Things to do in Seattle WA 

Although they do make a great cup of coffee there, Seattle is a magical city for many reasons than just its coffee culture. Every year, tourists swarm to this city for the Solstice Parade, Emerald City Comic Con, and Hempfest, but it's also a terrific place to go for a two- or three-day weekend getaway to load up on delectable food, libations, and culture. 

Pike Place Market is a great place to fuel up with a snack before a full day of exploring Seattle's museums and galleries, while you can certainly spend hours there. Visit Ballard Lock or one of its magnificent parks if you're fortunate enough to get rain. Or how about checking out some of the theater or comedy options in Seattle? Here are the top things to do in Seattle right now, whatever your purpose. 

Pioneer Square

If you don't spend hours people watching in a plaza, is your weekend getaway in a new city really one? The response is no. And Seattle has exactly what you need. The oldest neighborhood in Seattle, Pioneer Square, has everything you might want for a relaxing afternoon, including cafes, book stores, and beautiful architecture. While you're there, visit the Klondike Gold Rush Museum and then take in the views from the Smith Tower, which once held the record for being the tallest structure on the West Coast. Additionally, this is where you can take the excellent Bill Speidel's Underground Tour, where you may discover Seattle's hidden tunnels, underground lanes, and passageways. 

Space Needle

Every city needs an absurdly tall building serving expensive champagne, right? This is Seattle's, I suppose. The space needle, which was initially built as a component of the 1962 World's Fair, offers the most breathtaking views over the city. You can see the Olympic Mountains, the Cascades, and more from here, and it has undergone a number of repairs to really shine. There are now tilting glass walls (referred to as Skyrisers), which give you the impression that you are floating, and a rotating glass floor to give you vertigo. Additionally, there is that crucial coffeehouse. 

Chihuly Glass and Garden

The Chihuly Garden and Glass Museum offers a singular visual experience while showcasing the monumental glass artist Dale Chihuly's creations through a number of astounding indoor and outdoor works. The sculptures range in style from exquisite to grandiose, especially in the garden where plants and glass fragments are intertwined in a rainbow of hues. Refraction results in a completely different experience depending on the weather, but it's always Instagram gold.

Pike Place Market

Regardless of the duration of your journey, this market is renowned and a must-see. It is the city's most popular landmark, which is astounding for a market. and a fantastic location for foodies to enjoy in delectable fare. Find the Pink Door, a secret local favorite that offers delectably fresh Italian fare, by tracking down its rosy entryway. Other excellent choices for a sit-down lunch include Lowell's, where you can cross the Seattle Joe Scramble (sausage, spinach, and mushrooms) off your culinary bucket list, and Pike Place Chowder, which serves some of the greatest clam chowders this side of Boston. The Crumpet Shop is another one of Pike Place's hidden gourmet gems, though they are notorious to sell out by lunchtime. Just cross over to the other side to find it. 

Bainbridge Island

With 150 acres of parks, ponds, and meadows to explore in the stunning Bloedel Reserve, this adjacent island is the antithesis of the skyscraper-filled city. The Bainbridge Island Ferry, like the Staten Island Ferry in New York City, is a great opportunity to see a lot of Seattle's highlights quickly and affordably. But before you go on the 35-minute journey home, stop for a treat at Mora Iced Creamery, one of the best ice cream shops on the West Coast, where varieties like cheesecake with raspberry jam and mojito are available.

Seattle Barista School

The Seattle Barista Academy in Tukwila, just outside of the city, provides three-hour classes for coffee addicts. The hub of the North American coffee scene is the ideal place to get your hands dirty if you're a fan of the dark stuff. In the course of an afternoon, you may learn anything from basic latte art to how to make the ideal espresso. Pro tip: To minimize disappointment, make your reservations much in advance.

Marine Ma Ka

Born from a well-known food truck, Marination Ma Kai offers delectable Hawaiian-Korean fusion cuisine in a prime spot on the sparkling waterfront. You may get to Seattle's version of the tropics in 15 minutes by taking the West Seattle water taxi from Pier 50. This restaurant gives you the impression that you are on an island thanks to the breathtaking views from its patio. For food, choose a pork katsu sandwich with kimchi (but watch out for the heat) or say "aloha" to some sexy tofu tacos (their word, not ours).

Seattle Great Wheel

One of the biggest of its kind in North America, the Seattle Great Wheel is located on Pier 57, and the gondolas are completely enclosed for rides in all weather. This 175-foot-high Ferris wheel more than makes up for its cheesiness with the views. You can get a spectacular view of the city, the Pacific Ocean, and, if you're lucky, the Olympic Mountains from the summit. The wheel isn't a particularly old landmark—it first debuted in 2012—but that hardly matters. Additionally, the wheel itself lights up, adding a little glitz to the Seattle skyline while you're on a ride, so you can expect more than just stunning vistas.

Seward Park

This park, which spans the entire Bailey Peninsula, is a well-liked refuge from the concrete jungle thanks to its lush, old-growth forest (some of the trees are over 250 years old). Seward Park, a 300-acre peninsula covered in trees that protrudes into Lake Washington, is just 20 minutes by car (or taxi) from downtown Seattle, but it feels like another world. It's a fantastic day trip choice for people of all ages because it has beaches, boating, tennis courts, and hiking paths.

Chateau Ste. Michelle

Michelle Washington takes great pride in its wine, and Chateau Ste. Michelle, which is located less than 20 miles from Seattle, is the most renowned and oldest winery in the state. Ste. Michelle is a turreted French-style estate with 105 acres of grounds that grows chardonnay, cabernet, merlot, riesling, and other grape varieties that guests can sample at frequent tasting events. Don't miss the popular summer concert series on the winery's immaculate lawn if you go during the warmer months.