Hey Party-Makers,
Our vacation is officially over. But honestly it was SUCH a refreshing time. Usually after vacation, I feel like I have to take another vacation to recover from a week of wandering around. And while I did introvert to the MAX this Sunday (I maybe took an 8 hour nap), Monday morning came and I was completely free of vacation hangover. Other than eating less wonderful meals all-day everyday, adjusting to the work week has been pretty smooth the past couple of days.
I think there are a couple of reasons this vacation was so restful for me. The first reason, hands down, is that our family is just easy to spend time with. Whenever we get to have any opportunity to be with our folks, it is refreshing in and of itself. It’s just always wonderful to be reunited with people who know and love you well. It’s also just special to spend time with both of our parents now that we’re (mostly) functional adults.
The second reason, is that I legitimately considered our week together vacation-time and made it a point to disconnect and put aside work and work thoughts. I am generally pretty good at being and staying busy, but in this season I’ve been trying to grow in learning to rest and establish good boundaries for myself around work. I would consider this vacation my first big success in disconnecting from work AND deeply enjoying it.
And the third reason, is that we had a good mixture of getting out and driving/exploring/eating our way through the PNW, along with slow, soup-filled evenings full of naps, hearty dinners, and game nights. Weaving in some chill time was SO healthy, and restful, and it was really wonderful to have time to simply be together.
If you remember from last week, Benjamin (in his first blog post!), outlined how he planned our mini-vacay. While I was part of the planning (mainly the food planning), he was the data collector as far as where we should actually go. That’s pretty standard for us. He makes the practical choices, I make sure we’re happy & full (read: I make sure I’m happy & full). This was a big conversation in our time in Seattle as we explained to Ben’s parents that vacation is just as much about the food for us, as the places. At one point we went wine tasting, and a wine was explained as dark, bold and expensive. I’d like to think I fit that description thanks to my food expectations (insert hair flip emoji).
Below, you’ll find our itinerary around Seattle. All in all it was one full day, and two half days. Forewarning that this is a long post, but we all really enjoyed our time in Seattle and I have no, food or otherwise, regrets. So skim if you need to, or dive in to snag some ideas for your next Seattle trip.
Evening 1:
Our first day in Seattle, we checked into our super cute Air BnB. Like Ben shared in our previous post, we loved the idea of staying at an Air BnB so that we could explore a specific neighborhood and have a little bit of a more comfortable stay. As soon as we walked into our house I couldn’t stop saying “I could live here” and “I want to know these people” over and over again. Our little house was beautifully decorated, and had a very cozy feel to it.
We intentionally chose a couple of restaurants in the Freemont/Ballard area to check out during our stay, and knew we would be heading to a Turkish joint for dinner. Y’ALL, if you love your tummies, are ever in Seattle, and are all about strong tea and good meat, Cafe Turko is the place to go. It’s also a downhill walk from the Fremont Troll. Having lived for a summer in Turkey, Ben and I both love Turkish cuisine, and can never ever pass up an opportunity to eat it. As an added bonus: we had a Turkish uber driver the next day who raved about that place and told us a little about the family that owns it. Nothing better than a little extra confirmation of a restaurants authenticity!
Day 1:
Breakfast: we caught breakfast at Morsel and Bean and I think I might have finally found a biscuit that is–bear with me– better than Mama’s Boy’s in Athens. I know that sounds almost sinful, because Mama’s Boy has the most delectable, sky high, crispy/melt-in-your-mouth biscuits. BUT there’s something that always captures my heart about breakfast joints that look out for non-meat-eaters (or in my case, pork-averse breakfast junkies). My biscuit covered in mushroom gravy was buttery, crispy, flavorFULL, and the fried egg on top just made it simply divine! Add to that the fact that they have a little “show us some love” bell that everyone rings on their way out (and the kitchen staff whoo’s), and it was the sweetest spot to stock up on calories before walking downtown all day.
Uber to Downtown: During our trip we uber’d to and from our house to avoid having to deal with parking. It was wonderful. It was cheap, and it took away the stress of driving around in a new city. If you’ve never tried Uber, you can download the app and when you enter this referral code, you’ll receive your first ride for free: gbyzm5kyue
REI Flagship: This was something Benjamin loved. The last time we were in Seattle, we passed the REI flagship store but didn’t have time to go inside. I know this doesn’t sound like a super touristy thing, but it’s seriously the coolest outdoor store I’ve ever been in. For one, it’s HUGE (it has it’s own mountain biking trails around the building for cyclists trying out bikes) and two gorgeous levels of all the adventure supplies you could ever dream of. Also, the clearance section? To die for! Chaco’s for $40! So many wins about this place. We’re definitely making a stop every time we’re in town from now on.
Gum Wall: The Famed Gum Wall in Seattle was also on our list, as we had missed it last time we were in town. It’s an impressive brick wall that has layers upon layers of people’s pre-loved, wadded up gum. It’s a little gross, an artsy/touristy photo op, and super PNW. Also, the little alley it’s in has all sorts of different art and graffiti. I think I might have liked that a little better than the gum wall itself (sorry, not sorry).
Pike Market: Holy Farmers Market. If you dream of fresh everything, the most STUNNING $10 bouquets, and are okay with things getting a little fishy, this place is for you! I mean, I think everyone who goes to Seattle knows to go here. But seriously, it’s like my dream come true. If we lived in Seattle, I would spend all my our money here. For the fish lovers, there are some famous fish markets here that do crazy things like throw fish across the room, and make selling fish look like a dream job.
Lunch: For lunch, we walked up the hill to Serious Pie because is it really vacation without Pizza? No. the Answer is no. But it’s an even better vacation when it’s amazing pizza. GUYS. The crust. I would eat beets on that crust. And if you know me, you know that the fact that if there’s anything in this world that would make me eat beets, it has to be pretty miraculously good (I’ve made the joke before that the only thing I would add to a prenup would be a no-cooking/eating beets clause). Also, they have a nice beer list showcasing some local brews that paired really nicely with our (brace yourselves) yukon potato, rosemary, pecorino-romano pizza. So. Many. Heart. Eyes.
First Starbucks: Walking back down to Pike’s we had to take a stop at the first ever Starbucks, because the line was short, Ben’s mom had $138 in starbucks points, and why not? The shop itself is pretty much set up to grab your coffee and go, because of the huge lines they experience. But it’s a great little stop to grab a souvenir for the caffeine addict in your life.
Shopping for Dinner: After coffee, we did a double take of the market, but this time with some shopping in mind. Because our Air BnB had a grill, we decided to grab some fresh ingredients to DIY our dinner, a la Seattle-ites. Because I’m the biggest Debbie Downer alive, and am allergic to most seafood, we played it safe and got some steaks. To pair we picked up some golden potatoes, some broccolini, garlic, and truffle oil. It was SO hard to not buy everything, but we also didn’t want things to go to waste. Everything we bought was SO fresh, and delicious. If you ever have a little time in Seattle, and have access to a kitchen, get your Master Chef on!
Gas Works Park: When we got back to our house, we decided it was too early for dinner, so we hopped in the car and went to Gas Works Park, which had come highly recommended but several people. But guys, it was gorgeous. Although rain was forecast for that day, it was clear and sunny–with a little fall crisp in the air. Gas Works Park overlooks the city of Seattle and is right on the water. After an intense photo shoot, we just walked around the park really grateful for the gorgeous day we weren’t supposed to have.
Dinner and Relaxing: We took our time cooking in the evening, relaxing a little at the house before starting the meal. Once everything was cooked and plated, we sat around the low-lit dining room and ate and talked about how that was the best steak any of us had eaten in a long time. It was perfect. And then, to add a little digestive help to our tummies (we’ll pretend this is accurate science), we jumped in the hot tub.
Day 2:
Breakfast: For breakfast, we headed down the road from our Air BnB to Coyle’s Bakeshop, a bakery that I’ve insta-stalked, because I know one of their fancy-schmancy bakers! Oh you guys. Everything looks and tastes so beautiful. All the pastries are little fluffy perfections. It reminded me a lot of my Italian Breakfasts of coffee and pastries, and those memories are never a bad thing.
Wine Tasting: By the time we were done with breakfast, we were headed south of Seattle for an evening with Ben’s extended family. But on the way, we stopped at Chateau Ste. Michelle Winery to do a little tasting and tour. I don’t often feel comfortable in wineries, because even though I love wine, I don’t think I have a refined enough palette to truly appreciate it how it deserves. But I really loved the tasting at this winery, because it was a little class in how to enjoy wine better. And I mean, no one’s mad about that. Not to mention, they have a DELISH riesling that’s $9!
Snoqualmie Falls: Before our final destination in Tacoma, we stopped by Snoqualmie Falls. It was a much smaller, less crowded, easier to access version of Multnomah Falls, and it’s surrounded by a really cute little town that has a train obsession, complete with a depot museum. It reminded me a lot of Elijay, Georgia, as it was in it’s prime fall state–and that’s how I always remember Elijay.
This go around, our experience with Seattle left us a lot more enamored with the quirks, food, and big city vibes that it has to offer. Its short drive from Portland gives me an eerie feeling that we’ll be back up periodically, when we’re maybe craving more rain than Portland has to offer.
Hopefully this post will help you in your future Seattle trips! If you’ve been to Seattle before, be sure to let us know your favorite places to eat/shop/wander around!
Love and wanderlust,
Mary-Beth Johnson
Mary-Beth is a creative, food-obsessed, Georgia transplant living Chicago. She is proudly and fiercely Latina, and more specifically Chapina. In her day to day she is a food educator to students around Chicagoland aged 3 to 80+, both virtually and in-person. She is passionate about cultivating the truth that every person has an understanding of food that deserves being brought to the table, and that time in the kitchen can be sacred, passionate, and an act of love for self and others. Outside the kitchen you can find her at the intersections of infertility, chronic illness, and a deep love for the dignity of all humans. She hopes to create a space that is holistic about the role of food in the social, political, relational, and physiological dynamics of our world.
