As a long-time resident of a city, it’s easy to lose sight of what attracts visitors. That is one of many reasons to do a staycation in the city you live in. Recently, we had another opportunity to stay in a downtown Seattle hotel. However, this was a different experience than other staycations that we’ve done in that we traveled with a group of out-of-state visitors. This ended up being the BEST way to see our city through several fresh sets of eyes.

Accommodations

We stayed 2 nights at the Staybridge Suites in South Lake Union (SLU). While technically in another neighborhood just north of Belltown and downtown Seattle, SLU is a newly developed part of town. Formerly a bunch of old warehouses, the area has been revitalized in recent years to include many corporate offices, apartment buildings, and restaurants. Within blocks of Staybridge Suites, you can get to the campuses of Google, Facebook, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Nanostring, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research, Amazon, Nordstrom, and so many more. Also within walking distance are tourist attractions such as the Space Needle and Seattle Center, and Pike Place Market. Thus, the hotel appeals to both tourists and employees traveling on corporate cards.

Interestingly, this branch of the Staybridge Suites is a shared property with Even Hotels occupying the other half of the building. It’s a nice bonus in that there are many shared amenities such as a large fitness center, outdoor courtyard, on-site restaurant, and even laundry machines. While Even Hotels seemed slightly more geared toward short-term travelers with an emphasis on fitness, Staybridge Suites rooms were definitely intended for long-term stays. Our room was spacious and equipped with a fully functioning kitchen, huge bathroom, couch, and swivel TV, making it feel like a studio apartment. Since Martin and I travel frequently for work, we immediately fell in love with how at home we felt in our room, which is something we can’t say for most hotels we’ve been to this year.

Things to Do in Seattle

During our stay, we made trips to three iconic Seattle tourist attractions: the Space Needle, Museum of Pop Culture, and Pike Place Market. If you’ve ever visited any of these attractions in the past, we highly encourage you to visit again. That’s because along with the entire city of Seattle, these three attractions have also had recent facelifts. Let’s start with the Space Needle.

Dare to Walk the Glass Floor at the Space Needle

Originally built from the 1962 World’s Fair, the Space Needle might look dated from the outside. But it underwent extensive renovations and re-opened in August 2018. Step inside of the golden elevators and zoom up to the observation deck and you’ll see the changes. The revolving restaurant is no more. In its place, you’ll find a spine-tingling revolving glass floor that lets you look at the ground 500 feet below. If you’re afraid of heights, this part isn’t for you. However, there’s another observation deck on the floor above with a non-see-through floor. Instead, you’ll find (comfortingly thick) glass walls that give you an unobstructed view of downtown Seattle and beyond. If you’re lucky, Mount Rainier and Mount Baker may even be visible in the distance.

See Movie and Music Memorabilia at the Museum of Pop Culture

Just below the Space Needle, you’ll find a bunch of other attractions throughout the park known as the Seattle Center. One is the very distinct metal building, the Museum of Pop Culture (Mo Pop). Formerly known as the Experience Music Project (EMP), this indoor museum is a great rainy day adventure. It’s filled with memorabilia and exhibits highlighting iconic Seattle musicians, and popular movies. There’s an exhibit that rotates on a regular basis. This time it was Minecraft, but previous themes include Star Trek, Marvel Super Heroes, Hello Kitty, Game of Thrones, etc., often with celebrity appearances when the exhibit first opens.

There’s also a very well done permanent collection organized in themes: science fiction, fantasy, and horror. There you’ll find many props and costumes from iconic Hollywood movies. If you’re wondering how they ended up in Seattle, many of these items are from the personal collection of Paul G. Allen, the late co-founder of Microsoft. More of Allen’s collectibles are also on display at the Cinerama movie theater in downtown Seattle.

Explore the Rest of Seattle Center

Even though we only visited the Space Needle and Mo Pop, it’s worth noting that there is so much more to check out at the Seattle Center. It’s a favorite spot of ours as we lived [practically] right across the street from it for 7 years. There’s the Pacific Science Center (a great place for kids), an IMAX theater, Dale Chihuly Garden of Glass, and both the Pacific Northwest Ballet and Seattle Opera. And throughout the year, the festival grounds hold cultural events and will soon host hockey games when Key Arena finishes its renovation.

Eat Your Way Around Pike Place Market

Long before farmer’s markets got trendy throughout the USA, Pike Place Market got up and running in the year 1907. Today, it is still a bustling marketplace full of vendors, tourists, and local residents. Not a whole lot has changed on the main floor of the market, but wander down in the lower levels and you’ll notice the Pike Place Market Extension which now houses a biscuit joint, chocolate cafe, and brewery, to name a few. But if you’re short on time, here are some bites you shouldn’t miss on the main floor.

Start just under the big Pike Place Market sign at Ellenos yogurt. This ultra-thick and rich yogurt can be ordered plain or with fruit mixed in — our personal favorite is the passion fruit. It’s a treat that we dare say is better than ice cream, and it’s enjoyed by both tourists and locals alike (many Seattle grocery stores carry it). From there, head down the main road to Piroshky Piroshky. These Russian puffy pastries are filled with anything from meat and cheese to chocolate cream hazelnut. Our go-to is the smoked salmon pate, because when in Seattle, you must try the salmon! Finally, pop into the crowd at the market for some Chukar cherries. Available as plain dried cherries or covered in chocolate, these are perfect snacks or gifts to take home.

These are just a few of many delicious food vendors at Pike Place Market, so use our suggestions as a starting point and take the time to explore and make your own discoveries. Or better yet, hop on a food tour with Savor Seattle to hear little known stories about many of the businesses at Pike Place Market.

Dinner Suggestions

The Pink Door

Between Pike Place Market and 1st Avenue, you’ll find Post Alley. It’s dotted with shops, bars, and eateries, including the eclectic Italian restaurant, The Pink Door. Although it may not look like much from the outside, don’t be fooled. This independently owned restaurant has been open since 1981. There’s are two large dining rooms, one with stellar views of Elliott Bay, a bar, and a stage with live trapeze and burlesque shows. The menu is filled with traditional Italian dishes. Favorites from our group were the lasagna (fresh spinach with besciamella, pesto, and marinara), and Mama’s meatballs.

Wild Ginger

If you love Asian food, you’ll definitely get your fill in Seattle. There are lots of modern Asian eateries such as Din Tai Fung and Dough Zone, but there are also long-time Seattle staples. Wild Ginger falls neatly in between. This local restaurant has been serving Southeast Asian and Chinese dishes for over 30 years and has grown to several locations around Seattle. One of its oldest establishments is located adjacent to downtown theater The Triple Door. Here, guests can order from Wild Ginger’s menu and enjoy the food while watching a live show. There’s also a brand new Wild Ginger McKenzie outpost located in north downtown, near the Amazon headquarters. We ate at the latter location and the crowd favorite was my longtime favorite: fragrant duck featuring twice-cooked duck seasons with Sichuan Peppercorn and five spice, served with steamed buns and plum sauce.

Shaker and Spear

Located on the ground floor of the Kimpton Palladian Hotel, Shaker and Spear is a modern restaurant where we had our final dinner. The menu rotates revolves around Pacific Northwest favorites and uses many fresh, local ingredients. Our favorites included the Arctic char with potato gratin, fried “scotch” olives, and linguine with clams and fennel sausage ragu. And how can you go wrong with a place that has both truffle Parmesan fries and mac & cheese as side options?

Well, There you have it!

By now you have a list of some of Seattle’s most iconic tourist attractions and eateries to visit the next time you’re in the area. This is a great itinerary not only for first-time visitors, but also those who haven’t been to Seattle in the recent decade. The city has gone through many changes, and cranes still dot our skyline as even more buildings are being constructed as we speak. No matter where you reside, we hope you’re able to make it to the Pacific Northwest soon!

Disclosure: This post was created in collaboration with Staybridge Suites. Accommodations and activities were covered in exchange for multimedia, but all words, opinions, photos, and videos are my own.