How to Explore Seattle in One Exciting Afternoon

If you are flying into Seattle and your time is limited, it is definitely possible to experience some of the best things that the lively city has to offer. Whether you prefer relaxing on the waterfront, catching panoramic views, or browsing through famous museums, Seattle has a little bit for every person.

The day that my friend and I flew into Seattle was the day that we explored the city. Even with our short and sweet experience (& a little bit of jet lag), we created wonderful memories. It was just enough time to make us want to travel back to Seattle and check out the sites we missed. Overall, our plan was to save our 2 full days for Mount Rainier National Park and the Bavarian town of Leavenworth.

If you’re like us with just one afternoon or one morning to explore Seattle, here is what we saw & everything you need to know!

Flying Into Seattle

Talk about an INCREDIBLE view from your flight! If you’re flying to Seattle, you’ll arrive at the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (we flew from Jacksonville > Dallas > Seattle). During the last half hour of the flight, we were blown away by the epic views of Washington. The jaw-dropping mountains that you see are all part of Mount Rainier National Park and other nearby landscapes. All in all, this was an amazing plane ride that I’ll never forget.

Transportation from Sea-Tac Airport: Check out this awesome guide

Grab a Drink from Washington’s Coffee Stands

In case you didn’t know, Seattle is the birthplace of Starbucks. There is even a Starbucks Reserve that you can tour. So, let’s just say that Washington is proud of their coffee. I was not aware of this until we stumbled upon multiple tiny coffee stands, scattered throughout the city.

Living in Florida, I didn’t even know that coffee stands were a thing. Surprisingly, coffee stands are commonly found in the parking lots of gas stations, grocery stores, etc throughout the western states. These adorable little stands might not look like much from the road, but that shouldn’t stop you from enjoying a treat. We discovered “Mighty Mugs Coffee” because it was just down the road from our hotel. It was DELICIOUS…we even went a second time!

Do yourself a favor and enjoy some local coffee 🙂

Mighty Mugs Coffee: Click Here for their Facebook page

Treat Yourself to Molly Moon’s Ice Cream

The most Instagrammable spot for ice cream in all of Seattle has to be at Molly Moon’s. With nine locations all around the city, it should be pretty easy to find a Molly Moon’s that is close to you. We chose to visit the Capitol Hill location. Aside from the yummy ice cream selections, we loved the rainbow street just in front of the shop. In fact, the whole area around Capitol Hill is interesting and worth a few hours of your time.

Whether it’s a hot day or you’re just in the mood for a tasty treat, Molly Moon’s + the rainbow road cannot be missed.

Address: 917 E Pine St, Seattle, WA 98122
Hours: Monday-Friday 2:00pm–10:00pm; Saturday & Sunday 12:00pm–10:00pm

Explore Pike Place Market

Pike Place Market is a 108-year-old farmers’ market and a top Seattle tourist attraction. With more that 10 million visitors annually, Pike Place Market is unmissable. Arrive hungry to the market because you are sure to find something that looks delicious.

The most famous photo op is without a doubt the “Public Market Center” neon sign and clock. Another popular site to see within the market is the Pike Place gum wall. Yes, you read that correctly. Under Pike Place Market you will find the gum-lined walls of Post Alley. In fact, the gum wall is the second most “germiest” attraction in the world! Feel free to add your piece of gum to the wall for a gross yet amusing memory.

Our experience: We explored Pike Place Market on a normal weekday in August of 2020 (COVID year). There were hardly any market vendors open. It was definitely a bummer to not be able to taste the food we had heard so much about. Thankfully, the outdoor portions of the market were still open, so we got a photo of the iconic sign. According to the Pike Place Market website, everything is open and running normally with added safety measures. You should be good to go during your trip.

When you’re done checking out the market, head down the steep stairs to the Seattle Waterfront Park!

Parking: CLICK HERE for the best information on directions & parking for the market
Address of Public Market Sign: 85 Pike St #500, Seattle, WA 98101
Hours: Every day is different but most of the market is active from 9:00am to 5:00pm, with some restaurants staying open until 8:00pm.

Walk Along the Seattle Waterfront Park

Just below Pike Place Market is the gorgeous Seattle Waterfront Park. This relaxing area consists of lively piers filled with seafood restaurants, souvenir shops, and attractions like the Seattle Great Wheel and the Seattle Aquarium. We enjoyed walking along the water, especially after a long day of flights & city exploring. Be sure to check out all of the shops nearby or even sit for a bite to eat. Seafood is delicious here!

There are various parking lots around the Waterfront where you can pay by the hour. We spent about 3 hours here, including dinner, souvenir shopping, & a ferris wheel ride.

Address: 1401 Alaskan Way, Seattle, WA 98101

Ride the Ferris Wheel at Sunset

The Seattle Great Wheel is the tallest ferris wheel on the West coast standing at 175′ and reaching 40′ out over Elliot Bay. For incredible views of the city, I highly recommend purchasing tickets to ride this ferris wheel. We unfortunately did not have time to visit the Space Needle (an iconic observation deck), so The Seattle Great Wheel was the next best option. We were pleasantly surprised with just how beautiful the ride was.

Timing our ride during sunset made all the difference. While the view is probably amazing all day long, I personally loved watching the city lights come to life. You can purchase tickets online and they are valid for 1 year; however, the ferris wheel isn’t too busy. You should be able to walk right up to the ticket booth and wait in a short line. Overall, The Seattle Great Wheel was a 10/10 experience!

Address: 1301 Alaskan Way, Seattle, WA 98101
Admission: Adults $15; Children ages 3-11 $10; Children under age 3 free; Seniors $13
Hours: Open daily from 12:00pm until 8:00pm

Must-See Sites Still on Our Seattle Bucket List:

• Chihuly Garden and Glass – an amazing & unique exhibit in the Seattle Center showcasing the studio glass of Dale Chihuly
• Space Needle – an iconic tower that dominates the Seattle skyline. Head to the top for epic views! Tickets run about $35 per adult
• Kerry Park in Queen Anne – a beautiful park with stunning views of the downtown Seattle
• Starbucks Reserve – Here, Master Roasters, mixologists and baristas perfect their craft and create perfectly flavorful & unique expressions of coffee

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