If you know us at all, you know we get around Oregon. We get around Oregon a lot. But Washington is still a state we haven’t explored in depth! Which is a bit of a miss because it’s gorgeous and has so much to do. Which is why we were excited to partner with Seattle Southside to explore a less busier side of Seattle, namely the Tukwila and Des Moines area. I gotta be honest, at first I was thinking - ‘but what will we do?!” And yet again, I was proven wrong because there actually is a lot to explore. Plus, it’s a really diverse area which felt different than our experiences in Portland and a lot of Oregon.
We started our trip driving up from Portland and yeah, we did hit the infamous traffic but it wasn’t as terrible as you’d think. Just make sure you have some great podcasts for the drive! Or a 90’s pop playlist full of all the Spice Girls you can handle. Our first stop was a picnic in Duwamish Gardens, located on the Seattle Southside Scenes Trail. This important piece of land in Tukwila, along the Duwamish River, represents the history of how the Coast Salish people, pioneering truck farmers, and Italian immigrants all interacted with the surrounding landscape. The park now serves as a reminder of the past and an important restoration habitat for juvenile salmon. Matt especially loved it because he spotted several salmon fisherman and the fish were totally jumping! It’s a pretty small park but the river view was pretty and the wildflowers were still popping. It’s always fascinating to see urban landscapes located within booming cities.
After a picnic of cheese, olives, crackers and bubbly kombucha we loaded up and checked into our hotel, Hotel Interurban. It’s a vibey one, yall. But vibey in all the good ways. Close to the airport and with a mountain view you can’t beat. The staff were all amazing and their restaurant patio is the actual cutest. Yes, there are string lights. Why have a patio without them?! The bed was comfie, the sheets were soft, the staff was great, we felt safe and the place was quiet. What else do you need?
On to dinner at Anthony’s, which was our absolute favorite meal on the trip. DO NOT MISS THIS PLACE! Anthony’s HomePort in Des Moines overlooks the Des Moines Marina and the sunset was gorgeous. Lots of boats, lots of water, lots of good space to be inside or out. I’d highly suggest getting reservations because this spot was hopping. Their seasonal menu was amazing and we loved every dish we tried, from appetizer to dessert. Our favorite dishes were the Hawaiian Ahi Nachos, Wild Alaska King Salmon and the award winning clam chowder. It’s a little on the more expensive side but it’s worth it. We also had a fun excuse to dress up a bit, which we rarely do because well….Portland. Again, this spot was a 10/10! Make it happen if you’re in the area. After dinner, we headed back to the hotel for TV in bed. (ARE YOU WATCHING NINE PERFECT STRANGERS?! It is insane.)
The next morning, we went to the Dochi Donuts location inside of Lam’s Asian Seafood Market. Make sure you check their hours before stopping by! Holy whoa, these mochi donuts were gorgeous, creative and delicious. Ube donuts?! Are you kidding me?! Matcha with pocky candy?! Yes and more yes. If you’re looking for a photo op, here’s your spot. I’m talking hella cute donuts, people. While you’re there, be sure to explore Lam’s Asian Market because they had so much good stuff! Guess what we did next?! Yep, we had lunch. I know, we’re crazy. But we also live to eat so don’t judge me. Lunch at the Spice Bridge International Food Hall was really unique and their purpose is wonderful and needs support. Spice Bridge is home to FIN’s Food Business Incubator Program, which helps South King County women of color and immigrants start and grow thriving businesses. The ladies rotate at their food stands, cafeteria style, and you can try food from all over the world. It was really cool and important work. If you’re in the area, stop in for a quick grab and go! It’s a great opportunity to try something new.
After eating, for the third time, we drove to Saltwater State Park for a hike. I was very excited to see that fall has landed in Washington and it’s showing off, big time. Matt and I took loads of photos to celebrate the first leaves falling. I adore fall. It’s the reason for my existence. The park was beautiful and the hike was a quick but truly beautiful walk. This particular park is closing soon for the winter so I was thankful we got in and witnessed the autumn beauty. It also felt nice to walk around after eating all the things.
After hiking, we went back to the hotel for a rest then dinner at Sharp’s Roasthouse. It’s right by the airport and a super popular spot for creative cocktails and so many roasted meats! This place was wild but a fun experience and our server was the sweetest. I could barely finish the plate I split with Matt so just know the portions are Texas sized. Since we were in a more suburban area, which thrilled me, we stopped at Target on the way home to shop for Halloween decorations. I blacked out and can’t remember all we bought but I know we had armfulls of black and orange. Did I mention it’s my favorite time of year? We headed back to the hotel for our last night and cozied up to watch a movie while falling asleep.
The next morning, we checked out of Hotel Interurban and had breakfast at 13 Coins. It was a 24/7 diner type spot with breakfast available all day. And all the brunchers rejoiced. Their menu was massive but I’m an eggs and bacon kinda girl so I kept it safe. Matt went with the chicken and waffles. (Matt ALWAYS goes for the chicken and waffles.) We debated finishing the trip with another hike but when you’re that close to a huge mall like Westfield Southcenter, sometimes you can’t help yourself. I took Matt on a shopping spree and let him choose anything he wanted. Matt rarely, if ever, shops for new clothes and mostly wears second hand outdoor gear so it was a treat for me (and him) to get some dressy items and leave with a new fall wardrobe. I think it was just as fun as me getting new things! I loved it!! After our mega shopping trip, we headed back to Portland and made it home by night time.
Thanks again to the lovely team at Seattle Southside for hosting us! There truly is so much more to Seattle than the city center and we really enjoyed the chance to take the paths less traveled. That’s always our preference anyway.
Cheers, yall!