Seattle: Boeing Plant and Hiram M. Chittenden Locks

Seattle Premium Outlets

We spent the morning shopping at the Seattle Premium Outlets. They're located in Tulalip, about an hour's drive north of Seattle via Interstate 5. If, like us, you plan to buy larger quantities at one store, you should definitely pick up the coupon booklet at the information desk. This costs $5, or you have to prove you're enrolled in the Premium Outlets VIP Club. We had an account, but unfortunately, no Wi-Fi to prove it. However, we were able to talk the woman at the information desk into giving in and simply handing us a booklet.

After four hours of shopping, we needed some refreshment before heading back to Seattle. There was a Carl's Jr. on the opposite side of the interstate. Another favorite on our fast food hit list—an Original Six Dollar Burger is truly something special.

Boeing Plant – Paine Field

On the way back to Seattle, we absolutely had to stop at the Boeing factories in Everett and Mukilteo. We started our tour around Paine Field at the paint and assembly halls. The huge doors of the assembly hall now feature a 747; on my last visit, the 787 still adorned the facade.

We stopped at various points on our way around the airport and the factory grounds. Some of them are beautiful hills where you can photograph the planes without any obstructive fences. And if there's no hill, you can simply stand on the car. As the saying goes: “don’t be gentle its a rental”Various models of 777s, 747s, and 787s were on display at the site. The saddest-looking aircraft was a partially dismantled Dreamliner.

Hiram M. Chittenden Locks

To end the day, we drove to the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks. This lock, built in 1911 and also nicknamed the Ballard Locks, allows ships to travel between the saltwater of Puget Sound and the freshwater of the canal, which flows eastward into Lake Union and Lake Washington. A special highlight for us was the walk-through fish ladder. Through glass panels below the waterline, we were able to observe the salmon moving back and forth between salt and fresh water. The adjacent park is also fantastic.

Are you still looking for a suitable hotel in Seattle?

You can find a hotel to suit your budget via various online travel agencies such as Agoda, Booking.com, ebookers.com, Expedia, Hotels.com, lastminute.com, otel.com or Venere.com.