The Top 10 Things to Do in Seattle, WA
#10 -
Mariners Game/Tour
Seattle is a great sports town. Their professional football and baseball stadiums are neighbors, both located in the southern area of downtown, or SoDo as the locals say. We took in a Mariner’s game and also a tour of their stadium. Their retractable roof ballpark (no rainouts!) was built in 1999 and remains one of MLB’s nicest facilities. The concourse in the outfield, known as the ‘pen, opens early and is filled with excellent food and drink options. There’s even a bar just past the left field wall where you can catch home run balls during batting practice. The most unique thing at T-Mobile Park, and maybe at any MLB park, is the toasted grasshoppers you can order at Poquitos. They were absolutely disgusting, but sort of a rite of passage for a first time Mariner visitor.
#9 -
Pike Place Market/Food Tour
One of our favorite places in Seattle, this bustling farmer’s market sits along the water and is full of life! Boasting several restaurants, bakeries, and cafes to choose from with some of the freshest ingredients! We especially enjoyed the food tour where we got to enjoy several small bites from a variety of places while learning more about the history of each stop. We loved Beecher’s Handmade Cheese, where they offer free samples and a look into their cheese making process. Peruse the market to also find fresh flowers, crafts, comics, art, and more.
#8 -
Chihuly Garden and Glass
This is a unique and vibrant art museum from Washington’s own artist, Dale Chihuly. It features several of his creative and colorful blown glass art pieces in the exhibition hall, the sensational garden, and Glasshouse. These are truly remarkable works of art! The Glass Forest and Persian Ceiling Room will brighten up anyone’s day! Even in rainy Seattle. This museum is conveniently located in the heart of Seattle, right next to the Space Needle and other museums. It is also included in the City Pass, which we highly recommend in this city, or a package deal with Space Needle admission. We found this attraction to be truly inspirational and worth a visit.
#7 -
Harbor Cruise
We took advantage of the Seattle Citypass, which included entry into the Chihuly Garden, the MoPOP, the Seattle Aquarium, a trip up the Space Needle, and a ride along the Puget Sound in the form of the Argosy Cruises Harbor Tour. The harbor cruise was a great experience. The one hour cruise provided informative live narration, sightings of animal life (we saw a bunch of seals), and gorgeous views of the Seattle skyline. We had a wonderful time!
Photo provided by Unsplashed.
#6 -
The Seattle Great Wheel
Located at Pier 57 along the water of the Puget Sound and minutes from the Pike Market, the Seattle Great Wheel can be fun for families and a romantic spin for couples. Opened in 2012 and standing 175 feet tall, the wheel bestows beautiful water and city views and a smooth, enclosed, climate controlled ride. They even have a VIP gondola with a glass bottom! We took a spin on Valentine’s Day, which included a flute of champagne inside the neighboring restaurant, the Crab Pot, after our ride. Even if you don’t feel like taking a turn on the wheel, it’s a thing of beauty to look upon as the half a million LED lights on it displays a light show of many, many patterns. If you’re in town on a game day or a holiday, be sure to gaze upon the wheel for a special light show!
Photo provided by Unsplashed.
#5 - Space Needle
Built for the 1962 space themed World’s Fair, this 605 ft. tall iconic attraction is well worth a visit! Visit its different levels to capture 360 degree panoramic views of the city and mountain ranges nearby. Walk along the all glass, rotating floor for an epic experience and visit the upper level’s floor to ceiling glass walls for unparalleled photo ops. Admission for the Space Needle is included in the City Pass and it is in a great location next to many other museums on our list. Depending on where you are staying, you can walk, ride a bike, Uber, or take the monorail right into the center of Seattle.
#4 -
Bottlehouse Wine
For our big Valentine’s Day dinner we took an Uber out to a very special restaurant. Bottlehouse Wine is one of the most charming restaurants that we’ve ever visited. It’s located in a house that was built in 1905! You really feel like you’re over at your friend’s house who is serving you delicious wines and cheeses. We had some lovely wine and snacked on various cheeses in the forms of grilled cheese sandwiches and mac and cheese. The surrounding area was full of other boutique shops so we enjoyed taking a romantic stroll after dinner. It was a beautiful evening and we can’t wait to do it again sometime.
#3 -
Museum of Pop Culture
Gaze up at this 140,000 sq. ft. building of amazing color and shimmering metal and you’ll have no choice but to go in. With its unique architecture, designed by Frank O’ Gehry, the now named MoPOP is truly a great museum to visit. This attraction is full of pop culture artifacts in all kinds of fields, such as music, literature, movies, video games, and television. Once inside, stop for a picture in front of the guitar statue and then get started in the Sky Church with a huge LED Welcome screen, lighting effects, and amazing acoustics. Other fascinating exhibits include the Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame, the Guitar Gallery, and the interactive Sound Lab. Best of all, they have travelling exhibits so you will always see something new! This museum is in the Seattle Center next to the Space Needle and Chihuly Glass Museum. We highly recommend getting the City Pass if you are visiting these three attractions.
#2 -
The Original Starbucks
We are addicted to Starbucks and loved getting to visit where it all started. Well, technically, this is the first store, but the second location for the 1971 establishment. It is now located right near the Pike Place Market, making it easy to grab a cup of coffee and then sample all that the historic farmer’s market has to offer. Here, you can take pictures of the original Starbucks logo and they have cute signs to help make your photo experience even more fun. Inside, they keep the original look and even toss your cup after you order. Definitely expect a long line, but enjoy the history of this quaint little place while waiting.
#1 -
Brunch at the Edgewater Hotel
We spent our first Valentine’s Day together in Seattle and stayed at the amazing Edgewater Hotel. So, we have a lot of fond memories here. The hotel is literally built over the water in the Puget Sound, which creates a unique feel and beautiful views. Their in-house restaurant, Six Seven Restaurant, provides the opportunity to dine on delicious food over the water. They have a scrumptious brunch menu or make a reservation to dine during the sunset for a romantic evening.
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