How to shop without dropping at Seattle Premium Outlets

I’m not enough of a die-hard shopper to brave Black Friday sales at Seattle Premium Outlets. But I have made a handful of visits to the Outlets on weekends, and can offer some tips.

Sleeping

From Vancouver, you can definitely hit the outlets in a daytrip. But spending the night makes the journey less hectic and more enjoyable. Tulalip Resort and Casino is the obvious choice, as it’s located right next to the outlets. But it’s an AAA Four Diamond hotel, so if you’d rather save your cash for shoes, look to the more affordable options.

I recently stayed at the Holiday Inn Express & Suites, which is located in Marysville just across the highway from the Outlets. The room was huge, comfortable, and quite spiffy. I was impressed by the choice of firm or soft pillows (above). The rate included a decent breakfast bar, with yogurt, bagels, and more. (But remember that this is America, and breakfast is different—my husband helped himself to a large bowl of what he thought was oatmeal, and it turned out to be sausage gravy that was meant to ladle onto biscuits!)

I’ve also stayed in Arlington and Mount Vernon, about half an hour north of the Outlets on the I-5, where there are many motels to choose from. If you don’t plan to travel further south than the Outlets towards Seattle, this can be a good choice, as the countryside around the area is quite scenic.

Eating

The food court at the Outlets is pretty dismal, overpriced, and crowded. If I’m not in a hurry, I like to take a break from shopping with a quick walk to Tulalip Resort. I bypass the buffets in the smoky casino and head to Cedars Cafe, just off the hotel lobby. The atmosphere affords a bit of calm with comfy booths to sink into.

Cedars Café (above) also has surprisingly good food, including quality burgers, clam linguine, pot roast, and more upscale options like steaks. The creamy seafood chowder is particularly good—so good that it’s won awards, according to my server. Entrée prices are reasonable (many under $12) and so are prices for local microbrews. During the busy dinner hour, you may have to wait for a table though. Relax, and recharge for round two of shopping.

More shopping

For many people, a trip to the States wouldn’t be complete without a visit to Target (affectionately pronounced with a French accent as Tar-gé). The closest one to the Outlets is a couple minutes north at I-5 Exit 206 (16818 Twin Lakes Ave, Marysville).

And then of course, there’s Trader Joe’s, located between Exit 254 and 255. Oh Trader Joe’s, how we love thee. If only Canada Customs would let us bring back cases of Two-Buck Chuck duty-free.

Alas, border guards are good at killing that bargain-hunting buzz. For the lowdown on duty and exemptions, see here. And have fun!

Got tips for American shopping excursions? Spill ’em here.

Follow Carolyn Ali on Twitter at twitter.com/carolynali