Seattle, WA

May 27- 31

Our very first wedding anniversary was quickly approaching and we couldn't make up our mind on where we wanted to vacation. Ryan and I started a bucket list of places we've always wanted to see so we decided to scratch something off our list- and that's how our Seattle vacation started. We're both pretty spontaneous and *literally* didn't even have our trip booked until the week of our trip! What can I say, we like to live on the edge :)

We found a great deal on Alaskan Airlines and upgraded to First Class. Neither one of us have ever flown First Class before, and let me tell you, it was magical! Of course the seats were beyond comfortable and Ryan appreciated the extra leg room (he's 6'4 for those who have never met him!). Free checked bags, the warm cookies and the red wine were a nice touch!

Because our anniversary fell on Memorial Day weekend this year, hotels in the city were pretty pricey. We found this cute little downtown apartment, 4 blocks from Pikes Place, on Vacasa. If you haven't already checked them out, you need to! It was so nice to have a full kitchen and bathroom, secluded bedroom with two private balconies and the location couldn't have been better! After staying here for a few days we're seriously considering selling our single family home in suburbia and moving downtown...just kidding!

We walked the streets of Downtown Seattle and found ourselves on the corner of First & Pine. The corner where the very first Starbucks opened, directly adjacent to Pike's Market. I ordered the Special Edition Pike's Blend you can only find in this location, it was fantastic! I wish they packaged it so I could purchase some and take it home, but, that isn't an option so I'll resort to swinging by every day to get my fix while I can!

The Seattle Farmer's Market is home to hundreds of vendors who come and set up shop every single day. It's truly amazing how unique this multi level market is- every shop is closed and cleaned out at the end of the night!

And of course we stopped by the World Famous Pike Place Fish Co to see some fish throwin'!

This building is still part of the Pike Marketplace, and home to the cutest gelato shop! Ryan ordered a local IPA and I ordered the hazelnut gelato which tasted like a better, frozen version of Nutella! SO good!

Post Alley is home to the infamous "Gum Wall" which was recently cleaned by city officials in November 2015 for the first time in over 20 years, but honestly, you would never be able to tell! It was reported they removed over 2,500 pounds of gum from these walls late last year, but today, thousands more line the brick walls of the historic buildings in the famous alley.

Later we walked down to the water and checked out the Famous Seattle Ferris Wheel. We didn't actually get to ride it, there's so much to do and see here in the city but taking pictures in front of it is almost just as good.

We walked to the Starbucks Roastery from our room which is just a few blocks from the original Starbucks in Pike's Place. A building as unique as their coffee, the Roastery is where Starbucks Reserve®coffees worldwide will be roasted and packaged. Less than 1% of all Starbucks beans will qualify for this distinction, and some are so scarce they might never be available again. Enjoy them while they last.

Later we found ourselves enjoying drinks at Bathtub Gin & Co., a speak easy style underground bar with some of the best cocktails! Unfortunately we didn't get any pictures of this unique, and quite literal "hole in the wall", but that just makes it all the more interesting!

From the Bar:

“NESTLED IN THE BASEMENT OF AN OLD BRICK HOTEL, NOW THE HUMPHREY APARTMENTS, AN INTIMATE COCKTAIL BAR WAS QUIETLY BUILT IN 2009. BATHTUB GIN & CO. IS IN A FORMER BOILER ROOM IN THE BACK OF THE BUILDING IN BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND AVENUE IN BELLTOWN. A LOW LIT MULTI-LEVEL LOUNGE WITH A SMALL PINE BAR UPSTAIRS WITH VARIOUS LIQUORS FROM AROUND THE WORLD AND COMFORTABLE TABLES AND COUCHES ON THE LOWER LEVEL, INCLUDING THE INTIMATE LIBRARY IN THE BACK, BATHTUB GIN & CO. IS A WARM PROHIBITION STYLE COCKTAIL BAR PERFECT FOR THOSE RAINY SEATTLE NIGHTS. SIP ON LOCAL GIN AND TONICS, CHOOSE A CLASSIC COCKTAIL LIKE AN OLD FASHIONED, OR BE DARING AND HAVE ONE OF OUR BARTENDERS CONCOCT ONE OF THEIR FAVORITES. HOPE TO SEE YOU SOON. CHEERS”

— BATHTUB GIN & CO.

On Sunday we picked up our rental car, which happened to be a Corvette Sting Ray and had a blast zipping around the city. On Monday we took a day trip to Snoqualmie Falls which was a photographer's dream! We had drinks at the Salish Lodge which sits on top of the 270 foot Fall and hiked a little ways down to get a better view (and picture).

After our day trip to the Falls we headed back to our apartment to get ready and enjoy our first anniversary together! Ruth's Chris Steak House was right next door to our place so our whole trip we were planning on dining there. Instead, we decided to stay in, order a pizza and share a grocery store mini pie!

There isn't enough time in one weekend trip to Seattle to see everything. We had a blast during our time but are probably going to plan another trip up here soon. Our flight didn't leave until late Tuesday night so we enjoyed roof top drinks at the Hard Rock Seattle and (regretfully) returned our rental car on the way to the airport, jumped on a plane and headed back to San Diego.