A Budget-Friendly Travel Guide to Seattle
- Aug 6, 2018
- 6 min read
Less than a week ago, Jack and I found ourselves held captivated by the beautiful city of Seattle, Washington. It's a place that holds the headquarters of huge corporations like Microsoft, Amazon, Starbucks... but it also packs the treasure of unique and wondrous stores, restaurants, coffee shops, parks, and other features. Jack and I did plenty of touristy things, but we also got the local's inside scoop, which we had to share with you!
Oh, and let's not forget about the Olympus and Cascade mountains that border your every view. And of course, Mount Rainier. If you ever hear a Seattelite say, "the mountains are out" you know the weather is clear and these amazing sights will be in full view.
Now, because Jack and I are both in college and have to be frugal, we tried our best to grab the best deal on flights. Thankfully, we had a place to stay (s/o to my cousins for being AWESOME). We also, however, made sure to set aside a good bit of cash for food and shopping and all that good stuff. I'm going to break this post into categories to best explain what we did and how we did it.
Our Budget (Flights & Spending Money)
Trip length: 8 daysWhere we stayed: North Beach (close to Ballard)Transportation used: Bus, Lyft, Family Car, Water Taxi, Ferry Let me break it down for you:
Airfare- $355
Spending Money- $400
Total Cost - $755
--> Flights: The lowest price Jack and I ever saw was $315, but people kept telling us to wait because they said tickets would fall under $300. However, the longer we waited, the more the price kept rising, so we went ahead and bought the tickets from Southwest's "wanna go now" flights. Google Flights, Skyscanner, KAYAK and Hipmunk are all great resources for finding flights.
***A warning about flying Southwest: You might not get to sit next to your travel companion, you do not have assigned seats. They let you enter the plane by groups (A, B, or C) and on the way to Seattle, Jack and I did not get to sit together.
--> Spending Money: I originally brought $350 to spend but ended up using a little more than that. Another thing to add- a handful of our meals were paid for by our lovely family, so I would suggest bringing something like $450-$500 for an 8-day trip. Now, this amount of money was also used for transportation, shopping, souvenirs, etc.
Transportation
The best way to get around is with the bus system! Download the green "Trip Planner" app from the app store for an easy way to look up schedules and stops.
--> Cost Per Ride: $1.50 (6-18), $2.50 (19-64), $1.00 (64+ or disabled)
If you are taking the bus more than once within a 2-hour span, your second ride will be free, just hang on to your ticket :)
***Through September 4th, any youth from 6-18 can ride the bus for 50 cents with an ORCA card. For a faster ride, albeit more expensive, use Lyft (we found that it was cheaper than Uber).
Good Eats
Ballard:
The Gerald: A bar that does INCREDIBLE brunch on the weekends, I got the eggs benedict with tomato and avocado.
Señor Moose Café: Such good Mexican food that Jack and I went there twice! Get the guac!!!
Cupcake Royale: O. M. G. Best cupcakes ever!!!! They also serve ice cream :) What more could you want?
Mae Ploy: Delicious Thai! P.S. They deliver.
Dick's Drive-In: A late-night 100% all beef burger and ice cream joint that is surprisingly delicious and cheap! Be warned: there are no substitutions for anything here, what's on the menu is what you get.
Shiku Sushi: If you're in the mood for some killer sushi, this is it!
Downtown:
Ivar's Acres of Clams: You might have to splurge a little, but it's so worth it! Sit right on the waterfront and enjoy delicious seafood and a spectacular view.
The Crumpet Shop: If you've never had a British crumpet, this is the place to go! A perfect pick-me-up for a long day of exploring.
Biscuit Bitch: This is an amazing breakfast place, don't let the restaurant name intimidate you!
Molly Moon's Ice Cream: This is actually located in Capitol Hill which is a little ways from downtown, but it's definitely a good place to go get your ice cream fix.
West Seattle:
Homefront: This place has everything from ice cream to bubble tea to smoothies, you name it! It provides a great afternoon refresher after a day at the beach.
Coffee:
Storyville: Located right in the heart of Pike Place Market! Excellent coffee and pastries.
Fonté Coffee Roaster: Opposite from the Seattle Art Museum! Choose from an array of different beans and brewing styles.
Sight-Seeing
Ballard:
Full Tilt: An ice cream and old-fashioned arcade duo that's perfect for some late-night pinball and pac-man.
Skate Park: Walk on over to the skate park and see if there are any competitions going on! A lot of time, you will see skaters showing off their moves on the ramps.
There are tons of great small shops and boutiques like Fair Trade Winds, Secret Garden Book Shop, Indie Frock, and more! Take your time to walk around and enjoy this little downtown atmosphere.
Fremont:
Fremont Troll: A popular tourist destination but a cool sight to see nonetheless!
Fremont is also a great place to wander around and do some shopping. Make sure to hit up Jive Time Records, Ophelia's Books, the Vintage Mall, and Portage Bay Goods.
The Waterfront:
Ye Olde Curiosity Shop: If you have always wanted to see a real mummy, shrunken heads, or the Lord's prayer written on a single grain of rice, this is the place for you!
Water Taxi: This boat is gonna get you over to one of my favorite places I visited, Alki Beach located in West Seattle.
West Seattle:
Alki Beach: This beach is a 2.5 mile stretch of sand that's completely free to the public. It holds tons of great restaurants and a fabulous view of both the mountains and the city.
Wheel Fun Rentals: You MUST rent a bike or a surrey, they are a blast! Pedal down the wide sidewalk right by the beach and stop off wherever to swim or play a game of frisbee.
Downtown:
Seattle Art Museum: Because the Kusama exhibit is going on, which you HAVE to go to, I would recommend getting to the museum before it opens to ensure you get a ticket. Jack and I ended up waiting an hour, but it was so worth it.
***Make sure to bring your student ID for $7 off your ticket!
Pike Place Market: This is a must, hands down. Walk through the open market and pick up a bouquet of beautiful flowers, watch fish being thrown around, taste dozens of local jams and fresh fruits and veggies, and stop by the first ever Starbucks.
The Gum Wall: I don't know if I've ever been more grossed out and fascinated at the same time in my life! This is also very close to Pike Place Market.
Columbia Center's Sky View Observatory: We had about three people tell us to skip the ever famous space needle and head to Columbia Center for a 360 degrees view of Seattle! Plus, you save mega cash (it's about half the price).
***Make sure to bring your student ID for $5 off your ticket!
Seattle Sounders Game: If you have the chance, go experience a Sounders soccer game at CenturyLink Field!
Other:
Bainbridge Island: Take a ferry over to the quaint little Bainbridge island full of cute boutiques, great restaurants, and other amazing stores! I highly recommend J'aime Les Crêpes for lunch :)
Ira Spring Memorial Trail: It is necessary that you save at least one day of your trip for hiking. Jack and I chose this 6.5-mile trail which was pretty difficult but held the most amazing views I have EVER seen. I kept pinching myself because it didn't seem real. At the end, you can picnic on the beautiful Mason Lake. The best part- it's only 45 minutes from the city!
Traveling Tips
If you are visiting in the summer (which is the best time to visit), expect the temperatures to be in the mid-70s to low 80s! Talk about AMAZINGGGG!
There isn't any humidity, so at night it can get pretty chilly. Make sure to pack a few light jackets and jeans even when traveling in the summer.
Make a list of places you want to go before your trip. You don't have to have each day planned out, but it helps to have an idea of what you want to do. Travefy is a great tool to use for trip planning! You can even incorporate your flight and hotel stay into a completely customizable schedule.
So, if you ever find yourself in the Pacific Northwest, I hope you have a full list of things to discover.
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