What is there to do in Seattle besides dodge raindrops? Believe it or not, it doesn’t rain “all the time” out here, and summers out here are absolutely amazing!! There are so many things to do…especially when it’s sunny. I’ve listed 10 of my top fave things to do in the city when we have guests. If you’ve been here, let me know what your favorite thing is to do in Seattle!!
1. Pike Place Market
FISH! FLOWERS! FOOD! VIEWS and GUM! One of the most iconic and well known places to visit in Seattle is Pike Place Market. Most people know of Pike Place as the “fish throwing place” because you can literally see the employees flinging fish to be wrapped behind the counter. It’s really easy to find because there is usually a large crowd gathered to watch the fish throwing extravaganza.
Pike Place Market is also well known for the inexpensive flower bouquets that line the hallway. They are priced anywhere from $10- $20ish per bouquet and are packed with seasonal flowers. It’s common to see people walking around downtown with beautiful bouquets they picked up from the market.
Pike Place is also well known for its delicious food! Whether it be fresh seafood to chowder or pastries and yogurt, there is something for everyone! Piroshky Piroshky is a super popular stop at the market. There you can pick up a Piroshky (hand held pie) that is either sweet, made of meat or veggies. My personal fave is the Beef and Cheese Piroshky. While there, you also have to stop at Beecher’s for some mac and cheese, and visit the first Starbucks (if you’re willing to wait in a looooooong line).
On the other side of the market are beautiful views of Elliott Bay where you can get that Instagram selfie, see the Great Wheel and watch the ferries coming and going!
Speaking of Instagram selfies, don’t forget to stop by the gum wall in the alley right under the fish throwers!
2. Space Needle
The Space Needle is obviously another one of Seattle’s iconic places to visit. The Space Needle is what makes the skyline of Seattle recognizable to most. You can grab some pretty great photos for free right outside the Space Needle, but the best views are seen when you go up to the observation deck! The cost to go up in the Space Needle is right around $30, but on a clear day it is absolutely worth it. There are two levels on the observation deck. One of the levels has an all glass floor, while the upper level has floor to ceiling glass. Definitely recommend!
3. Gas Works Park
Gas Works Park is a great place to go for a picnic, for photo ops, or to launch your paddleboard onto Lake Union! I have taken my daughter here a few times for some fun photos. The hillside gets packed with people and dogs on summer days when the weather is perfect. You will often find people playing frisbee and flying kites. Some people even partake in yoga and other exercise classes in the park. Hot summer days, you will find anything from paddleboards to boats, planes and houses on the lake. It’s such a nice park to get all the Seattle feels!
4. Pier 66
One of my fave views of downtown Seattle is at Pier 66. This is a great place to go for photo ops, and it is usually pretty quiet. You have to go up quite a few stairs to get here, but there is an elevator to use if needed. As you can see from this view, you can see Mt. Rainier on a clear day, as well as Seattle’s Great Wheel and downtown area. On the other side, you can see picturesque views of the Olympic Mountains on a clear day.
5. Starbucks Reserve & Roastery
If you like coffee, you must stop at Starbuck’s Reserve Roastery in Capitol Hill. They have everything from a cold brew mixology bar to a scooping bar, main bar with coffee, and delicious treats! They also have a coffee library. What more could you ask for?
6. Kerry Park
Another must see park is Kerry Park. It’s not what you would really think of as a park, but more of a viewing area. This is such a popular spot for photos that you will see photographers lined up at sunrise and sunset to get that perfect shot. On a clear day, you will see Mt. Rainier in the background as well as the Space Needle. It’s definitely a great place to go in the morning to watch the sun come up while drinking some delicious Seattle coffee!
7. Golden Gardens
Golden Gardens is one of my fave places to go to lay on the beach! During the summer, this place can get packed, so you have to get here early for a good parking place on the weekends. You can often find people playing beach volleyball here and kids building sand castles. The water is often too cold to actually get in and enjoy a swim though. This is about as close as Seattle gets to having a real beach. It’s not the best sand, but we will take it. It has an amazing view of the Olympic mountains, and is also a great place to paddleboard!
8. Alki Beach
I have seen some of the most amazing sunsets from Alki Beach in West Seattle! Alki has some pretty amazing views of the city as well. There is a nice paved trail that resembles what you would expect to see in Southern California. You can often see roller bladers, skate boarders, cyclists, and runners enjoying the trail along the water. There are a few nice eateries along the water as well.
9. Green Lake
Green Lake is another gorgeous place to go for a walk, run or bike ride. This place really shows off in the Fall, when the vibrant reds, oranges and yellows come out of nowhere. Summers here are also amazing. You can rent paddleboards here or just come to the area for a picnic. There is plenty of parking around the lake.
10. Take a Hike…literally.
There are so many amazing places to hike in the Pacific Northwest. There are hikes with lakes full of turquoise blue water, hikes that still have snow in the middle of the summer, and hikes that take you to the most peaceful places in the middle of nowhere. I will expand much more on this in other posts because the hikes out here deserve their own posts. In the meantime, take a look at some of the photos below to see some examples of hikes in the PNW!
