Festivals & Events, Lists, Seattle, Travel

Things to do in Seattle and the Puget Sound

Posted by Vanessa on

I’ve lived in Washington state for over 25 years but I finally had to make myself a list of lists so I can remember things to do in Seattle and environs when it’s actually sunny out, I’m bored, or when I’m absolutely blanking on recommendations for visitors. One of my friends pointed out that it might be handy to have this available online so let’s goooo. I’ve added links so that I can keep the list(s) somewhat minimal while also giving you the ability to deep-dive for more information. Some of the items are duplicates because they fit under more than one category. I’m going to go out of my way to say I receive no commission or perks of any kind from any of these links so you know this is a bias-free list you can trust. Enjoy and leave me a comment if I missed something or if you tried something from this list!

Tried-and-true things-to-do for visitors

These are the classics, the “tourist traps” as they say–but that doesn’t make them any less enjoyable. You might have to fight the crowds, but they’re crowded for a reason.

Downtown Seattle

These are all the things to do downtown minus the must-dos from the list above.

Museums

If it’s raining and/or you feel like learning, here are a list of museums to check out

Events

The easy-peasy way to find something happening RIGHT NOW

Gardens

Tours/Transportation

This list is for specific tours but also just includes a list of types of transportation that you can rent in the vicinity.

  • Ferries (to Bainbridge, Vashon, Bremerton, Victoria)
  • Seaplane tours by Kenmore Air
  • Argosy Cruises
  • Helicopter Tour
  • The Underground Tour
  • Hot Tub Boats
  • Water Taxi to West Seattle
  • Segway Tour
  • Rent an electronic scooter or bike at Alki beach (or anywhere really)
  • Burke-Gilman Trail
  • Hot air balloon ride
  • Skydive
  • Private sailboat
  • Kayaking and Canoeing
  • Paddleboard
  • Rent a speed boat
  • Go river rafting or river kayaking
  • River float (Snoqualmie, Green, or Wenatchee rivers are good)
  • Skiing
  • Snowshoeing
  • Snowmobiling
  • Sledding
  • Sled dog racing
  • Ziplining
  • Ropes Course
  • Jet-skiing, water-skiing, water-boarding
  • Submarine tours
  • SCUBA/Snorkeling
  • Train/Tram/Light rail/Amtrak Cascades
  • Parasailing/Paragliding
  • Offroading/ATV
  • Race car driving
  • Pedal Party Brew Bike

Trips from Seattle

If you need to get out of the city or looking for another destination on your trip, check out these places within a short journey from Seattle.

  • Snoqualmie Falls
  • Leavenworth
  • Mount Rainier
  • Olympic National Park
  • Train to Portland
  • Ferry to Victoria B.C.
  • Port Townsend
  • San Juan Islands
  • Sequim
  • Ocean Shores
  • Lake Quinalt
  • Lake Chelan
  • Blake Island
  • Train to Vancouver B.C.
  • Amtrak Cascades
  • Poulsbo

Hikes and Walks

  • Seattle Waterfront: You can walk from the waterfront along Elliott Bay trail towards Myrtle Edwards Park, Centennial Park, and Elliot Bay Park for an easy, paved, out-and-back 2.7 mile walk.
  • Cheshiahud Lake Union Loop: Great for seeing the small draw bridges and house boats of Lake Union.
  • Use AllTrails website or app to find trail maps near you
  • Check out the National Park Service for parks in Washington State
  • Mount Rainier
    • Paradise
    • Sunrise
    • Fremont Ridge
    • Wonderland Trail
  • Mount Saint Helens, Ape Cave
  • Rattlesnake Ridge
  • Hoh Rainforest
  • Lake Quinalt
  • Marymere Falls
  • Sol Duc Falls
  • Baker River Trail
  • Colchuck Lake
  • Maple Pass
  • Mount Pilchuck
  • Billy Frank Jr. Niqually National Wildlife Refuge
  • Point Defiance
  • Ruston Way
  • Chambers Bay Golf Course
  • Wapato Park
  • Wright Park
  • Alki
  • Green Lake
  • Seward Park
  • Discovery Park
  • Carkeek Park
  • Magnuson Park
  • Marymoor Park
  • Owen Beach

Things to Merely Look At/Drive By

Mobility issues? Low energy? These are things you can simply drive by and look out the window. You can always get out and explore more if the vibe is right.

  • Kerry Park View
  • Fremont Troll
  • Deception Pass
  • North Cascades Scenic Byway
  • Seattle Waterfront
  • Chuckanut Drive
  • Chinatown
  • Lake Washington
  • Lake Union
  • Hurricane Ridge
  • Hood Canal on the 101
  • Mt. Walker Viewpoint
  • Cascade Loop Scenic Highway cascadeloop.com
  • Ruston
  • Alki
  • Skagit Valley Tulips
  • Jimi Hendrix Statue
  • Kurt Cobain house
  • Bruce and Brandon Lee Graves
  • Olympic Game Farm

Lakes

  • Lake Union
  • Lake Washington
  • Lake Chelan
  • Lake Crescent
  • Lake Quinalt
  • Diablo Lake
  • Green Lake
  • Lake Wenatchee
  • American Lake
  • Lake Tapps
  • Rattlesnake Lake
  • Lake Whatcom
  • Lake Kachess
  • Baker Lake
  • Mowich Lake
  • Tipsoo Lake
  • Ozette Lake
  • Lake Cushman

Best Views

  • Kerry Park
  • Sky View Observatory in Columbia Tower
  • Hurricane Ridge
  • Rattlesnake Ridge
  • Chuckanut Drive
  • Space Needle
  • Seattle Great Wheel
  • Mt. Walker Viewpoint
  • Chambers Creek
  • Alki Beach

Waterfront Restaurants

  • Ray’s Boathouse
  • Anthony’s
  • Ivar’s Salmon House
  • Boathouse 19
  • Salty’s
  • The Crab Pot
  • Katie Downs
  • AQUA by El Gaucho

Shopping

  • Nordstrom flagship
  • Pacific Place and Westlake Center in downtown Seattle
  • Pike Place
  • Bellevue Lincoln Square
  • Uwajimaya
  • University Village
  • Kyoto Art and Antiques
  • Pacific Galleries/Lander Street Vintage
  • Farmers Markets
  • Southcenter Mall
  • Book stores (for example, The Elliott Bay Book Company)
  • Specialty food shops
  • New Age/Metaphysical shops
  • Gift shops
  • Jewelry
  • Clothing/thrift
  • Antiques
  • Plant nurseries
  • Floral Design
    • Blitz and Co. Florist
  • Tea and Herbal
  • Interior Design

Beaches

  • Golden Gardens
  • Alki
  • Shi Shi
  • Ocean Shores
  • Kalaloch
  • Rialto Beach
  • Owen Beach
  • Twanoh State Park
  • Sunnyside Beach
  • Chambers Bay
  • Titlow Beach
  • Lincoln Park (West Seattle)
  • Seward Park
  • Magnuson Park
  • Madison Park
  • Discovery Park
  • Madrona Park

Casinos

  • Emerald Downs
  • Snoqualmie Casino
  • Muckleshoot Casino Resort
  • Tulalip Casino
  • Quinalt Beach Casino
  • Swinomish Casino & Lodge
  • Angel of the Winds Casino Resort
  • Suquamish Clearwater Casino Resort
  • Nisqually Red Wind Casino
  • Emerald Queen Hotel & Casino
  • Silver Reef Casino Resort
  • The Skagit Casino Resort
  • Quil Cedar Creek Casino
  • Little Creek Casino
  • The Point Casino and Hotel

Seasonal

  • Olympia Dance Festival (early March)
  • Cherry Blossoms at UW (mid-March through mid-April)
  • Skagit Valley Tulip Festival (usually in April)
  • Fremont Solstice Parade (around June 21)
  • Lavender Festival (usually late-July through August)
  • Seafair (early August)
  • Long Beach Kite Festival (mid-August)
  • Puyallup Fair (usually the first three weeks of September)
  • Pumpkin patch/corn maze (October)
  • Oktoberfest in Leavenworth (early- to late-October)
  • Gingerbread Village (Christmas season)

Weird and Unusual

I had trouble placing some of these as they’re kind of niche interests but here ya go.

  • Edmonds Underwater Park (Scuba among the octopi and creepy Puget Sound sea life)
  • Go fishing/crabbing/squid jigging/clamming
  • Ghost tours
  • St. Mark’s Episcopal Cathedral (go on Sundays at 9:30 for the Compline Choir)
  • Hot tub boats (this isn’t weird and I’ve already mentioned it but I feel like it needs repeating)
  • Hecklevision
  • The Bubbleator (located at 28708 Sound View Dr. S.)
  • Laser show at Pacific Science Center
  • Olympic Game Farm
  • Curling club of Seattle
  • Edith Macefield House (located at 1438 NW 46th St.)
  • Bruce Lee and Brandon Lee Grave Sites at Lake View Cemetery
  • Orient Express Restaurant
  • Ye Olde Curiosity Shop

Cool Architecture

Good places for floating or tanning

  • River floats:
    • Snoqualmie: Park by Fall City Floating near Snoqualmie Valley Pumpking Patch and have someone drop you off at Plum #1 Access Point by the Tokul Creek Hatchery. Float back down to your car which will be right after the Redmond-Fall City Rd Bridge.
    • Green: Enter at Flaming Geyser State Park
    • Wenatchee: Enter at 10576 US-2, Leavenworth
  • Stationary floats:
    • Madrona Park
    • Lake Chelan

Spas and Wellness

Tacoma

Tacoma is underrated–feel free to challenge me on that but you’re wrong ❤

  • Tacoma Dome events
  • Metro Parks events
  • Point Defiance Zoo, Aquarium, Park
  • Owen Beach and walk to Point
  • Chihuly Bridge of Glass
  • Cheney Stadium
  • Tacoma Narrows Bridges
  • Ruston Way Park
  • Museum of Glass
  • Washington State History Museum
  • LeMay Car Museum
  • Tacoma Art Museum
  • Children’s Museum of Tacoma
  • Stadium High School
  • Union Station
  • Tacoma Chinese Reconciliation Park
  • Titlow Beach
  • Boathouse 19
  • McMenamins Elks Temple
  • Wright Park and W.W. Seymour Conservatory
  • Emerald Queen Casino
  • 7 Seas Brewery and Taproom
  • Foss Waterway Seaport
  • Pantages Theater
  • Tacoma Convention Center
  • Stewart Heights Pool Lazy River
  • Kayaking at any beach
  • Antique shopping downtown
  • Tacoma Glassblowing Studio
  • Fort Niqually Museum
  • The Grand Cinema
  • Brown and Haley’s Factory and Shop
  • Escape Rooms
  • Dorky’s Arcade
  • Keys on Main
  • Tacoma Comedy Club
  • Tower Lanes Entertainment Center (24 hour)
  • Tacoma Book Center
  • Freighthouse Square
  • Olympus Spa
  • Bob’s Java Jive
  • Chamber’s Bay Golf Course
  • Skateworld Tacoma
  • BJs Bingo and Gaming
  • Wapato Park
  • Tacoma SCUBA
  • Ferry to Vashon Island
  • Stairs and Slides by Ruston
  • Emerald Downs
  • Kandle Park wave pool

Olympic Peninsula

  • Lake Quinalt
  • Hoh Rainforest
  • Hurricane Ridge
  • Ocean Shores
  • Olympic Discovery Trail
  • Long Beach Peninsula
  • Westport for fishing
  • Lake Crescent and Lodge
  • Waterfall Trail (olympicpeninsulawaterfalltrail.com)
  • Salt Creek Recreation area
  • Port Townsend
  • Lake Cushman
  • Hood Canal for shellfish
  • Sequim for lavender and Olympic Game Farm
  • Cape Flattery
  • Sol Duc Falls and Hot Spring
  • Kalaloch Beach and Lodge
  • Rialto Beach
  • Ruby Beach
  • Brady’s Oysters
  • Olympic Game Farm

Mt. Rainier

  • Northwest Trek Wildlife Park
  • Zip Wild

Scenic Byways and Road trips

See more at https://scenicwa.com/. The checks are for me–they’re the drives I’ve done.

General Things To Do

These are just categories of things to do. You can literally do them anywhere but they are for generating ideas that weren’t covered above.

  • Boat Tours & Water Sports (boating, ferries, paddling, surfing, wind-surfing, kite surfing, kayaking, canoeing, diving, whale watching, duck tours, fishing, gondola cruise, marinas, river rafting, tubing, scuba, snorkeling, shark diving, ships, paddle-boarding, submarine tours, swimming with dolphins, water skiing, jet skiing, other water-related activities)
  • Casinos & Gaming (casinos, dog tracks, horse tracks, game & entertainment centers)
  • Classes & Workshops (cooking classes, glass blowing, paint, pottery)
  • Concerts & Shows (concerts, plays, ballets, symphonies, operas, theatres, cabaret, cirque du soleil, fashion shows, other performance venues)
  • Events (festivals, parades, arenas, stadiums, conferences, cultural events, exhibitions, music festivals, fireworks, sporting events)
  • Food & Drink (wineries, vineyards, farms, breweries, pub crawls, food tours, cooking classes, farmers’ markets, coffee & tea, dinner theater, distilleries, food & drink festivals, luaus, wine tours & tastings)
  • Fun & Games (go-karts, bowling alleys, movie theaters, mini-golf, indoor rock climbing, live-escape games, curling, and shooting ranges)
  • Museums (art, history, science, local interest, specialty, archival, children’s, libraries, military, natural history)
  • Nature & Parks (national parks, state parks, mountains, beaches, waterfalls, caves, parks, geologic formations, bodies of water, canyons, forests, gardens, hot springs, geysers, islands, mines, nature & wildlife areas, piers & boardwalks, reefs, valleys, volcanoes)
  • Nightlife (bars, dance clubs, disco, comedy clubs, karaoke bars, blues clubs & bars, country & western bars, dinner theater, gay clubs/bars, jazz clubs/bars, night tours, piano bars)
  • Outdoor Activities (hiking, camping, treks, biking, horseback riding, scuba diving, hot air balloon rides, downhill skiing, cross-country skiing, parks, golf courses, beaches, auto race tracks, canyoning, rappelling, climbing, farms, jogging paths/tracks, parasailing, paragliding, playgrounds, rail tour, skydiving, ziplining, aerial adventure)
  • Gear Rentals (bicycles, skis, snowboards, snowmobiles, surfboards, boats, kayaks, segways, scooters, motorcycles, off-road/ATVs, sports cars)
  • Shopping (malls, department stores, specialty stores, antique stores, gift shops, flea/street markets, art galleries, factory outlets, farmers’ markets)
  • Sights & Landmarks (monuments, statues, boardwalks, architecturally significant buildings, sacred & religious sites, churches/cathedrals, ancient ruins, historical sights, battlefields, bridges, castles, cemeteries, dams, fountains, government buildings, libraries, lighthouses, lookouts, military bases, mysterious sites, neighborhoods, observation decks & towers, observatories & planetariums, points of interest, universities & schools, visitor centers)
  • Spas & Wellness (spas, massages, facials, gyms, health clubs, yoga, Pilates, Arab baths, Turkish bath/hammam, jogging paths/tracks, onsen resorts, roman baths, hot springs, thermal spas)
  • Tours (bus, city, walking tours, segway, boat tours, bike tours, beer tasting, bar/club/pub tours, archaeology tours, air tours, adrenaline & extreme tours, 4WD/ATV/off-road tours, climbing tours, day trips, dolphin and whale watching, duck tours, eco tours, fishing, food tours, ghost tours, helicopter, hiking/camping, historic walking areas, hop-on hop-off, horse-drawn carriage, literary art & music tours, motorcycle tours, movie/TV tours, nature & wildlife tours, night tours, photography tours, private tours, rail tour, safari, scavenger hunt, scenic drive, self-guided, shopping tours, sightseeing tours, speedboat tours, submarine tours, vespa/scooter/moped tours, wine tours,
  • Water & Amusement Parks (water parks, amusement parks, theme parks, aerial adventure parks)
  • Zoos and Aquariums

Hope these at least generate some ideas! Please leave a comment below if there is something you feel is missing from any of these lists. Happy Travels!

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