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When we set out to make our bucket list of Washington experiences (like what to see and what to eat), we had to set Seattle aside. After all, Seattle Met itself is one big, ever-evolving bucket list for the greater Seattle area. But we had to jot down the biggies, so here are the top Seattle experiences you should achieve before leaving. Get on it.
Take Off from Lake Union
Water rushes past the airplane windows like the view from a speedboat, but then wings take over and the top of the Space Needle is suddenly at eye level. Kenmore Air pilots take off from Lake Union while eyeballing a runway between paddleboards and hot tub boats, and even destinations like the San Juan Islands and Victoria, BC, struggle to outshine the journey.
Wander Post Alley and the dark hallways and random staircases that seem to appear by magic and make your way down the ramps into the main structure’s bowels. You’ll find something you didn’t know you were looking for.
Get the Space Needle View—from Underneath
The best way to reach the Space Needle is via monorail (obviously). And the best way to experience it is to stand directly below it and stare straight up. The problem with going up to the top is that you can’t see the Space Needle from there; exploring the Seattle Center campus, thriving in middle age, is the memorable choice.
Root, Root, Root for a Home Team
No disrespect to Climate Pledge Arena, but the best Seattle sports experiences happen outside. There’s nothing like T-Mobile Park, Lumen Field, or Husky Stadium with the sun shining (or setting) over the skyline, mountains, and waterways that make Seattle feel like no other city in the world. Take it all in. And maybe grab a Seattle dog, too.
Applaud the Waterfront
Not so long ago, there was a massive highway standing between downtown Seattle and Elliott Bay. Now…there are stairs. The new Overlook Walk and revamped Seattle Aquarium, complete with a window open to passersby, have turned the downtown waterfront into a destination that finally actually feels like a part of the city.
Go Through the Locks
Seattle’s miniature Panama Canal comes complete with its own fish ladder and salmon viewing window; there’s a botanical garden and museum too. Boats go up. Boats go down. The Hiram M. Chittenden Locks are the kind of mechanical marvel that pleases both nerdy parents and imaginative kids. But nothing compares to actually going through them, whether on a kayak, tour boat, or borrowed yacht.
Visit (and Then Complain About) a Seattle Beach
Pack the sunscreen, and also a fleece. Seattle’s beaches are spectacular for bonfires, for stand-up paddleboarding, for a perfect 63-degree day outside. But the weather isn’t the only annoying aspect—the crowds are too big at Alki, the parking lot is full at Golden Gardens, there’s no room on the sand at Madison Park….
Eat Through Uwajimaya
Our number one tourist destination is literally a market, but Uwajimaya is a different deal from Pike Place. At almost a hundred years old, the giant Asian supermarket is a complete sensory dining and shopping experience all under one very large roof in the heart of the Chinatown–International District. The food court alone is enough to overwhelm.
