Things To Do
Pike Place Market
Check out the lively market - affordable fresh flowers, the famous fish tossing, and believe it or not, some of the best dumplings in Seattle! Don’t forget to check out the lower levels with interesting shops you won’t find anywhere else. Across the street you’ll find the newly renovated waterfront, with amazing views of the Puget Sound and the brand new aquarium.
Seattle City Center Attractions
Spend the day at the Seattle City Center with visits to the Museum of Pop Culture, Chihuly Garden and Glass, the Space Needle and the Pacific Science Center. All of these attractions are within a couple of minutes from each other in the Queen Ave neighborhood. The City PASS provides a bundle of up to 5 attractions that can also include the aquarium, zoo and the Argosy cruise provides a trip through the Elliott Bay. If you still have some energy left, walk over to the Belltown neighborhood next door for some Thai food at Bangrak Market.
Resident Attractions
Seattle and its residents are fortunate to have a ton of nature in the city and in its surroundings. Here are a few that will keep your wallet heavy: Many of the museums here are free on the first Thursday of the month (9/3). Check the link for more details. Head over to Kerry Park in Queen Anne for a picturesque view of Seattle with Mount Rainier in the background. The Ballard Locks will be filled with salmon (and seals hunting them) looking to head back up the river channels. Borrow a paddle board and head over to either Lake Washington or South Lake Union for a quick dip in the lake. Ride the ferry to Bainbridge island for a scenic view of both the Pudget Sound and the Seattle Skyline. Head over to T-Mobile park to catch the Mariners vs the Athletics for what should be fairly inexpensive tickets. A katsu curry bowl with a Rainier on a summer ballpark day just hits the spot.
Hikes near Seattle
If you have a car handy, check out some of these popular hikes nearby: Need a casual hike near Seattle? Poo Poo Point is a popular option 40 minutes away from the city with great views. Plus, it has an awesome name 😀 Lake 22 is a bit further away and inside the Mt Baker national forest but the turquoise alpine lake view makes it worth the drive and the moderately challenging hike. Rattlesnake Ledge off of I-90 is in the Seattle transplant starter pack and for good reason. The 5.5 mile hike leads to a rock cliff with ample space for a scenic sit-down lunch of rattlesnake lake and the surrounding cascades.
Mt Rainier National Park
If you have the time on a weekday, Mount Rainier National Park needs to be on your bucket list. The two other national parks are also worth visiting but Mount Rainier is the most accessible from the city the rewarding hikes. People travel all around the world to visit Mt Rainier. A 2.5hr drive from Seattle, take a day trip to hike the 5 mile Skyline loop at Paradise for stunning Rainier views, Marmot encounters and wildflowers in season. Paradise is the most popular section of the park but with over 230k acres, there are plenty of other moderate hiking areas to explore and enjoy. Unfortunately, the park has installed a reservation system (link above) the past couple of years so plan accordingly if you are committed to visiting.
Food Recs
Miss Pho: Best pho in town, what else is there to say? Get there early and with an empty stomach. Order the Miss Pho Special. Lupo: One of the best Neapolitan style pizzas in the area. Make reservations! Lighthouse Roasters Fine Coffees: Top 5 coffee in Seattle, and it's not number five. Local Tide: Great casual sit-down restaurant to fulfill all the seafood cravings. Taylor Shellfish: Local chain that features many of Washington's oysters Un Bien: Carribean sandwiches that hit the spot. The link provides more in-depth reviews of restaurants and eats in the area.