What the Locals Do on a Staycation in Seattle

SEATTLE—Sometimes “vacation” can be less of a destination and more of a mindset.
In an experiment conducted by the University of California, Los Angeles, researchers asked some participants to spend a weekend like they usually would and others to “treat this weekend like a vacation,” whatever that meant to them. When people returned to work on Monday, those who’d reframed their weekend as a mini-vacation reported more happiness and less negativity, even after controlling for how much money they’d spent (and vacationers did spend a bit more).
What contributed to the difference? One factor seemed to be that the vacation group reported paying more attention to the moment at hand, the study found.
“Even after accounting for differences in time-use, attention to the present moment during the weekend was associated with vacationers’ increased happiness on Monday,” the authors wrote.
Limited vacation days aside, giving your free time vacation-level treatment—or your full attention—is one way to enjoy Seattle’s lovely, but fleeting summers. Before the season slips away, consider savoring the warm weekends left with a staycation, whether you travel across town, an hour or more out of the city, or not at all.
One’s staycation mindset may be more important than the activity itself. But for inspiration, we asked Seattle Times readers, and staff at Visit Seattle and other local institutions for their favorite staycation spots and ideas.
“Spend a day in West Seattle: Start by going to the Sunday year-round farmers market, Snapdragon for a maple cronut, Easy Street for brunch and record shopping, Fleurt in the Junction to shop and Northwest Art & Frame. Then head to Lincoln Park for a calming nature-to-water hike. Dinner at Harry’s Beach House or Il Nido for a unique West Seattle experience and A la Mode Pies for dessert.”—Rachel Coward, reader in Seattle
“I would stay in one of our fabulous hotels and go for a hike along the Elliott Bay Trail. From there, I’d head toward Ballard for brunch, maybe at Chinook’s [at Fishermen’s Terminal] or Sabine. I’d go glassblowing at one of the Refract festival venues, like Seattle Glassblowing Studio. Pike Place is a must-do for local crafts and flowers … I’d take the light rail to the [Chinatown International District] for boba or the water taxi to West Seattle for a burger and a beer on Alki. I also love the noodles at Biang Biang, so I’d probably have dinner there before a show at Neumos.”—Tammy Canavan, Visit Seattle president and CEO
“Staying at the Camlin Hotel for at least two nights and going to a show at the Paramount Theatre (less than a block away), going to dinner and a show at Jazz Alley (a short walk away), and walking down to Pike Place Market for lunch and shopping.”—Denise Luenow, reader in Shoreline
“For a day trip, a weekday drive around Bainbridge Island is convenient because the ferry ride is short and there are frequent departures. There are many good activities, including walking downtown Winslow for shops and restaurants, touring the wineries, visiting the Japanese American Exclusion Memorial and daydreaming about owning a house on the water with a view of Seattle!”—Roger Smith, reader in Sammamish
“I love going to the dock at the Montlake Cut with my friends. On a hot day, we start early and grab snacks and Rachel’s Ginger Beer and lie out on the dock until we get too hot, and then we swim! It’s nothing fancy, but it’s really relaxing. It gets us out of the house and enjoying the sunshine that we desperately miss throughout the year.”—Aislinn Jones, reader in Seattle
“Personally, I love Seattle and the surrounding area because nature is so accessible. … South Lake Union is an awesome place to kayak or paddleboard. There are tons of dining options and bars so you can make a day of it. Just south of Seattle in Burien, Des Moines and Federal Way, you can paddle, kayak, hike and bike at Seahurst Park, Saltwater State Park or Dash Point State Park.”—Maggie Trujillo, culinary director at AQUA by El Gaucho
“We like to take a picnic dinner down to Seahurst Park. We pack a hibachi and barbecue our meats while watching the ferries travel to Vashon. So peaceful, and uncrowded later in the evening. I hate to tell all of you about this gem of a park, but it’s awesome.”—Jenny D., reader in Burien
“I had the best staycation staying at the Woodmark Hotel in Carillon Point. The hotel has a gorgeous view of Lake Washington. … There are outdoor fire pits perfect for watching the sunset. In the morning I was happy to grab coffee and walk along the path along the lake. Because the hotel is pricey I only splurged on one night, but it was the perfect solo getaway.”—Kate Evans, reader in Woodinville
“We love hanging out in Sequim! It’s the perfect drive, not too far from Seattle, and so beautiful. Our go-to’s are exploring the Dungeness Spit, visiting B&B [Family] Lavender, Essence Coffee Roasters and Salty Girls Seafood. We’ve also tacked on extra days to explore Hurricane Ridge or drive over to the coast.”—Courtney Grace, reader in Bellevue
“Perfect staycation for me is always surfing somewhere along the Washington or Oregon coastline. Most notably Cape Flattery/Neah Bay zone or Pacific City. …. You can camp or rent little cabins a stone’s throw from the beach. I usually make it a point to stop by other spots as I mosey on back, like Sol Duc Hot Springs and Lake Ozette for a quick dip, and great hiking in the area, too.”—Jason Stoneburner, chef at Stoneburner