Travel isn’t what it used to be. But despite surges in the pandemic and the probability of more restrictive measures going back into effect, many of us are finding our lives looking a bit more like “normal” these days. For those of us who work in aviation, work from home isn’t an option. Flight attendants and pilots are out there in the skies, on the road, and getting daily practice in navigating this new normal. And while it comes with risk, I have to say there is also part of me that feels very lucky to have this privilege of movement that so many are lacking right now.

Things are different, with curfews, restaurant rules and social distancing guidelines to manage, but there is still fun to be had if you know where to look. I recently had two long Seattle layovers that proved that #layoverlife is not dead. You can have some serious good times in a 48-hour span. I’m going to walk you through a quick trip to Seattle, perfect for a girls’ trip, solo weekend getaway, or a layover that will knock your socks off. You’ll be missing that drizzly morning gray and fresh air when you get back!

Some Recommendations for your Seattle Layover or Quick Trip:

Rent a car.

This isn’t New York, and while the city of Seattle has a dope vibe and is worth spending time in, the thing that really makes Seattle shine is the lush nature surrounding it. If you have more than 24 hours, you must get out of the city and into the nature. Get yourself a car and you can drive to a hiking trail, the beach and see downtown, all in a day.

Skip the chains.

(I recommend this in every destination, but in some cities it is harder feat.) Seattle has a vibe all its own. The coffee shoppes alone is worth making a trip to the drizzly city, and the food scene is outta control good. Asian eats and seafood, vegan treats and cured/aged meats. Alright, I’m done rhyming. My point is there is so much good, local flavor that there is zero excuse to be sitting yourself in a Chili’s or Ruth’s Chris. Starbucks is only acceptable here because it’s where the global chain originated. But really, if you can resist it, there are hundreds of other (and many would argue better) local coffee shoppes.

Bring your sneaks and a rain jacket.

Yes, the rumors are true, it rains a lot. But it’s mostly misty mornings and spits of afternoon showers, and not the downpours and misery you might be thinking of. Still, it is good to have a protective layer just in case. The sneakers are because you’ll be hiking. I’m telling you, your Seattle quick trip will not be the same without getting in some time on the trail.

Things to do on your Quick trip to Seattle

Visit Mt. Rainier

Mount Rainier is one of the most delightful parts of flying into Seattle. On decent, seeing it’s white peak poking through the clouds lets you know you’re nearly there and the long flight is almost over. (We’re all East Coasters right?)

Mount Rainier is the undeniable star of the show here. If you have 48 hours or more in Seattle, it is well worth a trip to this majestic mountain. Mount Rainier is not only an active volcano, but is also the most glacier-covered peak in the US, doubling the badassery and making it my number one recommendation for a quick trip to Seattle. I visited Mount Rainier with a couple co-workers on a layover and we had an awesome day, driving around, hiking, and gawking at all the incredible vistas.

We did a scenic drive that circled around Rainier. In total, the Circle loop is 5 hours of driving time, but plan on more than that for stops. This was an easy way for us to get the most bang for our buck in a short time. We covered a lot of ground and were able to choose which stops to get out and explore, which were worthy of a quick pic, and which to drive on by.

Loop 1: Circle Mt. Rainier Drive is what we did.

Other driving tours can be found at Visitrainier.com.

The driving route and National park that encircles Rainier begins in Enumclaw. The drive is free, but entrance into the actual National Park costs $30. NOTE: This is per vehicle, not person. So for the three of us, we each paid $10. It is good for 7 days, and there are several entrances for stops along the way that will require payment. Don’t let this deter you. For one thing, the fee helps to preserve the National Park, and for another the best views and hikes are within these boundaries. You’ll end up paying eventually, so just do it on the first stop.

I won’t get into every stop we made, but I’ll mention a couple of favorites worth writing home about.

Sunrise

This was the first stop that we spent time at, and where we paid our entry fee. Note: Keep your entry receipt somewhere easily accessible, like the glove compartment or the middle console. Try not to lose it, like we did, because pleading for re-entry without a receipt was kind of annoying for everyone involved.

VisitRainier.com says Sunrise is like a trip to the heavens with postcard views. There is no lie here. This stop was breathtaking. You’ll drive up a steep set of winding road and end up at a viewpoint so impressive you have to park and get out. The weather happened to be perfect the day we went, making it even better. There are a couple trails right by the parking lot but continue on for the main attraction. Once you reach the large visitor’s center and parking lot, you’ve arrived at Sunrise. There are several hiking trails in varying levels of difficulty and time commitment. We chose the Sunrise Trail, an easier hike, but be warned, the altitude was noticeable, even on a quick loop!

Reflection Lakes

We almost skipped this stop due to its being toward the end of the journey, but holy hell I’m glad we didn’t. you cannot possibly see from the road how impressive this view is, but trust me on this one, you’ll want to stop. Get yourself a nice pic with Rainier painted on the surface of the water.

Paradise

Paradise is one of the biggest tourist attractions at Mount Rainier. The view is great, and we were recommended to stop by for sunset. I can’t throw any shade, because the beauty is undeniable, but it was insanely crowded—like full parking lot, long lines waiting for snacks, people everywhere crowded. We did not stay here for long. The other views we witnessed throughout the day made us feel like we could skip this part. But I would certainly want to try again on my next visit to Rainier.

Discovery Park

Can’t decide between getting your outdoorsy fix or seeing the city? Great news—you don’t have to! Discovery Park is a 534-acre park right in the city. Trails zig-zag through the park, there are open grassy knolls for a picnic or game of soccer, cyclists ride on paved paths and hikers jaunt through the trees. The park overlooks Puget Sound and has two miles of protected beach, complete with lighthouse  and picturesque views. We got to see seals splashing around just off the shore, and found some nice pieces of sea glass, walking along the beach. Start your day here walking the trails and the shoreline before you move on to the city vibes. This is the perfect compromise for a short 48 hour getaway to Seattle.

More on Discovery Park at Seattle.gov.

Go on a Whale Watch

If you haven’t checked out my post on Whale Watching in Victoria, BC, then you probably don’t know how InCrEdIbLe my experience seeing Orcas off the coast of Victoria was. Great news for you—we can’t travel to Canada, but you can still visit J-pod and other Orcas on a whale watch from Seattle. As a matter of fact, you can actually sight whales from some of the beaches on Seattle’s coast. Holy smokes! There are several companies you can use for your whale-watching, Orca-spotting pleasure.

For more info on tickets, admission & COVID restrictions, check out Whale Watching 101 by visitSeattle.org.