Things to Do in Seattle: How to Experience the City
- Dr. K.
- 5 days ago
- 6 min read
My last visit to Seattle was likely many years ago — maybe ten. Long enough that the memory had flattened into a few vague ideas: water, coffee, a market, rain. This time, the city came back into focus slowly, not through landmarks first, but through where we stayed, where we ate, and how much ground we covered between those places.
We didn’t stay in one neighborhood. One night was near the University of Washington. Another in Magnolia. Another in Issaquah. We went where friends lived, and then we went where food pulled us — Thai one night, Ethiopian another, drinks in Bellevue, lunch near Pike Place.
And - because of that, Seattle revealed itself in different pieces.
Pike Place and the Waterfront
Pike Place Market is still the starting point for most visitors, and it makes sense to begin there.
The main street edge is where you’ll see the original Starbucks and the familiar lines spilling out onto the sidewalk. Step inside, and the experience changes. The covered market is where the real movement happens: fish counters, flower stalls, produce stands, specialty foods, people working and people weaving through. This is not a place to stand still. You move with it.
What has changed significantly is what happens after Pike Place.
From the market, it’s now easy to walk down toward the water via the Overlook Walk, which finally makes the connection between downtown and the shoreline feel intentional. Once you reach the waterfront, the city opens up. The paths are wide. The bay is right there. You can walk north or south without feeling pushed back into traffic or forced into a specific route.
The aquarium sits directly along this stretch now, and even if you don’t go inside, its presence makes the waterfront feel like part of the city rather than a separate attraction.
A little farther along is the Great Wheel, which people still gravitate toward because it gives a clear view of where the city meets the water.
If you’re wondering whether you need a car for this part: you don’t. Pike Place, the waterfront, and much of downtown work well on foot.
Lunch Near Pike Place: Vegetarian-Friendly Seattle
We had lunch at Japonessa, close to Pike Place. The vegetarian sushi was excellent. Seattle, in general, handles vegetarian options well. Even in places not labeled vegetarian, plant-forward dishes are usually easy to find.
Being on foot helps here. From Pike Place, you can walk easily to restaurants, coffee shops, bookstores, and galleries without planning much at all.
Down an unassuming alleyway near Pike Place Market is The Gum Wall. You can't miss it!
Seattle Center, Olympic Sculpture Park, and Kerry Park
Seattle Center is where several of Seattle’s most recognizable places sit within walking distance. It is easy to reach from downtown by monorail or Uber. A car is unnecessary for this part of the city.
The Space Needle is larger than life. From the top, you can see the downtown grid, Puget Sound, ferries moving across the water, and the mountains in the distance.
Back at ground level, Chihuly Garden and Glass is next door. The glass installations are large, colorful, and easy to move through. People walk slowly, stop often, and take photos from almost every angle.
MoPOP sits a few steps away. Even from outside, the building stands out. For visitors interested in music and pop culture, it is one of the few places in the city that connects Seattle’s creative reputation to physical exhibits.
Climate Pledge Arena is part of the same complex. On some days it feels quiet. On event nights, crowds gather for hockey games, concerts, and shows.
From Seattle Center, a short walk or ride will take you to Olympic Sculpture Park. The park runs along the water with wide paths and large contemporary sculptures placed directly beside Puget Sound. People walk through it on the way to other places, or stop briefly and continue.
Kerry Park is farther away and usually reached by car or ride-share. It is a small overlook with a direct view of the Seattle skyline. The Space Needle sits in the center of the frame, with water and mountains behind it. Most visitors stop for photos and then leave.
Together, these three areas give visitors a clear visual sense of Seattle’s layout.
Neighborhoods We Visited
Staying near the University of Washington offered a very different rhythm. The campus is open and walkable, and nearby University Village is one of the easiest places in the city to spend a few relaxed hours. We ate at Din Tai Fung here, and there was no line, which felt unusual coming from Los Angeles.
The area works well if you want restaurants, shops, and space without downtown density.
Magnolia, about fifteen minutes away, felt distinctly residential. Mornings there were active. We picked up breakfast from Petit Pierre and matcha from Uptown before heading into the city. From Magnolia to downtown, having a car made things easier, though ride-shares would work just as well.
Issaquah was another friend’s home base and showed a more suburban edge of Seattle — greener, slower, more spread out. It’s not where you sightsee, but it helps you understand how the region actually functions.
Eating Across the City
Food moved us through Seattle. We had Ethiopian at Agelgil in Madrona, sharing plates and injera. We had drinks at Ascend in Bellevue with city views. Thai dinner pulled us to Bai Tong in Redmond.
Japonessa downtown and Din Tai Fung in University Village gave us reliable vegetarian lunch. Petit Pierre and Uptown in Magnolia shaped our mornings.
Each meal placed us in a different part of the city.
Sports and Live Events
Seattle’s stadiums are active parts of city life. Lumen Field hosts Seahawks games, Sounders matches, and large concerts. T-Mobile Park is home to Mariners baseball. Climate Pledge Arena hosts Kraken hockey and touring shows. On game nights and concert evenings, the surrounding neighborhoods feel different.
Day Trips From Seattle
Seattle works well as a base. From here, people regularly visit Bainbridge Island, the San Juan Islands, Victoria in British Columbia, Olympic National Park, and Leavenworth.
Mount Rainier and the Snowy Peaks
On clear days, Mount Rainier does not need to be pointed out. From different parts of the city, the mountain shows up between buildings, above neighborhoods, and across open stretches of water.
For visitors, Mount Rainier National Park is one of the most common day trips from Seattle. The drive takes you from urban streets into forests, open meadows, and snow-lined roads, depending on the season. In warmer months, trails and wildflowers dominate. In colder months, snow becomes the defining feature.
On especially clear days, Mount Baker and the Cascade Range also come into view.
Seasonal Shifts
Seattle often feels like an outdoor city even when you are still inside it. Discovery Park, Green Lake, Gas Works Park, Alki Beach, and long walking paths are built into daily movement.
Spring changes Seattle quickly. Cherry blossoms appear across the University of Washington campus, along residential streets, and in public parks.
Summer brings long evenings and outdoor dining. Fall brings color and cooler air. Winter brings clouds, rain, and snow in the distance.
Headquarters, Tech, and the Modern Seattle Economy
Seattle is home to some of the most influential companies in the world. Amazon, Microsoft, Starbucks, Costco, Boeing, Nordstrom, Expedia, and Zillow all have major roots or headquarters in the region. Their presence shapes neighborhoods, housing, transit, and how the city grows.
You see it in downtown office buildings, in South Lake Union, in Bellevue, and across the Eastside.
That balance between corporate scale and neighborhood life is part of its character.
Cruise Terminals and the Alaska Connection
Seattle is one of the main departure points for Alaska cruises. Cruise terminals operate from Pier 66 and Pier 91, and during cruise season, you can see large ships preparing for departure directly from the waterfront.
Seattle is also connected to Victoria, British Columbia, by ferry and short flights. Canada does not feel far from here.
