48 Hours in Seattle - Our Guide to the Best of the City
Seattle is a fantastic city for a weekend getaway. Whether you’re visiting from far away or doing a quick trip from Portland, Vancouver, or elsewhere, here are some insider tips and a few great places to visit.
Cheer on the home team!
https://www.mlb.com/mariners | https://www.soundersfc.com/
Kick off your weekend adventure with a Mariners baseball game or watching the Sounders on the soccer pitch. The spring season is just getting started and there is nothing like soaking up some sun and cheering on the M’s and the Rave Green. Of course, in the fall we’re ready to root for the Seahawks when football fever takes over.
Nine Hats and Nine Pies
Nine Hats, our dynamic tasting room in SODO (the south Seattle neighborhood named South of the Dome for the old Kingdome stadium) and Nine Pies, our adjoining pizza restaurant, are a mere mile away from the new stadiums. We have a laid back and relaxed atmosphere so whether you stop by before the game or after, it’s the perfect place to grab some grub and a glass or two and get ready cheer on our teams or celebrate their “W”.
The Chihuly Glass Museum
https://www.chihulygardenandgl...
Located at the base of the Space Needle, this museum is not to be missed! The awe-inspiring glass artwork is a sight to behold with many large displays inside and a glass garden outside.
We have a soft spot for Chihuly art at Nine Hats, because of our founder, Allen Shoup’s connection to Dale Chihuly. Allen and Dale first became acquainted many years ago when Allen was CEO of Chateau Ste. Michelle and began its “artist series” labels. The two quickly became friends and now our sister winery, Long Shadows, has a large display of his beautiful glass art in their Chihuly Tasting Room at the winery in Walla Walla.
The Space Needle
No Seattle trip is complete without a stop at the Space Needle. This iconic Seattle landmark was built for the 1962 World’s Fair and turns 60 this year. You can take in the breathtaking views on their own, or stop by the restaurant at the top to refuel.
Museum of Pop Culture (MoPOP)
Formerly the EMP, the museum has expanded beyond its music roots and in addition to the abundant music information and memorabilia now features fun and eclectic collections of pop culture. Disney villain costumes, anyone?
The 4 Star Store
Update: Amazon announced the closure of all of its Four Star Stores. Alas, there is still much to do in Seattle!
As you most likely know, Seattle is home to Amazon.com. The downtown corporate headquarters is fascinating with its shiny glass Amazon Spheres, but the place to visit is the 4 Star Store. This store, in the heart of Amazon’s empire, only sells products rated 4 stars or better on Amazon.com. That’s right, you’ll be guaranteed that anything you pick up will be worth it. Fun fact, we found the BEST dog chew toy there!
Seattle Waterfront
https://seattlewaterfront.org/
You can easily spend half a day on the Seattle Waterfront, which is also where you catch the ferry if you want to explore a bit outside of Seattle. Highlights on the waterfront include the Seattle Aquarium, the Great Wheel, fresh seafood restaurants, and lots of walkable shops.
Pike Place Market
https://www.pikeplacemarket.or...
Perhaps the most popular attraction in Seattle, Pike Place Market is a quick jaunt up a TON of stairs from the Waterfront. Founded in 1907 as a farmer’s market, it is one of the oldest continuously running markets in the U.S. From the famous fish throwing to endless craft food booths to fresh produce, beautiful flowers and local wares, this market is popular for a reason. It’s also a great spot to grab a quick bite as there are a multitude of options. Oh, and bookstores. There are several hole-in-the-wall bookstores that are a blast to peruse.
The Gum Wall
Not for everybody, the famous Seattle Gum Wall is an alley under Pike Place Market where people stick used chewing gum. For many years the city attempted to stay ahead of this “art installation”, scheduling regular pressure washing and cleaning. However, seeing the enthusiasm from locals and love from tourists the city did an about face and embraced the wall. It’s uniquely Seattle and as far as we know, the only gum wall in the world. Probably for good reason.
University of Washington
Just a few minutes from downtown, the University of Washington campus is one of the prettiest in the country. With its cherry blossoms in the spring, football stadium on the shores of Lake Washington (one of only two stadiums in the United States that you can “sailgate” to) and beautiful views of Mount Rainier, it will make you want to be a collegiate student all over again.
Nine Hats and Nine Pies
And hey, on your way out of town, swing by Nine Hats again and stock up on a case of two of your favorite wines. There is no better souvenir than great Washington wines!
If you're looking for more ideas of what to do in Seattle, check out the Seattle Travel Guide.