Seattle has become much more than just a pass-through city on the way to Alaska or Canada. While it is true that our grey winter days seem to stretch on for months without seeing that bright glorious orange orb in the sky that we all love so much, the other three seasons are what we Seattleites live for (and if you’re a snowbird, you also live for the winter!)

If you’ll be visiting Seattle, be sure to check out my other informative posts:

Where to Eat in Seattle
Where To Hike Around Seattle

Or visit my Washington State Archives page for all things Seattle and Washington! One of my most popular blog posts to date has been 20 Best Weekend Getaways in Washington State.

Seattle is situated on the beautiful Puget Sound, which means that we are surrounded by both water and mountains, with the Olympics to the West and the Cascades to the East. On a clear day, you can see a handful of peaks and glaciers, including Mt. Baker, Mt. Rainier and Mt. Saint Helens. Because of Seattle’s excellent ferry system, there are myriad day trips awaiting you to neighboring islands, inlets and peninsulas. If you’ve got a car, you’re also just a 30-minute to 3-hour drive from some of the most spectacular hiking in the world.

I’ve spent much of my career in the travel & tourism industry; I spent two years as the Tourism Development Sales Manager for the Space Needle and Chihuly Garden and Glass, promoting tourism to the State of Washington, followed by working for Expedia (headquarters based in Seattle) in the activities division, so to say I am passionate about tourism is an understatement. Seattle is a special place that has evoked inspiration in my soul since the first time I visited many years ago. It has now been one of the places I call home for ten years and counting.

Below I will detail some of the very best things to do in Seattle, including paid and free attractions, day trips, and things to do on a rainy day. 

Seattle Attractions

Read further for more on each attraction:

• Alki Beach & West Seattle
• Amazon Spheres
• Argosy Cruises
• Rent a Hot Tub Boat on Lake Union
• Fremont Troll
• Go Troll Hunting! Find the Five Trolls by Danish Sculptor Thomas Dambo
• Bike the Burke-Gilman Trail
• Discovery Park
• Gas Works Park
• Green Lake
• Golden Gardens
• Hiram Chittenden Ballard Locks & Fish Ladder – See the Salmon Swimming Upstream (July – September)
• Kerry Park
• Lenin Statue
• Olympic Sculpture Park
• Snoqualmie Falls
• Take a Ferry to a Neighboring Town or Island
• Rent Kayaks on Portage Bay
• Center for Wooden Boats
• Spend the Night at a Fire Lookout Tower
• Visit UW (University of Washington) Campus, Especially During April for Cherry Blossom Season
• Volunteer Park Observatory & Conservatory

Things to Do in Seattle on a Rainy Day

• Asian Art Museum
• Chihuly Garden and Glass
• Bill & Melinda Gates Discovery Foundation Center
• Elliott Bay Book Company
• Frye Art Museum
• MoHai (Museum of History and Industry)
• MoPop (Museum of Pop Culture)
• National Nordic Museum
• SAM (Seattle Art Museum)
• Space Needle
• Seattle Underground Tour
• Seattle Public Library & Hammer Man
• Starbucks Roastery & Reserve
• Climbing Indoors at Seattle Bouldering Project or Vertical World
• Theo Chocolate Factory Tour
• Relax at a Clothing-Optional Outdoor Sauna and Jacuzzi at Sacred Rain

Seattle Day Trips & Weekend Getaways

For more on this, see my post on 20 Best Weekend Getaways in Washington State! 

Alki Beach & West Seattle
You can take a water taxi from downtown, or drive. Once you arrive, you’ll immediately notice a complete change of pace to a slower, more laid-back friendly beach vibe. Eateries, cafes and fish & chip shops line the waterfront, in addition to a bike & pedestrian foot path that extends over three miles long. There’s even a mini Statue of Liberty!

Sasha and I are beach volleyball players, so this is where we spend the bulk of our summers, starting our day with Hawaiian coffee from Ampersand Cafe, playing all day long and swimming in the crisp calm waters, snacking on clam chowder from Sunfish (owned by two Greek brothers, so their kalamari is the real deal), and enjoying the long days where the sun doesn’t set until nearly 10PM.

Amazon Spheres – Admission is free, but you’ll need to make a reservation in advance here. If you happen to know an Amazon employee (not difficult to find in these parts), they can get up to six people in using their badge. Otherwise, non-Amazon employees and their guests can visit on the first and third Saturday of every month from 10AM – 6PM (with a reservation.)

Argosy Cruises for a cruise on Lake Washington and to see the famous houseboat from the movie Sleepless in Seattle.

Rent a Hot Tub Boat on Lake Union – yep, that’s a thing here. Grab your friends!

Fremont Troll – underneath the Fremont Bridge

Go Troll Hunting! Find the Five Trolls by Danish Sculptor Thomas Dambo

Danish environmental artist and sculptor, Thomas Dambo, came with his crew in 2023 to build five trolls right here in the Pacific Northwest. The trolls are whimsical and evoke a childlike spirit and playfulness. They each have their very own fun name! They are constructed of wooden scraps that would have otherwise gone to waste. You can find all five of these towering life-sized trolls in Lincoln Park, Vashon Island, Bainbridge Island, Issaquah and Ballard. For more information or how to find the trolls, visit the Northwest Trolls website. The trolls are considered a pop-up installation, but they will be around for a minimum of three years. Dambo has constructed and erected over 100 trolls all around the world and the United States. We are honored to have his newest creations right here in our backyard!

Bike the Burke-Gilman Trail (over 22 miles of trail that connects with other interurban trails)
LEFT: October with colorful autumn leaves
RIGHT: June when everything is green!

TIP: rent a bike through Seattle’s many bike share companies 

Discovery Park for nice walks/trail runs/bike riding.
TIP: go to the lighthouse for awesome views of Rainier when the mountain is out on a clear day.

Gas Works Park – Rent stand up paddle boards (SUPs) in the summer and paddle Lake Union, or go at night to see the city lights on a clear evening. If you’re into acroyoga, this is the spot to be during summer season when people are out in full force working on their yoga and acrobatic moves!

Green Lake for a pleasant 3-mile loop run / walk, or during summer, rent paddle boats on the lake.

Golden Gardens – Ballard
Great for sunset, beach volleyball and bonfires (first come, first served). Excellent views of leaves changing colors during Fall. The Burke-Gilman Trail ends here.

Hiram Chittenden Locks – Ballard
See the salmon swimming upstream between June – August.

Kerry Park – Queen Anne
Views of downtown and the most popular Seattle shot of the Space Needle.

Lenin Statue in Fremont

Olympic Sculpture Park

Snoqualmie Falls – 45-minute drive from Seattle
TIP: Hike down to the bottom for a closer-up view of the falls.

Take a Ferry to Nearby Islands (keep reading below for day trip ideas)

Rent kayaks from Agua Verde Paddle Club and go out for a paddle on Portage Bay. Raining? Not to worry! They provide you with all the rain-proof and warm equipment you’ll need! Just bring your own rain jacket.

Center For Wooden Boats – there are free sails on Sundays – sign up before 10:00 AM

Spend the Night in a Fire Lookout Tower
Advance reservations are required, and some are so popular you’ll be placed on a waiting list. If you don’t mind a rustic outdoor adventure, this will be an unforgettable experience!

Visit University of Washington (UW), especially during April when the cherry blossoms bloom.

Volunteer Park, Observatory & Conservatory – Capitol Hill

This is a great place to take a stroll in a giant open space to get a bit of nature within the city. There’s an observatory that you can climb to the top of and see the view of the Space Needle, as well as a conservatory, Seattle’s historic greenhouse.

Things to Do on a Rainy Day in Seattle

Visit one of Seattle’s many museums:

Chihuly Garden and Glass
With its grand opening in 2012, Chihuly Garden and Glass has continuously been one of the top-rated attractions on TripAdvisor. This exhibition is dedicated solely to the glass art of local artist and sculptor, Dale Chihuly.

Bill & Melinda Gates Discovery Foundation Center (free – right across the street from Seattle Center)

Elliott Bay Book Company – Capitol Hill
In a time of online books and e-books, it’s refreshing and delightful to see that real brick and mortar book stores still exist. This bookstore used to call Pioneer Square home, but has now moved to the trendy Capitol Hill neighborhood. The squeaky wooden floors add to the charm.

Frye Art Museum (free, closed on Mondays)

MoHai (Museum of History and Industry)

MoPop – Museum of Pop Culture (located at Seattle Center right next to the Space Needle & Chihuly Garden and Glass)

National Nordic Museum – Ballard

SAM (Seattle Art Museum) & Olympic Sculpture Park along the Seattle waterfront

The Space Needle – Seattle Center

The Space Needle underwent a massive renovation from 2017 – 2018 to improve the guest experience. No more tacky lines obstructing the views! Now it’s floor-to-sky angled glass that makes you feel as if you’re falling into the sky. They now have the first and only revolving glass floor in the entire world.

Seattle Underground Tour
Did you know that there is a whole network of underground passageways underneath the city of Seattle (specifically Pioneer Square)? After the great fire of 1889, the town’s streets were regraded to two stories higher. On this tour, learn about the interesting (and hilarious) history of how Seattle came to be.
TIP: Do the daytime version. It’s informative, playful and interesting. We found the adults only X-rated night time version to be a bit lame.

Seattle Public Library & Hammer Man

Starbucks Reserve Roastery & Tasting Room – Capitol Hill

I must include a caveat here that I’m actually not a fan of the normal Starbucks chain. For being a Seattle-grown company, they are not as progressive as they need to be regarding environmental sustainability and how much plastic they use. Many of their drinks contain high fructose corn syrup and are way too sweet, contributing to the worldwide obesity pandemic, and it’s overly commercialized and corporate. However, the Reserve is completely different; everything in their specialty beverages is made in-house, including the delicious pastries, flatbreads, salads and baked goods. I recommend sitting at one of the bars where the professional and knowledgeable baristas will contribute to your experience by explaining the processes of whichever beverage you selected.

Climb at SBP (Seattle Bouldering Project) or Vertical World
It seems that a good fourth of Seattleites are climbers! Check out one of the many indoor climbing gyms, perfect for a rainy or cold day.

Take a Tour of Theo Chocolate Factory – Fremont
If you’re not feeling like taking a tour, you can simply visit their factory in Fremont and sample your way through the store!

Sacred Rain Healing Center – feeling stressed or simply want to relax? This hidden gem in Ballard is a clothing-optional co-ed outdoor sauna and jacuzzi. You can also get a massage here, or just sunbathe in the nude. Unless you’re getting a massage, advance reservations are not required; simply show up and pay on the spot. There’s even a discounted punch card if you’re a local and plan to come frequently.

Day Trips From Seattle

Bainbridge Island (take the ferry) – see my blog post here on how to spend the perfect day in Bainbridge island

Port Townsend (take the ferry)
Start your day with a cup of Joe at Better Living Through Coffee, a café right on the water. Sometimes during harsh weather the waves splash up and hit the window making for an entertaining show. There’s full sun exposure if you’re lacking Vitamin D with windows all around. Other notable eateries include Sweet Laurettes, a bakery with excellent pastries and outdoor patio seating with sun, Velocity Café and The Blue Moose.

Port Angeles (take the ferry from Edmonds)
This is the jumping-off point for accessing Olympic National Park – see my blog post on 12 Awesome Things To Do on the Olympic Peninsula

Whidbey Island (take the ferry or drive)

Bellingham – 2-hour drive from Seattle
Be sure to take the scenic route along Chuckanut Drive and visit Taylor Shellfish Farms for a true taste of the Pacific Northwest. Next, hike Oyster Dome overlooking Lumi Island. – See my blog post on A Weekend in Bellingham

Olympic Peninsula (take the Kingston ferry)
For more information on visiting Olympic National Park and the coast, check out my Olympic National Park & Port Angeles blog post.

Woodinville
Great for wine and beer lovers!

Skagit Valley Tulip Festival (April – check the website before you go, as some seasons begin earlier or later)

Leavenworth
Adorable Bavarian town on the Wenatchee river – see my blog post on Weekend Trip to Leavenworth

Portland, Oregon (2.5-hour drive South from Seattle)
Check out my Foodie’s Weekend in Portland blog post

Vancouver, Canada (2.5-hour drive North from Seattle)
Check out my blog post on Things to Do in Vancouver, B.C. including where to eat!

Though there’s loads more amazing things to do in Seattle, this should give you some good ideas to get started!

I’d love to hear from you in the comments below! What would you add and what have I missed?

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