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Referred to as the Emerald Metropolis, Seattle simply could be essentially the most scenic metropolitan space in the US. The biggest metropolis within the Pacific Northwest affords guests limitless issues to see and do.
Seattle is surrounded by evergreen forests, mountains, and water. Along with its pure magnificence, there are additionally loads of glorious points of interest and locations to go to.
Because the identify would counsel, Seattle is house to plenty of inexperienced areas. As a matter of truth, there are lots of of parks right here! If you happen to love the nice outside, there’s no scarcity of nice locations to go to in Seattle.
Even should you’re simply in Seattle for a weekend journey, it’s sufficient time to take pleasure in lots of the issues to see and do.
On this information, I’ll introduce a few of the high issues to do in Seattle together with plenty of sensible information that will help you plan an ideal journey.
About Seattle, Washington
Seattle is situated between Puget Sound and Lake Washington and has the Olympic Mountains to the west and Cascades to the east, making for some postcard-worthy surroundings round each nook.
Sadly, it’s true that it rains very often right here. Don’t let it rain in your parade, although — there are tons of nice museums and different indoor actions to maintain you busy when it will get a bit moist.
Seattle can also be well-known for its music and sports activities. The grunge period began right here with bands like Pearl Jam and Nirvana and it’s now a hub for indie music and underground hip-hop.
Seattle sports activities followers are a few of the loudest within the nation as they present their unwavering assist for groups just like the Seahawks and Sounders.
I’ve been to cities throughout my house nation from coast to coast (together with Denver, Detroit, Austin, Asheville, Boston, New Orleans and plenty of extra), and Seattle is certainly amongst my favorites.
It truly is superb how one can take pleasure in all of the facilities of a giant metropolis and but so simply get out in nature.
Right here’s my checklist of the highest 15 issues to do and locations to go to in Seattle:
1. See the Area Needle
Definitely, essentially the most iconic landmark in Seattle is the Area Needle. Constructed for the 1962 version of the World’s Truthful, it has been a fixture within the metropolis’s skyline ever since.
The statement deck is 520 toes (158 meters) tall, so that you get to take pleasure in 360-degree panoramic views. On a transparent day, you possibly can see your entire metropolis together with pure wonders akin to Lake Union and Mt. Rainier.
Whereas the Area Needle has at all times been one of many high locations to go to in Seattle, it’s even cooler now due to some critical renovations.
A latest multi-million greenback improve gave the well-known tower The Loupe — the primary rotating glass ground on the planet. In addition they added wall-to-ceiling glass and the brand new Skyrisers, that are tilting glass benches that present for some unreal views of the town.
The Area Needle is open every day from 8 AM-Midnight, with the final entry at 11:15. Tickets vary from $34 – 37.50 for adults and $25 – 30 for kids. This is likely one of the finest locations to go to in Seattle and is included within the Seattle CityPass.
Or, you possibly can see the Area Needle and the Chihuly Backyard along with this ticket.
2. Examine Out The Seattle Heart
The Area Needle is only one a part of the large Seattle Heart. This hub of schooling, artwork, and leisure has a lot occurring that you can simply spend a complete day right here and nonetheless not do all of it.
One of many high Seattle points of interest you’ll discover right here is the Worldwide Fountain. At completely different factors all through the day, the fountain is synchronized to music, making for an ideal present that’s enjoyable for all ages.
The Seattle Heart can also be house to Artists at Play — a cool playground designed by artists. There’s a climbing tower, labyrinth, carousel, and far more right here. This is likely one of the finest free issues to do in Seattle.
There’s far more to see and do right here, together with a number of completely different museums. Don’t miss the wonderful Invoice & Melinda Gates Basis Discovery Heart. They run free group excursions from Tuesday-Saturday at 2:00 PM and it’s at all times free to go to.
Along with all of the completely different points of interest right here, the Seattle Heart additionally hosts 1000’s of occasions and packages all year long. Live shows, health courses, films, festivals, and extra are on faucet right here. Make sure to verify their occasion calendar to see what’s occurring.
3. See Chihuly Backyard
One of the vital standard locations to go to in Seattle is the Chihuly Backyard & Glass Museum. It’s devoted to the gorgeous glasswork of Dale Chihuly, whose work might be seen in over 200 museums world wide.
The museum is cut up into three completely different areas — the Backyard, Inside Reveals, and the unbelievable Glasshouse.
There’s additionally a theater that’s continually displaying quick movies of Chihuly and his work. You’ll undoubtedly need to carve out a few hours to take all of it in.
The museum is open from 8:30am – 8:30pm Monday to Thursday and stays open an hour afterward the weekend.
Tickets value $30 -35 for adults and $19 – 21 for kids. Entrance to the Chihuly Backyard & Glass Museum is included within the Seattle CityPass, on this 3-hour “highlights tour” of Seattle, or this ticket which incorporates the Area Needle as nicely.
Lastly, should you desire to easily buy your entrance ticket direct from the corporate, be certain to make the most of the free audio tour on supply.
4. Be part of a Meals Tour
One of the vital enjoyable issues to do in Seattle is to eat your approach throughout the town on a meals tour. Eat Seattle and Present Me Seattle come extremely beneficial and have a number of completely different choices for meals excursions within the Emerald Metropolis.
Their highly-rated signature tour of Pike Place Market Chef Guided Meals Tour lasts two hours and consists of quite a few bites.
Alongside the best way, you’ll study all concerning the historical past and tradition of the market, discover some small companies and luxuriate in sampling all the superb meals on supply.
One other stable choice is the Pike Place Market Strolling Meals tour which features a information, samples at seven artisanal meals stalls, and extra. Becoming a member of a meals tour is likely one of the enjoyable actions in Seattle for adults that ought to be in your checklist.
5. Go to The Museum of Pop Tradition
Previously often known as the EMP (Expertise Music Mission), the Museum of Pop Tradition is likely one of the finest Seattle points of interest round. Earlier than you head inside, you’ll need to take a while to admire the gorgeous constructing from world-famous architect Frank Gehry.
When you step contained in the museum, which additionally goes by MoPOP, you’ll discover the spectacular guitar sculpture referred to as “If VI Was IX.” There are over 500 devices making up this tornado-like sculpture!
Talking of music, the museum has a number of everlasting displays devoted to Seattle’s most well-known rockers — Jimi Hendrix, Nirvana, and Pearl Jam.
You possibly can even channel your inside rockstar of their Sound Lab or take your image in entrance of a packed viewers of their On Stage space.
That’s not all, although. MoPop additionally has displays on fantasy, science fiction, horror, video video games, comedy, and far, far more.
I’ve been to a variety of museums in my travels, and this one is certainly my favourite. Make sure to add it to your checklist of enjoyable issues to do in Seattle.
MoPOP is open Monday – Friday from 10 am – 6 pm and Saturday and Sunday from 9 am – 6 pm. Tickets value round $35 for adults and $21 for kids.
Entrance tickets to MoPOP are included within the Seattle CityPass. Click on right here to get instructions.
6. Pike Place Market – One of the vital well-known Seattle points of interest!
Among the finest locations to go to in Seattle is Pike Place Market. Courting all the best way again to 1907, this is likely one of the oldest public farmers’ markets in the US.
By purchasing at Pike Place Market, you’re doing far more than simply checking off top-of-the-line Seattle points of interest. You’re supporting native farmers, artisans, and small companies as nicely!
There’s a lot to see (and style) right here that you just’ll need to be sure you come hungry and keep awhile.
Along with the farmers’ market and crafts market, there are 80 eating places and over 200 distinctive retailers. With so many choices, it may be a bit intimidating. Don’t miss a meals tour (listed above at #4) of this market.
It’s far more than only a market, truly. It’s a group with plenty of glorious initiatives, akin to a senior middle, meals financial institution, and pre-school.
If you wish to present some further love, pay a go to to Rachel the Piggybank. Rub her snout and make a donation, and legend has it you’ll have good luck.
The market is barely closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas. It formally will get going at 9 am and closes at 6 pm, however you possibly can come right here as early as 6 am for breakfast should you’re an early riser.
Head over to their web site to plan your go to and browse all the assorted choices. You’ll find Pike Place Market on the map right here.
7. Benefit from the Waterfront Park
After exploring Pike Place, you’re only a quick stroll from the following spot on our checklist of Seattle points of interest — Waterfront Park. There are a number of benches and picnic tables right here, so it’s the proper place to sit down down and luxuriate in no matter scrumptious meals you picked up on the market.
The park is house to 2 completely different platforms the place you possibly can take pleasure in some improbable views.
On a transparent day, you possibly can even see the Olympic Mountains within the distance. There are coin-operated telescopes right here that will help you get an excellent higher have a look at the environment. Make sure to try the Waterfront Fountain as nicely.
One of the vital enjoyable issues to do in Seattle is taking a journey on the Seattle Nice Wheel. This big Ferris wheel is open from Monday – to Thursday from 11 am – 10 pm, Friday and Saturday from 10 am – 11 pm and Sunday from 10 am – 10 pm.
Tickets value $16 for adults and $11 for teenagers. You even have the choice of splurging for a VIP ticket ($50) for his or her luxurious gondola and a memento t-shirt.
Waterfront Park is a superb spot to unwind after a giant day of sightseeing within the Emerald Metropolis. It’s situated between Pier 57 and 59. Click on right here to get instructions.
8. Day Journey to Mount Rainier
If in case you have some further time in Seattle, think about doing a day journey out to Mount Rainier which is an lively stratovolcano within the Mount Rainier Nationwide Park.
This towering volcano is 14,400 ft (4,390m) and within the Nationwide Park, you’ll discover quite a few actions on supply, together with mountaineering, tenting and mountain climbing.
For travellers on a day journey, mountaineering alongside one of many many trails is a best choice. Through the winter months, you possibly can commerce your mountaineering boots for present footwear and nonetheless benefit from the trails.
The highly-rated Evergreen Escapes runs full-day, small group excursions to Mount Rainier, that are tailor-made to your health ranges.
Included within the journey are transportation, a educated naturalist, lunch, snacks, and entrance charges. To study extra about this high journey from Seattle, click on right here.
If you happen to’d like so as to add wine tasting to your day journey to Mt. Rainier, try this enjoyable tour! Get pleasure from a hike within the park, an natural picnic exterior, and wine tastings at native vineyards. In fact, transportation, all charges, and meals and wine are included. Study extra right here.
9. Take a Cruise
Whereas Seattle appears nice on land, it appears even higher from the water! Taking a cruise round Elliot Bay and the Puget Sound is well some of the enjoyable issues to do in Seattle.
Your choices for cruising vary from a easy 1-hour harbor journey to in a single day getaways.
On the price range finish, you possibly can merely take one of many native ferries to benefit from the views. The ferry to Bainbridge Island solely prices $8.50 for adults and $4.25 for kids, and the return journey is free. It’s a pleasant method to spend a day with out spending a ton of money.
Argosy Cruises has been in enterprise for 70 years and their excursions come extremely beneficial.
They’ve seven completely different choices, together with their one-hour cruise of Elliot Bay and the Seattle Harbour the place you’ll take pleasure in a completely narrated journey, superb views of the Seattle skyline, and on clear days, of Mount Rainier.
A cruise with Argosy is definitely included within the Seattle CityPass should you select to go that route.
10. Stroll Via Washington Park Arboretum
The Washington Park Arboretum is certainly some of the lovely Seattle points of interest to go to.
This scenic park has miles upon miles of trails and is a dwelling assortment of crops. It’s a chief instance of why Seattle is named the Emerald Metropolis and a stunning place to spend just a few hours.
Spring is a very talked-about time to go to the park due to the azaleas which might be in bloom. Come right here within the fall and also you’ll see Japanese maples and strawberry timber, making a vibrant tapestry of colours.
The arboretum is open every day from daybreak to nightfall and is likely one of the finest free locations to go to in Seattle. In addition they have a number of completely different excursions and courses in addition to choices for birding and boating. Examine their web site for all the main points.
Whilst you’re right here, it’s nicely price it to pay the doorway price for the Japanese Backyard ($8 for adults and $4 for kids). They’ve free guided excursions from April to October at 12:30, and you too can take pleasure in a conventional Japanese tea ceremony right here for an additional $10.
It’s slightly slice of Japan proper right here in Seattle!
Click on right here to get instructions to the arboretum. The Japanese Backyard is within the southwest nook of the park. Make sure to add a cease right here to your checklist of locations to go to in Seattle.
11. Go to the Seattle Artwork Museum
Artwork lovers will need to expertise SAM. The Seattle Artwork Museum truly consists of three completely different services — the primary museum, the Asian Artwork Museum, and the Olympic Sculpture Park.
On the predominant museum, you’ll discover a formidable assortment of artwork from all corners of the globe. It’s identified for its intensive collections of Native American and Northwest Coast artwork. There are over 25,000 completely different artistic endeavors on show right here, so take your time.
Along with the primary museum, you too can pay a go to to the Olympic Sculpture Park. It’s situated only a mile away (click on right here for instructions), so it’s simple to go to each. As soon as an industrial website, it’s now a free public park filled with distinctive sculptures.
The artwork museum is open from 10 am – 5 pm on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday-Sunday. It’s closed on Tuesday however stays open till 9 pm on Thursday.
Tickets are $29.99 for adults, $19.99 for college kids and youths ages 15-18, and free for teenagers 14 and beneath. If you happen to occur to be on the town on the primary Thursday of the month, it’s free for everybody! Click on right here for instructions.
12. Go to The Museum of Flight
If you happen to’re focused on air and area, you’ll need to embrace the Museum of Flight in your Seattle itinerary. There are over 150 plane on show right here together with 1000’s of artifacts and images.
There’s sufficient to see and do to spend a number of hours right here, so this can be a great point to do in Seattle when it rains (which occurs fairly often!).
A significant spotlight is the Aviation Pavilion, which options a formidable assortment of uncommon airplanes. There are WWII bombers, the primary Boeing 747, and even the primary jet Air Power One. You possibly can even board a few of them!
Along with all of the plane, they’ve loads of attention-grabbing displays to take a look at, which change often. Click on right here to view a listing of present displays and see what’s arising.
For these airplane fanatics, you too can go to the Boeing Manufacturing unit which is about 30 miles (50km) from Seattle. On the tour, you’ll try the Boeing manufacturing facility with an area information and see planes at varied levels of meeting!
Plus, you’ll wander across the 28,000-square-foot Aviation Gallery and take a look at the displays and shows. Study extra about this tour right here.
The Museum of Flight is open every day from 10 AM-5 PM. Tickets value $25 for adults and $16 for kids.
On the primary Thursday of each month, the museum stays open from 5-9 PM and it’s completely free to enter. Click on right here to purchase your tickets on-line for top-of-the-line Seattle points of interest. You’ll find the Museum of Flight on the map right here.
13. Watch Some Skilled Sports activities
Individuals in Seattle are loopy about their sports activities, they usually specific their love for his or her groups very loudly.
The truth is, Seahawks followers have twice set the Guinness World Document for loudest crowd noise at a sporting occasion. The staff refers to their passionate followers because the “12s,” as they principally act because the twelfth participant.
The Seahawks (NFL) play their house video games at CenturyLink Subject. The stadium can also be house to the Seattle Sounders FC, which have been promoting out house video games since their debut in MLS ten years in the past. If you happen to can handle to attain a ticket, you’re in for an excellent time.
Through the summer season months, you possibly can catch the Mariners (MLS) at T-Cell Park. With round 80 house video games per season, there’s an excellent probability they’ll be on the town should you’re visiting between Could and September.
Enjoyable truth: the Seattle Metropolitans had been the primary American staff to win the Stanley Cup approach again in 1917. The NHL wasn’t even a factor at the moment, because it acquired began later that yr.
For the reason that 2021 – 2022 season, Seattle lastly has an NHL staff, which performs on the New Enviornment within the Seattle Heart.
14. Expertise Discovery Park
Whereas there are many glorious inexperienced areas within the Emerald Metropolis, Discovery Park actually takes the cake. That is the most important park in Seattle and is house to round 12 miles of wonderful trails. It additionally has seashores, sand dunes, cliffs, meadows, and far more.
If it’s your first time on the park, your finest wager is to start out out with the Loop Path. This 2.8-mile-long path goes by means of the middle of the park and branches out to different trails should you really feel like exploring additional.
Attempt to make all of it the best way out to the West Level Lighthouse, the place you possibly can take pleasure in some unbelievable views of the mountains and water.
Discovery Park is situated on Magnolia Bluff overlooking the Puget Sound, click on right here for instructions. It’s undoubtedly some of the picturesque of all of the Seattle points of interest and is nicely well worth the effort to achieve.
15. Be part of an Underground Tour
Rounding out our checklist of enjoyable issues to do in Seattle is taking an attention-grabbing underground tour.
Beneath The Streets is likely one of the hottest Seattle points of interest. On this enjoyable and academic tour, you’ll discover subterranean sidewalks and storefronts that had been constructed on high after the Nice Fireplace of 1889.
This one-hour tour takes you beneath Seattle’s streets to discover three underground passageways, courting again to the Nineties.
This highly-rated tour is enjoyable for everybody and inexpensive at $29. This is likely one of the extra distinctive issues to do in Seattle that you just gained’t need to miss. Click on right here to study extra concerning the tour.
FAQ’S
Solutions to a few of your often requested questions on visiting Seattle.
What enjoyable issues are there to do in Seattle?
There are such a lot of enjoyable issues to do in Seattle! Whether or not you’re into nature, museums, meals, or sports activities, there’s one thing for you.
The highest enjoyable actions are day-tripping to Mt. Rainer for some mountaineering and epic views, testing the bustling Pike Place Market, and listening to stay music on the Tractor Tavern, The Crocodile, or Dimitrou’s Jazz Alley.
What’s the primary vacationer attraction in Seattle?
By far, the highest attraction in Seattle for vacationers is the Area Needle. This ticket consists of the Area Needle and the Chihuly Backyard and Glass.
What number of days do you want in Seattle?
I feel that 3-5 days is an effective period of time in Seattle. That approach, you possibly can spend a full time out at Mt. Rainer, and one other day having fun with a lazy day on the waterfront and at Pike Place Market.
Different days may very well be spent testing the primary points of interest (Area Needle, Chihuly Backyard, museums, and so on.), and eventually, your final full day may very well be spent on the water taking a cruise, or becoming a member of a meals tour.
What Meals is Seattle Recognized For?
There are such a lot of meals it is best to strive in Seattle, a lot of that are seafood because of the metropolis’s location on the ocean. Don’t miss oysters, salmon, geoduck, and sushi. Plus, you need to strive a Seattle Canine (hotdog, Seattle model!), espresso, and pho (Vietnamese soup). Take a look at this submit for extra.
Now You Know What To Do in Seattle
These are simply a few of the many attention-grabbing issues to do in Seattle. There’s much more occurring within the Emerald Metropolis, together with loads of different parks, seashores, museums, excursions, and a complete lot extra.
With some extra time in Seattle, you too can benefit from the various superb day-trip alternatives.
Inside just a few hours, you will discover your self exploring Mt. Rainier or Olympic Nationwide Park. Or maybe you’d reasonably go go to a waterfall or soak in a scorching spring. The choices for journey actually are limitless!
If you happen to’ve been to Seattle and have an ideal advice for issues to do, depart a remark beneath.
*Photographs on this submit are courtesy of Shutterstock.
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