Looking for the best views of the Seattle skyline and the wildest desserts in the Pacific Northwest?
Welcome back to the vlog! Eric, Beth, and Devin are continuing their epic Seattle takeover. After exploring the bustling markets and the heights of the Space Needle, we decided it was time to see the city from a completely different perspective: the water.
If you are building your Seattle itinerary and want to perfectly balance a relaxing sightseeing tour with some over-the-top local food, here is exactly how our afternoon went down!
1. Setting Sail on the Argosy Harbor Cruise
We headed down to the waterfront to board the Salish Explorer for a 1-hour narrated Argosy Harbor Cruise.
Right as we pulled away from the dock, we could feel the motion of the ocean—it was a slightly choppy, breezy day on Elliott Bay, but the sunshine and the views more than made up for it!
The live narration on this cruise was fantastic. Our guide pointed out the Olympic Mountains to the west and explained how they actually shield Seattle from getting as much rain as people think. We also learned some amazing local trivia—like how the local orca pods actually feed on salmon, and how the top of the Space Needle was currently painted like a soccer ball to celebrate the upcoming World Cup!
2. Unbeatable Views of the Seattle Skyline
If you want the ultimate Seattle skyline photo, this cruise is how you get it.
As we cruised around the bay, we got spectacular, unobstructed views of the downtown high-rises and the Space Needle. The guide even explained that due to the flight paths for the nearby airport, the FAA strictly limits the height of Seattle's skyscrapers, keeping the skyline perfectly uniform!
We also got an incredible up-close look at Seattle's massive maritime industry. We cruised right past the working shipping yards, giant dredging cranes, US Coast Guard ships in dry dock, and passing car ferries. We even got right up next to a massive red Alaskan Icebreaker ship! You also get fantastic water-level views of T-Mobile Park (home of the Mariners) and Lumen Field (home of the Seahawks).
Our Honest Take: We highly recommend the Argosy Cruise! Even with the windy weather, the views were unbeatable, and the history and trivia provided by the guide made the hour fly by.
3. Tackling Capitol Hill: Voodoo Doughnut
After working up an appetite on the sea breeze, we grabbed a quick Uber up the steep incline to Capitol Hill to visit a West Coast staple: Voodoo Doughnut.
Famous for their bright pink boxes and incredibly quirky atmosphere (the building's exterior and lava lamps are a total vibe), we knew we couldn't just get one or two. We had to go big!
💡 PRO TIP: Ordering a Dozen at Voodoo If you want to buy a full dozen, Voodoo Doughnut only offers three specific pre-selected boxes (like the classic "Voodoo Dozen"). However, they do allow you to substitute out a couple of the doughnuts! We swapped out a plain glazed and a sprinkle doughnut so we could double up on the famous Voodoo Dolls and Bacon Maple Bars.
4. The Great Doughnut Taste Test
We took our massive pink box back to the hotel to do a proper taste test. Here is a breakdown of our favorites:
The Voodoo Doll: A raised yeast doughnut shaped like a little doll, filled with sweet raspberry jelly (for "blood"!), covered in chocolate frosting, and stabbed with a pretzel stake. Eric preferred this one the most because the jelly filling was fantastic.
The Bacon Maple Bar: Beth's favorite! A classic Long John slathered in rich maple frosting and topped with two full strips of crispy bacon. The ultimate sweet and savory combo.
The Dirt Doughnut / ODB: Devin was a huge fan of the doughnuts loaded with crushed cookies and peanut butter.
Our Honest Take: Voodoo Doughnut gets a massive thumbs up from the whole family! It is 100% worth the trip up the hill. (And good news: if you walk back downtown afterward, it is entirely downhill!)
The Final Verdict
Pairing a relaxing, scenic harbor cruise with an outrageously fun doughnut taste test made for an absolutely perfect afternoon in Seattle.
Have you ever taken a boat tour on Elliott Bay, or tried a Bacon Maple Bar? Let us know your favorite Voodoo Doughnut flavor in the comments below!
Want to feel the ocean breeze, see the massive icebreaker ships, and watch us demolish these crazy doughnuts? Watch our full vlog on YouTube right here:
👉 Seattle Boat Tour & Trying CRAZY Voodoo Doughnuts! 🍩⛴️
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