Pre- and Post-Cruise Itineraries for Seattle
So, you’re finally taking a majestic Alaskan cruise from Seattle? Great choice! It’ll be an experience of a lifetime.
We’re all nature lovers in the Pacific Northwest. What’s not to love?
In addition to the lush green valleys and snow-capped mountains, we’ve managed to capture the natural wonder of the Evergreen state in several botanical gardens closer to town. This itinerary will take you to some of our favorites.
Right next store to the Rhododendron Species Botanical Garden, is the Pacific Bonsai Museum. Here, the living art of Bonsai is captured in an outdoor facility with 60 beautiful trees from China, Canada, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, and the United States are on display at any given time. The best part about the Pacific Bonsai Museum is that it’s open year-round and it’s completely FREE to visit!
After your day visiting the gardens to the south, head back to Seattle Southside for an appropriately themed farm-to-table meal at Copperleaf Restaurant. Copperleaf Restaurant is nestled inside the Cedarbrook Lodge, on 18 acres of naturally restored wetlands. Sustainability and local, fresh fare are their specialty as most of their vegetables come from their onsite garden, and virtually everything else is from local farmers and harvesters. The authentic Northwest flavors come to life in front of Copperleaf’s massive stone fireplace and dinner or lunch is always a special occasion in their intimate dining space.
Wake up and smell the roses (and daylilies, fuchsias, irises, etc.) at the Highline SeaTac Botanical Garden. Immediately after stepping foot into this colorful, multiregional oasis, you’ll forget you’re only a few blocks from the airport. This garden is a hidden treasure in Seattle Southside. People of all backgrounds adore the streams running through lush greenery and a colorful rainbow of various flower species sprinkled throughout the gardens. Enjoy the serenity of the sensory garden, the wild colors of Elda Behm’s Paradise Garden, and find your inner Zen in the Seike Japanese Garden.
If the Seike Japanese Garden piqued your interest, you might be interested in The Kubota Garden, only a few miles away. The Kubota garden is unique in that the garden spans 20 acres and it seems to effortless weave the Japanese garden style with native Northwest plants. With all the hills, ponds, and stone architecture peppered throughout the garden, you’ll think you’re spending an afternoon in the Shinjuku prefecture.
Whether you’re in search of a restaurant near you, seafood restaurants, a quaint café, Indian restaurants, family-friendly restaurants, Italian restaurants or fine dining, with over 100 places to choose from you’ll find Seattle Southside ready to serve.
Go ahead, stay an extra night.
Find all of the latest on events, attractions, dining and more in the Seattle Southside blog.