11 Things to Explore in Seattle
“Only the curious have, if they live, a tale worth telling at all.” – Alistair Reid
When you travel for work, do you take time to explore your surroundings? Or, do you go straight to your hotel room, attend your meetings, and head back home? If you have the chance to venture out, I suggest you do. You never know what adventure awaits.
Work beckoned me to Seattle, a place I had always wanted to visit. I was determined to see as much as possible. Below is a list of 11 things to explore in Seattle.
1. Pike Place Market:
This farmer’s market has some of the freshest fish and produce I have ever seen. The variety of flowers, art, and crafts are fun to shop. When in Seattle, Pike Place Market is something you have to experience… especially when fish is being thrown in the air.
2. The Space Needle:
The Space Needle was smaller than what my co-workers had imagined, but it was still super cool and mandatory to visit. I did not have any expectations going there, and I thoroughly enjoyed the views. I cannot imagine exploring Seattle without a stop at the Space Needle.
3. Chihuly Garden and Glass:
One of the gems I discovered was the Chihuly Garden and Glass museum. I was familiar with Chihuly, as I had seen his exhibit in Florida and experienced his influence in Vegas. Chihuly‘s museum became a must see on my Seattle bucket list.
As I wandered through the museum, I was captivated by his funky, glass sculptures and kaleidoscope of colors. I would definitely recommend this place to an art enthusiast.
Check out my South Florida: Chihuly Exhibit at Fairfield blog.
4. The Museum of Pop Culture, formerly the Experience Music Project Museum (EMP):
The MoPop is a funky, architectural building home to popular culture. This non-profit museum boasts original music lyrics and guitars previously owned by our musical legends.
5. Ballard Locks and Fish Ladder:
As I love water, boats, and nature, Ballard Locks and Fish Ladder was a great spot to check out. The park was pretty to stroll through, and the highlight was watching salmon and steelhead swim upstream.
6. Gum Wall:
After venturing through Pike Place Market, take a stroll down Post Alley to check out the Gum Wall. Yes, it is disgusting, but it is a local landmark.
7. Bill Speidel’s Underground Tour:
I have never gone beneath a city. So, when I heard about Bill Speidel’s Underground Tour, I was intrigued. The experience was unique, the ghost stories were fun, and I learned how the “underground” was created. This was definitely an unexpected, welcome twist to my trip.
8. Alki Beach:
I am fairly good at researching travel destinations. However, locals’ recommendations are always the best. In my training class, I was fortunate to sit next to a woman who lived in Seattle. I quizzed her on places not everyone would know about, but would be fun to check out. She told me about Alki Beach.
My co-workers and I took a boat over to Alki Beach, where we ate lunch. The ride was beautiful, and we got a different perspective of the city. Once we were on the other side, Seattle danced before our eyes over the water.
My high school friend, Billy, also took me to a different part of Alki Beach prior to dropping me off at the airport. The beach stretched on for miles against the mountains, and I would have loved to have walked along its inviting shores. It is definitely a pretty place!
What I would have liked to have seen, but did not have time for…
9. Mount Rainier:
I would have loved to have spent a day hiking Mount Rainier. The mountain looked magnificent in the distance. I can only imagine the beauty I would have encountered had I taken a day trip there.
10. Kerry Park:
There were several parks in Seattle I would have enjoyed, one of them being Kerry Park. The park is known for its phenomenal views of the city and at times, Mount Rainier.
11. Canlis:
Intrigued by 35 Most Amazing Restaurants With A View, I have been eating at these restaurants during my travels. Canlis is on this list, so I am sure the view is fantastic.
12. San Juan Islands:
The San Juan Islands are a great little getaway from Seattle. I would love to explore them one day.
Check out my blogs inspired by 35 Most Amazing Restaurants With A View:
- Nest at WP24: A Spectacular LA Skyline
- Cabo: El Farallon, a Restaurant in a Mountain
- NYC: Asiate, a Restaurant with a Spectacular View
