This summer has really been turning up the heat and we’ve noticed that a lot of road trips are heading north for cooler climates.
That’s why in this chapter of the Service King Road Trip Giveaway, we’re not only giving you a chance to win a cool $500 gas card by following and commenting on our Instagram post, but we’re also handing out some Instagram-worthy info on one of the more in-demand road trip destinations - Seattle, Washington!
With over a dozen Service King locations in the greater Seattle area, Service King knows all the secrets when it comes to visiting the Emerald City so you can make it affordable and fun. So whether you’ve got a couple hours to spend in town or a couple days to explore the whole area, if you’re in Seattle make sure you seek out:
Located in Uptown off 5th Avenue North, this collection is completely worth spending a couple hours exploring. From honoring impactful creators and creations in Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame to investigating the Indie Game Revolution, this museum has interactive exhibits that appeal to all ages. In fact, if you’re traveling with one of those fickle teenagers, this place might be the perfect choice. Just have your wallet ready - regular admission can be up to $28.75 plus tax and fees.
Top pic: The Building Itself
There’s about a billion different Instagram-worthy installations inside the museum, but our personal favorite is the actual MoPOP building. Not only was it designed by famous architect Frank O. Gehry, you can get your pic without paying admission.
Just off I-5 on the other side of the highway from the Seattle Convention Center, the Inside Passage likes to tell people they’re not a “tiki” bar - they’re a “Pacific Northwest, underwater, sunken ship, tropical immersion bar. Oh, yeah…with a tentacled sea monster named Kiki'' bar. Created by the people behind RUMBA, this 2021 Eater Award winner for Most Innovative Theme Bar can only accommodate parties of six or fewer - and while walk-ins are always welcome - it might be better to make a reservation.
Top pic – Your Cocktail. The food is great at the Inside Passage, but it’s the drinks that are bringing everyone through the door. They’re a social spectacle that will make people turn their heads and hit the like button.
A defining Seattle icon for more than a century, it spans nine historic acres in the center of downtown and is one of the oldest continuously operated public farmer’s markets in the United States. From watching the fishmongers famously fling their daily catch back forth, to shopping the wares of over 200 artisan craftspeople to even visiting the very first Starbucks - there’s hundreds of Instagram-worthy things happening seven days a week and 363 days a year! (They’re closed Thanksgiving and Christmas)
Top pic – The Market Pig
Getting a pic with Racheal the Piggy Bank is such a must-have, there’s often a line to do it. What most don’t know is there’s really three swine statues, including one covered in chalkboard paint located in the secret rooftop garden.
Located in Rainer Beach, visitors have called it “a poetic landscape for refuge and meditation” and “a work of art we could walk within.” The vision of Japanese immigrant Fujitaro Kubota, whose goal was to display the beauty of the Northwest in a Japanese manner, this 20-acre garden is open from sunrise to sundown. It showcases a stunning mix of streams, waterfalls, ponds, outcroppings and serene greenery, and the best part? It’s free of charge! They’ve even recently made some pathway improvements to make the experience even better.
Top pic – Garden Entry Gate
This iconic bronze gate was sculpted and designed by Gerard Tsutakawa and installed by Hoshide Wanzer Architects. It’s a great way to show everyone you’ve arrived for your relaxing day in the garden.
Just a 35 minute ferry ride from downtown, this Seattle must-see is surrounded by saltwater and known for its outstanding natural beauty and rustic character. From small-town charm to the big outdoors, you’ll find something for everyone – take a quick walk down Hawley Cove Trail, check out the Bainbridge Museum of Art, or rent a canoe, kayak or paddle board and kick it in the cool waters. It’s perfect for a day trip, or bring your gear and spend a few days camping under the stars at Fay Bainbridge Park. Trust us, it’s an island that’s totally worth investigating.
Top pic – Point White Pier
Bring your bathing suit and get a photo of you (or someone else) jumping off the pier and into the waters below. It’s a pic that all the locals love to take, and a great way to cool off during the heat of the summer.
Two and a half hours out of Seattle and encompassing nearly a million acres, Olympic National Park contains several distinctly different ecosystems, including glacier-capped mountains, old-growth temperate rainforests and over 70 miles of wild coastline. Bring your backpack and hike your way to picturesque places like Hoh Rain Forest and the Enchanted Valley. From pristine beaches to untouched wilderness, you’ll experience some of the most scenic and popular destinations in the country. Make multiple posts and people might think each one is a completely different place.
Top pic – Hurricane Ridge
The crown jewel of Olympic National Park, (and most easily accessible) this mountain area offers a peak visitor experience year around. Use a wide angle to try and capture the dazzling vista views.
BONUS) The Service King Road Trip Giveaway
You don’t actually have to be anywhere near Seattle to enjoy this last one. Instead, just follow us on Instagram and Facebook from wherever you are. Then every other week we’ll give you a chance to win a $500 gas card for your next road trip!
Top pic -
To enter, all you have to do is comment on our official Service King Road Trip post! Then you might get contacted by @service_king and told you’re our $500 gas card winner.