Last year, Seattle received over 40 million visitors year round marking it’s 10th straight year of record-breaking tourism levels. In addition to being the most populous city in the Pacific Northwest, it’s home to the original Starbucks, the iconic Space Needle, and commonly referred to as the birthplace of Grunge music.
That being said, is Seattle really worth a visit?
Yes, it is absolutely worth your time! Surrounded by water, mountains, and evergreen forests, Seattle gives you the best of the outdoors as well as all the activities and attractions the city has to offer. There’s something for everyone to enjoy.
It’s no wonder Seattle continues to be a hot spot for travelers. Here are some top reasons that make Seattle a worthwhile visit, as well as some insider tips to make the most of your travels.
Attractions
Pike Place Market
Here you’ll find produce stalls (locally grown in the Puget Sound region), fishmongers, specialty foods, and creative handmade crafts from local artists. It’s the location of the original Starbucks and popular local tradition the flying fish! Check this video to see it in action.
Started in August 1907, Pike Place Market is one of the oldest continuously run farmers’ markets in the US. With over 10 million visitors annually, Pike Place Market continues to be a Seattle staple and a must on the checklist.
Insider Tip: For a fantastic photo op, visit the gum wall and offer up a tribute!
Pike Place Market Website . Hours & Directions
Space Needle
If you’ve ever seen a picture of the Seattle skyline then you’ve likely seen the iconic Space Needle. Built in 1962 for the World’s Fair, the Space Needle is a historic landmark and was once the largest structure west of the Mississippi River. It features views of the Seattle skyline, Mount Rainier, Olympic and Cascade Mountains, and the surrounding Puget Sound islands.
Insider Tip: Buy tickets in advance to lower your wait time!
Space Needle Website . Directions . Open 9 AM – 9 PM weekends
Museum of Pop Culture (MoPop)
If you’re a fan of fantasy, sci-fi, or pop culture in general then this is the place for you! It’s jam-packed full of creative exhibits that not only highlight film, but art, music, and video games as well. It’s likely one of the most entertaining places you’ll get lost in. Visit the MoPop website to see their current exhibits.
MoPop website . Directions . Open daily 10 AM – 5 PM
Chihuly Garden & Glass
The Chihuly Garden and Glass Museum features the work of world-renowned glassblower Dale Chihuly. Having studied at the Venini glass factory in Venice, Dale returned to co-found Pilchuck Glass School in Washington State.
His works exhibited in the Museum are considered to be outstanding artistic works in the field of blown glass where he’s moved the art into the realm of large scale sculptures. The centerpiece being the Glasshouse exhibit which showcases a 100-foot long suspended sculpture with hues of reds, oranges, yellows, and amber.
Chihuly Garden & Glass Website . Directions . Open 10 AM – 7 PM
The Museum of Flight
Ever wanted to walk the aisles of JFK’s Air Force One? Or see the difference between a World War I fighter plane or World War II fighter place? Or how about experiencing life on a space station? This is the place!
Featuring over 175 aircraft and spacecraft, the Museum of Flight is the largest independent, non-profit air and space museum in the world. Dozens of exhibits, thousands of rare photographs, and hundreds of artifacts all come together to illustrate our history of flight.
Insider Tip: Visit on the first Thursday of the month to get free admission! (from 5 PM – 9 PM)
Museum of Flight Website . Directions . Open daily 10 AM – 5 PM
Washington State Ferries
Enjoy a relaxing boat ride aboard one of 22 Washington State Ferries. Here you’ll have breathtaking views of the surrounding Puget Sound region as you travel to Bainbridge Island. For under $10, you’ll get views that’ll be hard to beat!
Insider Tip: Take the ferry from Seattle to Bainbridge Island on a sunny day. Head all the way up to the top of boat for an awesome outdoor deck and enjoy some of the best views you can get of the city and region. The ferry is under $10 and lasts about 35 minutes.
Washington State Ferry Website . Ferry Schedule
The Outdoors
Ecological diversity is one of Seattle’s greatest benefits. Surrounded by mountains, forests, ocean, farmland, and islands — Seattle offers something for everyone. It’s well worth your time to take a few hours to explore the surrounding wilderness outside of the city.
If you’re into water activities, Puget Sound and Lake Washington are great places for fishing, sailing, recreational boating, paddle boarding, or canoeing.
Or if you’re more into the great outdoors then Olympic National Park & Forest or Mount Rainier National Park may be right up your alley. Here you can go hiking, camping, wildlife watching, and backpacking.
Lastly, if you don’t have the time to venture out of the city then Seattle is home to more than 400+ different parks, each with it’s own perfect dose of the outdoors. Each park is unique with some having beachfront walking paths, nature trails and spectacular gardens. Here are 2 notable parks:
- Discovery Park (It boasts 534 acres of tidal beaches, sea cliffs, and forests.)
- Gas Works Park (One of the most unique parks in the world. It’s situated on a former gasification plant and still contains remnants of it’s industrial era. That’s not all there is though, it also boasts stunning views of South Lake Union and the downtown skyline.)
Food
Seafood
Due to being a seaside town, Seattle has the freshest seafood you’ll taste of the surrounding areas. Fish, crab, oysters, sushi, and chowder are all must eats when visiting the city.
You can either go to the docks to buy from someone that actually caught the seafood that morning (Awesome, right!?) or visit one of the many seafood restaurants in town. If at the very least, you’ll want to try the salmon. You’ll likely be comparing every salmon dish to Seattle salmon for the rest of your life.
Visit Shuckers Oyster Bar or Pike Place Chowder for 2 of the top rated seafood restaurants in Seattle.
Coffee
Not only is it home to the original Starbucks or the original Seattle’s Best Coffee, Seattle is chock full of independent specialty roasters and coffee shops. Here, coffee is serious business and has been elevated to a higher art form. Finding an artisanal level cup of coffee has never been so easy.
Visit Elm Coffee Roasters for fantastic single-origin roasts or Hood Famous Cafe + Bar for a taste of the unique coffee from the Kalsada region of the Philippines.
Chocolate
Imagine having chocolate so delectable that a US President regularly had shipments sent to him in the White House. That’s right, former President Barack Obama specifically asked Fran’s Chocolates to produce for him a special run of sea salt chocolate caramels to hand out to overnight guests and friends.
The owner, Fran Bigelow, is largely known for pioneering artisanal chocolates here in the US and is considered one of the best chocolatiers in the nation. If you’re the slightest bit interested in chocolate, Fran’s Chocolates is worth a stop.
Fran’s Chocolates Website . Directions to downtown location . Open 9:30 to 7:30 PM
Craft Beers
Seattle is probably known best for it’s coffee, but did you know that it also has a thriving craft beer movement as well? Spurred forward by brew nerds and accidental chemists, Seattle is now a craft beer hot spot in the US. There are 174 breweries in Seattle making it the most of any city in the US and as you can imagine, the selection here is endless.
Check out Stoup Brewing or Reuben’s Brews for 2 highly rated breweries in Seattle.
Family Friendly Fun
Woodland Park Zoo
If your kids are anything like my kids, then the zoo is a must visit on the vacation checklist. Something about seeing wildlife up close really captures the wonder and awe of the world around us. Woodland Park Zoo features 1000+ animals on a sprawling 92-acre zoological garden. You can easily spend a day here, but if pressed for time then 3-4 hours will do.
Insider Tip: Save money by arriving early to get the coveted street parking spots!
Woodland Park Zoo Website . Directions . Open 9:30 AM – 4 PM
The Seattle Aquarium
Situated on Seattle’s waterfront, the Seattle Aquarium is a great place to see the underwater life of Puget Sound. Kids can view an underwater show-and-tell of various sea life(this one’s a big hit with the kids!) or feel the slimy touch of different sea anemones. Located just a block from Pike Place Market, you can easily make a day of it — enjoy breakfast at Pike Place and head on down to the waterfront to visit the Aquarium.
Seattle Aquarium Website . Directions . Open 9:30 AM – 5 PM
Seattle Children’s Museum
The Children’s Museum spans 18,000 sq. feet and is a play space designed for 10-year-olds and younger. Here you’ll find interactive activities and exhibits where your kids can participate in art, culture, and STEM based fun.
Insider Tip: Head immediately to the Imagination Studio to get a free ticket for any available time slot.
Children’s Museum Website . Directions . Open 10 AM – 5 PM, closed Mon.
Seattle Children’s Theatre
The Seattle Children’s Theatre showcases plays specifically geared for younger audiences. With their rotating schedule of plays, the theater has something for preschoolers and preteens alike. The kid-friendly atmosphere makes it a great intro into the world of theater.
Children’s Theatre Website . Calendar of Events . Directions
Tips for First Timers
- Visit in the summer and plan to spend most of your time outside.
- Get out on the water and enjoy the spectacular views.
- Go to a national park or go for a hike. Take in all the beauty that the Pacific Northwest has to offer.
- Do a food tour! Whether it’s your own personal tour or a paid tour, eat something you can’t easily get back at home(especially the seafood).
- Do a brewery tour!
- In the summer, a lot of places have outdoor movie nights which are free or cheap. Here are a list of locations for outdoor movie nights.