Trip | Seattle in 3 days with friends | Seattle, WA | 3 days
Day 1 – Pike Place and the Space Needle
Any time | Stay | Kimpton Palladian Hotel, 2000 2nd Ave, Seattle, WA | Or wherever the group is staying
9:00 AM | Do | Pike Place Market, 85 Pike St, Seattle, WA | Start under the clock and work through the lower levels
11:30 AM | Eat | Pike Place Chowder, 1530 Post Alley, Seattle, WA | Opens at 11 AM; the line moves quickly
1:30 PM | Do | Chihuly Garden and Glass, 305 Harrison St, Seattle, WA | Take the monorail from Westlake Center; plan on one to two hours
3:15 PM | Do | Space Needle, 400 Broad St, Seattle, WA | Timed entry; stand on the rotating glass floor
6:30 PM | Do | Kerry Park, 211 W Highland Dr, Seattle, WA | Time it for sunset; the classic skyline view with the Space Needle
7:30 PM | Eat | Toulouse Petit Kitchen & Lounge, 601 Queen Anne Ave N, Seattle, WA | Cajun and Creole, downhill from Kerry Park; book ahead
Maybe | Do | Seattle Aquarium, 1483 Alaskan Way, Seattle, WA | Below the market on the waterfront; book a timed entry
Day 2 – Bainbridge Island and Ballard
9:00 AM | Travel | Seattle Ferry Terminal, 801 Alaskan Way, Pier 52 > Bainbridge Island Ferry Terminal, 270 Olympic Dr SE, Bainbridge Island, WA | Walk on; the crossing takes about 35 minutes. Check the sailing schedule
10:00 AM | Do | Bainbridge Island Museum of Art, 550 Winslow Way E, Bainbridge Island, WA | Free; a five-minute walk from the ferry
11:30 AM | Eat | Blackbird Bakery, 210 Winslow Way E, Bainbridge Island, WA | Soup, quiche and pastries; then catch a ferry back after lunch
2:15 PM | Do | Fremont Troll, N 36th St and Troll Ave N, Seattle, WA | Under the north end of the Aurora Bridge
3:30 PM | Do | Hiram M. Chittenden Locks, 3015 NW 54th St, Seattle, WA | Free; watch boats lock through, and look for salmon in the fish ladder from late July into early fall
6:00 PM | Eat | Ray's Boathouse, 6049 Seaview Ave NW, Seattle, WA | Book the Boathouse downstairs, or try the more casual Café upstairs
Maybe | Eat | Fremont Brewing, 1050 N 34th St, Seattle, WA | Urban beer garden near the troll
Day 3 – Capitol Hill
9:30 AM | Do | Volunteer Park, 1247 15th Ave E, Seattle, WA | Climb the water tower from 10 AM for city views
10:30 AM | Do | Volunteer Park Conservatory, 1400 E Galer St, Seattle, WA | Closed Mondays; the kiosk takes cards or $1 bills only
12:00 PM | Eat | Dick's Drive-In, 115 Broadway E, Seattle, WA | Burgers, fries and shakes from the walk-up window
12:45 PM | Eat | Molly Moon's Homemade Ice Cream, 917 E Pine St, Seattle, WA | Opens at noon
Maybe | Do | Cal Anderson Park, 1635 11th Ave, Seattle, WA | A green break a block from the station
1:30 PM | Travel | Capitol Hill Station, 140 Broadway E > Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, 17801 International Blvd, SeaTac, WA | Take the Link 1 Line south to SeaTac/Airport Station. Allow about an hour, including the walk to the terminal