A Complete Guide: 21 Best Things to Do in Seattle, Washington
This post is all about the best things to do in Seattle, Washington.
Are you planning a vacation to Seattle, Washington and looking for some exciting things to do and places to stay? Seattle is filled with so many fun things to do and unique hotels, and this blog will help you find those!
Let’s be real, Seattle is such a big city, it can be hard to find where all the hype is in the city. Like, what are the best restaurants? Best Hotels? Best activities? As you start planning you’re trip, this can probably get a little stressful.
I’m sure you have so many other things to keep track of while planning a vacation, so I made sure to include all the best activities and hotels to ensure you can choose the best of the best!
These 21 best Seattle, Washington things to do and the best Seattle, Washington hotels, restaurants and hikes will have your vacation ready to plan at ease!
Seattle, Washington Weather
Seattle, Washington is known as a pretty chilly and rainy city all year-around, especially being next to the Pacific Ocean. It rains so much in Seattle, locals feel like they have to get out of their house if they see a day of sunshine! I definitely recommend planning for showers of rain scattered throughout your vacation.
Seattle, Washington Weather by Month:
- January: 47° / 39°
- February: 49° / 40°
- March: 52° / 42°
- April: 57° / 45°
- May: 63° / 50°
- June: 66° / 54°
- July: 72° / 57°
- August: 72° / 57°
- September: 67° / 55°
- October: 59° / 50°
- November: 51° / 43°
- December: 46° / 39°
Best Seattle Hikes
Seattle, Washington is known for their beautiful outdoor scenery – and it really is beautiful! However, it can be hard to find hikes for all levels of experience. Maybe you’re traveling with your family and kids, or significant other, or hiking is your hobby – whatever your experience is, I’ve created the ultimate guide to Seattle hikes per experience level to help you choose the best one for you and your guests!
Easy Seattle Hikes for Beginners
1. Naches Peak Loop
This is a popular trail to experience a hike near Mount Rainier. The trail is a family and kid friendly path for beginner hikers.
- Location: Pacific Crest Nat’l Scenic Trl, Naches, WA 98937 (Mount Rainier Area)
- Distance: 3.2 miles, roundtrip
- Elevation: 600 feet
- Estimated Time: about 2 hours, roundtrip
2. Marymere Falls
This beginner hike offers scenic views of towering trees, waterfalls, and Lake Crescent.
- Location: 227693-227769 Olympic Hwy, Port Angeles, WA 98363 (Olympic Peninsula)
- Distance: 1.8 miles, roundtrip
- Elevation: 500 feet
- Estimated Time: about 1 hour, round trip
3. Hall of Mosses
An iconic loop with trees filled with moss creating beautiful scenery throughout the trail. A perfect hike for beginners.
- Location: Hoh Valley Rd, Forks, WA 98331 (Olympic Peninsula)
- Distance: 0.8 miles, roundtrip
- Elevation: 100 feet
- Estimated Time: about 45 minutes, roundtrip
Moderate Seattle Hikes
1. Rattlesnake Ledge
One of the most popular hikes in Seattle due to it’s short distance and accessible trailhead. A perfect hike for those with slight hiring experience, but not looking for an entire day trip hike.
- Location: Snoqualmie Valley Trail, North Bend, WA 98045
- Distance: 4 miles, roundtrip
- Elevation: 1000 feet
- Estimated Time: about 2 hours, roundtrip
2. Twin Falls Natural Area
This hike is perfect for beginners, families, kids, and dogs! It is a great hike to experience all year-around and you can see a waterfall too!
- Location: SE 159th St, North Bend, WA 98045
- Distance: 2.6 miles, roundtrip
- Elevation Gain: 500 feet
- Estimated Time: about 1.5 hours, roundtrip
3. Lake Twenty-Two
This is one of Seattle’s most iconic alpine views located an hour outside of the city of Seattle. Be prepared as you might encounter some snow during the fall/spring season!
- Location: Mountain Loop Hwy, Granite Falls, WA 98252
- Distance: 5.4 miles
- Elevation Gain: 1100
- Estimated Time: about 3 hours, roundtrip
Hard Seattle Hikes
1. Snow Lake
The perfect hike for those looking to jump into some water after a goof long hike (especially during the summer)! You can also extend your hike into Gem Lake for an additional 4 miles, where you can stay overnight camping too! One of the best things to do in Seattle, Washington!
- Location: Alpental Access Rd, North Bend, WA 98045
- Distance: 7.2 miles, roundtrip
- Elevation: 1700
- Estimated Time: 6 hours, roundtrip
2. Mount Pilchuck
The perfect hike for those looking to capture an Instagram worthy photo at the top. The hike is strenuous and steep, but the views are worth it.
- Location: NF-4200, Granite Falls, WA 98252
- Distance: 5.4 miles, roundtrip
- Elevation: 2300
- Estimated Time: 3 hours, roundtrip
3. Mailbox Peak
The mailbox peak is a strenuous hike and perfect for those looking for a day hike. When you get to the top, be sure to snap a photo with the iconic mailbox!
- Location: Mailbox Peak Trailhead & SE Lake Dorothy Rd, North Bend, WA 98045
- Distance: 9.6 miles, roundtrip
- Elevation: 4000
- Estimated Time: about 5 hours, roundtrip
Best Seattle Restaurants
1. The Pink Door
A classic Italian establishment since the 80s.
2. Sushi Kashiba
The BEST sushi restaurant in Seattle. Hands down.
3. Dough Zone Dumpling House
A delicious Chinese restaurant for casual dining.
4. Blotto
A casual lunch or dinner option with wine pairings.
5. Alebrijes Chicken
Mexican food in Seattle might not be your first choice being close to the Pacific Ocean, but Alebrijes Chicken is a classic and delicious Mexican restaurant.
Best Seattle Hotels & Resorts
1. citizenM South Lake Union
A unique hotel with beautiful funky interior design. You can also choose your room to have a certain view of the city! I stayed here in Seattle, Washington and absolutely loved it!
- Location: 201 Westlake Ave N, Seattle, WA 98109
2. Moxy Seattle Downtown
A groovy-retro interior design hotel located in Seattle South Lake Union neighborhood.
- Location: 1016 Republican St, Seattle, WA 98109
3. Fairmont Olympic Hotel
Located right in the heart of downtown Seattle, this beautifully modern designed hotel is the perfect location for city views and accessible downtown attractions.
- Location: 411 University St, Seattle, WA 98101
4. The Edgewater Hotel
This unique hotel is located right on the water (literally) nearby the Seattle Waterfront boardwalk. It is the perfect hotel for views of the Pacific Ocean.
- Location: 2411 Alaskan Way, Seattle, WA 98121
5. Lotte Hotel Seattle:
This highrise hotel provides a 360° view of Seattle within every hotel room. One of the most beautiful interior and exterior designed hotels.
- Location: 809 5th Ave, Seattle, WA 98104
6. Inn at the Market:
A perfect and beautiful hotel for the best location in the city! Located right next to Pike Place Market, Seattle’s Waterfront, and so much more!
- Location: 86 Pine St, Seattle, WA 98101
Best Things to Do in Seattle
1. Grab a local bite to eat at the Pike Place Market
One of the most popular Seattle, Washington things to do is visit Pike Place Market. Pike Place is Seattle’s original farmers market offering locally caught seafood, unique souvenir shops and local artisan. This is actually one of the most popular Seattle filming locations, which can be seen from some of your favorite entertainment – like Grey’s Anatomy!
- Location: Pike Place Market, Seattle, WA
2. Book tickets to visit the top of the Seattle Space Needle
Another must-do experience is visiting the Seattle Space Needle. Grab tickets to go to the very TOP of the Space Needle! It’ll feel like you’re in the clouds! If you’re lucky, and the sky is clear, you can see Mount Rainier in the distance too!
- Location: 400 Broad St, Seattle, WA 98109
- Book your space needle tickets here!
3. Take a ride on the Seattle Great Wheel
Located right on the water on the Seattle Waterfront is the popular Seattle Great Wheel, also a Ferris Wheel. This is a fun experience to see breathtaking skyline views of Seattle, Washington!
- Location: 1301 Alaskan Way, Seattle, WA 98101
4. Visit the Museum of Pop Culture (MoPOP)
A fun indoor experience in Seattle is visiting the Museum of Pop Culture where you can embrace and learn about immersive pop-culture experiences from TV, rock and roll, and science fiction.
- Location: 325 5th Ave N, Seattle, WA 98109
- Book your MoPOP tickets here!
5. Snap a photo in front of the iconic Gum Wall
Ahhh, the quirky Gum Wall in Seattle. If you’ve never heard about the Gum Wall, well, it might gross you out at first. However, it’s actually a really beautiful art wall filled with chewed-gum. I know, that sounds gross. However, a lot of tourists actually visit to snap a photo in front of the wall or stick a piece of gum to the wall themselves! It is by far one of the most popular things to do in Seattle!
- Location: 1428 Post Alley, Seattle, WA 98101
6. Stroll along the Seattle Waterfront
The Seattle Waterfront is one of the best places to visit to stroll along a boardwalk, grab a bite to eat, and pick up some souvenirs to remember your trip. You can also find the Seattle Great Wheel here too!
- Location: Seattle Waterfront, Seattle, WA
7. Learn about planes at the Boeing Factory
Are you an aspiring Maverick or pilot? If so, touring the Boeing Factory is one of the best things to do in Seattle! During your tour, you can learn exactly how flying works, while exploring the different plane types, interactive exhibits and gift shops! A great day for aspiring pilots!
- Location: N 6th St, Renton, WA 98057
- Book your Boeing Factory tickets here!
8. Take a sunset city sightseeing boat tour
Seattle is located right on the Pacific Ocean and offers beautiful sunset boat tours overseeing the city skyline. I highly recommend this experience for a perfect date night with your significant other.
9. Try indoor skydiving at iFly
Have you ever wanted to know what it’s like to go skydiving? However, maybe you’re afraid of heights (like me)? One of the truly unique experiences in Seattle, Washington is indoor skydiving with iFly. This experience stimulates the feeling of free-falling out of plane without actually having to leave the ground!
- Location: 349 Tukwila Pkwy, Tukwila, WA 98188
- Book your iFLY tickets here!
10. Visit the conservatories at the Amazon Spheres
Have you ever wondered what it’s like to visit one of the largest companies headquarters? Well, now you can! Amazon’s headquarters consist of 3 sphere conservatories (and about 20+ highrise buildings!) where you can actually go inside and admire the beautiful greenery!
- Location: 2111 7th Ave, Seattle, WA 98121
11. Learn about marine life at Seattle’s Aquarium
You can never go wrong spending a few hours at an aquarium, and Seattle’s Aquarium is one of the best. With interactive exhibits, a selection of penguins, otters, seals, and a large variety of tropical fish, it’s a great sport to spend a rainy day.
- Location: 1483 Alaskan Way Pier 59, Seattle, WA 98101
- Book your Aquarium tickets here!
12. See wildlife animals at the Woodland Park Zoo
During one of the few sunny days in Seattle, I recommend seeing the unique wildlife animals at the Woodland Park Zoo. This is such a fun experience for all ages!
- Location: Woodland Park Zoo, Seattle, WA 98103
- Book your Zoo tickets here!
13. Grab a coffee at the very first Starbucks in the world
Starbucks is located around the entire world. However, the very first Starbucks ever (opened in 1971), is actually located in Seattle right down the street from Pike Place Market – and it is still open to this day! Grab a delicious, and most original, Starbucks coffee here!
- Location: 1912 Pike Pl, Seattle, WA 98101
14. Explore the historic Pioneer Square
Pioneer Square is a cute little Seattle, Washington neighborhood with art galleries, local eateries and bars, coffee shops, food trucks and a small park. This cute little neighborhood is the perfect place to explore the local hidden gems of Seattle. Fun fact, Pioneer Square is actually Seattle’s original downtown back in the 1800s!
- Location: Pioneer Square, Seattle, WA 98104
15. Visit the Museum of Flight
Embrace your inner nerd at the Museum of Flight, where you can learn all about airplanes, helicopters, float planes, and so much more! Get up close and personal with the various aircrafts!
- Location: The Museum of Flight, Seattle, WA 98108
- Book your Museum of Flight tickets here!
16. Order a latte at the Starbucks Reserve Roastery
Starbucks is very well-known in Seattle, as it is where their headquarters and first Starbucks shop is located. However, you can also visit the Starbucks Reserve Roastery to see exactly how some of your favorite drinks are made – all from the beginning with coffee grounds! Even better, you can grab yourself a delicious coffee too. 😀
- Location: Starbucks Reserve Roastery, 1124 Pike St, Seattle, WA 98101
17. Take a stroll through Discovery Park
Discovery Park is the largest park in Seattle with over 11 miles of hiking trails. It’s the perfect location to escape the Seattle city (while not going too far) and enjoy the beautiful Pacific Ocean.
- Location: Discovery Park, Seattle, WA 98199
18. Bring your imagination to life at the Seattle Children’s Museum
Let’s be real, Children’s museum’s are so entertaining, even for adults. It’s like everything you learned back in your school days coming to life through science and art. The Seattle Children’s Museum is such a fun experience to immerse yourself with interactive exhibits. I recommend checking out the Seattle Children’s Museum with your family to enjoy during a rainy afternoon.
- Location: 305 Harrison St, Seattle, WA 98109
- Book your Children’s Museum tickets here!
19. Play old-school games at the Seattle Pinball Museum
Embrace your inner childhood with old-school pinball games at the Seattle Pinball Museum, with the oldest game from back in 1961! This is such a fun experience with kids or a rainy day!
- Location: 508 Maynard Ave S, Seattle, WA 98104
- Book your pinball tickets here!
20. Float above the city of Seattle on a hot air balloon
It can be difficult to find a location with the ultimate city view of the Seattle skyline. The internet tells you one thing, but reviews tell you another. However, if you’re looking for a breathtaking city view, and aren’t scared of heights, I recommend taking a hot air balloon on the outskirts of the city! You’ll be sure to find a 360° city view!
21. Explore the nature in Seattle at Mount Rainier National Park
If you’re familiar with Seattle, you’ve probably heard of Mount Rainier – the highest volcanic peak in the United States. The peak is so tall, you can’t even see the top of it from the ground because of the clouds (if you’re flying to Seattle, be sure to check outside your plane window for the volcanic peak). Mount Rainier National Park is a popular location for tourists to explore the beautiful volcanic mountain and wildflower meadows. Be sure to take a day trip outside of the city to explore Mount Rainier National Park!
This post is all about the best things to do in Seattle, Washington.
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