Foodie Adventures: Planning a Trip to Seattle

My husband and I love exploring new cities. When mapping out our trips, three things are always top of mind: food, fitness, and any must-see tourist spots. As fit foodies, we skim local food blogs and Instagram snapshots searching for hidden gems and gluten-free local picks. And to work up that appetite I’m in charge of booking sweat sessions around the city. Yoga, spin, bootcamp—you name it! Seattle has been on my bucket list for a while, and I’m so happy we made the trip! Pike Place Market, dinner in Fremont, and exploring the city on foot (urban hiking at its finest) are highlights. Oh, and that amazing Nordstrom!Here are a few highlights from our trip, and some great things to do (and eat) when planning your next visit to Seattle.FoodFirst things first, food. A 3-mile walk from our hotel in South Lake Union, Eve Fremont was our Friday night destination. A hip spot just steps from the iconic Fremont bridge, Eve serves up organic farm-to-table dishes in a small and welcoming space. I was overwhelmed with the options—delicious greens, hot bowls, spreads, and sustainable meats. And that’s not even including dessert!To start we split a shaved kale salad. It reminded me of our favorite Kettner Exchange salad in San Diego: light, delicious, and a perfect starter. But that excellent starter paled in comparison to the epic main course! To put it simply, the Eve Hot Bowl is the best grain bowl I’ve ever had. Grains, legumes, nuts & seeds, seasonal veggies, and a sesame vinaigrette made for a savory combination. For the extra protein we added chicken, and a poached egg. When in doubt, always add an egg :) The grain bowl was so filling we barely touched the Pan Roasted Cauliflower—drool-worthy in its own right.RockCreek Seafood, also in Fremont, was a delicious Saturday night foodie stop. The cabin-like quarters and cozy decor felt like a two-story fishing lodge. Perfect for the eco-friendly seafood dishes. We split the Heirloom Cauliflower Salad and Barbeque Alaskan Octopus while Aaron sipped The Professor, a bourbon-based drink from the impressive cocktail menu With a variety of happy hour options, small plates and starters, RockCreek is a great spot for a group. I’ll just let the photo below speak for itself.Eve and RockCreek were two of our favorite eats while in town, but we also got our brunch on. With local, organic, and gluten-free options Portgage Bay Cafe was a must. And those vegan banana pancakes hit the spot. My husband’s favorite, Lola, was next on the list. Although a Seattle favorite, Lola is not as gluten-free friendly as other spots in town and they were missing my brunch staple, avocado. My selection was minimal, and post-brunch I had to make a pit stop for a snack. When it comes to food, always plan ahead (if you can). We had reservations at all four spots, and got seated right away. AND if you have dietary restrictions, look over the menu before you come in.FitnessFitness is always on the top of my mind on vacation. I love the opportunity to try new studios, workouts, and meet fit friends in other cities. When searching for a class I use google maps to narrow in on studios near our hotel (ideally less than two miles). I take a look at their website, social media profiles, class offering, and drop-in rate. Tip: If you can, book your stay at a centralized hotel. In major cities boutique studios are more common in downtown areas. Once I’ve picked a few favorites I book online, or via ClassPass. If there are no fitness options nearby, book your stay at a hotel with a gym.Saturday, my husband and I walked to CorePower Yoga Capitol Hill for Hot Power Fusion. The walk was a great opportunity to explore Capitol Hill, and the yoga got our mind and body ready for a day of exploring. Sunday morning started with a ride at Flywheel sports in South Lake Union. Less than a mile from our hotel, Flywheel was the perfect choice for a morning sweat session. Upon arrival we were welcomed by the team (and a sign in the lobby), provided spin shoes, and ushered into class. And after 45-minutes of tap backs, hill climbs, and sprints, we were feeling pretty pumped. We will be back Flyfam! Tip: Try to book a class at a studio not in your hometown. Since there are no Flywheel locations in San Diego this was a fun experience we could not get at home.We only had time for two classes, but I had so much fun doing fit research for our trip. Here are a few other studios to check out on your next trip to the PNW!

• Bassline Fitness-Pike Street: High-intensity interval training
• Rival Fitness: Indoor rowing anyone?
• Live Love Flow: Seattle’s First Indoor Cycling Yoga Fusion Studio
• Eka Yoga: Reconnecting Yoga and Ayurveda

     ...and more! Tourist FunNo trip to Seattle (or any city) is complete without a bit of touristy exploration and the Emerald City’s Pike’s Place Market is an absolute must. The crowded hallways were lined with merchants selling fresh fish, fruit, jams, vegetables, meat, baked goods, flowers (the tulips were my favorite), and tons of goodies. As we are both Farmers’ Market regulars in San Diego, this was definitely a trip highlight. Stop by for lunch to eat delicious grub from local favorites and enjoy the view of Elliott Bay. Perhaps a bit under the radar, the Starbucks Reserve & Tasting Room is definitely worth a trip. It’s WAY cooler than seeing the original Starbucks where the line was so long we didn’t make it in. Walk through the mini “factory” to see how coffee beans are made, and order a unique drink not found at your neighborhood coffee shop. They have lots of cold brew, lattes, tasters, and everything your coffee heart desires. Hungry? There’s a Serious Pie on site. Your stomach will be happy you stopped by.Seattle is a fun city with so much to see. Below are a few more recommendations from our trip (and some we plan to see next time!).

• The Space Needle: built for the 1962 World’s Fair. Take a visit to the top for a great view of the city.
• Fun along the Waterfront: The Great Wheel and Seattle Aquarium
• Underground Tour: Take a tour of the interconnected tunnels of Seattle’s underground city (Seattle was rebuilt on top of itself after the 1889 fire). It’s a mini time-capsule!
• Ferry to Bainbridge Island: We didn’t have time for this one, but it’s on our list! Take the ferry over to the Island (about 45 minutes) to explore a few breweries and wineries.

 Have you been to Seattle? What are some of your favorite spots? Let me know in the comment section below :)