Seattle is a really cool and unique city located on the Puget Sound in Washington state. This quirky town has so many fun things to do that it can keep you busy for days. Whether you live outside the city or you are doing a Washington state road trip, you should plan a day trip to Seattle.
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When is the Best Time to Day Trip to Seattle
The short answer is anytime. You can day trip to Seattle anytime of the year. If you are looking for the best weather, the summer months are the best time to visit Seattle. But with great weather comes bigger crowds and higher prices. September may be your best bet with the ‘back to school’ crowd not visiting and the summer weather still in effect.
To Buy a CityPASS or To Not Buy a CityPASS
Depending on how many things you plan to do on your day trip to Seattle, it may be worth purchasing a Seattle CityPASS. The pass is $109 for adults (ages 13+) and $84 for children (ages 5-12). Children under 5 have free admission to many of the attractions, so they will likely not need a CityPASS. The pass includes admission to the Space Needle, Seattle Aquarium, and a choice of 3 attractions listed below:
- Argosy Cruises Harbor Tour
- Museum of Pop Culture
- Woodland Park Zoo
- Chihuly Garden and Glass
What to Pack for a Day Trip to Seattle
- Water Bottle – Help save the environment by bringing your own refillable water bottle instead of buying plastic bottles.
- Sunscreen – Protect your skin from the sun, and do not forget to reapply.
- Hat – More sun protection to block the sun from your face
- Rain jacket – You never know when the rain will start on your day trip to Seattle so be ready with some men’s or women’s raingear.
- Walking Shoes – You will likely be walking a lot so be sure to wear comfortable men’s and women’s walking shoes.
Things to Do on a Day Trip to Seattle
1. Pike Place Market
The Pike Place Market was established in 1907 so that farmers could sell their products directly to consumers without the need of a middleman, and it is my favorite part of Seattle. It is the country’s oldest continuously running public farmers’ market. Load up on fresh produce and fresh seafood during your day trip to Seattle. Watch the fish mongers toss the fish from the display cases to the scales in the back. You can buy many other products from artists and other small business in the market. My favorite product at the market is the beautiful bouquets of freshly cut flowers.
You can get your fill of prepared food at Pike Place Market as well. I love clam chowder in a bread bowl, and Pike Place Chowder has been ranked America’s #1 chowder, according to their website. Other sit down restaurants that rock are Lowell’s and Biscuit Bitch. Lowell’s has great views of Puget Sound while you eat. For a quick bite or a snack, try Mee Sum Pastry, Piroshky Piroshky, and Le Panier, but be prepared to wait in a lengthy line. Speaking of lines, you will be waiting in a very long one if you want to grab a latte at Starbuck’s original store at Pike Place.
Market hours are 9am – 6pm and is open daily except for Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. Parking garages are available to park in the area. If you arrive before 9am, the garage will charge you a flat fee of $10 to park all day. Otherwise, they charge $4 per hour for the first four hours.
2. Gum Wall
Whether you find this attraction quirky or disgusting, the gum wall located in Pike Place Market is a must-see spot in Seattle. Located in an alleyway in Post Alley under Pike Place Market, people and Instagrammers flock here to get colorful pictures where people have stuck their old, chewed gum to the brick walls. If you have a weak stomach, you will want to keep your visit here to a minimum. In addition to undoubtedly be loaded with germs, this area has a putrid smell of old stale gum. If you cannot tell by my description of this area, I was not a fan!
3. Space Needle
The Space Needle has been an icon in the Seattle skyline since 1961. The 605-foot tall spire is equipped with an observation deck and rotating restaurant. You can get tickets to visit the top of the Space Needle at varying times depending on the time of year and expected busyness. The core operational hours are 12pm – 5pm, and they finalize extra morning and evening hours a couple weeks in advance. From the observation deck, you can see the city, Puget Sound, and the surrounding mountain ranges, including Mount Rainier.
4. Chihuly Garden and Glass
Located in the Seattle Center next to the Space Needle is the Chihuly Garden and Glass which is a museum dedicated to the glass artwork by Dale Chihuly. If you have ever been to the lobby of the Bellagio in Las Vegas, you are familiar with Chihuly’s work. You can spend a couple of hours wandering through this museum marveling at the unique artwork. In the garden area, you can watch a live glass-blowing demonstration. Chihuly Garden and Glass is open 9am – 6pm Sunday-Thursday and 9am – 7pm Friday-Saturday. General admission is as follows:
- Regular Admission (Ages 13-64) – $32
- King County Residents (Ages 13-64) and Seniors (65+) – $27
- Youth (Ages 5-12) – $19
- Children (Ages 4 and under) – Free
You can also purchase a packaged admission that includes Chihuly Garden and Glass and the Space Needle Observation Deck.
5. Museum of Pop Culture
Also located in the Seattle Center is the Museum of Pop Culture, this museum hosts exhibits that range from science fiction displays to Jimi Hendrix memorabilia to Disney costumes. I did not have time to visit this museum on my visit to Seattle, but others recommend spending 1.5 to 3 hours perusing the exhibits. The museum is open 10am – 6pm on weekdays and 9am – 6pm on weekends.
6. Seattle Underground Tour
After the Great Seattle Fire of 1889, the city decided to rebuild with only stone or brick masonry, and the buildings must be one story higher than the original buildings to avoid flooding and sewage problems. The entertaining and unusual Seattle Underground Tour is a 75-minute walking tour takes you below the surface to the interconnecting tunnels that once were the first floor of Seattle’s buildings. Make sure to get your tickets prior to arrival as they do sell out. From April to September, tour times range from 9am – 7pm, and from October to March, tour times are 10am – 6pm.
7. Seattle Harbor Tour
If an underground walking tour is not what you are looking to do on your day trip to Seattle, try a harbor tour. The one-hour Argosy Harbor Cruise narrates facts about the city of Seattle while observing gorgeous views of the city skyline, Olympic Mountains, and Puget Sound.
8. Whale Watching
One of my favorite things to do on a day trip to Seattle is whale watching. While there are several different kinds of whales you can spot on a tour, the most likely and most iconic whale to see is the orca or killer whale. This half-day Puget Sound Express whale watching tour has guaranteed whale sightings and explores the Puget Sound as far north as the San Juan Islands on its quest for seeing whales. This tour leaves out of Edmonds, 30 minutes north of Seattle, and takes 4-5 hours.
9. Fremont Troll
There is not a lot to do at the Fremont Troll, but it is worth a visit while you are driving around on your day trip to Seattle. Reports of troll sightings under the Aurora Bridge have surfaced since the bridge’s erection in 1932. In the late 1980s, the Fremont Arts Council launched an art competition to revitalize the area around the Aurora Bridge, and Steve Badanes won the contest with his design. The Fremont Troll was born and has become an icon of Seattle.
10. Miner’s Landing
Miner’s Landing is located on Pier 57 and is an historic attraction recognizable by the Great Wheel, a 174-foot tall Ferris wheel at the end of the pier. In addition to the Great Wheel, Miner’s Landing also houses Wings over Washington, a simulated aerial ride that will fly you over some of Washington’s most beautiful natural landmarks. Other rides, souvenir shops, snack stores, and restaurants fill the rest of the pier.
11. Seattle Aquarium
Located on a pier between Pike Place Market and Miner’s Landing, the Seattle Aquarium is a neat experience for all age groups. After you enter the aquarium, workers will take your group’s picture which can be purchased later. Keep walking through the exhibits, and you will find yourself at the at the hands-on coral nursery. There are so many epic sea creatures you will see such as octopus, jellyfish, blowfish, sea horses, and many more. Marine mammals such as otters and sea lions are also part of the Seattle Aquarium exhibits.
12. Ballard Locks
The Ballard Locks, also known as Hiram M. Chittenden Locks, carry more boat traffic than any other lock system in the United States. The locks are located between the neighborhoods of Ballard and Magnolia in the Lake Washington Ship Canal. At no cost, you can watch as boats load the locks and water either fills or empties to match the water level of the adjacent waters, so boats can travel between the waterways. Plan on spending at least an hour at this engineering marvel that is open 7am – 9pm daily. Parking is available on both sides of the locks.
13. Sporting Event
Being the 18th largest American city by population, this metropolis is loaded with sports teams that you can cheer for. Depending on the time of year and what sport is your favorite, you can watch the Seahawks (football), Mariners (baseball), Supersonics (basketball), Sounders (soccer), Thunderbirds (hockey), and many others. The University of Washington Huskies are also known for their Division 1 football program.
Seattle is a beautiful city located on the brackish waters of the Puget Sound. Whether you are looking for an urban adventure or an outdoor adventure, Seattle and Washington state have you covered.
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