Things To Do While Visiting Seattle

Every so often we get an email from someone visiting town for a few days who wants to see the sights, but not get trapped in a constant scrum of tourists the whole time. We've made a stab at some likely suspects, but feel free to add yours in the comments. This is a game the whole internet can play!

Enjoy some fine Capitol Hill coffee at Vivace, Victrola, or Caffe Vita
Canoe to the Arboretum or kayak on Lake Union (lunch at Agua Verde optional)
Walk through Olympic Sculpture Park and Pike Place Market(maybe eat at Copacabana)
Take a ferry trip to Bainbridge
Hike around Gasworks Park (Lake Union view), Discovery Park (Puget Sound view), Volunteer Park (reservoir view), Greenlake Park (Greenlake view) or Magnuson Park (Lake Washington view)
For a more urban promenade, try the Quad and Red Square at the University of Washington
Lunch at the Frye Art Museum or the Henry Art Gallery
Shop at Uwajimaya--on your way to the ID, stop by the Elliott Bay Book Company in Pioneer Square and maybe get a snack in their newly revamped cafe
Mini "Seattle spiritual center" tour of Seattle Public Library, St. Ignatius Chapel (at Seattle U), Cinerama, Scarecrow Video, and the Fremont Troll
Stroll the Arboretum's Japanese Garden or Kubota Garden in Rainier Beach
Cocktails at Zig Zag Cafe
When you're tired of walking, get out of town with a trip to Snoqualmie Falls
Dinner on the patio at the Pink Door (if it's nice out)
Catch pizza, beer, and a movie at Central Cinema or the Big Picture, or try one of Seattle's old-school, art-house Landmark Theatres
Hear some live music and rub elbows with local hipsters in one of Seattle's nightclubs: Showbox at the Market (very big), Neumos (not so big), Chop Suey (intimate, even), the Crocodile (freshly reincarnated), the Tractor Tavern (welcome to Ballard), the Comet (less of an authentic dive bar, but with lots of local talent), or the Sunset (welcome back to Ballard!)
Play pinball (and get a hot dog) at Shorty's

Contact the author of this article or email tips@seattlest.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By MvB in Miscellaneous on March 31, 2009 2:30 PM

Comments [rss]

JeanineA

Visit the gravesites of Bruce Lee and Brandon Lee at Lake View Cemetery. Lake View Cemetery is immediately north of Volunteer Park on Capitol Hill. Entrance is on 15th Ave.

Eco Geek

Point at random house boat on Lake Union and claim it is the one from Sleepless in Seattle.

alaskalainen

Tour the Chocolate Factory at Theo's in Fremont, of course!

MvB

Ah, that's a must-do! It's not every day you get to visit a Chocolate Factory.

everettab

Great list! I'd add a few things we like to do with visitors:

Eat and drink on the deck at Ray's

Bike or Skate on the Burke-Gilman trail and/or Sammamish River Trail

Hit a great neighborhood pub

Troy Morris

You have to kayak Lake Union, go see a burlesque show, take a float plane to the islands for a day, visit one of many great breweries.

herbisara

Ack! How could you leave this one out?

See a live show at one of Seattle's great venues:

Showbox at the Market

Neumo's

The Crocodile

The Tractor

The Comet (ok, not so great...but it's a Seattle staple)

The Sunset

And the list goes on.....

MvB

Excellent work, squirrels! I'll add your ideas to the post.

FreshPickedSeattle

Also, does it mean something that the two people who have responded so far chose squirrels as their icons? Squirrel icon=Seattle booster?

FreshPickedSeattle

All of the above are great, I'd especially second kayaking, Victrola, Green Lake, Central Cinema and Arboretum.

If you like Japanese gardens, Kubota is also great - bigger than the one at Arboretum(and free!)

I haven't been on these Seattle architecture tours yet, but they look pretty cool. I'm going to take a friend on one at end of May.

If you have a car, I usually take visitors out to Snoqualmie Falls because the car ride can be a nice break from walking around. It's not like there's a ton to do out there once you get there, but again, it can break up a day.

ozmafan

some excellent suggestions there...just a few to add..

*stop by elliott bay books on your way to uwajimaya and maybe get a snack in their newly revamped cafe (i actually liked the old version better, but the bookstore itself is still awesome of course)

*is copacabana at the market a tourist trap? i don't think so. anyway, drinks and/or dinner and/or lunch on their deck on a warm day can't be beat

*a stroll through the quad and red square at the uw, perhaps?

*the fremont troll - too touristy?

* green lake?

*catch a movie at one of seattle's landmark theatres like the harvard exit, the egyptian, or the neptune