From Seattle to the Wild: Laura’s Washington State Adventure

From the moment I arrived at London Heathrow, it felt like the adventure had begun. This wasn't just another holiday for me. It was my first-ever long-haul flight and my first trip to the USA, so there was a definite sense of excitement as I boarded my Premium flight with Delta Air Lines and set off towards Seattle.

After crossing the Atlantic and making my way across the country, I finally stepped off the plane at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. And honestly? There was something surreal about finally being there. I was actually in America!

We transferred into downtown Seattle and checked into the Hyatt Regency Seattle, which would be home for my first two nights. After such a big travel day, I was ready for some sleep, because tomorrow was my first full day of exploring.

My first full day in the USA was certainly a busy one! We started at the Port of Seattle and Pier 91, where we were welcomed onboard Holland America Line's Eurodam.

After a full ship tour and presentation, we enjoyed a three-course lunch in the Pinnacle Grill, all while taking in some incredible views across the Seattle skyline and waterfront. As someone from the Cruise Department, getting the chance to experience Eurodam while she was docked in Seattle was a brilliant way to start the trip. It also gave me a real taste of what makes a cruise from Seattle such an exciting prospect.

And then it was time to explore the city. We played mini golf at Olympic Sculpture Park, visited the Seattle Aquarium and headed up to the Smith Tower Observatory Bar for cocktails with spectacular views over the city. We finished the evening with fish and chips at Ivar's Acres of Clams on the waterfront.

Not bad for my first full day in America! Seattle instantly gave me that feeling of being somewhere completely different, while still being a really easy city to explore. And if you're planning an Alaska cruise holiday, I'd definitely consider adding a few nights here before you sail.

One cruise ship is never enough, so day three brought another! This time, we headed back to the Port of Seattle to visit Princess Cruises' brand-new Star Princess.

The weather was beautiful, the ship looked incredible, and we enjoyed Teppanyaki for lunch. But my personal highlight? The Champagne Wall in the Sanctuary Collection. You ring the bell and, like magic, a glass of bubbles appears. Definitely one of those little travel moments that make you smile, and one I won't be forgetting anytime soon!

After leaving Star Princess, we swapped cruise ships for planes and headed to Boeing Future of Flight. As someone on their first long-haul trip to America, visiting one of the world's most famous aviation centres felt particularly fitting.

Then came some shopping at Alderwood Mall, followed by burgers and fries at Blazing Onion. And, of course, I couldn't come all the way to America without a late-night Target stop. It had to be done. We spent the night at Hilton Garden Inn Lynnwood, ready for the next stage of our Washington State adventure.

This was the day I'd been looking forward to the most. Whale watching!

We started in Edmonds and headed out onto Puget Sound, and I genuinely don't think I could have asked for a better wildlife experience. We were unbelievably lucky with what we saw. Puffins. Orcas. Grey whales. Seals. Sea lions. All in one unforgettable day.
Seeing these animals in their natural environment was genuinely breathtaking. There is something completely different about seeing an orca surface beside your boat or spotting a whale in the distance compared with seeing wildlife anywhere else.

It was one of those moments where everyone goes quiet for a second because you're just taking it all in. After our whale watching adventure, we explored Edmonds before taking the ferry across to Kingston. From there, we travelled across the Olympic Peninsula towards Port Angeles, surrounded by some of the most beautiful scenery I'd ever seen.

We ended the day with cider and tacos at Base Camp before checking into Olympic Lodge by Ayres. And just when I thought a day couldn't get any better, I remembered there was still plenty more to come.

It was time to get out into nature. We started at Hurricane Ridge in Olympic National Park, surrounded by spectacular mountain scenery and views for days. We'd been joking about hiking around looking for bears, although thankfully the views were a little more predictable than the wildlife!

Then we headed to Forks. Now, if you're not a Twilight fan, this might not mean much to you. But I absolutely am. So yes, I was fully prepared to live out my Twilight fantasy. #TeamEdward. It was surreal visiting the town that inspired one of my favourite book and film series and seeing places connected with Bella, Edward, and Jacob.

From Forks, we continued to Ruby Beach, and the scenery completely changed again. The dramatic Pacific coastline, enormous sea stacks, and pieces of driftwood scattered across the beach made it feel wild and wonderfully remote. That evening we arrived at Lake Quinault Lodge, surrounded by rainforest and beautiful natural scenery. Dinner at the Salmon House Restaurant was the perfect end to another incredible day.

Our final full day exploring Washington State started with rainforest walks around Quinault.

The Pacific Northwest really knows how to do scenery. Everywhere I looked, there seemed to be another incredible view, from towering trees and lush greenery to the mountains beyond.

Then we headed to Aberdeen to visit The Music Project and Kurt Cobain Tribute Gallery. It was fascinating learning more about the area's musical history and its connection to the birthplace of grunge. After a deli lunch, we continued towards Tacoma for a completely different experience.

We visited LeMay – America's Car Museum, home to an incredible collection of classic and historic vehicles, before taking a driving tour around Tacoma. We checked into Hotel Murano before finishing the evening with dinner at Woven Seafood and Chophouse. Looking back, I think this was when I really appreciated just how much we'd managed to see.

Sadly, the final day had arrived. But before heading to the airport, we had one last big adventure – Mount Rainier. Exploring the area around one of America's most iconic mountains was the perfect way to finish the trip. We had spectacular mountain views, incredible scenery and even some bear spotting, which felt like a pretty brilliant final chapter to our Washington State adventure.

Then it was time to take a scenic drive back towards Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. There was still time for one last stop at the Delta Sky Club Lounge before beginning the journey home. For the return flight, I was flying Premium with Virgin Atlantic, which gave me plenty of time to sit back and reflect on what had been an absolutely incredible week.

So… what did I think? When I think back to this trip, I still can't believe how many firsts I managed to fit into one week.

My first long-haul flight. My first time in the USA. My first experience of Seattle. My first whale watching trip. My first American national park. And so many unforgettable experiences in between.

Washington State completely exceeded my expectations. I came home with a phone full of photos, a suitcase full of goodies and memories that will last a lifetime. But more than anything, I came home thinking about how incredible this part of the world would be combined with an Alaska cruise. Because if Washington State can offer this much adventure, imagine what comes next…