“Looking forward to your visit! What would you like to do while you’re here?”
[silence] “uh…..I’ll leave that up to you since you know more about the city than we do.”
“So, there’s nothing in particular you want to see?”
[long pause] “You know what’s best!”
Been there?
We have lived in Seattle for less than a year, but have had a steady stream of visitors. And for those that play the ‘I-don’t-know…what-do-YOU-
SEATTLE SIGHTS WEEKEND ITINERARY
FRIDAY
- Take a hike. When you see it daily, you can forget how the mountains & enormous evergreens initially took your breath away. There is so much outdoors to explore in the Pacific Northwest. For the moderately adventurous, I recommend hiking Rattlesnake Ridge. For the less adventurous, walk the trails of Discovery Park or visit Snoqualmie Falls. For visitors that don’t mind a little bit of a drive, check out Deception Pass.
- In the evening, take the Seattle Underground Tour!
SATURDAY
- Start the day with breakfast at Pike Place Market. So many delicious options, guaranteed to satisfy even the pickiest visitor. While you’re there, swing by the Gum Wall for a photo and grab coffee at the Original Starbucks.
- Then, walk down to the waterfront for a ride on the Seattle Great Wheel.
- Next, head over to the Chihuly Garden and Glass Museum. This is beautiful day or night.
- Right next door you’ll find the Space Needle. Go ahead and take a ride to the top [because, well… it’s Seattle… you just have to.]
SUNDAY
- Start the day with a famous Top Pot Doughnut. If you visit the one in Ballard, be sure to say hi to the Fremont Troll.
- For the rest of the day, choose-your-own-adventure:
Take the ferry to Bainbridge Island
-OR-
Visit Alki Beach in West Seattle
Some additional suggestions for visitors with young children:
- Stop at the Seattle Aquarium after your ride on the Great Wheel.
- The Duck Tour is another great, kid-friendly way to see the city.
Or for the more senior crowd:
- Take a tour of Boeing’s Aviation Center.
- Watch the boats pass through the Ballard Locks and tour the botanical garden.
Disclaimer: I originally wrote this article for the Seattle Local Mom Blog.
