Hey Sea-Town! You’re not so bad when the sun comes out. And the surrounding areas offer a ton of diversions to keep the wet spirits up. There’s also a ton of indoor activities as well, so grab a raincoat and get out and explore!
Seattle Area Activities
Seattle Center
Originally built for the 1964 World’s Fair, The Seattle Center is one of the biggest tourist locations in the city. It may be trendy, but don’t skip it -it’s popular for a reason. This is where the famed Space Needle is, and if you want, you can pay a lot for a quick ride to the top. You can also stand below it and take a picture for free.
There’s actually a ton to check out while you are there:
- Visit the Pacific Science Center, with dinosaurs, butterflies, an IMAX, and all of the other stuff you expect at a science center.
- If science isn’t your thing, check out the amazing Chihuly Garden and Glass exhibit. This beautiful display will really blow your mind (get the pun? because it’s glass blowing. blow your mind. see?!)
- The Seattle Center is also home to the EMP Museum. I have no idea what this stands for, but it’s a cool place dedicated to science fiction, grunge music and fantasy. Don’t miss the music lab – you can jam on instruments and even record a CD!
- Seattle Center is also home to Bumbershoot, North America’s largest arts and music festival, taking place each fall for 3 days and nights.
Pike Place Market and Waterfront
A must visit in Seattle is the Pike Place Market. It covers 9 acres and includes farmers markets, arts, crafts, restaurants and entertainment. There’s men throwing fish, chocolate samples and usually live music. It’s definitely the place to go if you need gifts or souvenirs, and you can easily spend an afternoon browsing the 200+ shops and vendors.
While you’re there, walk down the steps to the waterfront and check out the pier. There are a few restaurants with great seafood and a giant ferris wheel that will give you terrific views of the fog.
The Seattle Aquarium is also located here, and is a great rainy-day option.
Take a Ferry
Seattle is surrounded by water (duh) and you should get out on a boat. The easiest way is to hop on a ferry. The ferries in this area are considered part of the state highway system, so they’re reliable! From the Seattle terminal (right near Pike Place) you can get to Bainbridge Island or Bremerton. It’s a nice ride, doesn’t cost too much, and there’s even beer available on board!
Take a day trip/weekend
There’s also plenty to do just an hour or two outside of the city. Get out there and explore!
Friday Harbor/San Juan Island
There are a few of these San Juan Islands, and they all have their own unique attractions. We only visited Friday Harbor, which is probably the most popular location. It was an easy drive from the city to Antacortes, and then you just drive your car right onto the ferry. (You can go car-free as well, and there’s a transit system to get you around to all of the major destinations. We went in the off-season and during the week, so public transit t wasn’t really an option for us.)
Once you get over to Friday Harbor, there are dozens of shops and restaurants. There are plenty of activities to do while you are there.
- Go on a whale-watching cruise (or drive around the island and see if you can catch a glimpse of them from shore! We did, and it was incredible)!
- Visit Roche Harbor. It’s a cool little town to walk around, eat lunch, or even stay at the grandiose hotel and spa there. Don’t miss the mausoleum. It’s a short hike, but well worth it. There’s a cool sculpture park there as well.
- History Buffs will love the American and British Camps on the island. There’s some crazy story about a “Pig War”, too.
- Visit Lime Kiln State Park. There’s a pretty good chance you might see a whale, plus the views are pretty incredible.
- Just go for a drive around! The island is beautiful and truly unique. Drive around, stopping at the beaches and parks along the way.
Mt. Rainier
Oh Yeah – Mt. Rainier is nearby! And it is totally worth the drive. It’s about a 2-hour drive to the Nisqually Entrance, and in 20 minutes you’ll be in Paradise. I’m not even joking – that’s what it is called, and rightly so. The trails around Paradise can keep you busy for days. I don’t know when the best time to go is, but it could not have been better when we went at the end of August. The wildflowers were incredible, the sun was shining and warm and the crowds were pretty low. A good tip for lodging – try VRBO.com or HomeAway.com. We found a sweet cabin right in Ashford with a private hot tub and amazing views for cheap!
Whidbey Island
Whidbey Island is a completely relaxing destination and a great weekend trip away from the big city. You can put your car on a ferry, which is pretty quick and pretty affordable. We decided to skip the toll and drove up and around. You end up coming down through Deception Pass. You definitely want to make sure you have enough to go on a hike in this area, and then head down through Oak Harbor (as in, just skip Oak Harbor completely) on your way to Coupeville.
And prepare to relax. This tiny little waterfront town has a handful of restaurants, bars and shops. If I planned your trip for you, you would book a cottage at Garden Isle Cottages. (Adorable, private and you have a hot tub – what more do you need? Oh breakfast – done.) Grab a drink at Front Street Grill – great views and awesome happy hour prices. The curry mussels are amazing. But save your appetite for Christopher’s. We celebrated our anniversary there, and honestly, it blew us away. Food – Amazing. Service Incredible. Added Bonus: You can walk there from your cottage.
Go climb around on some huge cannons and in some tunnels at Fort Casey. Hike the ridge at Fort Ebey. Walk around Langley (another small town with lots of shops and restaurants), and be sure to eat at Prima Bistro. (Yes, we did a lot of eating and drinking.)
There are a ton of other things to do in Seattle, but this should get you started! Just get out there and explore!