Seattle has a ton of things to see and do and it is impossible to squeeze it all in in one weekend. You’ll still have time to catch all the highlights though! Seattle is a great place for a weekend getaway or for spending a few days before or after Alaska Cruises that typically depart from that area.The number one must do in Seattle is definitely Pike Place Market. This place has everything: produce stands, fish markets, restaurants, retail businesses, personal services, crafts markets, and farm tables. Be sure to check out “The DownUnder” which are the lower levels of the market. Another great spot for food and shopping is Miner’s Landing. I would say it’s most similar to Pier 39 in San Francisco or the piers in Monterey, California.
Another historic area to visit is Pioneer Square, “Seattle’s first neighborhood”. Here you can visit the Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park and the Last Resort Fire Department which has the largest collection of antique fire trucks in the Pacific Northwest. In the same area is a must do tour - the Seattle Underground Tour. After the Great Fire of 1889, Seattle was rebuilt on top of the destruction. Now you view all that is still intact underneath. If you’ve ever been to Edinburgh and explore underneath the city, it’s the same concept, and everyone should experience this at least once in their lives.
If you’ve ever seen any tv shows or movies that take place in Seattle, you’ve probably seen the Washington State Ferries. From Seattle, you can currently take these ferries to either Bainbridge Island or Bremerton. You can go watch them or maybe even book a round trip ticket just to say you’ve done it! The other icon that you always see represented in Seattle is the Space Needle. It was built for the 1962 World’s Fair and was designated a historic landmark in 1999. For those not afraid of heights, the elevators can ascend to the top of the Space Needles in 41 seconds, unless it’s an especially windy day. Then the elevators are slowed down to about half speed. Another attraction for those not afraid of heights is the Seattle Great Wheel. It’s just like the Ferris Wheels you see in London, Orlando, and Las Vegas.
If you’re visiting Seattle between mid-June and September, it is a great time to visit the Ballard Salmon Locks. During high tide you can see several different species of Pacific Salmon pass through these locks as they travel upstream to spawn.
If you’re traveling with kids or your comfort zone is to experience more traditional tourist attractions, Seattle has plenty of those too! We recommend the Woodland Park Zoo, Seattle Aquarium, and Pacific Science Center. You definitely can’t go wrong with any of those!
Seattle also has a few unique tourist spots that are well known around the city. Seattle is home to the Fremont Troll which sits under a highway overpass and home to the Gum Wall. You can also visit the “Original” Starbucks. It’s not truly the first Starbucks location to exist, but it is celebrated as such.
Art lovers would have a great time in Olympic Sculpture Park. There are many Instagram worthy photo ops there, as well as at the Museum of Pop Culture, known as “MoPop”.
A couple honorable mentions if you have the time would be to do a Boeing Factory Tour or go wine tasting if you’re able to. Last but not least, there are 3 National Parks within a short driving distance, so if you’re wanting to get out of town a little bit you’ve got a few options. Olympic National Park is directly to the West of Seattle. If you take a ferry, then your driving distance is less than 100 miles, but if you don’t take the ferry it is about 50 miles longer of a drive. Then you have Mount Rainier National Park, which is about 80 miles Southeast of Seattle. During the Winter months some roads may be closed, making the route longer so you’ll need to plan ahead. Lastly, North Cascades National Park is about 120 miles Northeast of Seattle.
We hope this has inspired you to plan your own Seattle weekend getaway!
Written By Eva
