Earlier this summer, we went on a Royal Caribbean cruise to Alaska that departed from Seattle. After the cruise, our return flight to San Diego was later in the evening, and since we disembarked at seven o’clock in the morning, that left us with a whole day to explore.
This was my first visit to the Emerald City, and I wanted to make the most of our ten-ish hours before we had to head to the airport. So I put together this one day Seattle itinerary – and it turned out to be one of the most fun days of our entire vacation.
Read on to find out what to do in Seattle for one day, either before or after your cruise.
Where to store luggage in Seattle
Before you head out on your one-day tour of Seattle, you’ll have to find a place to store your bags. Nothing’s more annoying than hauling your luggage around all day, especially in Seattle where so many streets are paved with bricks and cobblestone.
That’s where Luggage Hero comes in.
For a small fee, you can store your luggage for anywhere from a couple of hours to a few days. Luggage Hero partners with pre-certified local businesses like shops and hotels, so you know your belongings are in good hands. And even though everything is kept under lock and key, it’s insured against damage, loss, and theft. So you can enjoy your time in Seattle worry-free.
Sail Puget Sound on a schooner
After our cruise, we missed being at sea so much that we decided to get back on another ship. We took this awesome two-hour tour around around Puget Sound, which hilariously took us right past the ship we’d just disembarked from, Quantum of the Seas.
We also had some great views of the Seattle skyline from out in the water, and the trip itself was calm and quiet.
Chef tour of Pike Place Market
Hands down, this was the highlight of our day.
We booked this super awesome two-hour walking tour of Pike Place Market through Viator, led by a local chef. He took us to all these places we wouldn’t have thought to try, like the street tacos at Maiz or the Truffle Queen, where I got the greatest frozen Sangria. We also got to sample mac n cheese at Beechers and sweet dried fruit at Chukar Cherries.
If you only have time for one thing in Seattle after your cruise, let it be this food tour.
Check out the Gum Wall
As we made our way through the narrow alleys around Pike Place, we happened across the Gum Wall. I’ll admit it: I found this to be extremely gross and gave it a wide berth as I was passing by. But there’s something aesthetically pleasing about it, isn’t there?
My son added his own piece of gum to this masterpiece as I tried not to gag. Disgusting.
Grab a coffee at the original Starbucks
At this point, we’ve been on our feet for a long time, and our day in Seattle is winding down. We needed a caffeine boost to get us through the security line at SeaTac. So we got some lattes at the original Starbucks. The line here is long, but it’s worth it to say you’ve been there, don’t you think?
After that, with our coffee in hand, we hopped back on the monorail, picked up our luggage, and taxied it to the airport.
What to Do in Seattle: Any Ideas?
Have you spent a day in Seattle after your cruise? If so, what did you do with one day in Seattle? Let me know in the comments!
