Of the countless cities around the world that we’ve had the pleasure of visiting, our hometown of Seattle is one that will always stand out for us + is the index by which we measure all other cities. With the tech boom + insane housing market, the population of Seattle has doubled in the last two decades. Yes, DOUBLED! With that kind of growth, our background growing up in the heart of Seattle is becoming increasingly rare. While so much has changed in our lifetime, Seattle has successfully managed to adapt with the times, but still retain its character and feel like home. Read on for our locals’ guide to our hometown and favorite city!

when to visit

Seattle has the stereotype of being the rainiest city in the United States. What a lot of people don’t realize, however, is that it’s really just the frequency of rain, not the amount of rain. Seattle does average ~150 rainy days annually, but in terms of amount of rain, even Tampa, Florida beats Seattle! Regardless of when you visit, your chances of being caught in a torrential downpour aren’t too high, but do expect to experience some overcast weather + drizzle at some point on your trip. Pack accordingly!

If you have carte blanche when planning your visit, we’d recommend visiting between mid-July and early September. Seattle summers are one of the world’s best kept secrets. They’re quick, but glorious and visiting during this timeframe will give you the best chance of experiencing them! October is also a wonderful time to visit Seattle. While it’s usually not as warm, it’s typically sunny and experiencing the transition in seasons and the changing leaves is stunning.

If possible, we’d recommend avoiding January - March where you’re more likely to get caught in the grayest + wettest time of the year.

getting there

Seattle-Tacoma International Airport is ~15 miles south of Seattle + is most likely where you’ll fly into. Alternatively, you can fly into the much smaller Paine Field, which is located in Everett (~30 miles north of Seattle). At this time, only Alaska Airlines and United Airlines fly into Paine Field and flights only operate to and from West Coast cities. If you’re traveling from the West Coast though, we always recommend searching both airports to find the best deal!

If you’re flying into SeaTac, you can easily get to the city by taking the Link Light Rail - which is quick + has stops in downtown, Capitol Hill, International District, University District, + more.

Seattle is also the perfect place to start or end a West Coast road trip. Click HERE for our complete West Coast road trip itinerary. It’s just a 3 hour drive to Vancouver, B.C. + Portland, OR. And a 12 hour drive to San Francisco, CA + Yellowstone National Park.

where to stay

If you’re visiting Seattle for the first time + want to visit a lot of tourist attractions, you may drawn to staying at a hotel in downtown. If it’s a return visit or you’re looking to get a real taste of Seattle’s neighborhoods or life as a local, we’d recommend staying in a neighborhood such as Capitol Hill, Queen Anne, or Fremont . You’ll still be close to the tourist attractions downtown, but have a much better selection for food + dining close by, as well as more of a sense of the character of the city. If you do stay outside of downtown, we’d recommend staying in an Airbnb as hotel options in these neighborhoods are more limited.

Downtown Seattle Hotel Recommendations:

Fairmont Olympic - One of our favorite spots for a staycation + home to our go-to Seattle spa. We make it to the Fairmont about once a month. It has a very “old Seattle” or “old world” feel which we absolutely love!

The State Hotel - New to the city, The State is a boutique hotel located directly across the street from Pike Place Market. Prices are typically more affordable than some of the other big names (Four Seasons, Westin, etc.), but a comfortable + convenient stay. We’ve stayed twice in this last year.

Thompson Seattle - If you’ve been following us for a while, you know we’re obsessed with this hotel brand. Like many of their other locations, there is a fabulous rooftop bar - The Nest - here that we would recommend visiting even if you don’t stay.

Other Recommendations (We haven’t stayed at these spots, but have always heard great things!): Inn At The Market, Four Seasons Seattle and Hotel Sorrento

where to eat + drink

we’ve dined + drank all over the city (+ have two food guides full of yummy recs that you can check here + here!) but if you’re here just for a weekend, here are our must visits.

eat:

For fine dining (we always love to splurge for at least one meal on vacation), we’d recommend:

The Pink Door located in Post Alley (Pike Place Market) for delicious Italian food + views of Elliott Bay.
Canlis, described as “Seattle’s landmark fine-dining destination” for over 50 years, is a must visit for a splurge dinner out.
Sushi Kappo Tamura. If you prefer to splurge on a sushi dinner, this is our first recommendation. It’s a bit pricey, but we promise it’s worth it. You’ll also get a good view of Seattle’s famous houseboats. (If you’re looking for the actual Sleepless in Seattle houseboat, that’s on the other side of Lake Union though)!

For a quick + affordable bite while out exploring, we’d recommend:

Paseo for sandwiches
Thai Tom for…you guessed it… Thai food
Ramen Danbo - yes, for ramen!

For dinner options that are a little more affordable than Canlis, we’d suggest any of the spots on our existing Seattle restaurant guides (HERE and HERE), as well as Fonda la Catrina, Oaxaca, Harvest Vine and Homer. If you’re looking for brunch, “eat like you give a damn” at Portage Bay (yes, that’s their motto!) + if you order French toast, waffles, or pancakes, you’ll get to visit their famous fruit bar to top your breakfast, along with their fresh whipped cream!

drink:

Kill two birds with one stone + get a drink with a stunning view. Our preference is The Nest (located at the top of Thompson Seattle - we swear Thompson Hotels have the best rooftop bars), but mbar is also a popular option with a great view from their rooftop bar.

If you’ve been following us for longer than a week, you know we couldn’t not recommend Bottlehouse - the most charming wine bar located in a house in the Madrona neighborhood (they also have heated outdoor seating in their greenhouse + fun events such as Rose All Day in the spring + Oysters + Bubbly in the winter). Speaking of oysters + bubbly, we also love Westward. Reserve an Adirondack chair on the shore of Lake Union + enjoy a wonderful selection of oysters + wine pairings. The Fog Room is also an honorable mention for a downtown rooftop if you can’t get into The Nest!

Seattle is also known for + filled with breweries (174 as of 2018 - more than any other city in the U.S. according to Seattle Magazine!), so we’d be remiss if we didn’t mention at least one. If you’re staying in Fremont, you can’t go wrong with classic Fremont Brewery + Reuben’s Brews (located close by in Ballard). If beer isn’t your thing, Cider House in Fremont is a great alternative.

coffee: Seattle + coffee are synonymous. We’d really recommend avoiding the original Starbucks (such a long line + it’s literally the exact same as your hometown). If you absolutely must, we’d recommend instead stopping by Starbucks Reserve to see the roastery + blends that are special to the reserve. If you’re looking to branch out, we’d stop by Storyville or Victrola - both have multiple locations around the city. If you’re all about aesthetic + also need to grab a bite (like avo toast) then stop by Mr. West Cafe + Bar.

what to do

parks: Seattle has so many beautiful parks. We’d recommend visiting Discovery Park if you’re looking to get a good walk in + see beautiful views on the water. If you’re looking for the perfect spot to have a picnic + bottle of rose, Gasworks Park is a must (+ will give you a great view of the Seattle skyline with Lake Union in the foreground). Green Lake Park and the Washington Park Arboretum are other family favorite walks if you have time for even more.

hikes: The Pacific Northwest, in general, is home to some of the most stunning natural wonders in the country. Washington state alone has 3 of the nation’s 63 “official” national parks. While exploring the national parks should be a trip in and of itself, you can get a taste of the natural beauty that Washington has to offer with a half-day hike. If you have access to a car to drive about 30 minutes outside of the city, our favorite hikes to do with visitors are Rattlesnake Ledge, Poo Poo Point, Snow Lake and Little Si.

spend some time on the water: On a sunny summer Seattle day, there’s no better place to be than the water (+ thankfully - you’re surrounded!) Depending on your budget + time of year, here are some options:

Rent a canoe/kayak - You can do this either on Lake Union or Lake Washington. If you want views of the skyline, we’d rent from Moss Bay on Lake Union + stop into The White Swan Public House before or after. Otherwise, we’d recommend renting from Agua Verde - a paddle club + Mexican restaurant (it can’t be beat)!
Rent a boat - If you have a larger budget, we’d recommend renting a boat + spending the day on Lake Washington. If you’re here during Seafair (the first weekend of August), keep in mind that rentals will be expensive + you’ll need permits, so plan ahead!
Hot Tub Boat - If you’re here while it’s a little cooler, rent a hot tub boat on Lake Union + see the skyline lit up at night.
Take a ferry ride - Seattle has the largest ferry fleet in the U.S. + ferries not only take you to some of the most beautiful spots in the PNW, but also give you stunning views of the city. Take a ferry to either Bainbridge (for a day trip or just breakfast) or to West Seattle.

when you have to be a tourist: Pike Place Market is 100% worth a visit - stop by the Daily Dozen Doughnut Company, Piroshky Piroshky, Pike Street Press, Le Panier, + pick up one of their gorgeous + famous $10 bouquets. We’d skip the original Starbucks + instead visit the Starbucks Reserve (if you need a Starbucks fix). While you’re downtown, continue all the way down to the pier for Wings Over Washington + a ride on the Seattle Great Wheel. If you’re looking for views of the Seattle skyline, steer clear of the Space Needle + instead visit Gasworks Park, Kerry Park, Centennial Park, Alki Beach/West Seattle, or a rooftop bar.

day trips: While we love, Seattle, there are also so many beautiful spots around the city that make for perfect day trips.

Woodinville - Did you know that outside of Napa Valley, Washington State produces the most wine in the U.S.? A wine lovers’ dream, Woodinville is 20 miles outside of Seattle + is filled with tasting rooms + fine dining. Our top recs are aMaurice Cellars, DeLille Cellars, Novelty Januik, + (purely for the property) Chateau St. Michelle - bonus, they often have concerts! When you need to fuel up before/after wine tasting, grab a bite at The Commons.
Bainbridge or Whidbey Island - A short ferry ride from Seattle + you’re on a beautiful island. Bainbridge + Whidbey Island both make for fabulous day trips/overnights from Seattle. On Whidbey Island, we’d recommend hiking Ebey’s Landing, strolling Langley Village, wine tasting at the Spoiled Dog + eating at Toby’s Tavern or Oystercatcher.
Leavenworth - A little over 2 hours east of Seattle, is a charming Bavarian village of Leavenworth. If you’re visiting Seattle in October, be sure to check out Leavenworth’s Oktoberfest. If you’re able to stay overnight, you absolutely must splurge + stay at The Post - you won’t regret it!

Having lived in Seattle for a combined 50 years, we could clearly go on for days with all of our recommendations for building a perfect itinerary to our hometown. If you’re looking for even more, be sure to check out our two Seattle highlights saved on our Instagram HERE. We are always happen to answer any + all travel related questions, but especially those about Seattle, so please don’t hesitate to DM us, email us, comment, etc!! Happy trip planning!!!