8 Things To Do: First Time Visitors To Seattle, Washington

If you are seeking a vacation that includes a lot of time in nature but you like your nitro cold brew and a good museum too, book a trip to Seattle. 

Seattle is a port city bounded by the Puget Sound and Lake Washington in the Pacific Northwest; within a few hour’s drive, you can visit three national parks. One of the greenest cities in the United States, it’s no wonder Seattle’s moniker is the Emerald City.  

Many first time visitors arrive in Seattle to board an Alaskan cruise. Don’t worry if you don’t have time to see everything, the cruise will bring you back to Seattle. Book an extra day or two at the end of the cruise to see all of the sites.

Seattle tics all the boxes for a relaxing but inspiring vacation destination. I’ve compiled a list of things to do if this is your first trip to Seattle.

1. Pike Place Market

Surround yourself with the sights, sounds, and smells of Seattle. Live music, fresh coffee, flying fish (I don’t want to spoil it so you’ll have to find out on your own), locally baked bread, cheeses, fresh produce, breweries, and every kind of regional food you can imagine will vie for your attention. Oh, and don’t forget to stop and smell the flowers. 

Over 100 years old, Pike Place Market is the oldest continuously operating market in the United States. The market encompasses over 500 vendors on two levels and includes seven acres of historic district in downtown Seattle. Outside, enjoy incredible views of the Olympic Mountains.

Take a food tour of Pike Place Market or just wander on your own if you don’t have much time.

But, before you leave the market, did you know that the first Starbucks is located there? That’s right, the original Starbucks, and it’s been there for forty-five years! As you might expect, it is also very busy. If you don’t want to stand in the line you can visit the Starbucks Reserve Roastery and Tasting Room on Capitol Hill, only nine blocks from the market location.  

2. Seattle Waterfront

2a. Seattle Aquarium

Seattle Waterfront is a great place for a walk and there are a few top tourist attractions within the area. The Seattle Aquarium is worth a visit, especially for first-time visitors. When you enter the Aquarium the first thing you see are glass walls giving you an underwater view of Seattle. It’s pretty impressive.

 Another cool thing to see is the Great Pacific Octopus. There are two acrylic tanks connected by an acrylic tube and the octopus can move freely between the tanks via the tube. I used to hate to see octopuses at aquariums, especially after watching My Octopus Teacher, but I have since decided that if helping people to understand these intelligent creatures will also help to preserve our ocean life, maybe it’s ok. Let me know what you think in the comments. 

If it’s a sunny day take a scenic harbor cruise and learn the history of Seattle and Puget Sound. 

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2b. Seattle Great Wheel

Located right on the beautiful Seattle waterfront,  a ride on the Seattle Great Wheel is a must for stunning panoramic views of the city skyline. Up in the air is also a good place for observing the Washington state ferries coming into the docks. 

3. Seattle Space Needle

Built in 1962 for the Century 21 exhibit of the World’s Fair, the Space Needle is easily Seattle’s most iconic attraction. From the observation deck, panoramic views of the city captivate first-time visitors. Check out the culinary options at the Loupe Lounge, so named for the revolving glass floor, the first of its kind. 

You don’t need to go up the Space Needle to see Mt. Rainier, on clear days it is visible from just about any part of the city. At 14,400 feet it’s the highest peak in North America. An active volcano, the fertile soils nourish meadows of flowers and wildlife. Mt. Rainier is also the source of hundreds of glaciers. 

Tip: You can purchase a combo ticket for the Needle and the Chihuly Museum. 

4. Chihuly Garden and Glass Museum

Allocate plenty of time to visit this breathtaking museum with eight galleries, including an outdoor garden. The museum was created by the owners and the artist, Dale Chihuly, a Washington state native. Chihuly studied and taught fine art glass-making…it became his life’s work. He is featured in over 200 permanent museum collections around the world. If you only go to one museum in Seattle, go here.

Pro Tip: The Chihuly Museum and Space Needle are only a ten-minute drive from Pier 91, where most of the big cruise lines dock.

5. Olympic Sculpture Park

If you prefer outdoor activities, walk to the Olympic Sculpture Park, the city’s largest green space, encompassing nine acres of award-winning sculpture along the waterfront. When you need more views and sunset shots, this is one of the best places in Seattle.

6. Ballard Locks

Ballard Locks are not only worth visiting, but they are incredibly important to the economy of Seattle and have a deep history. Things you can do there include watching the ships pass between Puget Sound and Lake Union and observing salmon migrating from April until September. 

7. Bainbridge Island Ferry

Near the Sky View Observatory, you can jump on the Bainbridge Island ferry. It’s only a thirty-minute ferry ride however being out on the water is one of the best things to do in Seattle. Once on the Island enjoy the natural beauty and small-town vibes. If you go later in the day you can stay for an alfresco dinner and catch a spectacular sunset.

8. Sky View Observatory

Seattle’s tallest building is where you’ll find the Sky View Observatory. It’s also the tallest in Washinton state and the tallest observation deck on the West Coast. 

While it is higher than the Space Needle it is a completely different experience. If you don’t like crowds you could opt to only go here but I think you should try to do both. Go to the Sky View Observatory for the 360-degree view of the city and iconic sites like Mount Rainier, the Space Needle, the Cascade Mountains, and more. Try to go at night. 

Seattle is a big city with a lot of cool neighborhoods to explore and food and drink to taste. You won’t be able to do it all but, you can try! Here are a few more favorite places for a first trip. 

• The Museum of Pop Culture
• Seattle Art Museum
• The Fremont Troll
• Discovery Park
• Gas Works Park
• The Gum Wall
• Ye Olde Curiosity Shop

And don’t forget all those national parks. If you have more time you’ll want to visit Mount Ranier National Park, Olympic National Park, and North Cascades National Park. If you’re traveling to Alaska via Seattle check out this popular road trip from Anchorage to Seward.