Goodnight Seattle, We Love You Seattle, Washington May 26-30, 2025
We all LOVED Seattle- such a beautiful city (and weather)!
Happy Birthday kids... Natalie is turning 16 and Luke is turning 13 this summer and we decided what better way to celebrate these HUGE milestones than with an ALASKAN CRUISE! The kids chose the cruise/ trip and helped plan out all the details; including the Pre-Trip to Seattle.
We flew into Seattle 4 days early and were able to see pretty much all of the city, revisiting many of our favorites from our 10 Year Anniversary Trip in 2016! We were also able to check the kids 23rd MLB Baseball Stadium in their chase for 30. We loved EVERY minute of our time in Seattle and I am sure we will be back for our next Alaskan Cruise!
We have highlighted our daily activities and travels through Seattle as well as both games at T-Mobile Stadium! These blog posts have tips, tricks and pictures to help you plan your own vacation to Seattle. Once again, we appreciate your continued support of our blog by clicking on the daily posts. We wouldn't be as popular or successful if it weren't for you all. Thank you so much!
What started as a way to share our trip with my grandma, has now grown into a well followed blog and I am so grateful for all of you who continue to support us by following along on our travels!
Morning Once again the sun woke most of up at an un-Godly hour. We all tried to go back to sleep but eventually just got up and ready for the day. This day was fully loaded with stuff and the first stop was renting a car so we were out the door before 7:30AM. We took the Light Rail north one stop to SODO then walked to the Budget Rental Car to get our ride for the day. We arrived just as the worker did so we had to wait a little while but we got our Mazda CX50 and were out the door by 8:10AM. TIP- The Light Rail is all you need in Seattle but if you wanted to branch out and go to Everett, Lynnwood or Mt Rainer, you would need to rent a car. This full day rental was only $81 (all fees included) for an SUV. An economy car was about $72. This is a great value for seeing "beyond" a city!
We liked this SUV for the day! The gas mileage was decent as well!
We got on I-5 and headed north with lots of rush hour traffic. Our first stop was the University of Washington as it is our tradition to visit a college campus on all of our trips. We started with a Diners, Drive-ins and Dives, another tradition of ours, just outside of campus- Voula's Offshore Café. We expected a crowd but at 9AM, we just missed the rush. We were able to get a table and service VERY QUICKLY. The menu was extensive but I loved how they highlighted the items Guy Fieri tried on the menu and we did not have to ask what he ordered like other DDD we have been to recently. The food was delicious and MASSIVE. We should have shared- lesson learned! This breakfast cost $114 with tip and was TOO MUCH FOOD. You can easily share one of these plates with 2 ADULTS. We all 4 ordered an entrée and then got pancakes to share. We left SO MUCH FOOD on the table! This was a splurge but we love trying DDDs.
Voula's menu was extensive but I loved the corner for Guy! Honestly, the prices were about average for a West Coast city!
This was the HOBO and it was SO GOOD!
Voula's Offshore Café near the University of Washington!
After breakfast we meandered around the campus until we found a visitors parking lot (near the hospital) and set up camp for the rest of the morning. We walked all over this absolutely gorgeous campus. The hills, landscaping and trees were superbly well kept and lusciously green. However, the buildings were the winner of this visit. They were all so European with beautiful architecture and colors. We visited the music building (our tradition at every college campus), the Student Union, Campus Bookstore, the Biology building and a few others. Each building had character of it's own and we all really loved this campus. In fact, if it weren't a 4-5 hour flight away, Natalie would have this campus on her top 5 list of colleges. I was highly (and surprisingly) impressed with this campus!
Hello University of Washington!
Outside of Husky Stadium where College Gameday set up!
This was the walk from the stadium to the main campus! It was GORGEOUS!
This makes my heart so happy! They WANT to go into the music building and take a picture!
I seriously LOVED this campus!
The landscaping and the buildings made for a breathtaking campus!
But we had to stop at what would be her ACTUAL major building!
Dr. Natalie- Coming SOON!
Luke loved this campus as well as looked it up... University of Washington has an outstanding pre-med program! It now is in HIS top 10! Future Dr. Luke Davis (Cardiologist)- HS Class of 2030!
Goodbye UW- It's been real!
We spent about 2 hours at the University of Washington before making our way north to Everett for our tour of the largest building in the world- The Boeing Factory. Chris and I this tour on our 10 Year Anniversary trip in 2016 and it was incredible so we knew the kids would LOVE it! My grandfather was a chemical engineer at Boeing in Wichita, KS where he worked on building and maintaining fuselages his whole life. For me, visiting Boeing means so much to me and reminds me so much of Grandpa! I love and miss you!
Gareld and Patricia Klingsick (1998ish) I love you both SO MUCH and miss you daily- I cannot wait to see you again!
The Future of Flight tour allowed us to see the gallery at the Boeing Factory as well as hanger 5-7 in our 80 minute guided tour. We were able to see them working on a 777 as well as a 737 that will soon be built at this location. We were also able to see a few 787 being tested on the runway. TIP- This is a great tour for the whole family and only $38.99/ adult. However, the tickets sell out about 3-4 months in advance so be sure to plan and book your spot early.
We loved this gallery- This alone is worth the entrance fee! The 2016 $20 entrance fee... Not the 2025 $38 entry fee.
Not sure if this is a "glow up" but 9 years have passed... I am getting old!
I loved this studio and learning about the upcoming builds for Boeing!
Another side by side- We are "growing up" and getting old! But I love that we revisit Boeing!
But in 2025, we add the kids! Love sharing these adventures with them!
Afternoon Our tour was over around 3PM and we knew we needed to get on the road south back to Seattle as soon as possible before the rush hour traffic set in, but we were hungry. We loaded in the car and found a Quizno's sub shop just off the highway and got lunch to go as we made our way south. We expected an hour long commute but it turned into a near 2 hour commute back to SODO to deliver our rental car back before the 5PM deadline. We pulled into the Budget lot, having remembered to fill it up with gas this time, at 4:52pm.
Once we turned in the car we walked back to the Light Rail to take us back to our Airbnb to get ready for our 2nd game at T-Mobile Park. We changed clothes and started our 1st load of laundry as we would be boarding the Anthem of the Seas the next day.
Evening We got to T-Mobile Park around 6PM for the 6:40PM first pitch and this allowed us just enough time to get to our upper deck seats and get the kids some food. The Mariners only sold tickets in certain sections in the upper deck and our section was fairly full for only 12K people in attendance. But we actually enjoyed our seats directly above home plate. We enjoyed some very over priced Chicken Nuggets, cotton candy and "value beers" and hotdogs before the 3rd inning. This dinner within T-Mobile cost an overall $97 for all 4 of us and this included beers and other treats.
Day #2 at T-Mobile and once again it was PERFECT!
A final side-by-side of our trip! We have gotten older but our passion still remains! Thank you Chris for sharing all of this with me!
Stadium #23 for the kids:
The game was tied in the 7th inning stretch when we began to make our way to the lower level. We ended up leaving in the top of the 9th inning and but of course, they went into extra innings and the Nationals blew them out. The Mariners lost 10-2 but it was a fun game! We got back to our Airbnb shortly before 10pm to finish up more laundry and pack for tomorrow when the REAL ADVENTURE begins- Alaska!
Goodnight Seattle, We Love You!
It was an EPIC day to end the Seattle Part of this Adventure!
This was a very busy but GREAT day and we loved getting to see an extra game in T-Mobile Park!
Pike Place and T-Mobile Tuesday, May 27, 2025 Downtown Seattle
Hello Pike Place Market and Seattle Vibes!
Morning Despite comfortable beds and wonderful accommodations, 3 of us woke up around 4:15AM when the sun started shining through the blinds in our Airbnb. This meant for a tired family most of the day but we were ready. Luke had enough waiting for Natalie to get up and started getting ready at 5:45AM, which feels natural to all of us at this point. We were up and ready to get out the door before 7AM. We took the Light Rail from Beacon Hill to the Westlake station and got off to explore Pike Place Market before they opened to the public at 8AM. This also meant we were able to get into the Original Starbucks just outside the market before the massive crowds arrived. TIP- The line for this Starbucks can get over an hour long so get there early! The coffee was plain and burnt, just like our Starbucks at home but the vibes were cool since this was the original store. This Starbucks run cost about $24 total and a $20 coffee tumbler. Afterwards we hit up one of my favorite spots in the Market, Piroshky Piroshky. This Russian pastry store is INCREDIBLE and also creates a LONG long of fans later in the day. These pastries are SO GOOD but kind of pricey at $8-9 each. This breakfast run cost about $40 total for all 4 of us.
The kids 1st view of Pike Place Market!
The Original Starbucks outside of Pike Place Market.
This may have been her favorite thing in Seattle. She LOVED this experience!
Piroshky Piroshky outside of Pike Place Market is NOT to be missed. Seriously- GO HERE!
After our brief breakfast outside Pike Place Market, we opted to walk inside to see all the booths get set up. This was so cool as many business were still getting ready for the day. We got to see the fish get laid out in the ice, the flowers get displayed and so much more. We were also able to taste test many items as there were not many tourist there yet. TIP- The Pike Place Market gets crazy crowded mid-day so I would HIGHLY advised going in the morning (9AM to 11AM) to avoid the most crowds.
We were literally the ONLY tourists in the Market for a hot minute! IT WAS AWESOME!
Hello Pike Place Market!
We loved this Fish Company booth. We were able to see SEVERAL fish being thrown!
Our reservation at the Seattle Aquarium wasn't until 9:30AM so we spent around 2 hours in and around the Pike Place Market. We were able to see the gum wall and Luke even contributed to this tourist trap. We then went into the 2nd level of the Market for another one of my favorites- Daily Dozen Donuts. These miniature donuts are SO GOOD and made fresh as you wait! These donuts run about $6-7 per half dozen or $10 for a dozen. I highly suggest getting at least 1 maple bacon- It is "on point" as they say!
This place is not to be missed- a morning breakfast or a midday snack. Either way- you will not be disappointed.
The Maple Bacon donut from Daily Dozen- You've gotta try it!
Hello gum wall... It really did STINK!
As we made our way down from PPM to the Aquarium, there were LOTS of stairs and Chris was already feeling the pain and inflammation on his knee from the Airbnb. We eventually found an elevator but he was definitely feeling the pain.
Once we arrived at the Aquarium, we had to wait a little bit before they opened and allowed us in. TIP- We purchased the Seattle City Pass which included the Aquarium and the Space Needle plus 3 other attractions of our choice.This was $129/ per person and for a first time visitor, I believe it is worth it. This was mine and Chris's 2nd trip but the kids 1st so we opted to purchase this pass. Next time, we would not spend this much.
Hello Seattle Aquarium- The Davis Family is here!
Once in the Aquarium we had a great time looking at all of the sea life. The harbor seals were among our favorites as well as the octopus that was housed in the main building. The kids enjoyed an add on virtual reality ride and really enjoyed learning about Humpback Whales of which we hope to see in Juneau. Overall this tour took about 1.5 to 2 hours and a great indoor activity.
It is official... I will be the shortest person in our family! Luke is only 1-2 inches behind me!
Where have my babies gone? Time needs to slow down!
The VR experience was an additional $15/ pp. The kids really enjoyed this and it lasted about 12 minutes.
Afternoon We decided to go back to Pike Place Market to find some lunch for us all. Chris and I knew of a great chowder spot from our 2016 Seattle Food Tour- Pike Place Chowder. We were early enough in the lunch rush to only have to endure a 20 minute wait. The chowder was delicious and made fresh. Chris got the Salmon Chowder and the kids and I stuck with the traditional Clam Chowder, all served in massive sourdough bread bowls; although next time I would not get it in a bread bowl to get more of the delicious chowder. This lunch was $94 with tip and fountain drinks. TIP- Get there early for lunch... By the time we left around 12:30PM the line was wrapped around the building and finding a place to sit was difficult.
Pike Place Chowder- DELICIOUS!
After lunch we took the Seattle Monorail from Westlake to Seattle Center to visit the Museum of Pop Culture which was also included on the City Pass. TIP- The Seattle Monorail is $12 per person roundtrip and only makes 2 stops (Westlake and Seattle Center) but it is the overall best way to get from Downtown Seattle to the Space Needle area. But at $48 for a family of four... Not a bargain by any means. Natalie was really excited to see a museum that "was all about teenagers" or so she thought. This museum was a neat find but was SUPER LIBERAL and not really our cup of tea. I would not purchase tickets to this museum unless it was a part of the City Pass but we did enjoy the experience overall.
Hello Gorgeous! I seriously LOVE the Space Needle. Such an icon of America!
I love this picture!
A chandelier of guitars. We even found a cello and an upright bass.
The only "pop culture" of my time in this museum.
Chris and Darth Vader.
We had a jam session in the Classical Rock area of the museum.
I think Luke missed his calling of being a percussionist!
He did SO WELL!
We took the Monorail back to Westlake and did some souvenir shopping before heading back to our Airbnb to try and get some rest. This is so not like us but we were all very tired. The time change, early sun rising and this being only 3 days after our last day of school meant we were all 4 feeling it. We got back to the Airbnb and took a nap before heading out to T-Mobile Park for a Mariners Game.
Evening We took the Light Rail from Beacon Hill to Stadiums and then walked to T-Mobile Park. This would be stadium #23 for the kids and one of my 10 Ten MLB Stadiums in my Baseball Bucket List Chase for 30. Once at the stadium, we got in the stadium in time for a Bobblehead. We walked around the lower concourse and found Ducktail Pizza and it was delicious. We took our slices to the Nationals bullpen to watch pitching warm-up. The pizza slices were $12.50/each making our dinner total $59 with taxes and tip. The slices were actual decent size for this price.
Hello T-Mobile Park. The last time I saw you, it was Safeco Field. Has it really been 9 years?!
Stadium #23!
I love baseball with my family!
I decided since we were going to be attending 2 games in T-Mobile Park we would splurge on one game and this was the game. We had tickets along the 1st base side behind the Mariners dugout and these tickets were actually cheaper (even with all the fees) than the upper deck Astro's ticket at Daiken Park. I was very impressed with the overall value of the ticket we paid for and we LOVED our seats, just 15 rows from the field. These tickets (with all the fees and etc) cost $189 total for all 4 of us.
We loved the "Salmon Race" in the 5th inning! King Salmon won!
A view from our seats... Well worth the money! And to be honest, I am jealous Seattle peeps can get this on the regular!
We got a few snacks and drinks throughout the game but even these prices were very reasonable for a West Coast stadium and T-Mobile park even offered "Value Items" including beers so we really were getting bargain. Overall we spent about $300 total for a night at a baseball game. All things considered... This is very reasonable in our travels.
The Mariners won big and we were even able to see back to back Homeruns and several defensive plays including 3 Double Plays. When the game was over, we followed the crowd back to the Light Rail to make 2 stops before getting off in Beacon Hill for our Airbnb. Once back at our condo shortly after 9:45PM, we were able to watch the sun officially set over Puget Sound from our balcony. Again, the location and the balcony made this Airbnb worth every penny!
This is 9:50PM in Seattle!
Day 2 was LOTS of fun!
This was a GREAT day spent all over Seattle and we enjoyed every minute of it! Stay tuned for more. Once again, thank YOU for following along!
Up Next- Up in "Space" at the Space Needle and more!
