Where Introspection Meets Puget Sound

A N   I N T R O (V E R T)

I spend 85% of my time alone. I have never thought this was a bad thing, but maybe an odd thing. It was Seattle, through its urban jungles, ethnic niches, and soul searching crowds, that sequestered an adventure tailored to my oddities. Today I'd like to write about how to get the most out of your solo trip, and, moreover, how to embrace being alone sometimes. Although, I don't think we are ever truly alone. This term is something we begin to break down and reinvent when we throw ourselves into new environments. For me it was buying a ticket to the Pacific that forged a new definition. But I think no matter what environment we explore its all about consciously choosing the meaning we would like to assign to these places. Along with this guide to discovering the inner adventurer that you truly are I'll be including some activities and places that I find are worthwhile to see if you ever so happen to visit Washington. 

They say the most fun is planning your trip. But maybe that's not what everyone thinks. I for one, love planning but I think its important to leave space for spontaneity. I promise you, you'll be so surprised by the people you meet and the places you stumble on that were not initially included in your itinerary. Its these conversations and unexpected events that become the highlights of your trip. 

This was my first time booking through airbnb. You can find great rates and prices, and reading the reviews I found were very helpful when debating which place I should stay at. I booked a room at the Green Tortoise Hostel off 3rd and Pike Street right in the heart of Pike Place Market, only a few blocks within walking distance from the lightrail at Westlake Station. The amenities were clean and the staff was very friendly and welcoming.

One of the reasons I wanted to solo travel to Seattle was because of their means of transportation being so accessible and close to all the places I wanted to explore. I highly recommend the app Transit Go as it makes buying tickets to and from each station very easy and you always have a digital copy of your ticket. Getting to the lightrail from SeaTac airport is very simple to navigate as the station is located just above parking and baggage claim.

As far as budgeting for food I tried to find a place through airbnb that included free breakfast which took care of three of the meals during my stay. I stocked up on a lot of lara bars and annie's pretzels to snack on between lunch and dinner. If you end up in Pike's Place Market the best brunch places to eat at are Beechers which serves lots of cheesy foods like chowder and grilled cheese. The Crumpit Shop is also where its at. You can't forget the first Starbucks and the market place always sells fresh fruits and veggies.

Now that we've gotten through some of the logistics what the heck did I do for three days? Let me tell you it was a mixture of new faces, music and sounds, meandering about the market, to even finding myself on a whole different island. I wanted to feel time as if it were mine and not let anything limit me from experiencing the present moment for what it was. 

After I checked into my hostel I searched for a place to eat on my first night and ran across Stealhead Diner. I won't lie it felt kind of weird eating by myself in a fancy seafood restaurant but who says you can't take yourself out for a nice candlelit dinner date. After my meal I was still feeling out of place. I knew I had booked a photo shoot the next morning and I had prospects of visiting Capitol Hill and getting in on the coffee scene (hipsterville) but I still hadn't completely surrendered to this whole solo traveler thing. I hadn't owned it quite yet. Part of feeling comfortable travelling alone is knowing that you make the decisions. The silver lining to travelling by yourself is that you have the power to choose what is authentic and unique to your experience. In other words, you get to reclaim yourself and filter out others' opinions and really listen to the things that YOU personally like. Crazy thing is, once you've got your own interests in order you realize these things were always yours for the taking. 

P A R T   I.   B E C O M I N G   J O R D A N A H   E L I Z A B E T H

"How to Survive as a Broke-Ass Writer: Couch and Hostel Surfing," an article I read in Left Bank Book Store was the catalyst for an unforgettable adventure. The few pages reminded me of my core interests and things I could very much see myself doing. The article was penned by journalist Jordannah Elizabeth who also travels from place to place writing about her experiences. She writes tips on how to get around, how to be congenial when meeting new people (tip:buy the people your staying with a bottle of wine or offer to pick up groceries). She writes about how to stay positive when things don't go your way, and to take your work outside of the hostel and go from coffee shop to coffee shop to experience different ambiances and explore the city. 

Other things:

Don't compromise- Skip the Ghetto when it comes to finding somewhere to stay for cheap. You  should never compromise your safety and you can find "cute towns on the outskirts of the city that are just a train ride away."

Choose hippie hostels over chic hostels as a "nice cozy-bed-and-breakfast style hostel will allow you to be more incognito" and typically the renters and types of people who stay in these bed-and-breakfasts are more likely to understand you on a "human level."

Make your presence scarce and do not stay inside on your laptop for 18 hours. You want people your staying with to have their own space. If you're around them 24/7 both of your idiosyncrasies have the potential to cause rifts and you want a nice balance between sharing each other's company and letting them go at their leisure. 

(This is also one of the positive aspects of travelling solo. It makes you more flexible by having the ability to share moments with people and also take short reprieves and time for yourself.)

Lastly, Elizabeth says, "You’re a professional writer; you’re a respected journalist, critic, author or blogger. Match the respect you have in your career in your personal life. People will want to invest in you more when they see you working, writing and handling business."

I loved the style, her personable touches, but also the fact that she sheds light on how to practically be a travelling writer. And I began to think I could emulate this person, no actually scratch that, become this person, right here and right now in the city. This was the impetus that Seattle had in store for me. Alas, my weary legs that had carried me from Corn Land all the way to the City of Starbucks and Puget Sound had been turned into legs of determined steel. I walked out of the book store with more pep in my step excited to see what lied around the corner. 

It was dark and rainy but the  market sign's lights ricocheted colors on the damp cobblestone streets. This picture would not be complete without Trevor and Hilary playing the violin. Thank you, both for your entertainment. Your performance was truly a spectacle. (See more of Trevor and Hilary on Youtube they go by Railrodeo) Thank you, Lilia, for not leaving my side and showing me all the shortcuts through the alleyways, riverfront, and the brewery. (Your a great dancer btw.)

Saturday morning at the hostel I enjoyed my free oatmeal and black coffee and chilling by the window. This was the first time I saw the market place in daylight. All I can say is PIGEONS and also the rambunctious musician with his piano that travels on wheels. It was also on this day of the trip that I met a jolly solo traveler named Will and we became travel friends. (Will, if your reading this, thank you for approaching me and breaking the awkward silence in the common room)

P A R T  II.  P L A C E S   T H A T   S T U C K   L I K E  G U M

Special thanks to Cameron Thomsen Photography for hosting an amazing, comfortable, and informative group photo session. If you are ever in need of a Seattle Photographer Cameron is great! Book him through airbnb today!

Cameron Thomsen Photography Instagram

There were 7 in our group photo session, two couples and three solo travelers. We met outside Hard Rock Cafe and journeyed to some prime local spots for some spectacular shots. 

Up above 👆 we have Seattle's infamous gum wall. It's right outside of the market theater. From what's been said film visitors were banned from chewing gum inside the theater and stuck their gum on the walls in retaliation. Side note: They do wash the walls annually.

Here we have the first Starbucks. For a Saturday the line was pretty short but typically on a warmer day the line looks like this 👇

A trip to Seattle would not be complete without seeing the Space Needle! Next I visited La Marzocco Cafe which was a seven minute walk away from the space needle. La Marzocco is located in KEXP 90.3 FM radio station! So if you are anything like me you are sure to get the best of both worlds, live radio music, and coffee featured from all parts of the globe. The place was spacious, open, and chic. Nice lighting and great espresso!! I liked pairing both the space needle and the coffee shop together. You get to take a nice view of the skyline and after being frozen at the top, warm up with a nice hot mocha and chill to those radio bops.

After that caffeine and sky gazing I took the monorail back to Westlake Station and from there took the lightrail northbound to Capitol Hill. Initially, I had planned out all the coffee shops and thrift stores I wanted to check out but I had more fun intuitively exploring what places caught my eye and was able able to get a feel for the neighborhoods and scenery. If you are in the Capitol Hill area here's a compilation of restaurants, shops, and record stores that several locals suggested and other ideas I got off of Youtube:

Your Capitol Hill Check List:

1. Analog Coffee

2. Queen Bee Cafe

3. Elliot Bay Book Store

4. Standard Goods

5. Crossroad's Trading Store

6. Ada's Technical Book and Cafe

7. Spin Cycle Record Store

I finished the day by riding the Seattle Great Wheel off Pier 57 and hit the sack after a long day of walking, picture taking, and browsing.

P A R T  III.  B U R R I E D  P E A R L S  I N  T H E  P A C I F I C

To conclude my trip I had to get in on that seattle skyline by taking an early morning ferry ride from Coleman Dock to Bainbridge Island. I woke up at the crack of dawn, steered out of the market place, and ran a solid 20 minutes to catch this ferry ride. I felt like I was in a movie, but the fact that my legs were about to give way didn't matter. I had this sense that I needed to get on that boat. I needed to get there at sunrise. I was still buying my ticket as the overhead speaker announced, "Last call to board for Bainbridge!" Not really knowing anything about this island or where exactly I bought a ticket to  I was relieved that I at least boarded on time. My body was able to recoil. I then stuck my headphones in and absorbed the views as we sailed away from downtown Seattle. 

Exiting the the dock, I walked along Winslow Street and was taken back by the how still this place was compared to the noise of Seattle. I felt an overwhelming amount of joy at having crossed the sound and stumbling on this quaint fisherman like village. The air was cool and crisp, and I felt safe and tucked away by the trees and shrub that etched the bay. Taking a left down Madison I found the pearl of the pacific, Pegasus Coffee. 

I was only planning on staying in Bainbridge for an hour but it was impossible to leave such a charming little nook that rested near the water. I ended up staying for another two hours just reading and relaxing. I could have easily stayed the entire day but I had to catch my flight home to KC. I hope to one day come back and watch their live music performances and check out the U.S. Naval Undersea Museum. 

At the end of the day the destinations are great but I think its what fills the "in between moments" that makes solo travelling great! I believe its the meaning imbued with every step, encounter, or idea that serves as your personal companion. Use it as your compass and excavate the treasure. Find what is special to you and weave it into your story. 

If you've made it this far thank you for reading and sticking with me <3 I hope I inspired you and gave some good recommendations for any future endeavors to the Pacific North West.  Be sure to  subscribe for blog updates on Mondays. Have a wonderful day!

-Sofia