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Mariners win!
Ballpark #8 for us was T-Mobile Park in Seattle, on our way to Alaska. Sometimes the stars align and you’ll find yourself in the right place, at the right time, to catch a game. This right place, right time, was the Mariners vs. Detroit Tigers.
We met up with a friend for the game and a walking tour of downtown which made the trip even more special. Whenever you can combine visiting a new place with seeing an old friend, now THAT’S a win!
We used our Hilton points for a stay at the Homewood Suites by Hilton Seattle Downtown. This turned out to be a great location.
- It was about a block to Centennial Park where we walked along Puget Sound toward downtown Seattle
- It was a half-mile walk to the Space Needle and Chihuly Garden & Glass
- And about 2.5 miles to T-Mobile Park. If you’re up for a walk, it was an easy trek to and from the game. For a quicker trip, consider catching an Uber.
Bonus: We got a free hot breakfast every morning that featured fresh-cooked foods, my favorite being the breakfast burrito bar. And, we were able to leave our luggage with the concierge when we first arrived so we didn’t waste half a day waiting around for our room, as well as after our cruise while we took one last opportunity to walk down to Pike Place Market.
T-Mobile Park | Seattle Mariners
[Click on images to enlarge]
This Major League ballpark is in the heart of Seattle, Washington, not far from the famous Pike Place Market and Puget Sound. On game night, the street leading up to T-Mobile Park is lined with hot dog, cold water and other vendors vying for your attention. Since you’re allowed to take an unopened water bottle into the park, we grabbed a bottle each before heading to our seats.
Of course, being in Mariners country, a new ball cap and a Seattle-style hot dog (on a toasted bun, with cream cheese schmear and grilled onions. Yum!) were a must.
When we travel to a new stadium, I buy our tickets ahead of time through StubHub. For this game, we scored seats in the lower deck, between home plate and first base. Sitting next to me was a 9-year-old diehard Mariners fan who, throughout the game, told me about his favorite players between comparing notes on all the stadiums we’d visited and which were the best. The highlight of the night was when we headed into the bottom of the 9th with the Mariners down. My little friend covered his eyes as the final batter took his place in the batter’s box. He “just couldn’t watch…” And then… Smack! A walk-off home run and the most excited little fan you’ve ever seen!
Summertime memories at their best.
Stadium Tour: We didn’t do a stadium tour at T-Mobile Park, but if you have time, they are a cool way to experience the ballpark. The Mariners offer stadium tours before evening games and on non-game days.
Our top picks in Seattle
Pike Place Public Market Center
A visit to Seattle wouldn’t be complete without a stop at the Pike Place Market. There’s the famous fish toss, the original Starbucks location and hundreds of other restaurants and vendors to browse. After the baseball game, we strolled along an empty Pike Place, the street running through the market. It was a stark contrast to the bustling, people-filled environment with the following day.
If you want a drink from the iconic Starbucks, get there early and get in line. They are serious about their queues, so mind the walkways!
For a front-row view of the fish toss, get there early (seeing a theme?). The crowds gather quickly, but even from the back, the excitement and anticipation is real. It’s a quirky custom, but one you’ll remember and talk about for years to come. People say they “never” drop the fish, but it does happen and that was maybe even more fun experiencing the unexpected when it did.
There are so many local vendors with unique Seattle gift ideas, original artwork, fresh flowers and… the food!
Eating at Pike Place Market
Lining Pike Place are dozens of little shops featuring foods from around the world that made for a perfect international picnic:
- Piroshky Piroshky (Russian pastries, hand pies, filled with sweet or savory options)
- Le Panier bakery (French bread and other pastries)
- Mee Sum Pastry (Chinese dim sum, meat-filled buns)
- Lands of Origin (selling my favorite Portuguese custard tarts!)
- And SO MANY more!
And then there are the Fish Market vendors inside selling the fresh catch of the day. You can choose from a wide variety of Seattle’s fresh seafood to take and prepare yourself or have it shipped to your home (it’s kinda hard to prepare fresh seafood in a hotel room if you’re just visiting, but don’t worry. They’ve got you covered!).
Want to sit and dine and people watch? You can do that, too. There are several restaurants with dining areas and patios overlooking the Market or Puget Sound.
Want to take a tasting tour, you got it! But don’t make the same mistake we did. This is a surprisingly popular activity and does sell out, so purchase tickets before you go.
Seattle Space Needle
The Space Needle – built for the 1962 World’s Fair – is an iconic landmark in Seattle. We knew we wanted to go up to the top of the Space Needle, but when? Daytime? Nighttime? There were certainly benefits of both. But… you CAN do both if you time your visit right.
We took the ride to the top a little before sunset and were able to look out over the city. Then, we watched as the sun set over Puget Sound and the skyline lit up for night. It was spectacular!
We didn’t make it to tour Chihuly Garden & Glass, but I’ve heard from friends who have that the it’s also spectacular. Viator offers a combination ticket that will let you experience both.
Also worth a visit
Bainbridge Island
If you have a love of the water like I do, a ferry ride across The Sound might be a must. We decided to take the ferry to Bainbridge Island, but there are others you might choose depending on what you want to experience; including Whidbey, Vashon and the San Juan Islands.
Bainbridge Island was a short, half-hour trip from downtown Seattle. From the ferry dock, it was a short walk up to Winslow Way which is lined with cute local restaurants and boutique shopping. Ba Sa Restaurant was amazing for lunch (consider making a reservation before heading to the island) and Bainbridge Brewing right at the start of Winslow Way was the perfect spot to cool off with a local craft beer before getting back on the ferry.
But, the best reason to visit Bainbridge Island…? Pia the Peacekeeper! She’s one of Thomas Dambo’s amazing trolls, sitting in Sakai Park on the island. The park is about a mile-and-a-half from the ferry dock, but you can walk, stopping along the way for a snack or a bit of shopping, or rent a bike and go explore more of the island, including a stop to meet the troll.