5-Day Summer Foodie & Nature Escape in Seattle

Check into your hotel—either the Thompson Seattle, Fairmont Olympic Peninsula, or the Palihotel—then ease into the city with a walk along the Seattle waterfront. Stroll past the hustle of Pike Place Market, pick up a few snacks (perhaps some local cherries or Beecher’s cheese), then make your way to the Olympic Sculpture Park. Here, massive art installations meet Elliott Bay views—a lovely spot for a low-key wine break.

Dinner tonight is at Stateside, a stylish French-Vietnamese gem with colonial European undertones. The cumin-chili pork ribs and turmeric rockfish are delicious and just the right kind of unexpected. Don’t skip the cocktails or their amaro offerings.

Cap the evening with a rooftop cocktail at The Nest at the Thompson Hotel. This is THE place to catch views of the water and sunset. In summer, the city glows golden well past 9 pm, and the views across Puget Sound are cinematic.

Start the day with a jolt of inspiration (and caffeine) at Starbucks Reserve Roastery—a sensory overload of small-batch brews and pastries. Then head to one of the city’s quintessential farmers markets—Capitol Hill or Ballard (both on Sundays) are great picks—to gather snacks: ripe berries, artisan bread, and local cheeses.

From there, make your way to the Electric Boat Company and hop aboard your rented boat for the next couple of hours. Cruising Lake Union on a sunny summer day is one of Seattle’s greatest pleasures. No boating license needed—just bring your picnic and glide past floating homes, seaplanes, and the industrial-cool of Gas Works Park.

After your time on the water, stretch your legs with a walk through the Washington Park Arboretum. If time allows, the Japanese Garden is a peaceful detour.

For dinner, treat yourself to the 21-course omakase at Wataru, a temple of sushi tucked into the Ravenna neighborhood. With just seven seats and a devotion to tradition, this is an experience to plan your trip around (reservations open on the 1st of each month). If sushi isn’t your thing, Canlis offers an equally unforgettable evening with a sweeping view of the city.

Prefer something casual? Local Tide serves up seafood sandwiches, bowls, and ice-cold beer in a chill, intimate space near Fremont.

Check out of your hotel and pick up your rental car—it’s time to trade city lights for quiet island charm. On the way out of town, stop by Top Dead Center, a vintage motorcycle-inspired café with Stumptown coffee, artisanal Italian sandwiches, and Portuguese custard tarts.

Drive north to Mukilteo, where you’ll catch a short ferry to Whidbey Island. Skip the summer crowds of the San Juans and head for Coupeville, a historic town with windswept beaches and small-town soul.

Your home for the next two nights: Captain Whidbey, a rustic-modern lodge that channels ultimate Pacific Northwest vibes. Watch for orcas from an Adirondack chair, warm up in the barrel sauna, or sip a cocktail in the cozy main lodge.

Dinner options nearby include Oystercatcher, known for its seasonal, farm-driven menus and understated elegance. Afterward, if you’re feeling nostalgic, catch a double feature at the local drive-in movie theater—one of the last of its kind.

Start slow with breakfast on property or grab a coffee in town, then head to Ebey’s Landing for a scenic coastal hike. The trail rolls along bluffs and open fields with jaw-dropping water views—perfect for clearing your head and filling your camera roll.

For something more dramatic, drive north to Deception Pass, where soaring cliffs and forested trails give way to hidden beaches and the iconic bridge. It’s an ideal spot to beachcomb, picnic, or simply sit and take it all in.

Return to Captain Whidbey for a final slow dinner—the kind that turns into an evening.

As your trip winds down, make your way back to Seattle to catch your flight. You have two routes:

1. Retrace your steps and take the ferry back to the mainland (allow time—summer waits can be long),

2. Or drive north through Deception Pass and loop around to the city—a bit longer, but sometimes more reliable.

If time allows, make one last food stop at Paseo in the Seattle neighborhood of Fremont, a no-frills Caribbean sandwich shop loved by locals. Their pork shoulder sandwich is gloriously messy and satisfying—a fitting end to a week of delicious adventure.