Seattle: 20 Things to Do & See in the Emerald City

Seattle is one of the largest cities in the northern part of the United States of America, specifically in Washington. It overlooks the Pacific Ocean. Seattle was founded in the middle of the 19th century as a settlement along the Strait of Puget and later became its location on the shores of Elliot Bay.

The city is known for its large green areas, which is why it is called the Emerald City. In 2006, it was ranked 6th in the world regarding natural areas and one of the best cities regarding safety, living conditions, and cleanliness. 

Seattle has many essential facilities, such as the University of Washington, one of the largest universities in the United States of America. In addition to the beautiful parks and renowned museums, Seattle is home to the headquarters of many important companies, such as Microsoft, Amazon, and Starbucks Coffee Company. 

In addition, it is an essential economic corridor linking Washington to Alaska. The city is close to the Canadian border, which facilitates trade movement. The Seattle port is the main engine of the city’s economy.

Seattle is one of the main tourist cities in America and depends on tourism as a source of income. It is a natural city surrounded by many lakes and rivers.

Weather in Seattle

The city of Seattle has a mild and warm climate. Summer is usually mild and dry, and winter is cold. The minimum temperature reaches 9o degrees below zero, with heavy rainfall, and it is sunny on 127 days of the year.

The Best Time to Visit Seattle

The best time for visitors to visit the city is between May and October. During these five months, the sky gets more apparent, and you can enjoy more outdoor festivals. Remember that July and August are the driest, sunniest, and usually very crowded. The summer season begins in Seattle in July. Summer is the best for outdoor spaces like Mount Rainer and Olympic National Park.

One of the best months to visit is September due to the perfect weather. The air is filled with the aroma of coffee from the coffee shops in Seattle and annual cultural events like Bumbershoot. 

Things to do in Seattle

Seattle has many important and exciting landmarks, and most buildings are well preserved in their traditional shape. This makes Seattle a historical city that attracts tourists from every nook and cranny.

One of Seattle’s most important tourist attractions is the Seattle Center and Space Needle, distinguished by their unique shape. This article will explain it more.

The Victorian-style shape of their buildings also characterizes ancient art museums. The famous market is one of the oldest areas in Seattle and preserves the old style from 1907.

Seattle is nicknamed the Emerald City for its limitless green spaces. A vacation in this city would be the haven every nature lover needs. In addition, multiple beaches extend over a long distance.

Now, we will learn more about one of the fantastic cities in the US, things to do there, and where to stay on vacation. You will enjoy it all and discover all its attractions, so pack your bags and let us start our journey in Seattle. Let’s Go!

Seattle Center & the Space Needle

The Seattle Center and the Space Needle were built in 1962 for the World’s Fair, and since then, they have been among Seattle’s top attractions. They have also become a large complex and park area with restaurants, theatres, and sports facilities.

You can go to the top of the Space Needle by elevator to see a 360-degree view from the Needle Observation Deck of the city and Elliot Bay. The best time to go to the top is in summer when winter clouds vanish. If you plan to go in winter, the Seattle Center is one of the best places to visit, where many events are held, such as Winterfest.

The Museum of History & Industry

The Museum of History and Industry shows you the leading part of Seattle’s industry. In contrast, the True Northwest exhibits give you more information about Seattle’s history, from Native American culture to the present. Tourists can experience the view of the city by using an authentic WWII-era Tang periscope in the Maritime exhibit.

The museum has a gallery that shows inventors’ new technology and many exhibits that include invented products, historical objects, and vintage clothes.

Seattle Great Wheel

Another famous attraction in Seattle is the 175-foot-tall Ferris Wheel. It is located near Pike Place Market and the Seattle Aquarium. The ride takes about 20 minutes, and it operates all week. It offers a beautiful view of Elliot Bay.

Pier 57 is also home to other attractions nearby, such as the flying theatre Wings over Washington. To buy souvenirs, you can visit other attractions nearby, such as gift shops. 

Seattle Aquarium

Seattle Aquarium is located near the Seattle Great Wheel on Pier 57. This place provides a lot of information about the animals. When you enter the aquarium, you will see the Window on Washington’s Water Exhibit, with a 120,000-gallon tank and a 40-foot-wide window.

A pool also touches the tank beside the aquarium, where kids can get closer to the invertebrates. Many marine mammals, such as seals, live inside the aquarium.

The Museum of Flight

The Museum of Flight in Seattle includes many historical objects, aeroplanes, and plane educational exhibits. The museum provides a lot of information and experience about planes. It is open from Thursday to Monday, and due to the many things there, you can spend all day in the museum.

The extensive collections include the first jet, Air Force One, Concorde, and many military planes. All of that is located in the outdoor gallery, while planes are suspended in flight in the indoor gallery. The space gallery focuses on everything about space and the future.

Besides all that, you get to see the Personal Courage Wing, which is suitable for history lovers and dedicated to aviation’s important role during WWII. This part contains about 28 restored planes, personal stories of pilots, and much more.

Washington Park Arboretum

Washington Park Arboretum is located northeast of downtown, covering over 230 acres in the Madison Park neighbourhood. It is the perfect place to get away from the crowded part of the city. The park is free to enter, and it is managed by the University of Washington Botanic Gardens and the city of Seattle.

Inside the park are paths you can walk through, like Rhododendron Glen and Azalea Way. There, you can see the Japanese maples and 2.5 acres of plot devoted to New Zealand native plants.

Woodland Park Zoo

The zoo is located on 92 acres and includes many endangered species worldwide. It contains about 300 species from Asia and Africa, such as elephants, jaguars, snow leopards, bears, and more.

If you are an animal lover, you will find many things to do at the Woodland Park Zoo, such as animal feeding, educational lectures, and daily programs. You will also have the opportunity to get closer to some animals at the zoo, like giraffes and penguins.

Pike Place Market

The Pike Place Market is a famous place to visit in summer. It is located near the waterfront, and there you will find everything you want to buy, from fruits, fish, and vegetables. There are also about 200 shops that sell things from books, antiques, and more. Besides the market, there are other top attractions in the city located near it that you can visit after the market, such as the Seattle Aquarium and the Seattle Art Museum.

Seattle Art Museum

Seattle Art Museum is one of the top attractions in the city. It is located near Pike Place Market and has four floors. The first three floors include exhibits and pieces from permanent collections, such as Islamic Art, European Art, and Native American Art.

There are also collections of modern art. The museum oversees two art facilities: the Olympic Sculpture Park and the Seattle Asian Art Museum.

Whale Watch 

It is one of the best things you can do while on the shores of Seattle without using a boat. Seeing these large mammals spending their time in the waters is a unique experience. Orcas are often the type of whale seen near the city. The summer is considered the best time to see the orcas, specifically from June to September.

The perfect places to watch the whales are on the western banks of Seattle, like Alki Beach and Golden Gardens. Boat trips are also available if you want to examine the whales closely.

Olympic Sculpture Park

The Olympic Sculpture Park is located in Elliot Bay. It is a famous place for locals before tourists, who go to the park to spend a fabulous and relaxing time while taking many lovely photographs. You would love to see many magnificent sculptures like Seattle Cloud Cover and Eye Benches.

The park was environmentally transformed from an industrial site to an ample green space that includes a salmon habitat. The park’s entrance is on Western and Broad Street, and you will find a trail as the letter Z takes you to the waterfront. There are many cafes there where you can enjoy your cup of joe.

Seattle Beaches

Seattle is one of the most beautiful places in the United States of America, and its beaches are great places to relax. On the west, you can find Elliot Bay and Puget Sound; on the east, there is Lake Washington. Carkeek Park and Golden Gardens are also popular with locals due to their sandy beaches and the many activities they offer.

Another famous place is Discovery Park, which includes a sand beach and a lovely lighthouse. Lake Washington has many beaches you will love to visit and have a good time at, like Matthews Beach Park in the northeast of Seattle. This largest beach has a swimming platform and ample green space.

Discovery Park

Discovery Park is one of the most famous places to visit in Seattle. It is considered the largest park in the city and is located on 550 acres. The park, located west of downtown, contains forests and coastlines. It also includes one of the best beaches in the town.

One of the famous landmarks in the park is the West Point Lighthouse, located west of the park. It is a lovely place to take Instagrammable pictures. The beautiful nature around you will make you love the place, with the beach, sand, and green space. You will also have a nice view of the Olympic Mountains.

While in the park, you will find a learning centre that provides all the information you need about the park and its education programs.

Volunteer Park

Volunteer Park is another well-known park in Seattle. It is located in the North Capitol Hill neighbourhood. The park includes walking trails, where you can explore the area, playgrounds for children, picnic areas, and sports facilities.

In the park, there is the Seattle Asian Art Museum, where you will find many art collections from South Asia, Southeast Asia, and China. Also, there is a historic water tower with a circular staircase, and from the top, you will see a beautiful view of the place.

Benaroya Hall

Benaroya Hall is Seattle’s central art spot. It is located downtown and can seat 2,500 people. When you enter the lobby, you will find a large glass sculpture by Dale Chihuly. The place has hosted many performances and shows, such as folk and family concerts.

International District

The International District is located to the east of Pioneer Square. There, you will find many Japanese and Chinese shops and restaurants. The neighbourhood was initially created as Seattle’s Chinatown but eventually developed into a hybrid centre of many cultures. There are Filipino and Vietnamese cafes, and you can shop for Kenyan dresses and Lithuanian raincoats in this culturally blended district.

One of the famous attractions to visit is the Wing Luke Museum of the Asian Pacific American Experience. It was named after a Chinese American, the first Asian American elected official in Washington. The museum displays immigration history through authentic works from the struggles of early Asian Pioneers and Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander artists.

Museum of Pop Culture

This museum is a top attraction in Seattle. It is right next to the Space Needle. You can learn everything about the story of modern culture at this museum. The exhibits are spread into three levels, displaying many artefacts, guitars, costumes, and collections related to horror movies and the science fiction universe. The museum hosts many events. It is open daily, so having an excellent tour of this beautiful museum will be fun.

Pioneer Square Historic District

The square is considered the historic part of the city. It is famous for its 60-foot totem pole among Victorian-era buildings. One of its towers is the Smith Tower, which is 42 stories high. You will see a beautiful view if you go up to the 35th floor.

In the same neighbourhood, there is Klondike Gold Rush National Historic Park. You can take a 75-minute tour at Bill Speidel’s Underground, during which the guide will inform you about the old city below the modern streets.

Gas Work Park

Gas Work Park is located on the north side of Lake Union. It offers a beautiful view of the downtown towers and boats on the lake. Before becoming a park, it was a site of industrial coal gasification, and its structures are now public art pieces.

Some of these structures have also been turned into playground equipment. You can watch the sunset as the sun reflects on the water, giving you a magnificent view.

Green Lake

Green Lake is located north of downtown. It is 260 acres and has about 2.8 miles of trail that circles the lake. East Green Lake Park is a famous spot with a sandy shoreline and green space. You can go swimming, play volleyball, and rent a boat there. There is also West Green Lake Beach, which offers the same activities.

Places to stay during your visit to Seattle

Seattle has many top attractions, even more than we’ve already covered. You would need a good hotel to rest in from all the sightseeing you will do in the city. Here are some of the best hotels in Seattle:

• Four Seasons Hotel Seattle: This is one of the most luxurious hotels in the city. It is located near the market and includes a spa, gym, rooftop swimming pool, and terrace.
• Hotel Andra: Another great hotel to stay in, Belltown, has 119 rooms surrounded by history, art, and music.
• Inn at the Market: It is a luxury boutique hotel near the Pike Place Market with a water view and a rooftop deck.
• The Maxwell Hotel is a mid-range hotel with a lovely bar, indoor pool, and décor.