Adventure, food, and relaxation—you’ll find it all in Seattle.
Oh, Seattle! What a gorgeous coastal city!
I have lived in San Francisco for quite some time but had actually never visited the Pacific Northwest! I was so excited to be invited by the Visit Seattle team to visit the Emerald City. I flew in the evening, so didn’t have a chance to fully take in the views until the next morning. I was able to see part of downtown and First Ave from my suite at Hotel 1000. Talk about views! This gorgeous hotel offers unbeatable views of the city. We were welcomed by some yummy snacks, wine and Visit Seattle swag. All of that, plus the huge comfy bed was a perfect way to end a day of travel.
The next day, I headed out to explore downtown and stopped by Biscuit Bitch for a quick brunch. OMG. The biscuit sandwiches were out of this world. The cheddar garlic grits were perfect. After fueling up, I headed over to Pike Place Market. I stopped by the infamous Gum Wall where I took some photos and added my gum to the collection 😄. I then wandered upstairs to the famous Pike Place Fish Market. Such a cool experience. I walked around Pike Place Market for a bit—there was so much to see! Hand-crafted leather goods, mouth-blown glass, fresh produce, spices, baked goods—they had EVERYTHING!
As the sun started to go down, I headed to the Space Needle to see views of the city at night—it was absolutely stunning! I got the combo ticket to also see the Chihuly exhibit at Chihuly Garden and Glass and it was TOTALLY worth it. I’ve been a fan of Chihuly’s work for years—you may have seen it in the lobby of the Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas. The exhibit was absolutely breathtaking. Most of the sculptures were larger than life. At the end of the exhibit, there is a documentary chronicling Chihuly’s work over the years. It was so fascinating to learn about his creative process. I definitely felt motivated. 🙂
After all the excitement of the Space Needle, I went back to Hotel 1000 for a relaxing dinner at their on-site restaurant, All Water Seafood & Oyster Bar. The interior is modern and fresh with booth and table seating. I sat in a booth by the window and got to take in the sights as I enjoyed my meal. The service was impeccable. The servers were all so kind and helpful with making food selections. I won’t tell you what you HAVE to get, but I opted for the exceptionally delicious chowder fries. Imagine, thick cut fries topped with clam chowder?! Like a Pacific Northwest poutine dream. The cocktails were thoughtfully curated and paired well with the meal. Dessert was a brownie topped with local ice cream—the ultimate ending to my dining experience. I’d definitely go back, just for those fries. 🤤
The following morning, I had the chance to check out the luxurious on-site spa at Hotel 1000 for a massage. I was given a plush robe and slippers to change into and welcomed into a room for a foot soak. The foot soak was deeply relaxing and detoxifying. I was able to chat with my massage therapist about what I wanted to work on. My upper back was feeling tight from so much travel in the past few weeks. My massage therapist Haylee had absolute magic hands! I have never gotten a massage like that in my life. She worked out the tension and knots and soothed my weary muscles. The difference that my body felt (specifically my back) was like night and day. After the massage, I relaxed in the dry sauna. The whole experience was a treat. If you find you need a full body pick-me-up in Seattle, run—don’t walk—to the spa at Hotel 1000.
Later that day, I went back to the Space Needle to see it during the daytime. It was a gorgeous sunny afternoon! I could see for miles. I was so happy I was able to catch a slice of sunshine. I loved watching people take photos and videos of the cityscape. I’d highly recommend visiting the Space Needle during both the day and night for the full experience.
I had a quick meal at Elliott’s Oyster House before a fun wine tasting at Browne Family Vineyards in their Pioneer Square tasting room. I got a flight of wine, accompanied by a charcuterie board, of course. The wines are straightforward and easy to drink and it was fun to learn about the family history. The sommeliers were lovely to chat with. I took the short walk back to my hotel where I decompressed for a bit before heading to Communion—a highly rated Black-owned restaurant in the Central District. I was still pretty full, so I settled for dessert which ended up being the best banana pudding I have ever tasted! The cocktails were tasty as well. After some time, I took a walk to Top Chef contestant Shota Nakajima’s casual late-night spot, Taku. The vibes were spot on, playlist was chef’s kiss and the chicken was definitely the star on the menu.
The following day, I took a seaplane tour with Kenmore Air. It was my first time on a seaplane, but it won’t be my last. If you think seeing the city from the Space Needle is impressive, you can only imagine what it looks like flying over! It was one of the coolest things I’ve done. We flew all over and got to see the city from a whole new perspective. It was thrilling in the best way possible. After the seaplane, I made it back to Communion for a proper brunch and everything I ate was an absolute dream. I got to chat with Chef/Owner Kristi Brown! After that memorable brunch experience, I did a bit more sightseeing and prepared to head home.
I had a wonderful time in Seattle and can’t wait to come back in the spring/summer!
About the Author
Ashleigh Reddy
Ashleigh (a.k.a. @stayreddy on Instagram) is a content creator from San Francisco who loves to travel. And whether in a new destination or at home, you'll often find her trying new restaurants, seeing the sights, or embarking on an exciting adventure—all balanced with moments of mindfulness, relaxation, and self-care.
More Posts By Ashleigh Reddy
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Thanks for posting this article!!!
Adventure, food and off course relaxation has a profound impact on our feelings & well being. I often listen to music when I travel as it helps me to de-stress & “feel” the city.