Quick Weekend in Seattle, Washington

I flew into Seattle's Tacoma International Airport and it was super easy to take the Link light rail into downtown. I stayed at the CitizenM Hotel in South Lake Union. This hip, hotel chain has locations in major cities in the U.S. and the U.K. The lobby and lounge areas were decorated with fun art and memorabilia, and there were colorful murals everywhere. The guest rooms are small and pod-like, perfect for one person! The King-sized bed fits wall-to-wall and there is a capsule-shaped bathroom. The best part is the smart features. You can control the lights, temperature, TV and window shades from an iPad provided in the room. You can even set a custom LED color for the light in the bathroom.

I spent my first afternoon there at the Pike Place Public Market, a very active seafood and produce market near the waterfront. The guys at the seafood stalls literally throw around fish, there's tons of produce, flower stalls, bakeries and food stalls. There's even an underground level with bookstores, record shops and little narrow diners. I really enjoyed spending the afternoon tasting different foods and browsing the market.

Downtown Seattle also has a Southeast Asian Food Hall. The interior looks like a night market with colorful food stalls serving up everything from ramen, dumplings, bahn mi and milk teas.

Image 1: Travel advisor stopping for a photo op in front of a waterfall along the Twin Falls Hike. Image 2: Inside the CitizenM Hotel Room, showcasing the wall-to-wall master bed, a window, led lights, a desk and chairs.

The following day, I took a half-day, group hiking tour to Twin Falls State Park. I could not be more thankful for the perfect weather as this forest hike was at times steep and strenuous. I saw a waterfall, made a couple friends in the group, and enjoyed a few hours in nature. It was an overall great day!

I had to ride a Seattle ferry boat before I went home so on my last day, I headed over to Bainbridge Island. The ferry ticket to Bainbridge is only $10 and all can return from the island to Seattle for free. The main commercial area of the island has quaint coffee shops, boutiques and restaurants. It felt it was similar to the Bay Area's Sausalito, only smaller, so I wasn't all that impressed, but overall I was enjoyed the experience.

I recommend staying downtown if you want to be near the waterfront, a diverse selection of food and activities. Take some time to get out of the city as well! Washington's forest and waters are inviting!

This trip report is part of our ongoing series on travel to Seattle. In need of further inspiration? Check out Alicia Anderson’s guide, Gluten-Free Dining in Seattle.