I am one of those travelers who enjoys planning some basic stuff like tickets and accommodations and figuring out the rest as we go because my time (including trip planning) is always limited. There is some beauty in spontaneity and flexibility, as there is less chance of disappointment if things go (often unavoidably) sideways. Because time is my most scarce resource, I also don’t usually spend more than 2-3 days per city when traveling on a self-guided or business trip combined with pleasure. Some people prefer to immerse in a place and get a deep feel of the country, region, or city by allocating a couple of weeks per place. Still, my vacation time is limited, and I want to see as many places as I can over a short period, and come back to select a few at a later time.
I am finding that with age I value peace more than jamming all I can in 24 hours, so I am becoming more selective with what I invest my time and money into. Lists of “17 Must See Things in Seattle” would have been great for a twenty-year-old version of me, but in this season of my life, I want fewer choices and fewer decisions to make. I have enough cognitive and decision fatigue at work, and I want to reduce the mental burden of travel as much as possible. Fear of “missing out on perfect” is a real thing, and with the ever-growing amount of information and attractions available, it only brings up anxiety levels. I don’t have 10 hours to spend on reading reviews on 20 attractions to decide which five or six to include on my few days trip. If something is a must-see, I will find out locally from other travelers and staff at hotels and restaurants. So I hope this post saves you a little bit of mental energy for a fun but also relaxed and unrushed trip.
What I also found enjoyable is leaving 1-2 things to do “for the next time I am in the city”, leaving a little bit of unknown and unexplored for the future.
This month I spent three days in Seattle with a friend and I think we got it just about right: we saw enough to enjoy and get excited, but not to feel like “we have seen all there is in Seattle”.
Here is our 3-day Seattle Highlights Trip itinerary if you ever plan a short visit:
Day 1:
- Space Needle for stunning sunset views;
- Chihuly Glass Museum for unbelievable works of art;
- Pike Place Market to explore some coffee places and try amazing chowder at the Pike Place.
Day 2:
- Harbour Cruise to learn a bit of the history and geography of the city and enjoy the views from the water;
- Seattle Aquarium – they have three buildings there, so lots to see if you love nature and marine life;
- Pike Place Market for more coffee places and food (we visited the first Starbucks coffee shop and had a nice Greek frozen yogurt close by);
- Concert in the evening (we went to see Esther Perel).
Day 3:
Museum of Pop Culture – really fun to see the fantasy and sci-fi exhibits, as well as Nirvana and Guitars exhibits;
More Pike Place Market – shop for arts and crafts, enjoy the beautiful flower arrangements, more food places and coffee;
Wrap up for the trip and flight back.
What I would do if I came back again:
- The Seattle Great Wheel for sunset views;
- More walks along the waterfront/piers;
- More Pike Place Market exploring – it’s huge and filled with a variety of small and curious stores.
This itinerary allowed me to have an enjoyable and non-overwhelming trip. I could sleep in, and take my time to journal during lunch breaks and before bed rather than drop dead from overstimulation at the end of the day.
I hope you found some useful tips here and let me know in the comments below if you have any additional recommendations I missed here!
