I went to Seattle for the first time and made 6 mistakes in 3 days
My packing, booking, and planning mistakes kept me from making the most of my trip.
I left with regrets about skipping attractions and nature hikes.
When I rolled into Seattle on an Amtrak train two months ago, I didn't know I had already made decisions I'd regret later. And I definitely didn't know I would make a few more in the coming days.
Although my first trip to Seattle was only three days long, I'm still thinking about the mistakes I made months later. These mishaps kept me from making the most of my time in a city I'd wanted to visit since I was a kid.
I should have booked more than three days in Seattle.
Three days wasn't nearly enough time to explore all Seattle had to offer. I found myself rushing around the city to pack in as many sights as possible, which made it challenging to be present.
I also realized that the more you see, the less you actually do. Although I covered a lot of ground in Seattle, I didn't go inside many places. I simply photographed buildings like the waterfront Seattle Aquarium and wondered what marine life I was missing out on. I passed museums and countless coffee shops but didn't enter one.
I should have brought just a backpack.
I regretted bringing my carry-on suitcase to Seattle as soon as I left the train station.
My first hotel stay was about a mile from the station. I decided to walk, but I didn't realize the road was almost entirely uphill.
During my visit, I stayed in two other hotels and dragged my suitcase up and down multiple hills in the area. A couple of times, I had to carry the case over cobblestone streets I hadn't anticipated.
In these irritating moments, I wondered why I hadn't just brought a backpack. I had backpacked on trips as long as two weeks in the past. And since I was visiting in May, I didn't need many extra layers.
Next time I go to Seattle, I'll consider the weather, trip duration, and terrain when deciding how to pack.
Visiting Pike Place Market on a Thursday afternoon was a mistake.
I was really excited to see Pike Place Market in person. Growing up, everyone I knew who visited Seattle raved about the iconic outdoor market upon their return to school.
So, as soon as I checked into my hotel, I went to the popular shopping center, where more than 200 stores and restaurants were waiting for me.
I practically ran down a hilly street until I was slowed down by crowds entering, exiting, and simply standing in groups in front of the market. The whole experience felt more like waiting in line than shopping or exploring. I shuffled from stand to stand, trying not to pause in one place too long to keep traffic flowing.
I later learned from the market's website that it's typically most crowded after noon on Thursday through Monday.
In the future, I'll visit Pike Place Market on a Tuesday or Wednesday morning so I can take my time without the crowds.
I shouldn't have skipped the Ferris wheel.
The Seattle Great Wheel stands on the waterfront in downtown Seattle. It's an architectural anomaly in the city's skyline, so I noticed it every day and even considered riding it for $23. But I assumed it was probably a tourist trap that was not worth waiting in line for.
After my trip, I saw photos taken from the top that made me realize I was wrong. I didn't even consider the sights I'd see on board.
The 175-foot-tall Ferris wheel faces downtown on one side and Elliott Bay on the other, creating two strikingly different views. I'll be back to see it for myself someday.
I should have booked a longer stay at 1 Hotel Seattle.
When I checked in at 1 Hotel Seattle for my last night of the trip, I had one thought — I should have been here the whole time.
The luxury chain 1 Hotels opened its Seattle location less than a week before my stay. From the lobby to the room, the hotel brought nature indoors with biophilic furniture, live plants, natural surfaces like quartzite, pebble stones, and reclaimed timber.
The blend of nature and luxury was so serene and unique to my other stays that I wish I'd booked it for my entire trip.
I wish I had spent more time in nature.
Living in New York City, I see skyscrapers on walkable streets every day, but I rarely get a chance to visit a national park. And in my experience, the West has some of the most epic natural landscapes in the US.
So, looking back on it, one of my days in Seattle would have been better spent about 70 miles southeast of the city at Mount Rainier National Park. Instead of exploring more of the urban metropolis, I could have had a completely different experience hiking through mountains, forests, and fields of wildflowers.
With a longer stay, a lighter load, and a better idea of what I want to see and do, my next trip to Seattle should be much more fulfilling.
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