Things to Do in Seattle, Washington

1. Enjoy the view from Kerry Park

Kerry Park, located on the south side of Queen Anne Hill, is an ideal location to take memorable photos of Seattle as the view is positively breathtaking. You can see Mount Rainier on a clear day from Kerry Park, Elliot Bay, Bainbridge Island, the West Seattle peninsula, and the whole city spread out in front of you with the Space Needle rising through the mist. The view is so beautiful that Mr. and Mrs. Albert Sperry Kerry, the original owners of the land where the park is located, donated it to the city so that everyone could enjoy it. One of the most interesting features of the park is a 15 feet tall metal sculpture entitled Changing Form by Doris Totten Chase that has been standing in the park since 1971. If you are looking for fun things to do in Seattle with your family, kids love crawling all over its smooth surface.

2. Stroll along the docks at The Center for Wooden Boats

The Center for Wooden Boats is a maritime museum unlike other museums, because its collection of traditional wooden crafts is not on display. Instead visitors take the boats out into the water and learn how to sail or row while they learn about how the old mariners lived and worked. The museum is particularly interesting for those who are interested in maritime traditional skills, old boats, or just in being on the water. If you are looking for romantic date ideas in Seattle, this is a great place to visit. It is almost like a playground where you can stroll along the docks and, if you feel like it, grab a tool and help someone fix something. Alternatively, you can take a course or workshop and learn about repairs.

There is a very fine line between the people who work in the museum and those who are just visiting. You might come as a tourist, but you will probably leave with wood shavings in your hair. The Center for Wooden Boats is located in South Lake Union.

Address: 1010 Valley Street, Seattle, Washington, Phone: 206-382-2628

3. Take the elevator to the Sky View Observatory

Located on the 73rd floor of the Columbia Center on Fifth Avenue, the Sky View Observatory offers incredible panoramic views of Seattle, the Space Needle, and the Cascade and Olympic Mountains, as well as Mt. Rainier.

At 902 feet high, the observatory is the highest public viewing space on the West Coast.

Columbia Center and the observatory were built to withstand hurricane strength winds and earthquakes. Originally offering a 270º viewing area, the observatory was renovated in 2013 to provide a 360º viewing area. The observatory can be rented for corporate events and private functions like parties and weddings.

Address: 701 5th Avenue, Seattle, Washington, Phone: 206-386-5564

4. Go on a guided tour of the Frye Art Museum

Located on Seattle’s First Hill, the Frye Art Museum is the legacy of Charles and Emma Frye, respected Seattle business leaders and art collectors. Their private collection, which consisted of 232 paintings by mostly German artists from the 19th and 20th centuries, became the founding collection of today’s Frye Art Museum.

Since the museum opened its doors in 1952, the original collection has grown thanks to numerous donations consisting of mostly modern American art. The best way to make the most of your visit is to join a one-hour long guided tour. The Museum also organizes frequent exhibitions, art history lectures, concerts, and art movie viewings.

Address: 704 Terry Avenue, Seattle, Washington, Phone: 206-622-9250

5. Grab something to eat at the Pike Place Market

Pike Place Market has been the heart of Seattle for more than a hundred years. Overlooking Elliott Bay and occupying more than nine acres of space, the market is the place where the city and the country collide.

More than 85 farmers from the surrounding area bring their produce to the market every single day, giving locals the chance to get fresh produce, meet their favorite baker or cheese maker, or simply stroll around the bustling area and grab something to eat. If you are wondering what to do in Seattle today, this is a great place to start exploring. It is also a place where tourists often come to feel the pulse of the city.

The market also features 225 small businesses selling local crafts of all kinds. You can come to the market to learn to cook, pick up fresh flowers, pies, beef jerky, berries, and just about anything else you can imagine. Or you can just walk around and enjoy all the colors, smells, and flavors of Seattle.

Address: 85 Pike Street, Room 500, Seattle, Washington, Phone: 206-682-7453

6. CoCA Seattle

The Center on Contemporary Art is a nonprofit dedicated to the creative expression of contemporary art. They’ve been producing events and operating galleries throughout Seattle for more than 35 years. Past exhibits have included Dispossessed, Storefronts, and You Got the Look (jewelry), among many others. The gallery is open Thursdays through Saturdays.

114 Third Avenue South, Seattle, WA, Phone: 206-728-1980

7. Jog around Green Lake Park

Every city should have a park like Green Lake Park, a lush green oasis with a peaceful lake.

The park is located in the middle of an urban jungle, and it frequently attracts joggers, dog walkers, children, business people out for lunch, and many other residents of Seattle. There is a 2.8-mile long path all around the lake for joggers, bikers, roller skaters, and those simply interested in taking a leisurely stroll.

If you are looking for fun things to do in Seattle with kids, this is a great place to visit.

Children love to play in the wading pool, and there are always a few boats on the lake. The lake is popular for picnics, tai chi, yoga, and many other physical activities, as the park features several athletic fields.

Address: 7201 E Greenlake Dr N, Seattle, Washington, Phone: 206-684-4075

8. Explore the Space Shuttle Trainer at The Museum of Flight

For most people, a visit to The Museum of Flight is the closest they will ever get to a space voyage.

The Museum of Flight is a private air and space museum located at the King County International Airport south of Seattle. It also serves as a giant classroom, accommodating 140,000 students every year through programs such as Aviation Learning Center, the Challenger Learning Center, and ACE summer camp.

The museum has more than 160 historically important aircraft and spacecraft, an original Boeing manufacturing facility, a NASA Space Shuttle Trainer that used to train astronauts preparing for a voyage on a space shuttle, the first ever fighter plane, a real Concorde, and so much more.

The Museum of Flight is one of the best things to do in Seattle with kids. Visitors even get to spend some time exploring the Space Shuttle Trainer and experience exactly what the astronauts experienced during their training.

Address: 9404 E Marginal Way S, Seattle, Washington, Phone: 206-764-5700

9. Indulge in great eats with Savor Seattle Food Tours

You can learn a lot about the city from the food it serves in its restaurants and the wares it sells in the markets. Savor Seattle Food Tours offer a range of different culinary tours of the city, and, based on your food preferences, you get to decide which way you want to go: Chocolate Indulgence, Pike Place Market, or Gourmet Kayak, among others.

Tours last from two hours to three days (San Juan Island kayak tour), groups are small, with a maximum of 16 people, and the guides are knowledgeable and fun. You will get to taste a lot of incredibly tasty local fare, so be prepared to leave the tour completely satisfied.