seattle, Washington
Seattle Travel Guide: What to See, Where to Eat & How to Spend Your Time Seattle is one of those cities that feels like several trips rolled into one. You have the waterfront and ferries, mountains appearing in the distance on a clear day, neighborhoods filled with little coffee shops and restaurants, and some of the most recognizable landmarks in the Pacific Northwest. It’s also an incredibly easy city to pair with a larger Washington or Alaska trip. Whether you’re spending a long weekend here or adding a couple of days before an Alaskan cruise, there’s plenty to see without trying to cram your entire vacation into one frantic itinerary. Here’s how I’d spend a few days in Seattle. Getting to Seattle Most visitors will fly into Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, better known as Sea-Tac. The airport is about 14 miles south of downtown Seattle. Depending on traffic, the drive into the city can take roughly 20–40 minutes, although Seattle traffic can absolutely have other plans. If you don’t want to rent a car, Seattle is one of the easier cities to visit without one. Sound Transit’s Link light rail connects the airport with downtown, and rideshare services and taxis are readily available. If you plan on spending most of your trip downtown, at Pike Place Market, along the waterfront and at Seattle Center, I wouldn’t rent a car just for the sake of having one. Parking can be expensive, and you may end up leaving it parked most of the time anyway. A rental car makes much more sense if Seattle is the beginning of a larger Washington road trip. Pike Place Market If this is your first trip to Seattle, start at Pike Place Market. Yes, it’s famous. Yes, it’s busy. And yes, you should still go. The market has been operating since 1907 and is packed with produce stands, flower vendors, seafood, bakeries, restaurants and tiny shops tucked throughout multiple levels. You’ll probably see the famous fish throwing at Pike Place Fish Market, but don’t just watch the spectacle and leave. Give yourself time to wander. Grab something warm from a bakery, look through the flower stalls, find a cup of coffee and explore the smaller shops downstairs. This is one of those places where wandering without much of an agenda is half the fun. The Original Starbucks The Starbucks at Pike Place Market is commonly referred to as the original Starbucks. A little technicality: Starbucks originally opened nearby in 1971 and later moved to its current Pike Place location. There is almost always a line, so whether you actually want to wait depends on how strongly you feel about having coffee from that particular Starbucks. Personally, I wouldn’t sacrifice half the morning for it. Seattle has an enormous coffee culture, and there are plenty of wonderful independent coffee shops throughout the city. Seattle Waterfront From Pike Place, walk down toward the waterfront. The Seattle waterfront has undergone major changes in recent years and is a great area to explore on foot. You’ll find Elliott Bay, piers, restaurants, the Seattle Aquarium and plenty of places to simply stop and watch the ferries move across the water. On a clear day, the combination of water, mountains and city skyline is gorgeous. Take a Ferry One of my favorite Seattle experiences barely requires an itinerary at all. Get on a ferry. Washington State Ferries travel across Puget Sound to several destinations, and the ride itself is part of the experience. A trip over to Bainbridge Island is an easy option from downtown Seattle. You can walk aboard, enjoy the views from the ferry and spend a few hours exploring Bainbridge before heading back. The return trip toward Seattle also gives you a beautiful view of the skyline from the water. If the weather cooperates, spend at least part of the ride outside. Bring a jacket. Even during warmer months, that breeze coming across Puget Sound can get chilly. Space Needle You can’t really talk about Seattle without mentioning the Space Needle. Built for the 1962 World’s Fair, it remains one of the most recognizable structures in the city. The observation level gives you panoramic views over Seattle, Puget Sound and the surrounding mountains. On a clear day, you may even get a beautiful view of Mount Rainier. If you’re trying to decide when to go, late afternoon into sunset is especially pretty. Just remember that Seattle weather has a sense of humor. Paying for a spectacular view and receiving an intimate portrait of a cloud is entirely possible. Check the forecast before buying your ticket if your schedule allows. Chihuly Garden and Glass Right beside the Space Needle is Chihuly Garden and Glass. Even if you’re normally someone who flies through art museums, this one is different. The museum showcases the work of Washington glass artist Dale Chihuly, with huge colorful glass installations displayed both indoors and throughout the garden. The Glasshouse is particularly beautiful and makes this an easy attraction to combine with the Space Needle since they’re right beside one another. Museum of Pop Culture Also nearby is the Museum of Pop Culture, or MoPOP. The building alone is worth seeing. Inside, exhibits focus on music, film, television, science fiction and pop culture. Exhibitions change, so check what’s showing before your visit. If the weather turns rainy—which, hello, Seattle—this is a very good indoor option. Kerry Park Want the classic Seattle skyline photo? Go to Kerry Park This small viewpoint in the Queen Anne neighborhood looks toward downtown with the Space Needle in front of the skyline. When the sky is clear enough, Mount Rainier rises behind the city. It’s particularly beautiful around sunset and after dark when the city lights come on. The park itself is tiny, so you don’t need to plan an entire afternoon around it. Think of it as a beautiful stop rather than a major attraction. Explore Seattle’s Neighborhoods Don’t spend your entire trip downtown. Seattle gets much more interesting when you start exploring its neighborhoods. Ballard Ballard has restaurants, breweries, shops and a neighborhood feel that makes it easy to spend several hours wandering. While you’re there, visit the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks—usually just called the Ballard Locks—where boats travel between the freshwater lakes and Puget Sound. Depending on the season, you may also be able to see salmon moving through the fish ladder. Fremont Fremont is quirky in exactly the way you’d expect from Seattle. You’ll find public art, independent shops and the enormous Fremont Troll tucked underneath the Aurora Bridge. It’s weird. Go see it. Capitol Hill For restaurants, coffee shops, nightlife and people watching, spend some time in Capitol Hill. This is a good neighborhood to visit when you’re ready to get away from the biggest tourist attractions and simply enjoy the city. Discovery Park If you need a break from buildings and crowds, head to Discovery Park. At more than 500 acres, it’s Seattle’s largest city park and feels surprisingly removed from the city. There are walking trails, meadows, forest and views over Puget Sound. West Point Lighthouse is one of the most recognizable spots in the park. Bring comfortable shoes. This is where you go when you want Seattle to stop feeling like a city for a couple of hours. Where to Eat in Seattle Seattle is a very good city to arrive hungry. Seafood is an obvious choice, particularly salmon, oysters and Dungeness crab, but don’t limit yourself to seafood. Seattle’s food scene reflects influences from across the Pacific Northwest and Asia, and some of the best meals can come from tiny neighborhood restaurants rather than famous waterfront establishments. At Pike Place Market, I’d make lunch less about sitting down for one big meal and more about trying several things. Pick up something from a bakery. Try fresh seafood. Find a small counter serving something you’ve never ordered before. And absolutely get coffee. You’re in Seattle. It would be rude not to. Take a Day Trip to Mount Rainier If you have an extra day and the weather is cooperating, get out of the city. Mount Rainier National Park is one of the most spectacular places you can visit from Seattle. The drive from Seattle generally takes around two hours depending on which area of the park you’re visiting, traffic and road conditions. During summer, you’ll find hiking trails, waterfalls, wildflowers and enormous views of Mount Rainier. Check current National Park Service information before leaving because seasonal road closures, weather conditions and entry requirements can affect your plans. This is one of those days where having a rental car becomes worthwhile. Snoqualmie Falls If Mount Rainier requires more time than you have, Snoqualmie Falls is an easier escape from Seattle. The 268-foot waterfall is roughly 30 miles east of the city and can easily be visited in half a day. There are viewpoints near the top and trails leading toward the lower viewing area. It’s especially impressive after periods of heavy rain when the waterfall is roaring. When to Visit Seattle Summer is Seattle’s most popular travel season for a reason. July and August generally bring warmer temperatures, longer daylight hours and less rain, making them ideal for ferries, waterfront walks and outdoor activities. The downside is larger crowds and higher hotel prices. Spring brings flowers and cooler weather, while fall can be gorgeous as the leaves change. Winter is darker, wetter and cooler, but it also has its own cozy Pacific Northwest charm—and considerably fewer summer tourists. No matter when you visit, bring layers. Seattle weather can change quickly, especially when you’re near the water. A Simple 3-Day Seattle Itinerary Day One: Start at Pike Place Market, explore the waterfront, visit the Seattle Aquarium area and take the ferry to Bainbridge Island. Return to Seattle for dinner. Day Two: Spend the morning at Seattle Center visiting the Space Needle and Chihuly Garden and Glass. Explore Queen Anne, stop at Kerry Park and spend the evening in one of Seattle’s neighborhoods. Day Three: Rent a car and head to Mount Rainier National Park, or choose Snoqualmie Falls if you want a shorter day trip. If you have a fourth day, slow everything down. Spend time in Ballard, walk through Discovery Park, find a neighborhood coffee shop and enjoy Seattle without checking another attraction off a list. Before You Go Seattle is a city I wouldn’t over-plan. Reserve the major things that matter to you, especially during summer, but leave room for wandering. Some of the best parts of Seattle are incredibly simple: riding a ferry across Puget Sound, finding a tiny coffee shop, buying flowers at Pike Place Market or suddenly spotting Mount Rainier in the distance. Come for the Space Needle and Pike Place Market. But give yourself enough time to discover the Seattle that exists in between them.
Seattle Travel Guide: What to See, Where to Eat & How to Spend Your Time Seattle is one of those cities that feels like several trips rolled into one. You have the waterfront and ferries, mountains appearing in the distance on a clear day, neighborhoods filled with little coffee shops and restaurants, and some of the most recognizable landmarks in the Pacific Northwest. It’s also an incredibly easy city to pair with a larger Washington or Alaska trip. Whether you’re spending a long weekend here or adding a couple of days before an Alaskan cruise, there’s plenty to see without trying to cram your entire vacation into one frantic itinerary. Here’s how I’d spend a few days in Seattle. Getting to Seattle Most visitors will fly into Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, better known as Sea-Tac. The airport is about 14 miles south of downtown Seattle. Depending on traffic, the drive into the city can take roughly 20–40 minutes, although Seattle traffic can absolutely have other plans. If you don’t want to rent a car, Seattle is one of the easier cities to visit without one. Sound Transit’s Link light rail connects the airport with downtown, and rideshare services and taxis are readily available. If you plan on spending most of your trip downtown, at Pike Place Market, along the waterfront and at Seattle Center, I wouldn’t rent a car just for the sake of having one. Parking can be expensive, and you may end up leaving it parked most of the time anyway. A rental car makes much more sense if Seattle is the beginning of a larger Washington road trip. Pike Place Market If this is your first trip to Seattle, start at Pike Place Market. Yes, it’s famous. Yes, it’s busy. And yes, you should still go. The market has been operating since 1907 and is packed with produce stands, flower vendors, seafood, bakeries, restaurants and tiny shops tucked throughout multiple levels. You’ll probably see the famous fish throwing at Pike Place Fish Market, but don’t just watch the spectacle and leave. Give yourself time to wander. Grab something warm from a bakery, look through the flower stalls, find a cup of coffee and explore the smaller shops downstairs. This is one of those places where wandering without much of an agenda is half the fun. The Original Starbucks The Starbucks at Pike Place Market is commonly referred to as the original Starbucks. A little technicality: Starbucks originally opened nearby in 1971 and later moved to its current Pike Place location. There is almost always a line, so whether you actually want to wait depends on how strongly you feel about having coffee from that particular Starbucks. Personally, I wouldn’t sacrifice half the morning for it. Seattle has an enormous coffee culture, and there are plenty of wonderful independent coffee shops throughout the city. Seattle Waterfront From Pike Place, walk down toward the waterfront. The Seattle waterfront has undergone major changes in recent years and is a great area to explore on foot. You’ll find Elliott Bay, piers, restaurants, the Seattle Aquarium and plenty of places to simply stop and watch the ferries move across the water. On a clear day, the combination of water, mountains and city skyline is gorgeous. Take a Ferry One of my favorite Seattle experiences barely requires an itinerary at all. Get on a ferry. Washington State Ferries travel across Puget Sound to several destinations, and the ride itself is part of the experience. A trip over to Bainbridge Island is an easy option from downtown Seattle. You can walk aboard, enjoy the views from the ferry and spend a few hours exploring Bainbridge before heading back. The return trip toward Seattle also gives you a beautiful view of the skyline from the water. If the weather cooperates, spend at least part of the ride outside. Bring a jacket. Even during warmer months, that breeze coming across Puget Sound can get chilly. Space Needle You can’t really talk about Seattle without mentioning the Space Needle. Built for the 1962 World’s Fair, it remains one of the most recognizable structures in the city. The observation level gives you panoramic views over Seattle, Puget Sound and the surrounding mountains. On a clear day, you may even get a beautiful view of Mount Rainier. If you’re trying to decide when to go, late afternoon into sunset is especially pretty. Just remember that Seattle weather has a sense of humor. Paying for a spectacular view and receiving an intimate portrait of a cloud is entirely possible. Check the forecast before buying your ticket if your schedule allows. Chihuly Garden and Glass Right beside the Space Needle is Chihuly Garden and Glass. Even if you’re normally someone who flies through art museums, this one is different. The museum showcases the work of Washington glass artist Dale Chihuly, with huge colorful glass installations displayed both indoors and throughout the garden. The Glasshouse is particularly beautiful and makes this an easy attraction to combine with the Space Needle since they’re right beside one another. Museum of Pop Culture Also nearby is the Museum of Pop Culture, or MoPOP. The building alone is worth seeing. Inside, exhibits focus on music, film, television, science fiction and pop culture. Exhibitions change, so check what’s showing before your visit. If the weather turns rainy—which, hello, Seattle—this is a very good indoor option. Kerry Park Want the classic Seattle skyline photo? Go to Kerry Park This small viewpoint in the Queen Anne neighborhood looks toward downtown with the Space Needle in front of the skyline. When the sky is clear enough, Mount Rainier rises behind the city. It’s particularly beautiful around sunset and after dark when the city lights come on. The park itself is tiny, so you don’t need to plan an entire afternoon around it. Think of it as a beautiful stop rather than a major attraction. Explore Seattle’s Neighborhoods Don’t spend your entire trip downtown. Seattle gets much more interesting when you start exploring its neighborhoods. Ballard Ballard has restaurants, breweries, shops and a neighborhood feel that makes it easy to spend several hours wandering. While you’re there, visit the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks—usually just called the Ballard Locks—where boats travel between the freshwater lakes and Puget Sound. Depending on the season, you may also be able to see salmon moving through the fish ladder. Fremont Fremont is quirky in exactly the way you’d expect from Seattle. You’ll find public art, independent shops and the enormous Fremont Troll tucked underneath the Aurora Bridge. It’s weird. Go see it. Capitol Hill For restaurants, coffee shops, nightlife and people watching, spend some time in Capitol Hill. This is a good neighborhood to visit when you’re ready to get away from the biggest tourist attractions and simply enjoy the city. Discovery Park If you need a break from buildings and crowds, head to Discovery Park. At more than 500 acres, it’s Seattle’s largest city park and feels surprisingly removed from the city. There are walking trails, meadows, forest and views over Puget Sound. West Point Lighthouse is one of the most recognizable spots in the park. Bring comfortable shoes. This is where you go when you want Seattle to stop feeling like a city for a couple of hours. Where to Eat in Seattle Seattle is a very good city to arrive hungry. Seafood is an obvious choice, particularly salmon, oysters and Dungeness crab, but don’t limit yourself to seafood. Seattle’s food scene reflects influences from across the Pacific Northwest and Asia, and some of the best meals can come from tiny neighborhood restaurants rather than famous waterfront establishments. At Pike Place Market, I’d make lunch less about sitting down for one big meal and more about trying several things. Pick up something from a bakery. Try fresh seafood. Find a small counter serving something you’ve never ordered before. And absolutely get coffee. You’re in Seattle. It would be rude not to. Take a Day Trip to Mount Rainier If you have an extra day and the weather is cooperating, get out of the city. Mount Rainier National Park is one of the most spectacular places you can visit from Seattle. The drive from Seattle generally takes around two hours depending on which area of the park you’re visiting, traffic and road conditions. During summer, you’ll find hiking trails, waterfalls, wildflowers and enormous views of Mount Rainier. Check current National Park Service information before leaving because seasonal road closures, weather conditions and entry requirements can affect your plans. This is one of those days where having a rental car becomes worthwhile. Snoqualmie Falls If Mount Rainier requires more time than you have, Snoqualmie Falls is an easier escape from Seattle. The 268-foot waterfall is roughly 30 miles east of the city and can easily be visited in half a day. There are viewpoints near the top and trails leading toward the lower viewing area. It’s especially impressive after periods of heavy rain when the waterfall is roaring. When to Visit Seattle Summer is Seattle’s most popular travel season for a reason. July and August generally bring warmer temperatures, longer daylight hours and less rain, making them ideal for ferries, waterfront walks and outdoor activities. The downside is larger crowds and higher hotel prices. Spring brings flowers and cooler weather, while fall can be gorgeous as the leaves change. Winter is darker, wetter and cooler, but it also has its own cozy Pacific Northwest charm—and considerably fewer summer tourists. No matter when you visit, bring layers. Seattle weather can change quickly, especially when you’re near the water. A Simple 3-Day Seattle Itinerary Day One: Start at Pike Place Market, explore the waterfront, visit the Seattle Aquarium area and take the ferry to Bainbridge Island. Return to Seattle for dinner. Day Two: Spend the morning at Seattle Center visiting the Space Needle and Chihuly Garden and Glass. Explore Queen Anne, stop at Kerry Park and spend the evening in one of Seattle’s neighborhoods. Day Three: Rent a car and head to Mount Rainier National Park, or choose Snoqualmie Falls if you want a shorter day trip. If you have a fourth day, slow everything down. Spend time in Ballard, walk through Discovery Park, find a neighborhood coffee shop and enjoy Seattle without checking another attraction off a list. Before You Go Seattle is a city I wouldn’t over-plan. Reserve the major things that matter to you, especially during summer, but leave room for wandering. Some of the best parts of Seattle are incredibly simple: riding a ferry across Puget Sound, finding a tiny coffee shop, buying flowers at Pike Place Market or suddenly spotting Mount Rainier in the distance. Come for the Space Needle and Pike Place Market. But give yourself enough time to discover the Seattle that exists in between them.
