The Pacific Northwest is truly a special place in the United States and a must visit, with Washington State having an unlimited number of things to do.
When people think of Seattle, specifically, they think of Pike Place Market and the Space Needle. Many first-time visitors don’t venture too far out of this one small area within the larger city proper.
They come and get their photos of the famous (and slightly disgusting) gum wall, visit the first Starbucks, and watch fish mongers throw fish across the isle to one another in one of the many market booths.
But what makes the emerald city truly special and unique are its different neighborhoods. Each with its own style and offerings, as a local I would encourage you to hop on a bus or the light rail and get outside of main tourist area to really understand why so many people move to this amazing city (including me).
Best Time to Visit
We all know it rains a lot in Seattle, but that rain is generally during our winter. For great weather come during the summer months between April and November (though the spring warm up can often be delayed as late as June, so check the weather before you come).
But with great weather also brings more crowds, so if you are looking to avoid crowds, the rainy season isn’t all that bad. Most days are overcast with some drizzle but outright downpours are not as frequent as you would think.
March into April is the best time to catch Seattle’s Cherry Blossom festival at the University of Washington, and draws a huge crowd. Tourists try to plan their visit to align with peak bloom while locals watch the bloom cams on the university’s website for the perfect time to walk the campus.
Travel Tips
The bus system and light rail make getting around the city really simple and you can purchase an Orca Pass and preload it so you can just hop on and off as you need without worrying about buying individual passes for each ride.
Seattle is also extremely walkable, and in many places bikeable, with designated bike lanes and the Burke Gilman Trail connecting some of the neighborhoods.
If you were worried about bringing your dog with you, don’t. Seattle is one of the most dog friendly cities I have ever been to. You will find people bringing dogs onto the buses and light rail, into breweries, bookstores (all stores really) and even some restaurants (make sure to ask first).
It should also be said that Seattle is an expensive city, including their accommodations. With a booming tech industry, prices have been steadily increasing. There aren’t a lot of places you can visit for free and you can expect to pay more for food and drinks than some other destinations. But that shouldn’t be a deterrent. If you want to visit Seattle like a local, head outside of the main downtown and into the neighborhoods where you are more likely to find a few more budget friendly options.
Best Neighborhoods
Capitol Hill
Just one to two (depending on where you are) light rail stops north from the main downtown area is Capitol Hill. It is considered one of the hippest neighborhoods in Seattle and the center of Seattle’s LGBTQ+ scene.
There are great coffee shops, books stores like Elliott Bay Book Company, restaurants, great live music and breweries. All of which surround a large green space with fountains, volleyball nets, a basketball court, soccer field and tennis courts. On a nice day you will see groups of people hanging out on blankets with food and wine, playing cards or just chatting.
At the top of the hill is Volunteer Park, also known as the mansion district with walking trails and city views. From there you can head east to Lake View Cemetery, the location of Bruce Lee’s final resting place.
For some unique dining experiences make sure to check out Unicorn and Narwhal and Thread and Needle. Unicorn and Narwhal are two carnival themed restaurants with cabaret nights, arcade games, and beautiful drag.
Thread and Needle is a hidden speakeasy within the restaurant Tavern Law. You need a reservation to visit Thread and Needle and once you arrive you will pick up the black phone on the wall, next to a large bank safe door. There you will give your name for entry. One of the best things about Thread and Needle is there is no drink menu, the bartenders will ask about your likes and dislikes for drinks and mixes and create a cocktail specifically for you.
Seattle’s seafood is also some of the freshest, and you won’t find better than at Rondo in Capitol Hill. Not overly priced, like so many other places in Seattle, Rondo’s food tastes like it just came out of the ocean right before it hit your plate. This neighborhood is one of the best places to go on your own food tour.
International District
Heading in the opposite direction from the main downtown area is the International District, and the cultural center of the city. If you are looking for great food and the heart of Seattle’s Asian-American community, this is where you need to be.
Around every corner you will find restaurants with dim sum, noodles, hot pot and some of the best sushi in the city. The streets are lined with archways, dragons and paper lanterns that make this place truly unique to other parts of the city.
Make sure to try the Dough Zone and Happy Lamb hot pot while you’re there! Or come out on every third Saturday between June and August for the Summer Food Walk series. You will get special food and drink deals from participating restaurants. There is a digital menu and you can map out your route, experiencing some of the best food the International District has to offer.
Pioneer Square
Considered Seattle’s “first neighborhood” the feel in the area is old and is the place to go to discover Seattle’s history. Like it’s been around a while and worn in like a good pair of shoes. Though this area showcases Seattle’s homeless problem a bit more than other areas, it’s a must visit for its underground streets.
The history of the underground streets is that prior to the Great Seattle Fire in 1889 the buildings in this area were mostly made of wood and the area was known for its corruption and opium dens. After the Great Fire, the town’s streets were graded one to two stories higher, leaving the original buildings and streets underground.
You can now take an underground walking tour to learn the risqué history of the area, and I highly recommend that you do. It is one of my favorite things to do in Pioneer Square.
Ballard
Once considered a rougher neighborhood with Nordic roots and known as a fishing village, Ballard has, over the years become gentrified. You can still see remnants of the way it used to be amidst the coffee shops, great seafood restaurants and breweries, but much has changed in Ballard. It is also my favorite neighborhood to visit.
You can head to the Burke Gillman trail and follow along the waterfront to check out Ballard Locks and maybe even catch a glimpse as the salmon migrate through the fish ladder. There you will also see people sunbathing, reading, or having a picnic on a nice day.
One of the most popular areas in Ballard is the Brewery district. With between 5-10 different breweries in a 4-5 block radius, there is something for everyone. Most of the breweries also have their own food truck schedule to help keep you on an even keel while you go on a tasting tour. Some of the best food trucks to hunt down are Tisket tasket and Impeckable Chicken.
For the neighborhoods best food, check out the Walrus and the Carpenter (a little on the pricey side, but definitely worth it) and my favorite brewery Great Notion (if you are into fruited sours, this is the place to go).
Fremont
Fremont is Ballard’s artsy next-door neighbor, though it can be difficult to tell where one neighborhood ends and another begins. Joined by the Burke Gilman trail you can easily walk or bike between the two neighborhoods. Fremont is where the artistic come to play and where you will find some of the most random and unexpected sculptures in the city.
Must see of these unique sculptures are the piece of the Berlin Wall and the famous Fremont Troll, both of which can be found under the Fremont Bridge and the statue of Lenin, located in the middle of main street. Someone took the liberty to add red paint to Lenin’s hands as a symbol of the “blood on his hands” but the statue was purchased by an American in 1993 who found it lying in a scrapyard. He died before he could follow his plans for formally displaying the 16ft statue. Since then, the statue has been held in trust waiting for a buyer and has been “temporarily” displayed in Fremont since the 90s.
Adjacent to Fremont, to the east, is Gasworks Park, a popular park for picnics and a great place for views of the Seattle skyline. If you come during July 4th weekend or New Year’s Eve, it is also the perfect place to watch the fireworks at the Seattle Space Needle.
U District
U District, or University District, is home to the University of Washington. The University itself draws in crowds because of it’s Hogwarts-like architecture, spring Cherry Blossom Festival, and beautiful views of Mount Rainier. It is also walking distance to the marsh islands that connect to the Washington Arboretum.
In the spring and summer, you can rent canoes and kayaks from the University and paddle around Lake Washington from Union Bay.
Union Bay, itself, next to the university sport fields, is a marshy area that is home to a ton of bird species and a favorite among local birders (including myself). After a canoe around the area, you can head over to U Village, a higher end outdoor shopping area with great places to eat, including Din Tai Fung, best known for their soup dumplings. Make sure to make a reservation for this one because it’s a popular spot among locals.
Within the main area of U district on the other side of campus is the Burke Museum, a natural history museum that is a must see and also has the Off the Rez Café, which is a great spot with fantastic Native American inspired food. If you are looking for more budget friendly eats, U District is your best bet as it caters to the city’s student body.
Concluding Thoughts
The Seattle area has a lot to offer and to visit Seattle like a local you must branch out into the surrounding neighborhoods.
With so many unique things to do in Seattle, you will be inspired to visit over and over again and is the reason I moved here. Don’t get me wrong, Seattle center and downtown Seattle have some pretty great attractions, particularly Chihuly Garden and Glass, the Museum of Pop Culture, Seattle Great Wheel (which is a giant Ferris wheel), the Seattle Art Museum and the Seattle Aquarium.
All must see places that even the locals love. But make sure, that if you visit, you also take the opportunity to explore the surrounding area outside the city.
Why? Because Seattle is surrounded by 3 National Parks, stunning Islands where you can see marine mammals like killer whales and sea otters, wineries and more hiking and natural scenery, like the Olympic Mountains, than anywhere else in the state of Washington.
On a sunny day in Seattle (and yes, there are many) you can see snow capped mountains on all sides, a daily reminder of just what is within reach.
