Once again I'm talking about the beauty and adventure to be found in Seattle. For a new visitor to this spectacular place, here is how I would spend a rainy day. I would also choose this Victinerary if I wanted to indulge in a great food scene for an afternoon more than I wanted to see the big sights.
Check out the Day 1 Victinerary for some ideas of what to do if you wake up to sunshine, or if you want to see some of those more famous sights, regardless of the weather.
DAY 2: THE RAINY DAY (aka the indoor and food-filled day)
Start off the day downtown in Pioneer Square, Seattle's original neighborhood
Make your way to the office for Bill Speidel's Underground Tour
This 75-minute walking tour gives you the history of Seattle in a really unique way, and includes learning about how the entire downtown area is a story shorter than it used to be! You'll be walking around in dusty passage ways and climbing up and down stairs, so dress and choose footwear accordingly.
Admission: $22
Hours: Daily, April-September, 9am - 7pm / October-March, 10am - 6pm
Address: Along Pioneer Square, corner of 1st Ave & Yesler Way
After the tour, walk over to Occidental Square. Enjoy the architecture, then pop into London Plane for a late brunch / early lunch
Keep this meal light, your'e going to want room for later.
Address: SE Corner of Occidental Square, Corner of S Main St & Occidental Ave S
Once you've fueled up, make your way to Volunteer Park.
Transit Options:
A cab would take 15-20 minutes from London Plane
Or, use public transit. Check the Trip Planner feature on the Sound Transit website to find the fastest route for your day and time of travel. Just plug in "Pioneer Square" to "Volunteer Park" for the right trams & buses.
Fare: $2.75 with bus only
First up, climb the old Water Tower. This is a great spot for a panoramic view, and don't worry, there aren't that many steps.
Admission: Free
Hours: 6am - 10pm every day
That view is worth those stairs!
Next, head downhill to the Volunteer Park Conservatory. There's just something about spending an hour walking around a jungle or a desert, and then stepping back out into reality that I always love. For such a wet and rainy city, they have a great cacti collection, and it's a perfect escape for a rainy day.
Hours: T-Su 10am – 4pm
Admission: $4
Now that you've gotten in your walking and stair climbing, the rest of the afternoon and evening is dedicated to how I spent one of my favorite nights in Seattle. Good food has always been an important part of travel for me and my family, so when I had a free rainy night, I chose to explore the Pike Street area in the southern part of the Capitol Hill neighborhood. Get ready for an afternoon & evening of relaxing, eating, and drinking to celebrate being in this great city.
Transit Options:
A cab would take 10 minutes to get to your first stop (the intersection of 12th Ave, E Union St, and E Madison St) from Volunteer Park
Or, again, use public transit. Use the Trip Planner feature once more. Just plug in "Volunteer Park" to "E Madison St & 13th Ave" to find the best bus option for your particular timeline.
Fare: $2.75
If you're a book lover and especially fond of local bookshops like me, stop into the Elliot Bay Book Company to grab a book for the evening or for the plane home before setting out on your foodie journey.
I don't know about you, but sometimes when you're on vacation it's worth being a little indulgent. So when I made my own tour around this area, I did a bit of a backwards menu. First up was dessert and a cocktail at Bar Melusine. This place is definitely instagram worthy (and famous) for the perfectly matching floor-to-ceiling color scheme, but it's also a great place to enjoy a specialty cocktail and their large selection of oysters. Additionally, I met a lovely local bartender who, upon hearing my intention to spend the evening tasting the local fare, gave me a great list of places to visit. Ted, wherever life has taken you, thank you for some truly wonderful suggestions.
Address: Corner of E Union St & 11th Ave
Hours: Su & M 5pm - 9pm / T - Sa 5pm - 10pm / Sa & Su Brunch 10am - 2pm
After enjoying dessert, go around the corner for a different vibe at Quinn's Pub. Pull up to the bar and enjoy some traditional pub food. I ordered a cheese plate with my cider, it may not be "pub food" per se, but it was good and the conversations I struck up at the bar were even better.
Address: Corner of E Pike St & 10th Ave
Hours: Opens Daily at 3pm, Happy Hour 3-5pm (If you finish up your morning activities a little early, you can always start here instead)
If you are a cider fan, or are just generally gluten free, the next stop is for you. Pause the eating parade for a while and enjoy a cider at Capitol Cider. They claim to be the "largest independent cider bar in the country", so definitely something to check out. And for all you beer drinkers, don't worry, they keep a few on tap for you too.
Address: Corner of E Pike St & Broadway
Hours: M-F 11am - 2am / Sa & Su 10am - 2am
Now it's time for actual dinner. For that, head over to Oddfellows. With a commitment to local sourcing, having salvaged or recycled items for over 90% of the decor, and using compostable materials for things like takeout containers & paper goods, this place checks all kinds of great boxes for me. If you're into all of that, or just into good food in a casual setting, this place will work for you too.
Address: On 10th Ave between E Pine St & E Pike St, right next to the Elliot Bay Book Company
Hours: Nights 5pm - Late
The last stop on this whirlwind food tour is at a great bar, Foreign National. You may need to pass it a few times before noticing the small gold plaque on the door, but once you make it inside it's worth it. A unique decor that makes you think you've stumbled upon something secret and special, combined with a great drinks menu make this the place to end the night. Grab a table or pull up to the bar and prepare to relax for a while.
Address: 300 E Pike St
Hours: 5pm - 1am daily
When you are ready to turn in for the evening, most of central downtown is a straight walk down Pike Street towards the water. Getting all the way to Pike Place Market would take about 20 minutes on foot, so either enjoy the night air getting back to your hotel or hail one final cab for the day.
The Map
I hope you enjoyed this second option for a day in Seattle. If you follow my footsteps or even just use one of the suggestions, please let me know in the comment section below about your experience!
Thanks for coming along, and check back every week for a new Victinerary to help plan your next adventure!
~ V
Photos taken with: Nikon D5300, Nikon AF-S DX Nikkor 35mm f1.8 Lens, Nikon AF-S DX Nikkor 18-140mm f3.5-5.6 lens
