Top 10 things to do in Seattle, Washington

Visiting Seattle for the first time? Continue reading to see the top 10 things to do in Seattle you should consider adding to your itinerary.

Visiting the Pacific Northwest, especially in the summer, feels like a dream. You wake up to crisp, fresh, ocean air. Tall evergreens blanket your surroundings, creating an image so spectacular it resembles a painting. On a clear day and at the right angle, you can view the Cascade Mountains in the background.

Seattle is the largest, most well-known city in the Pacific Northwest and one of my favorite places to visit. If you visit in the summer, you’ll have your pick of beach, lake, city, or mountain activities. It’s no wonder it’s one of the cities we were considering as our new home. Read more about our trip in Destination Home: Seattle.

Top 10 things to do in Seattle, Washington:

1. Space Needle

The Space Needle was constructed for the 1962 World’s Fair. Although its construction initially met with some unease among residents about the significance of such a futuristic building, it has now become the iconic figure synonymous with Seattle.

Initially, Simon and I weren’t sure about touring it. Tickets cost about $50 each, which seemed steep for just an elevator ride and city views. That concern, however, was eradicated once we took the plunge and made it to the tower. First of all, the exhibit itself was well-maintained and organized. Once inside, you could learn about the tower through a series of interactive installations that described its history while waiting to get to the elevator. There’s also a photo booth set up where you can snag a photo with Mount Rainier—a green screen of course, but to their credit, it looked pretty realistic! Although we didn’t have the time, I would definitely consider booking a ticket with access to the Chihuly Garden and Glass Museum as well.

2. Ferry to an Island

One of the benefits of visiting Seattle is the multitude of islands with quick access to the beautiful Puget Sound. Of course, you can opt to enjoy the view from the city, but I would recommend taking a ferry to explore the islands up close.

There are a variety of popular islands, as close as 30 minutes from downtown Seattle. Bainbridge is popular for its beautiful scenery and walkable main street. On the island is the magical Bloedel Reserve historic botanical garden, which can be toured. Others include Vashon Island, popular for cyclists, and the San Juan Islands, further out but better for viewing marine life. Buying ferry tickets is easy and costs around $10. Just be sure to watch the timetables closely—we almost missed our dinner reservation because of a delay!

3. Golden Gardens Park

Golden Gardens Park is situated off the coast in Ballard. It’s one of the beaches in Seattle. In the heat of the summer, families and friends swim off the coast or sunbathe on the shore. By sunset, you’re in for a treat. On a clear day, take a stroll along the coast for epic views of the sunset over Mount Rainier.

4. Ballard Locks

The Ballard Locks was surprisingly one of my favorite activities when I visited Seattle for the first time. An additional benefit: it’s free! It’s a unique experience where you can watch the water rise and fall before and after each passing ship. The best part is heading downstairs to the Salmon viewing area. Several windows give visitors an up-close and personal view of the salmon’s migration upstream. There are several educational installations set up throughout the building for visitors to learn about the migration process.

5. Gas Works Park

Gas Works Park is a unique public park on the site of the former Seattle Gas Light Company gasification plant. It’s the sole remaining coal gasification plant in the United States—operating from 1906 to 1956. If that didn’t mean much to you, that’s okay—the views make it worth a stop! It borders the beautiful Wallingford neighborhood and Lake Union, gracing you with an immaculate view of downtown. Settle down with a picnic blanket and some snacks, and enjoy views of passing ships, paddleboarders, and kayaks enjoying the water. Given the park is just off of The Burke-Gilman Bike Trail, we rented bikes and included Gas Works as one of our stops!

6. Green Lake

When Seattleites get bored of frolicking in the ocean, Green Lake is next on their list of summer activities. The lake is located in none other than the Green Lake neighborhood, situated just north of Wallingford. It’s a glacial freshwater lake, with a surface area of just under 260 acres—an impressive size for an urban lake. Surrounding the lake is a walk/bike trail, nearing 2.8 miles in total. In the summers, visit the lake to paddleboard, jump off one of the many docks, or just hang out on the “beach”. Of course, it’s not an actual beach, but the sand and impeccable views quickly eradicate your desire to be on the coast.

7. Mount Rainier

You can’t visit the Pacific Northwest without doing at least one hike. There are so many majestic hikes to choose from. My suggestion? Check out one of the National Parks! There are three to choose from: Mount Rainier, North Cascade, and Olympic National Park. Yes, the drive varies from 1.5-3 hours for each of the parks, but the views are stunning and make it absolutely worth it.

We opted to spend a day at Mount Rainier, given it was the closest to Seattle. Olympic would probably be our second pick due to its diverse mix of mountains, forests, and ocean. Whichever you decide, ensure you snag entry tickets in advance. For Mount Rainier, tickets were released 30 days in advance. If you miss it, don’t worry—tickets are also released 24 hours in advance, but they do go quickly.

8. Seattle Aquarium

Seattle has one of the best aquariums in the States. Here you’ll witness a variety of water mammals, such as sea otters and seals, exotic saltwater fish, and birds. The aquarium is located on the pier by Pike Place Market, decorated with a variety of restaurants and cute cafes, making it an efficient and fun pitstop to add to your Seattle itinerary.

9. Kerry Park

If you find yourself in the far west side of Seattle within the Queen Anne neighborhood, check out Kerry Park. This park is small but hosts one of the finest views of the city. If you’re lucky, you may be able to spot Mount Rainier on a clear day.

10. Pike Place Market

It wouldn’t be a Seattle trip without a visit to Pike Place Market. I placed this tourist destination at the bottom of the list for a reason—it’s incredibly busy. As a caveat, we did visit on a Saturday afternoon in early August—one of the busiest times of the year. It was shoulder to shoulder, and lines were long. I do think it is worth visiting and snapping a pic in front of the iconic Pike Place sign. Some of the best restaurants are located at Pike Place, including the best Mac and Cheese at Beecher’s Handmade Cheese and the tastiest seafood chowder at Pike Place Chowder. After your visit, make sure you take a walk through the alley nearby, to take in the iconic gum wall.