We did a bit more exploring of Seattle this past weekend. It’s such a dynamic city with a variety of things to offer that you simply can’t get bored!
The best view of the Seattle skyline we’ve gotten from the Bainbridge ferry!
Sky View Observatory
We have been trying to get to the Sky View Observatory for several months now, but the timing and/or weather hadn’t aligned for us until this weekend. The Sky View Observatory is on the 73rd floor of the Columbia Center, the tallest skyscraper in Seattle. There are actually 76 floors in this building, but the top three are not open to the public. From what we’ve heard though, if you ever get an invite to a private party in one of these upper levels, you will not be disappointed! The Sky View Observatory experience is similar to the Space Needle experience except for it’s less expensive, less crowded, and you get a view of the iconic Space Needle landmark. They also have cocktails, beer and snacks for purchase as you watch the world below zip around. You have the option to go up to the Observatory once for $20 or twice in a day for $30. We chose the latter, so we were able to see the mountains in the day time and the city lights at night. If you only have time for one or the other, we would recommend the day (if it’s clear) so that you can see the many peaks surrounding this area.
That black building, the Columbia Center, is the tallest building in Seattle.
Checking out the view from the Sky View Observatory!
Great view of downtown Seattle, including the space needle!
Megan checking out the Olympic Mountain Range!
A great view of the beastly Mount Rainier.
We returned to the Sky View Observatory that night for some views of the city lights!
The sports stadiums really stand out at night!
That black building, the Columbia Center, is the tallest building in Seattle.
Checking out the view from the Sky View Observatory!
Great view of downtown Seattle, including the space needle!
Megan checking out the Olympic Mountain Range!
A great view of the beastly Mount Rainier.
We returned to the Sky View Observatory that night for some views of the city lights!
The sports stadiums really stand out at night!
Seattle Public Library
While strolling around the 360-degree Sky View Observatory, there are many educational signs and maps to learn from. One of the fun facts we learned is that the architect of the Seattle Public Library intended for the building to resemble a pile of books. From the base of the Columbia Center, where the Sky View Observatory is, if you walk about three blocks NW, you can check out this unique building for yourself.
Educational walls on the inside of the Sky View Observatory,
The Seattle Public Library: Can you see the stack of books?
Educational walls on the inside of the Sky View Observatory,
The Seattle Public Library: Can you see the stack of books?
Purple Cafe and Wine Bar
About two blocks north of the Seattle Public Library on 4th Ave is the Purple Cafe and Wine Bar. This is a classy spot with an extensive wine list. They have chef and sommelier inspired wine pairings listed for each of their food items, and don’t forget to check out their desserts! If you are a fan of wine, this is the place for you.
Purple Cafe and Wine Bar
The Nest
Another rooftop experience, though not nearly as high at the Sky View Observatory, is The Nest. The Nest is a classy rooftop bar with tasty (but expensive) cocktails and some gourmet apps. They don’t have a dress code, but we’d recommend dressing up a little bit if you check out this bar. In the winter, they have a large outdoor tent, so you can enjoy views of Elliott Bay and the Olympics while staying warm. The Nest is located right above Pike Place Market in the Thompson hotel building.
The Nest: a rooftop bar above Pike Place Market.
The tented rooftop to stay warm in the winter.
View of Elliott Bay!
The Nest: a rooftop bar above Pike Place Market.
The tented rooftop to stay warm in the winter.
View of Elliott Bay!
Rachel’s Ginger Beer
Another good spot to grab drinks in Pike Place Market is at Rachel’s Ginger Beer. This place is much more casual than The Nest and located right on street level. As their name suggests, they have made a variety of handcrafted ginger beers and then create several spinoffs of your classic mule. You are free to get ginger beer without mixing it with alcohol, so this can be a good option if your group includes anyone who prefers not to drink alcohol.
Rachel’s Ginger Beer in Pike Place Market.
Metsker Maps of Seattle
Right around the corner from Rachel’s Ginger Beer, you will find one of our favorite stores in Pike Place Market, Metsker Maps of Seattle. As it sounds, this is a store dedicated to maps! They have U.S. maps, world maps, globes, kid’s maps, atlases, and more that come in all shapes and sizes. If you like traveling as much as we do, you will enjoy perusing this store!
A store full of maps and globes of all shapes and sizes!
Reuben’s Brews
Before our weekend ended, we wanted to complete our tour of the top-rated Seattle breweries. This led us back to the Ballard neighborhood. Our first stop north of the Lake Washington Ship Canal was Reuben’s Brews. We were surprised to walk into the thick of their 2018 Rye Fest. At first, we were bummed because neither of us are historically big rye beer fans, but we each gave a flight a chance and were able to find some we enjoyed. Our favorites were the Reuben’s Brews staples (Crikey IPA and Robust Porter), not including the Rye Fest takeover brews.
Reuben’s Brews packed for the Rye Fest.
Reuben’s flight
Reuben’s Brews packed for the Rye Fest.
Reuben’s flight
Stoup Brewing
Our next stop was Stoup Brewing, a two-block walk NE from Reuben’s. We definitely preferred the beers at Stoup and they had a cool fundraiser going for Movember where they carved their flight boards into mustaches. A couple of our favorite beers here were the NW Red and Winter Warmer.
The outdoor area at Stoup Brewing.
The indoor area at Stoup Brewing.
The Movember flight!
The outdoor area at Stoup Brewing.
The indoor area at Stoup Brewing.
The Movember flight!
Mojito
The goal of our final stop in north Seattle was to fill our bellies with food instead of beer. We met a couple friends at Mojito, a Cuban restaurant. The inside sitting area of this restaurant is pretty tiny, so we had to wait about 30 minutes for a table, but the owner of the restaurant was very hospitable and offered us some rum to sip on while we waited out on the porch. While chatting with him, we discovered his restaurant feeds the entire University of Washington football team on game days and any visiting Latin-American baseball players who are playing against the Mariners. Once we got our food, we realized why there was a wait; each of our entrees was truly fresh and authentic!
Mojito: a delicious Cuban Restaurant!
As mentioned before, Seattle has so much to offer, from good food and unique drinks to spectacular mountain views. Use our tips as a place to get started but be sure to do some of your own exploring too!