Seattle, Washington is known for many things: amazing seafood, a lively craft beer scene, and music legends like Nirvana and Jimi Hendrix- but maybe isn't the first place you think of when choosing a city for a fun girls trip. Honestly, you can have a good time with your girls wherever you go! That's what friendship is all about right? Below I'll share with you a guide to the city, things to do and restaurants to enjoy with friends while in The Emerald City.
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Where to Stay
The State Hotel is a great place to stay not only for its perfect location (you'll be in the heart of downtown Seattle; only around the corner from the famous Pike Place Market and a few minutes walk from other popular attractions) but the vibe and aesthetic of this 4-year old hotel is spot on for serving local flair and a good time with friends. There is also an on site restaurant (Ben Paris) that is pretty good! The staff here are super friendly and accommodating, and get this: you'll likely be greeted with a welcome shot upon arrival!
Transportation
You can typically get around easily using Uber/Lyft, but there's also the option to use the historic monorail with a $3.50 adult ticket, which can easily take you from Downtown Seattle (Westlake Center) to Seattle Center roundtrip. It runs every 10 minutes and is about a 3 minute ride. This means you can easily get from Pike Place Market to Chihuly Glass Garden in little time! Unfortunately, the monorail doesn't have any other routes, so you will need to utilize other transportation to get to other areas in the city.
What To Do
Experience the Museum of Pop Culture
The Museum of Pop Culture is a great place to enjoy the part of your day with friends, especially if y'all share a love for all things pop culture; from influential musical artists, movies, games and even body modifications like tattoos and piercings! There's literally something for everyone to enjoy at this museum, even for those who aren't the type to frequent them. There's also a huge jungle gym right outside of the building and I mean...there's nothing wrong with taking the time to tap into your inner child, you'll all have a blast!
See the Famous Seattle Skyline by Water with Argosy Cruises
It's always fun to take in the beautiful backdrop of Seattle's skyline while on the water, and Argosy Cruises is the perfect company to tour with! You'll enjoy a tour of Puget Sound, learn lots of Seattle facts through live narration and even have access to the full-service bar serving a multitude of libations and snacks.
Enjoy the Beauty of Glass Art at Chihuly Glass Garden
Chihuly Garden and Glass is an exhibition displaying the breath-taking studio glass work of Dale Chihuly in the Seattle Center. It's actually right next to the Space Needle, so you can knock both sites off of your list in one go. Even if you and your friends aren't huge art enthusiasts, I'd say this is a must-see just off of how beautiful each of the art intallations are inside of the building as well as out in the garden space.
Get a Birdseye View from the Top of the Space Needle
Did you even go to Seattle if you didn't visit the Space Needle? It's a quintessential, albeit touristy thing to do while in the city to enjoy a birds-eye view of Seattle. You're able to experience this via two levels; one of them touting the world's first and only revolving glass floor (Which I do NOT recommend standing on if you're afraid of heights, by the way). Single tickets for ages 13-64 start around $30, but you can get discounts through bundle deals or purchasing the CityPASS, which I'll mention in more detail below.
Explore Pike Place Market
If you're visiting the city, this Seattle icon is likely what you're coming for, or you've heard plenty about Pike Place Market during your research. It is one of the oldest and largest public markets in the United States that is open for 363 days out of the year; where locals and visitors alike come together to shop, eat, and discover Seattle delicacies. Purchase some fresh flowers, sample artisan pasta (buy some to enjoy at home too!), and be sure to watch out for the Flying Fish! You're also not too far away from the infamous Gum Wall, which is...just as gross as it is fascinating, to be quite honest.
Visit the OG Starbucks
For the Starbucks stans, located within the outer portion of Pike Place Market is where it all began in 1971: Starbucks' very first brick-and-mortar location! The name is inspired by the seafaring tale of Moby Dick and its relation to coffee traders of the time. You can pick up some OG Starbucks exclusives here that include drinks, coffee beans and of course merchandise, but be warned: you're likely going to have to wait in line for about 45 minutes to an hour to get your orders in and complete.
Take a Hike With the Girls
A hike is a great way to take advantage of Seattle's more rare sunny days with friends, or even to just enjoy a stroll that ends in an iconic lookout point. Kerry Park is specifically known for its viewpoint of the Seattle skyline, so it can get pretty busy throughout the day. No worries though, since you also have the option to stroll through Discovery Park, the city's largest public park right on the shores of Puget Sound.
Party on Capital Hill
If you're looking for a good time in an area with a more local vibe, Capital Hill is the place to be! Not only are there lots of great restaurants to choose from, there's also quite a bit of shopping and it becomes the perfect place to bar hop with spots like Rumba or Unicorn for a fun night out.
Relax at the Spa
A full day (or a few hours) of relaxation is always a good way to go on a girls trip, especially if you've spent the better part of your time there enjoying all the fun day and nighttime activities. Taking time to enjoy all of the services and amenities at spots like Kate's Day Spa or Spa Noir are sure to leave you feeling both calm and rejuvenated.
Quick Tip: A lot of Seattle's top attractions that are mentioned in this section are included in the CityPASS bundle for $127, which is MUCH cheaper than paying for everything separately. Be sure to do your calculations to make sure it's worth it, since it may be too costly if you only plan to go to 1-2 of the sites included.
Where to Eat/Drink
Pike Place Chowder - They've won awards for their chowders for a reason. An ABSOLUTE must try! Be sure to also check out their lobster rolls.
Fat's Chicken and Waffles- A great vibe for brunch and the music was exactly my taste, mostly R&B. The Chicken and Waffles were pretty good, but the Hennessy butter is what took it to the next level!
Jack's Fish Spot - Their clam chowder bread bowl was the perfect way to start my day and I highly recommend it if you're feeling famished; it's sure to fill you up.
Oddfellows - Another dope brunch spot with delicious food and chill ambiance. I ordered the eggs benedict and it was just what I needed.
Thai Tom - If you're looking for reasonably priced and delicious Thai cuisine, this is definitely the spot! Highly highly recommend.
Mr. West Cafe Bar - A great place to hit up literally any time of day (or night) to enjoy delicious bites, coffee and/or cocktails.
Rachel's Ginger Beer - A unique drink spot super close to Pike Place Market to enjoy a multitude of ginger beer flavors, including a few alcoholic options. I suggest trying out the Pink Guava Moscow Mule if you want a cocktail or the classic blood orange ginger beer.
Rumba - An island-inspired restaurant touting a rum-forward bar with over 700 types of rum. A great place to chop it up with the girls!
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