Home » Travel & Places » United States » Washington

Top 10 things to do in Seattle

Ranked #5,874 in Travel & Places, #165,108 overall

Welcome to Seattle, Washington! Home of lush green hills, snowcapped mountains, sparkling waters, and the infamous rain, nicknaming Seattle the Emerald City. Seattle's moderate year round climate combined with a contrasting geography of water and mountains, encourage a wide variety of year round outdoor activities. Sailing, kayaking, scuba diving, roller blading, jogging, bicycling, and golf are all available within the city limits. If that's not enough for you, less than an hour's drive will take you whale watching, fishing, camping, hiking, mountain biking, rock climbing, and skiing! For the people who decided that they just want to visit instead of relocate, or even for the people who live there and just want to see a little bit more of their city, below is a list of the top 10 things to do and see while you're in Seattle!

*Also, take time to see the first Nordstrom store, the whole pier and waterfront, and to buy your rain coat and boots! Come prepared for rain, and enjoy!

1. Space Needle

Space NeedleLocated just north of downtown Seattle, the Seattle Space Needle stands at 605 feet tall. FIRST STOP: The observation deck; the most important thing atop the Seattle Space Needle is the view with a 360-degree panorama of the city, Puget Sound, Mount Rainier, the Cascade and Olympic mountain ranges. Displays here point out more than 60 area sights, and the binocular telescopes are free. The SkyCafe also serves light snacks and beverages. When you get hungry, head on into the SkyCity restaurant. When built, the Seattle Space Needle had the second revolving restaurant in the world. It's open for lunch, dinner, and Saturday and Sunday brunch. *The elevator ride and Observation Deck access are complimentary when dining.
Something to consider: As much as adults love to stand and look at the city, the little ones might get board. The restaurant might be a better choice when traveling with children.

Look at things from a new perspective

powered by 5min

2. Pike Place Market

Pike PlaceLocated on the beautiful Seattle Waterfront, Pike Place Market is approaching 100 years old. It is home to shops and stands selling farm produce, specialty foods, international groceries, handmade crafts, antiques and collectibles, books and clothing, and has 60 restaurants and take-out spots,. Pike Place also houses the very first Starbucks Coffee Shop in the world, the Fish Market Salmon Slinging, and Rachel, the life-sized bronze piggy bank that has collected over $100,000 since she arrived in 1986. There is so much to do and see here! This is my personal favorite place to go in Seattle. Spend a day relaxing with all of the artists, fishermen and street performers that you will see. Enjoy.

Feel the soul of the city

powered by Youtube

3. Seattle Center

Home of the 1962 World's Fair, this 74 acre campus offers a huge variety of different activities. If you're with the whole family, you can visit the Pacific Science Center, a fun, hands-on science museum with two IMAX theaters, see the Experience Music Project (EMP), the Science Fiction Museum, the Children's Museum, or the Fun Forest Amusement Park. For the adults, go see a Pacific Northwest Ballet, the Seattle Opera, and the sculpture gardens. This is also where the Space Needle is located, so it's a great chance to see two places in one day.

Be a part of something bigger then yourself

powered by Youtube

4. Pioneer Square

Pioneer Square is a Seattle's oldest neighborhood, located in southern downtown. 20 blocks of Seattle are red brick buildings that are home to many of Seattle's art galleries, cafes and book stores. Come at night to see the life that flocks here, locals and tourists alike. While in Pioneer Square, visit the Klondike Gold Rush Historic Park, commemorating those who came to Seattle on their way to the gold fields, Smith Tower, the tallest building west of the Mississippi when it was completed in 1914, and still one of the best places in the city to get a good view, and the Seattle Police Museum, the largest Police Museum in the United States.

5. Seattle Underground

In its early days, downtown Seattle was a chaotic place, built on tidal plain with poor drainage. After the Great Fire of 1889, city planners wanted to raise the streets to solve the city's growing sewage problems, but the downtown building owners, unwilling to wait for the city to get to work, rebuilt their buildings at the original level. Years later, the city raised the streets, leaving sidewalks and entrances as much as 36 feet below street level. For a time, pedestrians climbed up and down between street level and building entrance on ladders, but eventually the building entrances were raised, and the old sidewalks covered over, creating the area called the Seattle Underground.

The Seattle Underground Tour begins in Doc Maynard's, a restored 1890s public house, then the tour goes underground to visit the abandoned, sunken storefronts of what was once ground-level Pioneer Square. Their well-informed guides recount the role of the modern toilet in Seattle history and the origin of the term Skid Road, taking you to some places where ghosts are said to hang out, all the while telling funny stories and spouting Seattle history.

Relive History

powered by Youtube

6. Seattle Museum of Flight

The Museum of Flight holds a collection that includes 131 air- and spacecraft and over 19,000 other artifacts, including a Concorde, SR-71 Blackbird, F/A-18 Hornet, and America's first presidential jet, Air Force One. The most spectacular display space at the Museum of Flight is the Great Gallery, a six-story, glass-and-steel structure that contains more than 30 vintage airplanes, including a 1935 DC-3 and the first Air Force F-5 supersonic fighter. The best way to enjoy this display is with a knowledgeable Museum of Flight docent. Check the tour times as you enter the gallery.

Fly above the clouds

powered by Youtube

7. The International District

Located just north of the city's two professional sports stadiums, Seattle's Chinatown-International District is one of the city's oldest neighborhoods. It serves as the cultural hub for Seattle's Asian-American residents. Wonderful Asian restaurants, unique shopping, and historic attractions are among the interesting things that draw many day-trippers to the neighborhood.

Learn a new way of life

powered by Youtube

8. Chittenden Locks

Built in 1911 to link salty Puget Sound with fresh-water Lake Union and Lake Washington, the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks, also known locally as the Ballard Locks, are a favorite with locals and visitors alike. You'll usually find a small crowd gathered to watch the constant parade of sailboats, motorboats, tugs, barges and yachts passing through. At the Fish Ladder, a 21-step water "ladder" allows fish to swim upstream or downstream on a gradual incline, bypassing the locks. Adult salmon return from the sea from June to November, steelhead salmon return to spawn from January through April, and young salmon make their way out to sea in May and June. An underwater viewing gallery lets visitors watch the fish from underwater.

See the Salmon

powered by Youtube

9. Seattle Aquarium

Located on Pier 59, the Seattle Aquarium features creatures from the Puget Sound area and other underwater places. During public feedings throughout the day, visitors can watch trainers feed sea otters, harbor seals and diving birds. While the Seattle Aquarium isn't as large or impressive as some others, it's a pleasant stop, especially for children. Their collection includes a giant octopus, and their marine mammals include not just the obligatory sea otters and sea lions, but also fur seals. Each September, you can watch salmon return to spawn via their indoor salmon ladder. Also, the aquarium is located right next to one of Seattle's IMAX theaters. If you plan on going there also, do it in one day and buy a combo ticket to save money.

Come in contact with the underwater world

powered by Youtube

10. Woodland Park Zoo

Spread over 65 acres, Woodland Park Zoo is one of the oldest zoos on the West Coast, home to the largest live animal collection in Washington state, with nearly 1,145 specimens representing 290 species. Over a million people visit the zoo each year, and it's no wonder. Woodland Park has won five major exhibit awards from the American Zoo and Aquarium Association. Animals are displayed here in natural setting, and grouped by the climate zones they live in.

Experience Nature

powered by Youtube

The Neighborhoods

powered by Youtube

Last, but not least

DON'T FORGET YOUR CITYPASS!

powered by Youtube

CLICK ON THE PICTURE BELOW TO BE DIRECTED TO YOUR CITYPASS

SEE THE FIRST NORDSTROM STORE-DOWNTOWN SEATTLE

Click on picture below for more information

SEE THE FIRST STARBUCKS- PIKE PLACE

Click on picture below for more information

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE THING TO DO IN SEATTLE?

Loading poll. Please Wait...

Guestbook Comments

  • annmarie93 Nov 9, 2011 @ 12:02 am | delete
    Thanks so much Vicki!!! I really appreciate it! And everybody else, thank you!!
  • VickiSims Nov 8, 2011 @ 11:49 pm | delete
    Great information! Added as a featured lens on my visit Seattle lens.
  • kazzie Oct 29, 2011 @ 9:01 am | delete
    Love this article! It has so much wonderful information in it :)
  • kazzie Oct 29, 2011 @ 9:01 am | delete
    Love this article! It has so much wonderful information in it :)
  • annmarie93 Oct 26, 2011 @ 2:11 am | delete
    I agree!
  • TravelingRae Oct 25, 2011 @ 11:09 am | delete
    Cheesy as it is, Riding the Duck is a must!
  • wcjohnston Oct 24, 2011 @ 2:58 pm | delete
    Very interesting city, thanks
  • tonyleather Oct 24, 2011 @ 7:52 am | delete
    Nice place, by the looks of it. Hope i get to see it someday. Thanks
Show All

Women's Rain Boots

Loading

Men's Rain Boots

Loading

Kid's Rain Boots

Loading

by

annmarie93

Hi, I'm AnnMarie :) I love fashion, travel, and business. I'm currently in school for business management and fashion merchandising and hope to eventu... more »

Feeling creative? Create a Lens!

Explore related pages

Related Tags