Seattle Recommendations
Seattle Recommendations
While in Seattle, make sure to take some time for fun!
Review this list of thrilling activities to discover during your stay in town. We've included some comments from some Seattle locals for your reference.
Helpful tips, tricks, or advice for visitors
- Plan for Traffic. It could be bad depending on where you're going and when.
- Locals don’t use umbrellas. If you want to fit in, bring a rain jacket! If the sun happens to shine, you will definitely want sunglasses, so don’t leave them at home.
Food Recommendations
Coffee
- Starbucks Reserve Roastery (1124 Pike St, Seattle, WA 98101) - "A must try to have the Seattle Starbucks experience...great coffee, breakfast, cocktails, pastries and pizza."
- Caffe Vita on Capital Hill (1005 E Pike St, Seattle, WA 98122)
- Nana's Green Tea (1007 Stewart St #103, Seattle, WA 98101) - "Be sure to try the matcha ice cream."
Dinner
- Katie Downs Waterfront Tavern & Eatery (3211 Ruston Way, Tacoma, WA 98402) - "Without having the "Big Restaurant" feel, it has great food at good prices with an Outstanding view of Commencement Bay and if the weather is clear, Mount Rainier and the Olympics. It's a little bit of a drive but well worth it."
- Duke's Seafood South Lake Union - Waterfront Dining (1111 Fairview Avenue North, Seattle, WA 98109) - "A little pricey but nice view."
Bars
- The Pink Door (1919 Post Alley, Seattle, WA 98101) - "A Seattle institution with eclectic entertainment."
- Cha Cha Lounge (1013 E Pike St, Seattle, WA 98122) - "A must if you’re looking for a good dive bar."
- Unicorn (1118 E Pike St, Seattle, WA 98122) - "Offers a truly unique Seattle bar experience."
- Flatstick Pub (609 Westlake Ave N, Seattle, WA 98109 / 240 Second Ave S, Seattle, WA 98104) - "Multiple locations that offer a fun mix of mini-mini golf and so many beer options."
Breweries
- Fremont Brewing (1050 N 34th St, Seattle, WA 98103) - "Has nice a great beer garden and good beer."
- The Pike Brewing Company (1415 1st Ave, Seattle, WA 98101) - "Offers good beer, fun atmosphere, and is close to downtown."
- Old Stove Brewing (1901 Western Ave, Seattle, WA 98101) - "Has a cool taproom and tasty beer."
Activities and Destinations
Indoor Activities
Museums
- Chihuly Museum (305 Harrison St, Seattle, WA 98109) - "Fascinating and a must see while in town."
Tours
- The Seattle Underground Tour (614 1st Ave, Seattle, WA 98104) - "A fun and different way to learn about the history of Seattle."
- Seattle Architecture Foundation Tours (1010 Western Ave, Seattle, WA 98104) - "A unique way to see the city."
Activities
- Room 5280 (503 Lenora St, Seattle, WA 98121) - "Escape games for those who escaped the conference."
Unique Seattle Spots
- Seattle Public Library (multiple locations) - "Go up to the top floor, it's awesome, also go to the "heart" of the library on floor 4. You'll understand why it's called the heart."
- Columbia Tower Club (701 5th Ave, 75th Floor, Seattle, WA 98104) - "Go up to the 76th floor which has some awesome views, may even be better than the space needle."
- Metsker Maps (1511 1st Ave, Seattle, WA 98101) - "A cool shop at Pike Place Market, definitely worth a gander."
- Ye Olde Curiosity Shop (Pier 54, 1001 Alaskan Wy, Seattle, WA 98104) - "Sylvester and Sylvia make it a must-see place."
Outdoor Activities
Parks
- Kerry Park (211 W Highland Dr, Seattle, WA 98119) - "Has an awesome view of Seattle."
- Seattle Japanese Garden (1075 E Lk Washington Blvd, Seattle, WA 98112) - "Absolutely beautiful and a nice reprieve from the crowds of the city."
- Gas Works Park (2101 N Northlake Way, Seattle, WA 98103) - "Where they played paintball in the movie "10 Things I Hate About You"."
Water Related
- Alki Beach (2665 Alki Ave SW, Seattle, WA 98116) - "Take the water taxi over, walk to the beach and enjoy some fun restaurants and shops."
- Argosy Cruises (1101 Alaskan Wy Pier 55, Suite 201, Seattle, WA 98101) - "A cool way to see the skyline and get out on the water."
- Bainbridge Island Ferry - "Mostly as an excuse is to get on the water and see the area from the boat, to walk to little downtown of Bainbridge for ice-cream or coffee."
Unique Spots
- University of Washington Cherry Blossoms - "Most people might not be aware that cherry blossoms on UW campus brings a big audience every year."
- Freemont Troll (North 36th Street, Troll Ave N, Seattle, WA 98103) - "Fearsome fixture that resides under Hwy 99."
- Five Seattle Area Dambo Troll - "Enjoy Troll Hunting as you track down and visit all 5 trolls."
- Snoqualmie Falls - "It's not too far out of the city and very pretty."
Engineering Related
Day Trips
- The Museum of Flight (9404 E. Marginal Way South, Seattle, WA 98108-4097) - "A must see at Boeing Field for aircraft buffs."
- Ballard Locks (3015 NW 54th St, Seattle, WA 98107) - "A great place to nerd out."
- Pacific Science Center (200 2nd Ave N, Seattle, WA 98109) - "Put it on your list, especially if you have kids with you."
- Seattle civil works nerd tour - Here are a few places to explore on your own.
- Floating bridges (I-90, 520)
- Downtown Seattle Transit Tunnel, light rail tunnel and deep stations (Beacon Hill @160ft, UW Station @ 95 ft),
- Elliot Bay Water Taxi
- Monorail
- State Route 99 tunnel
- Alaska Way redevelopment
- South Lake Union Streetcar
- Bainbridge Island passenger ferry
- Seattle Underground Tour (extra points if you find the photos of the Denny Regrade in the gift shop)
- Skagit Valley Tulip Festival - "If you’ve never been to a tulip festival, check the event which runs the full month of April."
- Olympic National Park/Olympic Peninsula - "Site of the Elwha and Glines Canyon Dam removal sites."
Morning Run Suggestions
- Follow the bike path from Lake Union Park around Lake Union.
- Run across the floating bridge. Sometimes you can see bald-eagles sitting on the light-polls.