While I’ve lived in California my whole life, I’ve always considered Seattle my second home. My mom grew up there and all of my family on her side still live there. It’s where we spend all of our family reunions, and my favorite Christmases are spent at my aunt’s house just outside of the city. I’m not sure whether it’s the cool crisp winter air, or the Christmas lights strung around the trees, or the hot cup of coffee between my hands as I walk through Pike Place. There’s something about Seattle that is nothing short of magic.
Depending on how many days you are able to spend here, a trip could feel overwhelming because of the large quantity of options available. Each part of the city is going to provide a different experience. Lucky for you, I have spent many years exploring all around this part of the state with my aunts, uncles and cousins so I will be able to provide a thorough guide of the best things to do in Seattle Washington.
Table of Contents
Fun Things To Do In Seattle : Things To Do In Downtown Seattle
Pike Place Market
This is easily one of the top places to visit in Seattle. Since it’s such a popular location with a rich history, it can also be one of the most crowded things to do in Seattle. However, it’s for a good reason. If you have ever been to a farmers market, this place is next level. Located in the heart of downtown Seattle right on Elliot Bay, you enter into a covered labyrinth of merchant stalls. Strawberries, blackberries, tomatoes, flowers, all presented fresh that day, overcome your senses. Every square inch of the displays are covered in the brightest colors and the best smells.
At one end of the main strip of vendors is a man who sells sweaters and stuffed animals out of the softest alpaca wool you’ve ever felt. If you venture a little further you’ll run into the stall with a seemingly endless collection of spices, all originals, all guaranteed to add new bursts of flavor to your dishes that you didn’t expect. Workers wearing soiled aprons from the day’s demands, stand out front their small pieces of real estate, handing out samples of honey, fruit, and sausage. Open air stalls morph into established store fronts the deeper you venture. As you follow the labyrinth and even go downstairs, you’ll come across cafes, restaurants, candy stores, book stores, you name it.
Flying Fish, Anyone?
If you’ve ever been watching a movie or tv show and see the characters walking around a market with flying fish in the background, there’s a good chance they were at Pike Place. In the main entrance to the shopping strip there is a large counter filled with the fresh catch of the day. When a fish is bought, the workers stand and toss the fish over the counter to each other. This, as you can imagine, attracts a lot of people to watch because it’s not every day that you see grown men wearing aprons and throwing fish. I have to say, it’s one of the cool things to do in Seattle.
Famous Gum Wall
Yes, it is a wall of gum. Well, more accurately it’s an alleyway filled with gum. Sounds disgusting? It is. But it’s also pretty iconic. Right by the fish counter are stairs that lead down to one of the lower sections of Pike Place. From here, take a right and then an immediate left and you’ll see one of the most unique things to do in Seattle. There’s not much to it. People chew gum, come here, and stick it to the wall. Then, more people take pictures in front of it and do their best to not be completely grossed out. It’s not an attraction for everyone though.
Fun Things To Do In Seattle : Things To Do In Seattle With Kids
Chihuly Garden and Glass
This is a great activity that is fun for the whole family. It’s an art exhibit and museum that showcases the art of glass maker Dale Chihuly. His work is truly spectacular and needs to be seen to be believed. This isn’t just your typical vase or pair of earrings made out of glass. The art installations feature massive glass sculptures that tower over their visitors. Some of his projects are the same size as the building itself. In the main part of the museum, a large vine of orange flowers hang from the ceiling, reflecting the sunlight that streams in through the glass windows and illuminates the room in warm colors.
The museum is open from 10am-5pm during the week, with extended hours on the weekends. Tickets are $35 for adults, discounted for children and free for young children under 4. It’s located right next to the Space Needle so it’s not hard to find, and makes it easy to include it as a stop in your tour of the city. The kids are guaranteed to love looking at all the interesting shapes created using such a beautiful medium.
Space Needle
When you think of Seattle, the Space Needle is almost certainly going to be one of the first images that comes to mind. This observation deck is iconic for its unique shape. If you haven’t seen a photo of it before, you can try to picture something right out of the Jetsons cartoon. Or, something that belongs in Tomorrowland at Disneyland. From the tip top of this 605 ft tal structure, you have a perfect view of the city down below.
Up top is the Loupe Lounge, a restaurant and bar with 360 views of Seattle. I ate here with my family as a little girl, when it used to be called SkyCity. We sat down at the table right up against one of the large windows and the entire restaurant slowly rotated. It was the craziest thing ever and it gave every guest continuously new views. If you don’t want to visit the lounge however, there are general admission tickets available for purchase that allow guests access to two different viewing platforms. Prices depend on age, and they can be reserved here. If you know you’re going to be visiting Seattle soon, you should reserve tickets as soon as you can, because they go fast!
Fun Things To Do In Seattle: Free Things To Do In Seattle
Kerry Park
If you’re someone who loves taking a good aesthetic photo, this is the spot to do it. From this park you receive a full view of Central Seattle, Elliot Bay and Mount Rainier (on days when it’s clear). To get here you need to venture over to Queen Anne Hill, which is not a far drive outside of the main city center. The viewpoint portion itself is rather small, but there are benches available to sit on as well as a grassy area where you can set up a picnic and enjoy the views of the sunset.
This park is also a super popular location for events. If there is a ceremony that you would like to hold with the backdrop of seattle in the background, you can find more information here.
Gas Works Park
One of the most visited parks in Seattle because of its uniqueness, Gas Works should be one of the top things to do in Seattle for you. Giant bronze silos covered in graffiti from local vandalizers command the attention of everyone who visits. The park has a large sprawling grass area where people can sit with a great view of Lake Union. There is a large play barn that is available for people to explore, and a hill that’s popular to fly kites on.
This is one of the spots that I make sure I go to whenever I’m in Seattle. My cousins and I love coming here and watching the sunset, or bringing footballs or baseballs to play catch. As kids, we would come here and play tag or hide and go seek. It’s one of my favorite things to do in Seattle because it’s a unique experience to be able to run freely in the city.
Freeway Park
Seattle is one of those places that has a bunch of hidden attractions. And more often than not, they are going to turn out to be some of the coolest places to go to. Freeway Park is one of those spots. This cement land sits in between 6th and 9th avenue and has a great view of Seattle’s financial district. Jim Ellis, who was the lead designer of the park, wanted to create a space where people coming off of work or on a break could sit and enjoy being in a concrete jungle. Fun fact, Ellis also spearheaded a lot of movements to clean up Lake Washington back in the 1950s, which is a beloved natural part of the Seattle area. He also promoted mass public transit, and pools for public use.
Fun Things To Do In Seattle: Things To Do In Seattle At Night
University District
This neighborhood is one of the coolest areas in Seattle. Right next to the University of Washington campus, the U – District is home to a number of restaurants, bars and clubs. The energy in this area is really lively, because of its close proximity to the campus, which is great when you are trying to pump yourself up for a night out.
Monkey Pub
This hole in the wall is great if you are looking for a quirky and casual spot to hang for the night. Both the exterior and interior of the joint are shabby and grungy. Which creates the perfect atmosphere for a couple pints of beer. The inside of the bar showcases an eclectic vibe with flags, christmas lights, street signs and random objects placed throughout. Across one wall, two large blue curtains hang and a solitary mic stands waiting for people to bravely go up and sing a song or two of karaoke. If singing isn’t your strong suit, that’s ok. You have the option to play pool, darts, or watch cartoons that they have playing on the wall.
College Inn Pub
If you have ever visited a pub in England, you will quickly see that this bar emulates that energy perfectly. The space is quaint, crowded, dimly lit and perfect. White Christmas lights are strung near the ceiling, and photos and articles hang framed on the walls. It sits underneath a hotel so in addition to the large population of college students that come pouring into this place every night, there are also a number of people from out of town which creates a diverse and lively space to drink in.
This pub, which has been a Seattle staple for 50 years, closed down in 2020 because of COVID. A local Seattle couple who used to frequent the bar in college, decided to buy it and continue on the long standing tradition of preserving Seattle culture through beer and cocktails. In addition to the drinks, they also serve pub food like chili, pizza and nachos. Pinball and darts are available to play. If you are looking to have a fun night out, this is one of the best things to see and do in Seattle.
Conclusion
Every time I’m able to visit Seattle and walk around the brick lined streets, or stop inside a cozy pub or cafe, I’m reminded why I am so comfortable here. Yes, Seattle is a city, but when you step outside of the stereotypical sights and attractions, you see it for the small town it ultimately still is. With so many things to do in Seattle, you are sure to be able to find your own groove within the city as well.
FAQs
There are many places where you are able to do this! The top of the Space Needle, Kerry Park and Gasworks Park are just a few examples of places where you can get unreal views of the city.
SeaTac is the airport used to get to and from Seattle, as it offers domestic and international services. Make sure to give yourself a lot of time before your flight though, as this airport is massive.
Its culinary, coffee and art scene make this city one of the most popular places to visit in the world. It also does a great job at combining natural and urban elements.
