Saturday, August 10, 2013

Things to do in Seattle


Things to do in Seattle

There are probably hundreds of articles and lists of what to do in Seattle, but I’ve yet to find one that’s complete. When my friend Micky asked for a list due to a family visit, myself and other friends helped him build the following list. Here it is…hopefully for posterity. Current update: Aug 2019.

Note 1: Blogger is lousy at formatting tables, so I suggest copy-pasting the whole page into Excel or Word to view the details.

Note 2: When a location is listed that is not in Seattle, the acronym STS means “South to Seattle”. I’m sure you can guess what NTS, ETS and WTS means…

Item
Where
URL
Cost Per Person
Notes
Electric indoor Kart racing
Redmond (ETS)
http://www.k1speed.com/
$20
No drivers license required
Hot air balloon ride
Carnation (ETS)
http://www.balloondepot.com/
$189-210

The Seattle Great Wheel
Seattle
http://seattlegreatwheel.com/
$8.5-13
Long lines
Indoor Skydiving
Renton (STS)
http://seattle.iflyworld.com/
$60-100
250 LB weight limit
Wild waves theme and water park
Federal Way (STS)
http://wildwaves.com/
$33-40
$20 after 4pm.
Kayak and Canoe on Lake Union
Seattle
http://www.nwoc.com/
$14-22 Per hour

Kayak and Canoe on Lake Sammamish
Issaquah (ETS)
http://issaquahpaddlesports.com/
$15-30 per hour

River Rafting
Various
http://orionrivertrips.com/
$70-85
Some age restrictions

Pacific Science Center museum
Seattle
http://pacificsciencecenter.org/
$10-18
IMAX theatre on premise at extra cost. 
Seattle Center
Seattle
http://www.seattlecenter.com/
None
Various events, fairs and promenade
Space Needle
Seattle
http://www.spaceneedle.com/
$12-21
Huge souvenir shop

Underground Tour
Seattle
http://www.undergroundtour.com/
$9-17

Washington Fairgrounds
Puyallup (STS)
http://www.thefair.com/
Varies
Various events, fairs and conventions
Washington state fair
Puyallup (STS)
http://www.thefair.com/puyallup-fair/
$9-12.5
Every September. Rides cost extra.
Boeing museum of flight
South Seattle
http://www.museumofflight.org/
$10-15
Very large museum. Many full planes on display, inc. SR-71, Space shuttle body.
Boeing future of flight+factory tour
Everett (NTS)
http://www.futureofflight.org/
$9-20
Some restrictions on tour for children
museum of glass
Tacoma (STS)
http://museumofglass.org/
$5-12

Lemay car museum
Tacoma (STS)
http://www.lemaymuseum.org/
$8-14
Significant walking distance inside
Seattle aquarium
Seattle
http://www.seattleaquarium.org/
$15-22
On the old seattle port, nice promenade
Seattle art museum
Seattle
http://www.seattleartmuseum.org/
$11-17
Cheap parking. Park there, walk around downtown.
cougar mountain zoo
Issaquah (ETS)
http://www.cougarmountainzoo.org/
$9-12.5

MOPOP (Music + Sci-Fi museum)
Seattle
https://www.mopop.org

$14-20
Music, Science fiction and other cultural exhibitions. AKA “EMP” museum.
Woodland Zoo
Seattle
http://www.zoo.org/
$11.75-18.75

Reptile zoo
Monroe (NTS)
http://thereptilezoo.org/
$5-6

Helicopter ride/flight lessons
South Seattle
http://www.seattlehelitours.com/
http://www.helicoptersnw.com
https://www.atomichelicopters.com
$90-330
20, 30 or 40 minute tours

Microsoft visitor center and store
Redmond (ETS)
http://www.microsoft.com/about/companyinformation/visitorcenter/
Free
No software or hardware sold to the public, but plenty of Microsoft branded items like shirts, bags, office toys.
Wade’s gun store and indoor range
Redmond (ETS)
http://www.wadesguns.com/
$15-35
Renting a gun for the range requires a buddy to come-with, or bring your own gun.
Snow-play in Hyak park
Snoqualmie Pass (ETS)
http://www.parks.wa.gov/winter/trails/?Region=3&Park=16
$30
Winter time only
Liquor and Wine
Bellevue (ETS)
http://www.totalwine.com/
None
Huge store for drinking fans. Frequent wine tastings.
Google
Seattle
651 N 34th St, Seattle
None
Can’t get in without an employee escort
Facebook
Seattle
1730 Minor Ave, Seattle
None
Can’t get in without an employee escort
Amazon
Seattle
410 Terry Ave N, Seattle
1200 12th Avenue, Seattle
None
Can’t get in without an employee escort
Amazon Biodome
Seattle
2111 7th Avenue; Seattle,
None
Can’t get in without an employee escort
Bruce Lee’s grave
Seattle
1554 15th Ave E, Seattle
None

Leavenworth Bavarian town
Leavenworth (NTS)
http://www.leavenworth.org/
None
Lots to do, especially around Christmas
Victoria
Canada
http://www.victoria.ca/ and http://www.clippervacations.com/
Varies
Lots to do. Takes ~4 hours to get there.
Vancouver
Canada
http://www.tourismvancouver.com/
Varies
Lots to do. Takes ~4 hours to get there.
Las Vegas
Nevada
http://www.vegas.com/
Varies
Lots to do. 2.5 hours by plane.
Los Angeles
California
http://www.lacity.org/
Varies
Lots to do. 2.5 hours by plane.
San Francisco
California
http://www.ci.sf.ca.us/
Varies
Lots to do. 2.5 hours by plane.
San Diego
California
http://www.sandiego.gov/
Varies
Lots to do. 2.5 hours by plane.
Golden Gardens Park and beach
Seattle
http://www.seattle.gov/parks/park_detail.asp?ID=243
Free

Alki Beach
Seattle
http://www.seattle.gov/parks/park_detail.asp?ID=445
Free

Lake Sammamish
Issaquah (ETS)
http://www.parks.wa.gov/parks/?selectedpark=lake%20sammamish
Free, but requires discovery pass
http://www.discoverpass.wa.gov/
Gasworks Park
Seattle
http://www.seattle.gov/parks/park_detail.asp?id=293
Free

Argosy Cruises
Seattle
http://www.argosycruises.com/
Varies

Mt. Rainier
(STS)
http://www.npca.org/parks/mount-rainier-national-park.html
Free

Mt St. Helens
(STS)
http://www.fs.usda.gov/mountsthelens
Free

Hiram M. Chittenden Locks (a.k.a. Ballard Locks)
Seattle
http://www.nws.usace.army.mil/Missions/CivilWorks/LocksandDams/ChittendenLocks.aspx
Varies

Olympic Park
Olympic Peninsula (WTS)
http://www.nps.gov/olym/index.htm
$15 per vehicle
Snow almost year round. Might be dangerous in Winter.
Ye Olde Curiosity Shop
Seattle
http://www.yeoldecuriosityshop.com
Free
Store that is somewhat of an oddity museum too
Family Fun Center
Renton (STS)
http://www.fun-center.com
Varies
Many kid-oriented fun rides and activities
South Center Mall
Renton (STS)
http://www.westfield.com/southcenter/
Free
Large mall, and with the adjacent strip-mall area, its HUGE.
Pike Place
Seattle
http://www.pikeplacemarket.org/
Free
Check out the Wall of GUM! Parking is difficult and expensive.
Deception Pass park
Oak Harbor (STS)
http://www.parks.wa.gov/parks/?selectedpark=deception%20pass
Free, but requires discovery pass
http://www.discoverpass.wa.gov/
Camlann Medieval village
Carnation (ETS)
http://www.camlann.org/
Free

Olympic Game Farm
Sequim (WTS)
http://www.olygamefarm.com/
$11-12
Buy 4-5 loafs of wheat bread at Safeway beforehand to feed the animals.
Marymoor park concerts
Redmond (ETS)
http://www.marymoorconcerts.com/
Varies
Fun park to visit even when no concert
The Gorge Amphitheatre
Quincy (ETS)
http://www.livenation.com/venues/14067/gorge-amphitheatre
Varies
High profile shows, but 3 hours drive east
St. Michelle Winery
Woodinville (NTS)
http://www.ste-michelle.com/events/concertCalendar
Varies
Store and concert venue
The Triple Door
Seattle
http://www.thetripledoor.net/
Varies
Restaurant with shows
Seattle Theatre Group
Seattle
http://www.stgpresents.org/
Varies
Multiple theatres and venues
Showbox
Seattle
http://www.showboxpresents.com/
Varies
Various shows
Evergreen State Fair
Monroe (NTS)
http://www.evergreenfair.org/the-fair.aspx
$5-7
Fair every August. Admission doesn’t include rides
Evergreen fairgrounds
Monroe (NTS)
http://www.evergreenfair.org/
Varies
Various events year round
Bumbershoot Festival
Seattle
http://bumbershoot.org/
$50-55 per day
Every August
DEFY (Flying Circus)
Tukwila (STS)
$6-16/hour

Willows Mini Golf
Redmond (ETS)
$6-11
Call ahead to reserve time
Mini Mountain indoor ski
Bellevue (ETS)
$55/lesson

Goodwill Seattle
Seattle
1400 S Lane St, Seattle
Varies
Largest Thrift store in the state
Uwajimaya
Seattle
600 5th Ave S, Seattle
Varies
Massive Asian product store
Lolli and Pops
Multiple Locations
Varies
Unique collection of fun candy and snacks
Wings over Seattle
Seattle
1301 Alaskan Way, Seattle
$13-17
Unique ride



1 comment:

  1. Hi Erez! Thanks a lot for mentioning us here on your list of things to do in Seattle. Have you been to see one of our shows yourself? Get back in touch and let me know.

    ReplyDelete