babies during our stay was such a treat!

Where to Eat:  You definitely have to grab some cheese, a baguette and the onion soup at Le Pichet.  It’s walking distance from the Alexis and Pike Place. It’s cozy, romantic and perfect for lunch.

When we first arrived to Seattle it was late afternoon and we were pretty hungry. Luckily we were able to get into Skillet without a wait but I hear they can fill up fast around brunch time. We sat at the counter top and both had sandwiches.  I got the fried catfish sandwich with the tomato soup on the side.  It’s really homey cooking and you definitely leave full.  

My friends boyfriend is a chef so when I bestowed the honor of picking where we would meet for brunch on Sunday I knew it was going to be good.  I was sooooo pleased that they picked  Rock Creek.  Their brunch selection varies from sweet staples to light salads. I had the orange zest cinnamon roll and fried oyster eggs benedict.  HOLY YUM.  Everyone loved their meals, there was no wait and the ambience is perfectly “rustic chic”.  

One a whim one night I decided I really wanted tapas.  I actually found this lil gem via YELP. Pintxo made me feel like I was in a Friends episode. They played 90’s/early 2000’s throwback music, the staff was friendly and most of the customers seemed to be regulars.  You could hear the chefs singing along to the music and the whole vibe felt like a giant hug.  Everything we ordered was delicious and great sizes for sharing (sometimes tapas can be tricky)  The stand out dish for us was definitely the grilled octopus.  Seriously some of the most tender I have ever had and the broth it’s served in is the perfect partner. 

What to See:  It’s probably obvious to say this, but….Pikes Place.  Now that we have that out of the way let’s move on. We loved all the great exhibits at MoPOP.  Don’t let the admission price scare you.  It’s worth it.  They had a mix of film, music, video games and sports.  My favorite was the exhibit dedicated to horror films.  My husband is a big Nirvana fan so he geeked out to that. We spent almost three hours at the museum and still didn’t get a chance to see everything.  

Moorea Seal is a store I have followed on Instagram for a little over a year now.  They have an online shop my husband uses as a resource to buy me gifts because everything they stock is sheer perfection.  I was so happy to be able to visit the shop in person.  It’s just as dreamy as I hoped.  This is a great spot to pick up unique jewelry and gifts to remember your trip to Seattle.  You’ll walk away with unique pieces since they focus on small artisan designers.

Everyday Music in Capitol Hill had a really killer selection of records.  Something just feels so right about record shopping in Seattle.  The staff is friendly and Capitol Hill is a great neighborhood.  If you get a chance check out Unicorn bar nearby. 

If you’re a big Nirvana fan, like my husband, then Kurt Cobain’s memorial site is a must stop spot. It’s eerie but also beautiful.  There is parking near by but be sure to be respectful of neighbors.  It’s a very nice neighborhood with active joggers.  Everyone was friendly but we didn’t try to creep into the home or anything like that.  The bench where you can leave trinkets and flowers is located next to Kurt Cobain’s former home that he passed away in.  The bench itself is somewhere he spent time and you get a beautiful view from there. 

What to Wear:  We went in early March but I feel like everytime I have ever been in Seattle it has been chilly.  I brought comfortable walking boots that were also rain resistant.  I suggest a big warm coat to bundle up in.  I was saved by hats or wearing my hair in a side braid (so much wind). I also suggest a big bag to pack gloves, snacks, umbrella, water and to store any goodies you’ll pick up while shopping.