A quick guide to Western Washington

Pike Place Market

Our most famous tourist site is absolutely worth exploring and well-beloved by locals, too. Opening in 1907, it is one of the oldest continuously operated public farmers' markets in the United States.

Within Pike Place, I recommend:

• Getting the world's best mac & cheese at Beecher's Cheese
• Checking out the observation deck in the back of the market, with a view of the Olympic Mountains from across the Puget Sound
• Getting some souvenir teas at MarketSpice Teas
• Exploring one of the cozy bookstores on the market's lower levels

In the alley just below, you can also find our most disgusting and bizarre tourist attraction—the Gum Wall. Don't forget a stick of spearmint if you'd like to make your mark on the city.

About a ten-minute walk from Pike Place Market is Pier 66, a free and publicly-accessible rooftop which provides a great view of the city, the water, and (on a sunny day) Mt. Rainier.

Seattle Center

Primarily built up for the 1962 Seattle World Fair, Seattle Center features a ton of retro-futuristic architectural gems and is great to walk around.

This is where you can see our famous Space Needle, attend a laser light show at the Pacific Science Center, or go to the sci-fi and music exhibits at the Museum of Pop Culture—often cited as Seattle's ugliest building (but super fun inside!). The latter features dedicated exhibits for Nirvana and Jimi Hendrix, as well as a horror movie exhibit in the basement.

Gasworks Park

Seattle is full of incredible parks, but this is definitely our weirdest one. It sits on the site of the former Seattle Gas Light Company gasification plant, and a bunch of the equipment was left behind giving it major steampunk vibes. It also boasts one of the best views of the city's skyline.

Best food in Seattle

Coffee

Seattle is widely considered to be the coffee capital of the United States, and my personal opinion is that this is where you can have the best cup of single-origin, black filter coffee of your life.

Coffee here is treated like wine in France—everything has its own special origin story and unique flavor profiles.

Some of my favorite cafes:

• Seattle Coffee Works (near Pike Place Market)
• Victrola (Capitol Hill)
• Elm Coffee Roasters (Pioneer Square)
• Ghost Note (Capitol Hill)

Teriyaki

Often considered our city's signature dish, Seattle-style teriyaki exploded in the 1990s. As a rule, the best teriyaki spots are mom-and-pop fronts that are easy to stumble upon across the city.

Seafood

As a coastal city, our local seafood is immaculate. Some particular highlights are:

• Pacific Northwest oysters (much different than other varieties, and grown locally!) - check out Taylor Shellfish on Capitol Hill
• Salmon - check out Ivar's Salmon House in Fremont, which is a beautiful cedar replica of a Northwest Native American (Coast Salish) Longhouse.
• Sushi - Two of famed sushi chef Jiro Ono's apprentices opened restaurants in the city, so it's one of the sushi capitals of America. There are also a number of popular conveyor belt sushi spots.

Note:
If you decide to go to the Olympic Peninsula and are limited on time for your trip, I wouldn't prioritize seafood in Seattle as there will be some incredible local options closer to the ocean.

Beer

Seattle has a thriving beer culture, with emphasis on micro-breweries and the infamous West Coast IPA. These are going to be quite a bit stronger than your standard fizzy lagers (up to ~9% ABV), so buckle up. Fremont, Ballard, and SoDo are great brewery neighborhoods in particular.

Some favorites:

• Fremont Brewing
• Cloudburst
• Stoup Brewing
• Elysian
• Ghostfish

Note:
If you are traveling here from outside the States, it's important to know that Seattle bars are quite strict with international IDs—a national identification card or license typically won't be enough to confirm you are 21+. Don't forget your passport, as this is usually all they will accept.

Asian cuisines

Seattle is full of amazing Asian restaurants, particularly Japanese, Chinese, Thai, Korean, Filipino, and Lao. There are tons of options—from cheaper, on-the-go meals to upscale restaurants.

Miscellaneous American food

• Pizza - Big Mario's
• Hot dogs - nearly any stand, particularly in Capitol Hill
• Diners - Lost Lake, Luna Park Cafe (West Seattle - water taxi boat required)

The Olympic Peninsula

Comprising about a third of the state, the peninsula has some remarkable beaches, forests, and port towns worth seeing. If you like camping, I would recommend doing it here. There is also a popular hostel within driving distance of many of the below spots.

Renting a car will be necessary if you opt for this, and I would dedicate at least 2-3 full days.

Some highlights:

• La Push Beach—Globally known, because of Twilight. Located on Quileute Tribal Land (open to visitors), it's one of the most beautiful places to see Washington's Pacific coast with three distinct beaches. Light hiking required.
  
• Olympic National Park—Encompassing nearly a million acres, the park protects a vast wilderness, thousands of years of human history, and several distinctly different ecosystems, including glacier-capped mountains, old-growth temperate rain forests, and over 70 miles of wild coastline. A seven-day vehicle pass to all parts of the park costs $30 USD.
  
• Hoh Rainforest—One of the largest temperate rainforests in the U.S., the Hoh genuinely feels like you've waltzed into a sci-fi alien landscape. The Hall of Mosses in particular is a quick and cool little jaunt. This is included in an Olympic National Park pass.
  
• Hurricane Ridge—Washington State is lucky enough to have two major mountain ranges: the Olympics and the Cascades. Hurricane Ridge is the most easily accessed mountain area within Olympic National Park, and a great hike to experience the beauty of the Olympics. This is included in an Olympic National Park pass.
  
• Port Angeles—A cute, coastal city and a great place to stop when heading back east to the mainland of the state. You can see Vancouver Island across the water, and ferry to Victoria, BC from here as well if desired.

The Islands

Washington State's islands are incredible, and the best place to go in hopes of catching sight of our local orca whale population.

My favorites:

• Whidbey Island—Very easily accessible from the mainland, either by ferry from Mukilteo or driving over Deception Pass (which is well worth it). I usually take the Pass on the way up, and ferry back. Langley is my favorite town on Whidbey, and has a free whale center where you can learn about our local orca population, as well as the various transient whale species that come through this area, including humpbacks and grey whales.

• San Juan Island—The best place to go for whale tours. You can access SJI by a one-hour ferry from Anacortes. The main town is Friday Harbor, which is very walkable.
• Orcas Island—Getting to Orcas requires a bit of time and effort, but it is very worth it if you'd like to see one of the more rugged islands in Washington. Orcas (inexplicably pronounced "OR-kiss") is covered in gorgeous forests, lakes, and has a number of very cool, eclectic arts spaces.

The Cascade Mountains

The Cascades extend from British Columbia to Northern California—but all the best volcanoes are in Washington.

I recommend trekking over to Mt. Rainier, known also by its indigenous name Tahoma, for beautiful views and excellent hiking. Tahoma is the highest mountain in the lower 48 states, and is about an hour an forty minute drive from Seattle. Reservations are now required. Entry to the park is $30 USD per vehicle.

There are many other remarkable Cascade volcanoes including the infamous Mt. St. Helens, Mt. Baker, and Mt. Adams, which all have great hiking options for the adventurous traveler.