KerryPark_April2014

Here’s some of my favorite things to do in Seattle. I’ve covered some fun activities and my favorite eateries in the central neighborhoods, some fun parks, a few day trips and an overview of transportation options. Feel free to give me a shout if you have any questions.

Downtown, Belltown, & Pike Place Market

Spend time wandering around all the vendors and shops at Pike Place Market. Watch them make cheese at Beechers. Leave your mark on the Gum Wall. Grab lunch at one of the many restaurants around the market or grab a few items from DeLaurenti and have a picnic lunch in the Sculpture Park (Free). Or, for a little history and food, you can check out the food tours from Savor Seattle or Seattle Bites.

Next you can head down to the Aquarium ($22) and the Ferris Wheel ($13).

Or, head downtown and visit the Seattle Art Museum (SAM) ($20). Take a self-guided tour of the Central Library (free). Be sure to visit the 10th floor and see the amazing architecture. Pro tip: if you’re walking from the market toward downtown, be sure to stay on Pike Street, it’s the least steep of all the hills!

If it’s raining and you’re in the mood for a movie, be sure to check out Cinerama (“Seattle’s most epic movie theater”)! Grab libations, food, and the famous chocolate popcorn.

Food & Drinks

Pioneer Square

Ride the vintage elevator and have a drink with a view at the top of the Smith Tower, then compare it to the view from the city’s tallest building, Columbia Tower. Stroll around the shops like Dry Goods, Clementines, Magic Mouse Toys, Velouria, Peter Miller Books, and Callus, stop for coffee, or then grab a bite. If you’re really into touristy stuff, check out the underground tours.

Food & Drinks

Queen Anne Hill (and Lower Queen Anne)

If you’re staying Downtown, hop on the Monorail and spend the day at MoPOP ($20), the newly renovated Space Needle ($27), Chihuly Glass Garden ($20), Pacific Science Center ($18). Be sure to take a stroll through the park and watch the kids play in International Fountain.

If you want to grab a bite while you’re there, head to the Armory. It’s basically a food court—MOD Pizza & Skillet are solid choices.

If you love coffee and music, check out the gathering space at KEXP, a local, independent radio station. This workspace meets concert venue also houses a record store and La Marzocco, and features a new coffee roaster every month.

View the city from Kerry Park (this is THE place to take a photo!). Then take a walk around the historic neighborhood. Be sure to stop off at the “secret” Parson’s Garden.

Food & Drinks:

South Lake Union (SLU)

Grab the street car (formerly named the South Lake Union Trolly, aka, The SLUT) downtown at Westlake. You can take it all the way to Lake Union, or hop off anywhere along the way.

If you’re able to make a reservation, take a tour of the Amazon Spheres (aka, the Amazon Balls, aka Bezo’s Balls) and be surround by more than 40,000 plants from over 30 countries. Free self-guided tours are 10am–6pm, the 1st and 3rd Saturdays of the month. Book it here.

After your plant tour, stop off at Willmott’s Ghost for a lunch, and then head to Deep Dive for a an early cocktail. If you’re still hungry, be sure to try the $18 hotdog—you won’t be disappointed.

Food & Drinks:

 Capitol Hill

Visit Volunteer Park and climb to the top of the viewing tower. If you visit Tues-Sun, don’t miss tropical gardens at the conservancy ($4), then check out Visit Bruce & Brandon Lee’s Graves at the Lake View Cemetery. 

Capitol Hill is a fun place to walk around, shop, eat, drink, and people watch!

Food & Drinks:

Fremont & Ballard

Drive, Bus it or take an Uber over to Fremont. Check out Gasworks Park (free), The Troll (free), and wander around the unique shops. Take a tour of Theo Chocolate Factory ($7 reservations required) or at least stop in the retail store and taste as many samples as your belly can hold. Drive over to Ballard and see boats move through the Lock and Dam, watch salmon climb the fish ladder and stroll through the Botanical Gardens (free).

Food & Drinks:

Woodenville

Take a bus or car to Woodinville and visit the numerous wineries and distilleries, including the famous Chateau Ste. Michelle. At Chateau Ste. Michelle they have summer concerts and cooking classes as well as free tours. It’s also fun to just walk around the grounds of the winery and try to find the peacocks roaming about. Columbia Winery is another bigger estate as well. Grab a bite at The Commons Cafe.

Parks & Gardens

Boating

Day Trips

All these places take about 3 hours to get there

  • Visit San Juan Islands or Orcas Island: can be done in 1 long day or stay overnight. Great whale watching tours (best time to see whales is May-Sept). There’s also activities like boating and kayaking.
  • Day trip to San Juan Islands or Victoria, BC on the Clipper Ship
  • Visit Mount Rainier and hike to the plateau.
  • Visit Olympic National Park (probably need to stat overnight):

Transportation

  • Walk! The city is really walkable. There’s walking streets and stairs all over Queen Anne. If you’re headed from the water back into Downtown, always take Pike Street. It’s the least steep.
  • South Lake Union Trolley (SLUT as it’s affectionately called by the locals) goes from Lake Union to Downtown
  • The Monorail ($2.25) goes from Downtown to the Seattle Center (Space Needle, EMP, Pacific Science Center)
  • Bus: Load an Orca card with money so you don’t have to worry about carrying cash
  • Uber: Download the app, enter your card info, request a car and you’re done. No exchange of cash.
  • Ferry Boats
  • Water Taxi goes to West Seattle and Vashon Island

Great Coffee

Things to do in Seattle by season

July:

April & May:

Gray Whale Watching in the Sound

April:

Tulip Festival

Mid May—Mid October:

Orca Watching in San Juan Islands

June:

June marks the start of berry picking season U-pick Farms:

July-Sept:

Concerts at Chateau Ste Michelle

August:
  • Snoqualmie Falls with a stop at lavender fields in bloom
  • Blue/blackberries picking (see june for list of farms)

September:

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