Calm yet wild. Green yet gray skies. Roaring skyscrapers and historic buildings. Mind-blowing food and views slicked with a little rain. You are indeed Sleepless in Seattle because it is one of the most beautiful cities I have ever lived in. They say home is where the parents are, and so Seattle became my new home during my first semester at Baylor. I came home for the first time during Christmas, so you can only imagine how fascinated I was with the city. Yes, it was extraordinarily cold and I just wanted to stay under covers for the whole break, but I'm glad I didn't. I'm glad I stepped out and embarked on my journey of exploration, and still continue to do so while falling in love with the city every single minute. So, if you ever get the chance to visit, here are 17 places that I personally think you should check out:

1. Pike Place Market

This is right in the heart of downtown. Get a glimpse of stall employees playfully throwing fish around every time there is a sale. If you are an avid seafood lover, there are plenty of restaurants that might work for you. Check out the first Starbucks ever, which opened in 1912. The lines are usually really long, and the coffee tastes like every other Starbucks but it looks very very cool. However, definitely get something to eat at Piroshky Piroshky, its a heaven made Russian bakery.

2. The Gum Wall

This is right below Pike Place Market, in the Post Alley. As disgusting as it sounds, it is actually very cool to see an entire wall of an alley covered in old stale gum. The Wall is adjacent to a theater, so the tradition started a long time ago when performers would stick gum on the wall right before going on stage.

3. Seattle Great Wheel and Waterfront

A little further down Pike place is the Waterfront with the Ferris Wheel sitting right on the edge of Pier 57. The view is amazing from the wheel and this is one of my favorite spots in the city. Go around sunset time, and watch the water glisten and ferries go by.

4. Space Needle and Chihuly Glass Garden

Grey's Anatomy lovers, you might recognize this from the show! The Needle is awesome, and a key icon for the Pacific Northwest. The views are amazing from the observation deck, you can see everything from the city to the mountain ranges to the ocean. It is busy all year around, but I'd suggest going around summer time so you don't freeze to death. Adjacent to the Space Needle is the Chihuly Glass Garden, and it is one of the coolest places I have been to. If you are an art lover, definitely go here. Everything is made of glass and everything looks so colorful and awesome and great!

5. Seattle Art Museum

This is a really interesting museum, located in downtown and in walking distance from Pike Place. Art lovers, this is your place. It is really cool, and the art is weirdly interesting. While some paintings make you question life, some will make you laugh. I saw boxes of cereal showcased as art, and I was really confused (they had greater meaning than how I am portraying it right now). Anyways, check it out!!

6. Segway Tours

This is a really cool way to see Washington by water. You'll see the skyline, and learn interesting trivia about the city. If you have ever seen the Deadliest Catch, you will catch a glimpse of those boats too! It is worth spending your two hours on a boat going around the entire city by water.

7. Kerry Park

This is one of my favorite spots. I go here all the time because the view is amazing, and it is a fun place to just chill and have a peaceful evening. This park is located in the middle of a small neighborhood, which I'm pretty sure is owned by like billionaires. You will see a perfect view of the Seattle skyline and Mount Rainier.

8. Boeing: Future of Flight Tour

This one is a fun one! Tour the Boeing factory and see how planes are made. You'll get to see in action of all the work that is being put into the future of aviation, and you'll also get to learn about the history of flight. If you are the type of person that likes to know itty-bitty details of how everything works, this is for you!

9. Alki Beach

So I didn't discover this beach park until recently, and I was genuinely surprised by how close it was to the city. It is actually really pretty with a board walk, and plenty of spots for a game of beach volleyball. Though the water is pretty cold, it is the perfect place for family and friends to hangout, and relax.

10. Snoqualmie Falls

This is a really scenic waterfall located in the city of Snoqualmie. It is not far from Seattle, and it is totally worth going. The views are amazing from the top and below. It is just a half a mile hike down, and you will catch a glimpse of the rapid waters of Snoqualmie River and the Falls itself. If you want to be little crazy like me, you can jump the fence at the lower deck viewpoint (totally trespassing here) and get super close to the falls. Just kidding don't do that (do it).

11. Leavenworth

This is a really pretty city in Washington, part of the Wenatchee area. There are plenty of outdoor activities like paddle-boarding, rafting, kayaking, Zip-lining, camping and mountain climbing during the summer. This old town is prettiest during winter especially during Christmas time. It is the ultimate holiday town with extravagant lighting, and an amazing place to go wine tasting and skiing.

12. Mount Rainier

This is the tallest mountain in Washington, and oh man it is beautiful! A lot of the places in Seattle require hiking, and so does this. Mount Rainier National Park is huge, and there are a variety of trails you can hike, and see the spectacular view of the mountain and the lakes that run below it. Tolmie Peak trail is one of the best ones, and it is 7 mile hike overall. The best time to go is end of July or August because that is when all the snow would have cleared up. There are absolutely no words to describe the view, it is just incredible.

13. Whale watching in Orcas Island

Take a ferry from Seattle to this island, and you will feel like you are in a magical little town. There are a bunch of cutesy things to do, and plenty of Bed n' Breakfast places for a nice time. What you should definitely do though is go whale watching! Most of these tours are about 3-4 hours long, and you will definitely see the Orca whales, and a bunch of other whales that I don't really remember the names of. You'll also learn cool trivia about all the random islands you will encounter in the ocean, especially an entire island that is owned by the CEO of Starbucks!

14. Rattlesnake Ledge

This is a really popular hiking trail and it is about 4.5 miles overall. It can get pretty tiring, however once you reach the top, all that hard work will be so worth it! I feel like I have been saying this a lot, but the view is spectacular! You're about 2000ft in elevation, and you will see all the mountain ranges, and get an amazing view of the Cedar River right below. The hike itself is really pretty through the woods, but considering how out of shape I am, I had to take multiple breaks.

15. Olympic National Park

This park is super-duper huge, located in the city of Port Angeles. It spans around Mt. Olympus which also has multiple trails and climbing spots for professional mountain climbers. There are plenty of look out points, especially Hurricane Ridge (my favorite). There is also Ruby beach which aligns with the Pacific coastline and has an amazing view. Also do not miss Lake Crescent! The water is so transparent, and amazing, and blueish-green and you just never want to leave.

16. Blanca Lake

You might feel like you are in heaven, because the view will take your breath away. The lake is bright blue and it is surrounded by 3 mountain peaks- Keyes, Monte Cristo and Columbia. It is a 7.5 mile hike overall, and it is a very popular trail too! The hike up is really tiring, but it is so worth it. Words cannot even describe how amazing it is, so I'll just stop right here.

17. University of Washington and Capitol Hill

So I obviously don't even go here, yet I just check out the campus from time to time because it is so pretty! Their library looks like Hogwarts, no joke. Just casually blend in as a husky for a couple hours and check out the campus. They have this really huge fountain which directly aligns with Mount Rainier and it one of the prettiest things I have seen. This is a great place to take pictures, even if you don't go here! Capitol Hill is a great place to hangout and has great food and a great night life. Happy hour peeps, this is the place to go :)

There are still so many places left for me to see and experience. I am marking my spot as I go, and I highly suggest you get started too. I hope I was able to paint a justifiable picture of this beautiful place, and made you feel the city through my experiences. The Pacific Northwest awaits you, so do not miss out!