When you live in Seattle, you are never at a loss for something to do. No matter what time of year or the weather, you can always find ways to keep yourself entertained. In this article we highlight five ways to enjoy the city.
Picnic in the Park
While Seattle has a reputation of always being rainy, the locals will tell you this is just a ploy to keep people from moving there. When the sun is out and it’s a clear day, nothing is more delightful than to pack a picnic and enjoy a meal outside with friends of family. Seattle has over 400 park and open space areas.
Waterfront parks can be particularly enjoyable for a picnic. Gas Works Park, which is nearly 20 acres of waterfront park at the site of the former Seattle Gas Light Company, has picnic sites and restrooms as well as grassy areas and walking paths. Seward Park is another option for a picnic. Seward Park covers 300 acres and ranges from shoreline to forest land.
Pike Place Market
Loved by local and tourists alike, Pike Place Market has been selling good for over 100 years. Come to the market to people watch or to pick up provisions for your kitchen or a delicious picnic. There are fruit and vegetable vendors, bakers, sweet treats as well as artisan products. The market is open year round. The market also holds special events, such as flower festivals, gallery exhibits, and entertainment.
Bumbershoot and the Seattle Center
Each year the Seattle Center comes to life via the Bumbershoot Festival. This multi-day entertainments event includes music, comedy, theater, films, visual arts and more. Many locals choose to volunteer at the event.
The event takes place at the Seattle Center. In 1962, this location hosted the World Expo. Today, the Seattle Center is an entertainment destination with events, public programs, museum, shops, gardens, and multiple music and performance venues. This is also where you find the Space Needle, the landmark feature of Seattle’s urban skyline. You can ride up to the observation deck for sweeping view on a clear day and enjoy a special meal at the SkyCity Restaurant.
Explore the Museums
When the weather turns rainy, a visit to a museum can be a great way to spend part of the afternoon. Seattle has over two dozen museums representing a variety of art work types and themes. Youngsters enjoy the Seattle Children’s Museum, a great place for hands on discovery. The Seattle Art Museum has a permanent collection of over 23,000 objects. In addition they have rotating exhibits. The Olympic Sculpture Garden along Seattle’s waterfront is affiliated with the Seattle Art Museum.
Get Sporty
Seattle is home to several professional sports teams and the city recently agreed to build a $490 million arena. The Seattle Mariners are the professional baseball team and they play at Safeco Field. The ball park boasts beautiful city skyline views and is a great spot to take in a baseball game. Football fans cheer on the Seattle Seahawk. Other professional sports teams include the Sounders FC (soccer), Storm (women’s basketball), and Rainiers (minor league baseball).
