Tucked away in the upper west corner of the US, Seattle is the birthplace of Starbucks, Amazon, Microsoft, Boeing, and grunge music, and it has captured the attention of film and tv as the backdrop for crime dramas and romcoms. It suffers a bad rap when it comes to weather, yet the locals (known as Seattleites) don’t seem to mind if it stops more people from moving there. 

When asked to describe my former hometown, I tend to ramble on about evergreen trees, snow-capped mountains, a vibrant coffee culture, and islands reached by ferry boat and visited by Orcas and bald eagles. But I also keep things balanced by remembering the frequent cloudy days, horrible traffic, and the increasingly daunting problem of homelessness within the downtown core. Otherwise, Seattle can sound too good to be true.

If you’re fortunate enough to be visiting The Emerald City, you might want to put the following places on your list.

The Space Needle

This iconic Seattle landmark was built for the 1962 World Fair and remains the most recognizable aspect of the city skyline. You can reach the top by elevator, where you’ll find a rotating restaurant and observation deck that offers stunning, 360-degree views of the city and Puget Sound. 

It’s a good idea to purchase a ticket in advance if you’re visiting during the busy summer months. You can save money with a dual ticket for the Space Needle and the Chihuly Garden and Glass, located next to the Needle. 

Chihuly Garden and Glass

Conveniently located next to The Space Needle, Chihuly Garden and Glass showcases the incredible glasswork of renowned artist Dale Chihuly. His work can be found in more than 200 museum collections worldwide, including London, Japan, and New York. 

It doesn’t take long to walk through the indoor and outdoor exhibits, and you will be awed by the light, texture, and color captured in the glass sculptures. It’s my museum of choice when in Seattle and I especially love the outdoor garden features of glass plants. 

Boat trip to Tillicum Village (or a ferry to anywhere)

You can’t do the city of Seattle justice without hopping on a boat somewhere. Puget Sound separates the city from the Olympic Peninsula, with about 35 islands to explore in between. 

On an Argosy Cruise from the Seattle waterfront, you can travel to Blake Island, a beautiful 472-acre state park with great hiking trails available (and no cars). Here you can enjoy cedar-staked salmon roasting over an alder wood fire and a show that depicts the story of the Native Americans of the Puget Sound area. 

If that sounds a bit touristy for your taste, skip the Argosy tour and jump on a ferry. Washington State ferries are frequented by commuters, day-trippers, and tourists alike, and day trips and excursions by boat make for an enjoyable way to island hop. You can take a ferry to Bremerton, Bainbridge Island, Vashon Island, West Seattle, or even Victoria, British Columbia. (Although for Victoria, you need to hop a special ferry called the Victoria Clipper.) You can skip the sometimes-long car ferry line by traveling as a foot passenger, but keep in mind that you might want a car to fully appreciate your destination. 

Lime Kiln Point Lighthouse, on San Juan Island. Clifford Wayne Estes/Shutterstock

Explore the San Juan Islands

The San Juan Islands are an archipelago created by a submerged mountain chain in upper Puget Sound near the Canadian border. This group of islands is one of my favorite places in the world. (Yes, the world!) If I could, I would teleport myself there regularly, landing in a kayak surrounded by pristine wilderness, eagles, sea lions, and Orcas. 

To get to the San Juans (as the locals call them) you need to travel north to Anacortes and cross the Sound by ferry. As mentioned above, you can go with or without a car, but you’ll be able to explore the islands better with a vehicle. The ferries run year-round, with several sailings daily to and from the four main islands – San Juan, Lopez, Orcas, and Shaw. 

Each island is unique, but you can expect to find small villages with boutiques, galleries, and restaurants. There are plenty of beaches and hiking trails to explore, plus places to kayak, paddleboard, and go whale watching. 

Kenmore Air seaplane. VDB Photos/Shutterstock

Travel on Kenmore Air

Traveling by seaplane is a very Pacific Northwest thing to do. You’ll feel like you’re headed to the Alaskan wilderness, even if you’re not. 

Kenmore Air has been in operation since 1946, starting with one salvaged floatplane in a single garage. Today, there are 52 pilots and 25 aircraft. Their one-way destinations include the San Juan Islands, Victoria, Vancouver, and the B.C. Inside Passage. They also offer scenic flights over Seattle, Mount St. Helens, Mt. Rainier, San Juan Islands, and Lake Washington. 

Everyone on board gets a window seat because the views are what seaplane travel is all about. The Seattle skyline, glorious mountain ranges, and meandering waterways make this city shine, and Kenmore Air allows you to get the aerial view you rarely see. 

Snoqualmie Waterfall. Richard A McMillin/Shutterstock

Snoqualmie Falls and Salish Lodge

Less than 30 miles from downtown Seattle, you’ll find Snoqualmie Falls, a 270-foot thundering waterfall in a gorgeous natural setting. You can hike in this area, but one of the main attractions (besides the falls) is the restaurant at Salish Lodge. Make a booking in advance for breakfast or brunch and be sure to order their famous pancakes. 

If you’re up for a bit of a splurge, stay overnight in one of their beautiful rooms and enjoy the spa, too. I can recommend the hot-stone massage.

The Steampunk-esque Gas Works Park. 365 Focus Photography/Shutterstock

Visit a Seattle Park

Located in Seattle’s hilly, affluent Queen Anne neighborhood, Kerry Park is my favorite view of the Seattle skyline. This small city park, perched on a hillside, offers an unsurpassed view of Elliott Bay and the city. With the Space Needle in the foreground and an occasional backdrop of Mount Rainier (on a clear day), Kerry Park draws camera buffs and sunset worshipers day and night. At night, the city skyline twinkles, and ferry boats silently glide across the water.

Myrtle Edwards Park is a 1.25-mile winding bike and pedestrian path along Elliott Bay. It’s a flat, 25-minute walk along the waterfront from Pike Place Market and has fantastic views of the Olympics Mountains, Mt. Rainier, and Puget Sound. There is beach access, as well as a grassy area and benches, making it a nice place for a picnic. Walk in a southern direction and you’ll come to the Olympic Sculpture Park. It’s free and open to the public and consists of nine acres of outdoor art sculptures and a beach. 

Situated on the Magnolia Bluff, overlooking Puget Sound, Discovery Park is the largest Seattle city park and offers a city escape with bountiful hiking trails and views of the Sound.

Gas Works Park is the location of an old gas works plant that is now a popular city park. Located on the north shore of Lake Union at the south end of the Wallingford neighborhood, this spot is popular for picnic and kite flying and offers great city and lake views. 

Myrtle Falls in Mt Rainier National Park. Stephen Moehle/Shutterstock

Hike at Mt. Rainier

Seattleites are either boating fanatics, hiking fanatics, or both. You can find beautiful hiking spots closer to the city, but perhaps none are as majestic as Mt. Rainier National Park. 

It takes almost two hours to get there from the city, which is doable as a day trip, but staying somewhere nearby overnight would be better. 

It’s possible to camp, fish, bike, and hike in various parts of the 369-square-mile reserve. My favorite area is called Paradise, where wildflowers, mountain views, and small cascading waterfalls perfectly embody its name.

Pike Place Market

Seattle’s Pike Place Market is one of the oldest markets in the US and is a multisensory experience that deserves a wander. It can become extremely crowded on weekends and during the summer months, but there are plenty of winding alleyways and indoor and outdoor spaces in which to escape. I would recommend going early in the day before the crowds roll in.

Watching the fishmongers toss fish is an iconic Seattle experience but is also an ideal place to buy fresh fish for dinner. There are plenty of places to find souvenirs from the Pacific Northwest, as well as delicious food and drink around every corner, making this a great place to join a food tour. Get Your Guide offers a great one that will allow you to interact with vendors, learn about the history and enjoy over six diverse tastings at different stops. You will be overwhelmed by all the food choices, so it’s great to get some recommendations on what to try.

Across from the market, on 1st and Pike, you’ll find the original Starbucks. This small coffee shop opened in 1971 and the interior has been preserved to look how it did at that time. 

Under the market, in Post Alley, is the intriguing and equally disgusting gum wall, where people have been sticking gooey chewing gum for over 20 years!

Learn something new at the Pacific Science Center

More than a museum, the Pacific Science Center is one of the best places to spend a rainy day in Seattle, especially if you’re there with kids. From dinosaurs to butterflies and from IMAX films to a laser dome, you can easily spend the day there, enjoying many interactive experiences.

The Science Center was another landmark left over from the World Fair in the 1960s and has been redesigned many times, with new exhibits added often, keeping it up-to-date and always interesting.

See an Underground City in Pioneer Square

Pioneer Square is known as Seattle’s first neighborhood. You notice right away that it is rich in historic buildings, some dating back to the 1800s. 

Today, it’s known for its art walks on the first Thursday of the month, nightlife, delicious restaurants, and quirky boutiques.

An unusual attraction in historic Pioneer Square is Seattle’s Underground Walking Tour, which you can book directly or via Get Your Guide. A one-hour stroll takes you through a forgotten city, entombed after the Great Fire of 1880 when the current Seattle was rebuilt on top.

The Hiram M. Chittenden Locks and Salmon Bay Bridge. Brian Logan Photography/Shutterstock

Marvel at the Ballard Locks

One of the busiest boating locks in the US, and a historical treasure, The Hiram M. Chittenden Locks, or Ballard Locks, are a fascinating place to spend an afternoon. You can explore on your own or by guided tour. Visit a museum, stroll through botanical gardens, and watch salmon migrate upstream. 

Children enjoy watching the operation of the Lake Washington Ship Canal locks, which help boats pass between Lake Union and Puget Sound. A highlight is the fish ladder used by salmon to travel upstream to the waters of Lake Washington and beyond.

Leopard at the Woodland Park Zoo. Bretton M/Shutterstock

Check out a Concert at the Woodland Park Zoo

Renowned for its wildlife conservation efforts and large, leafy animal enclosures, Woodland Park Zoo is one of the best zoos in the country. Some highlights include the African Savanna with zebras, giraffes, lions, and hippos, the Tropical Rainforest with gorillas, jaguars, and lemurs, and Willawong Station where visitors can feed native Australian birds. There are often educational talks and activities for kids to take part in.

If I’m visiting Seattle during the summer, I always check the line-up of the Zoo Tunes summer concerts to see what bands are playing. Popular with all ages, this is a lovely place to lay out a picnic blanket and enjoy an outdoor concert in a relaxed atmosphere.

Seattle Aquarium. Bryan Pollard/Shutterstock

Visit the Seattle Aquarium

Helping to educate the public about the responsibility of protecting and restoring marine habitats, The Seattle Aquarium is also a top-notch Seattle attraction and another great place to take kids and/or spend a rainy day.

You can watch divers in the Window on Washington Waters tank as they point out native fish in a narrated show, plus get your hands wet in a touch pool full of colorful starfish, sea urchins, and anemones. I’m not a huge fan of aquariums, but I can’t help but be captivated by these displays and especially love watching the playful sea otters.