Explore Seattle Southside with Sam Haggerty

Pro Baseball Player Sam Haggerty's Epic Day in Seattle Southside

Sam Haggerty is more than just a professional baseball player, he's a clothing entrepreneur with soul, a big fan of breakfast food, and a "can't start my day without coffee" kind of guy. When he's off the field, he enjoys clearing his head with games like chess or getting lost in a good book.

On this day we take Sam out to explore SeaTac, Tukwila, and Des Moines doing some of his favorite day-off activities. We hit so many local gems like The Pancake Chef, Drip & Sip, Waterland Arcade, and sipped bubble tea at Des Moines Beach Park.

Check out the full itinerary and highlights of our day so you can re-create Swaggerty's time in Seattle Southside.

The Pancake Chef
Drip & Sip
Waterland Arcade
Des Moines Beach Park

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8:30 AM Breakfast at The Pancake Chef

First stop, The Pancake Chef! Sam's favorite food and meal of the day. "Breakfast is the signal of a new day, new opportunity. Whatever happened yesterday is in the past."

Located in SeaTac, WA, they are known for their German Pancakes (of course). These giant, fluffy cakes come with a variety of sauces and fruit sides, making them super customizable and unique for everyone to enjoy.

The Pancake Chef has been in business for over 50 years, becoming a Seattle Southside staple for breakfast and lunch. While there's nothing fancy about the ambiance, fans of the restaurant come back for the unfussy, classic diner food.

Sam's favorite? The classic bacon and eggs.

10:00 AM Coffee Flight at Drip & Sip

Next, we head to Drip & Sip to sample their Vietnamese Coffee Flight. Sam says he can have up to 4-6 cups(!) of coffee a day to help keep him energized during a demanding baseball season.

Tucked into a quiet neighborhood in Tukwila, Drip & Sip is great for sipping coffee with a book or meeting up with a friend. They have a variety of Banh Mis to choose from and a wide array of traditional Vietnamese coffees and espresso drinks.

In the Vietnamese Coffee Flight you get to taste four of their Viet Drip specialties with traditional phin brewed coffee: CA Phe Sua Da (condensed milk), Bac Su (condensed milk and milk), CA Phe Muoi (condensed milk with salty sweet cold foam), and CA Phe Trung (condensed milk and fluffy egg cream).

Sam's coffee pick? The CA Phe Sua Da.


11:00 AM Arcade Games at Waterland Arcade

After getting well-caffeinated, we head to Waterland Arcade. Brimming with nostalgia and bringing out the kid in everyone, Waterland Arcade is full of classic arcade games, pinball, and more. They even sell vintage-inspired tees and memorabilia.

While playing rounds of Pac-Man, Mortal Kombat, skeeball, and All-Stars Basketball brings out Sam's competitive side, he shares that he clears his mind with calming mental challenges like chess and Minesweeper. But one thing is clear: he always wants to win.

1:00 PM Des Moines Beach Park Stroll & Bubble Tea

Our last stop is Des Moines Beach Park for a walk along the beach with some bubble tea from TeaCup.

The perfect way to wrap up a visit to Seattle Southside is to visit one of our beach parks. You can spend hours at Des Moines Beach Park, walking its 19.6 acres, enjoying the calm of the waves, or having an adventure in nature.

Sam lives in Arizona in the off-season and appreciates the beauty of the PNW. "During my season I get to come to the beautiful Pacific Northwest and it's a completely different environment. We got the green trees, the luscious grass, and you have this beautiful ocean."

Any time spent in Seattle Southside is perfectly paired with Bubble Tea from one of our nearly 30 Bubble Tea shops. And it's Sam's first time sipping this delicious beverage. Sam's review: The boba caught him by surprise, but it's very good tea.

On his time at the Beach Park, Sam says it's been his favorite stop of the day, "This park is so peaceful. You can hear the birds chirping, the waves crashing. I don't get that at all in Arizona. I've been trying to achieve more peace and calm in my days, so this is right up my alley."

Watch: Sam Haggerty Explores Seattle Southside

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