Undoubtedly, Seattle is home to some of the most unique and interesting attractions in the entire Pacific Northwest. People travel from every corner of the globe to experience the compelling experiences that exist within the 83.78 square miles of our metropolitan area.
Seattle encompasses many nicknames. It is known as "The Emerald City" because of the vast array of mountains, water, parkland, and forests. On a typical day at the top of the Space Needle, one will see Elliot Bay and Puget Sound on one side and Lake Union on the other. However, 1/3 of the days out of the year, Mount Rainier will poke out of the clouds. Another way too overused name is "The Rain City," a stereotype that does very little to actually represent the weather in Seattle. In fact, Seattle only gets approximately 150 days of rain throughout a single year, far less than Miami, Chicago, Dallas, and even Portland. A tourist can be spotted in a crowd instantly if caught using an umbrella; a true Seattleite doesn’t need to take cover.
Whether planning an elaborate well-thought out vacation, taking a spontaneous road trip, or simply taking a day to play tourist in your own city, this guide will highlight some of the most enthralling experiences within the diverse and vast city of Seattle, Washington.
Fremont:
Commonly known as “The Center of the Universe,” Fremont is home to hordes of small coffee shops and unique boutiques. The Fremont Troll is a public sculpture under the bridge that was created after the popular fairy tail Three Billy Goats Gruff. Not far from the Troll is Gas Works Park, the former site of the Seattle Gas Light Company. It is located on Lake Union and has a perfect view of the downtown skyline. A lesser-known fun experience is the Fremont Sunday Market, which entails beautiful artwork and savory food from a vast array of unique vendors. It is one of the most trendy, quirky, and unorthodox areas of Seattle, but it is an experience of a lifetime.
Queen Anne:
To say simply, Queen Anne is a massive hill. The top contains alluring viewpoints and bodacious restaurants, bars, and neighborhoods. Find Kerry Park for an impeccable view of downtown. The lower end is accompanied by the Seattle Center, home to the historic Space Needle. Within the Seattle Center, one will find the most tourists within the 74-acre park. Originally built for the 1962 World’s Fair, the Space Needle, a 602-foot viewing tower, was the first attraction created. Over the last five decades, the area quickly filled in order to entertain Seattle’s guests. Chihuly Garden and Glass was placed next to the Needle to show the art from Dale Chihuly, a Washington blown glass artist. The Pacific Science Center and Experience Music Project (EMP) were also created to aspire to all interests of tourists. Additionally, the International Fountain blasts music and high streams of water, a perfect challenge for children to see how wet they get as fast as possible. Next door is Key Arena, a stadium home to tons of high school and college graduations, Storm games (women’s basketball), and thousands of concerts, from Carrie Underwood to Kanye West.
Ballard:
Home to multitudes of breweries, such as Maritime Pacific Brewing Company and Stoup Brewing, Ballard has tons of fun places to hangout and get a bite to eat or drink. If you're looking for a bonfire or day at the beach, Golden Gardens is always a fun place to relax. Nothing is more intrinsic to Seattle than it’s salmon. The Ballard Locks connects the salt water of Puget Sound to Lake Washington and Lake Union. A fish latter is visible to the public to see the fish as they migrate to fresh water to spawn.
Chinatown-International:
If looking for a sense of diversity in Seattle, head to Chinatown to eat some inexpensive cuisine. Go to Jade Garden for an overwhelming amount of options on large lazy susan tables. Around nearly every corner you’ll find fortune cookie factories as well if you are trying to find some luck. Uwajimaya is always an interesting supermarket to shop for anything, from food to toys to strange tasting candies. Try to count how many dragons you can spot on street corners.
Downtown:
You can’t walk more than ten feet downtown without bumping into somebody. Crowd control is non-existent. Pike Place Market is a prime tourist attraction to see tons of homemade trinkets, fresh grown fruits, and beautiful flower bouquets. If looking for a small, yet filling meal, check out Beecher’s Cheese to find gooey grilled cheese and mac & cheese. You will also find the first ever Starbucks just a few doors down, so make sure to enjoy some street musicians while waiting in the colossal line. A few streets down you’ll find a plethora of small shops and larger retail entities, such as Nike, H&M, Nordstrom, J.Crew, etc. If looking for a humor and fact-filled adventure, then hop onto a Ride the Ducks bus-boat to get a full tour of Seattle, from Lake Union to the Space Needle. In to musicals? Check out the Paramount theatre ahead of time to see which productions are scheduled. From Hairspray to Wicked to Mama Mia, you can’t go wrong with a single choice.
SoDo:
SoDo, otherwise known as “South of Downtown,” it is occupied my Seattle’s proudest of sports fans. Home of the Sounders. Home of the Seahawks. Home of the Mariners. Safeco field and CenturyLink field sit next to each other and have amazing views of Puget Sound and downtown from the nose bleed sections. On a select few nights out of the year, Safeco field will have firework nights after games. No body is more proud of Seattle sports teams than natives, so make sure to enjoy the experience while in town.
University District:
Go dawgs! The University of Washington contains a vast campus of historic buildings, and breath-taking scenery. Rent a canoe on Lake Union or catch a football or basketball game. University Village has an abundance of clothing shops and restaurant options. The Ave has diverse food choices. No matter which food group you’re craving, it can be found within the three block strip.
Waterfront:
Like seafood? Head over to Ivar’s from life-changing clam chowder and fish & chips. Buy a roundtrip ticket and enjoy a Washington State Fairy ride throughout Elliot Bay. Check out the aquarium to see examples of sea creatures that like to hangout in the Seattle area. You will learn about the population of Octopi that can grow up to 30 feet long. Pay to go up in the Seattle Great Wheel for a pristine view of the skyline from 175 feet above the water.
West Seattle:
The infamous Alki Beach is always a crowded place in the summer. Whether it’s playing volleyball, making s’mores, or playing in the sand, there is never a dull moment at the beach. Every day in the summer is accompanied by gorgeous sunsets and ice cream awaits on the other side of the street.
Take a day and enjoy each unique and quirky neighborhood that exists throughout this vastly populated city. Enjoy the people. Enjoy the artwork. Enjoy food. Enjoy shops. Seattle is home to 684,451 satisfied citizens and each tourist leaves with a desire to return one day. Take the time to truly experience everything that makes Seattle the greatest city in the Pacific Northwest.
