Fine Times in this Emerald City

I love a walkable city, and Seattle fills that joy. There is altogether much to see and do, even if you visit Seattle, Washington without a car. Seattle is a walkable city, especially for travelers. I’ve gone for a girls’ weekend getaway and returned for a family vacation. Neither time required a car. I am a walker, more so than the average person. My family and friends tease me for the distances I’m willing to walk. However, I was not alone in these excursions. These sights are tried and true walkable destinations around Seattle.

When Should You Go? 

I’ve enjoyed a misty fall in November and the peak summer season of July. On both occasions, the climates were manageable. The rain was light and I was comfortable with a good raincoat. The summers were warm and comforting. Both seasons made Seattle a walkable destination for me. Full disclosure though, I’m originally from Chicago. Chicago, the Windy City, is known for weird weather. As a result, we Chicagoans are used to some weather extremes and oddities. Ideally, I would visit in the late summer or early fall. If I could plan a trip without any time restrictions, here’s what I would do. I would fly into the city and enjoy a couple of days walking around Seattle. Then, I would rent a car to explore more of the outdoor beauty in Washington. 

Helpful Tips: 

• The flight in and out of Seattle is scenic on a clear day. Keep the shades open to see if you can catch glimpses of the mountain ranges and snow-capped peaks. 
• July and August are peak travel times. The prices are much higher during the summer. Seattle is also a popular port for cruise ships. You can expect the Public Market to be immensely crowded. To help offset those high prices, consider walking around Seattle to save money on transportation.
• Washington is a great state with so much to see. If you want to save money, it would be handy to walk around Seattle and then rent your car to explore the rest of the state. 
• There is a train between the airport and downtown. It was easy to find the train station by following the signs at the airport. Concurrently, the ride was pretty quick. Once I got downtown, the rest of the sights of interest around Seattle were walkable for me.

Because I’m Sentimental:

Before we dive into the walkable sites around Seattle, I want to share a sentimental feature. My first trip to Seattle is a cute story. My dear friend and I were aching to escape Chicago. We both have traveling souls. But, we were stuck with tight budgets and the reality of student loans in our twenties. So, we each came up with a short list of potential cities to visit during the off-season. We chatted through the list over dinner and couldn’t decide. I’m pretty much always indecisive, but this list was good and we hadn’t traveled much as adults at this point in our lives. 

So, we wrote each destination on small pieces of paper. We rolled them up, threw them into an empty cup, and asked our server to pick one. Shortly after, we booked our tickets. And that’s how we started our Seattle adventure. It is still one of my favorite moments. In case you were wondering, I saved that sheet of paper that says “Seattle” in my travel journal. 

Walkable Sites Around Seattle

One of the keys to a walkable city guide is organizing by location. Points of interest are grouped by neighborhood. I included some helpful tips too. 

Pioneer Square

• Pioneer Place and Pergola
  • The pergola is a pretty spot for photos. Recent reviews state the homeless population has gotten pretty bad here, which is a shame. It really is a beautiful pergola. If you can swing by to see it, I would give it a chance. 
• Waterfall Garden Park
  • This artificial waterfall in the city makes a relaxing urban oasis. It’s a free little park and claims to be the birthplace of UPS. 
• Tour Seattle’s Underground Streets
  • Did you know that the first Seattle is underneath the current Seattle? I’m not going to lie, at times it felt a little spooky… But I have a wild imagination and I am easily spooked. You can book a tour online. There are a couple of options for tour groups. 

Public Market Center

• Walk Around!
  • There’s a lot to enjoy at Pike Place Market. Don’t forget to check out the alleyways too. Visit some of the amusing shops with souvenirs and other goodies. I especially loved the diverse floral arrangements and the vivid produce. There are lots of turns and various hallways with different views out the windows. It’s fun to feel a little lost while you’re here. 

• Seattle Aquarium
  • The puffins are so freaking cute and I adore otters. The anemones are so mesmerizing and colorful. I’m not into aquariums, we went because my mom was interested. However, I had a great time. I thought this was a great layout. And, they had helpful information about conservation and saving our oceans. The room with the underwater dome was pretty cool. 
  • Prices vary based on the day and season. On weekends, an adult ticket is about $32. Buy your timed tickets online if you have preferences or restrictions on what time you want to visit. Tickets can be purchased on their website: 
    • Seattle Aquarium Tickets
• Kayak in Elliot Bay
  • Kayaking was a fun excursion I had with my mom and sister. It was my mom’s first, and last, time kayaking. She loved it, it was just a little hard for her.
  • Fun fact: a 3-person kayak is hard to navigate. It proves a bigger challenge when your mom is paddling backward. 
  • Another fun fact: that water is choppy. Be prepared if you get seasick. I regret not taking Dramamine. I firmly regret eating lunch right before our tour. Learn from my mistakes. 

• Gum Wall
  • Yes, it is a lot of gum on the wall. Yes, it smells minty there. I’ve heard they attempted to clear off the gum wall a couple of times. But it seems to build right back. I admit the concept is rather strange, but I do love the pop of color in the dark alleyway. 

The First Starbucks

If you haven’t heard, Starbucks originated in Seattle. The first storefront is conveniently located by the Public Market, so you can grab a drink and continue walking around the neighborhood.

• The 1^st Starbucks
  • Look for the long line across the street from the Public Market building. Starbucks is open from 7 am until 6 pm. Do yourself a favor and go before 10 am or after 4 pm. Once inside, you’ll get to appreciate the history and setup of the shop. I liked going early in the morning. The later you wait in the morning, the crowd and the truck traffic will grow. Yes, trucks. The neighborhood is an active market. The delivery trucks will come rolling in this pretty street as the day picks up. Waiting until later in the day is also nice. Most people do not want a late coffee and most of the shops and market stalls will close before Starbucks. 

• Not a coffee drinker? You don’t have to order something. You can walk in and look around. I wouldn’t just walk in when there’s a massive line outside. Please, respect the line. 

Space Needle

The Space Needle is an iconic stop for your Seattle visit. There’s more to see and do while you’re out visiting this area. You could walk to the Needle from downtown. It’s about 1.5 miles, which took me less than half an hour. If you don’t want to walk, there is a city monorail. We bought the rail tickets at the train station and hopped on from downtown Seattle. 

• Space Needle
  • You can skip the first long line and buy your tickets online. You have to choose a date and general time for your entry. The prices vary based on the popular visiting times. The morning time frame is between 9 am-11 am, the afternoon is 11 am-6 pm, and the evening is 6 pm-9 pm. The afternoon tickets are more expensive since it’s the busiest time to visit. 
  • There are different combo tickets you can buy online. It would be worth looking into if you’re interested in visiting the other museums or attractions.
    • Once up there, you can walk around and read about the history of the Needle. Of course, there’s a Starbucks inside. There’s also lots of indoor seating. 
      • Space Needle Tickets

• Chihuly Garden and Glass
  • I haven’t been, but I hear it’s beautiful. There are indoor and outdoor exhibits. I’ve seen Chihuly Glass elsewhere in my travels, and they’re spectacular. Chihuly Garden is right next door to the Needle. 
• International Fountain
  • This spot is an open area outside. It’s popular for kids to play in during nice weather days. 
• More Nearby Sites:
  • Seattle Children’s Museum, Pacific Science Center, and Museum of Pop Culture.
    • I haven’t been to any of these yet, but they look like fun. I’m especially intrigued by the Museum of Pop Culture. 

Olympic Sculpture Park

Getting to Olympic Sculpture Park is an easy 0.7-mile walk from Pike’s Place. The park is part of the Seattle Art Museum, and it’s free. There is parking, which you do have to pay for. The landscaping was beautiful and it’s a great green space downtown along the waterfront. The walking paths are paved and wide. It was a popular spot for runners and strollers too. I walked around the sculptures on my way in and took the path along the water to walk back toward Pike Place. 

Bainbridge Island

When in Seattle, you have to ride the ferry! The trip between Seattle and Bainbridge is beautiful. Bainbridge is a peaceful place to walk around. The ferry ride was especially stunning at sunset. Be mindful of the ferry schedule- they don’t run all night and you don’t want to get stuck on the island. 

• Local Shops and Restaurants
  • Check out the local shops. They’re so cute! There are a handful of options to eat too. 
• Blackbird Bakery
  • Duck in for a sweet treat. Enjoy some non-Starbucks coffee. I especially liked the honey lavender scone. They also serve quiches if you want something more filling. 

• Bike Around the Island! 
  • If weather permits, it’s a fun bike ride. The houses and views are beautiful and the traffic is very light. We did this as a family of 5- my parents and their 3 adult children. It was genuinely fun and remains one of my favorite activities from this vacation. I am positive my brother says otherwise. 
  • Bike Barn Rentals- We rented our bikes right outside the Ferry Terminal. Bike Barn has a rental minimum of 2 hours. They are a seasonal shop, open from June through September. We were able to walk up and rent bikes without reservations. I would call ahead to make sure they aren’t too busy if this is a must on your wish list. 
    • Bike Barn Rentals

Walkable Places to Eat in Seattle

There are so many yummy food options in Seattle. I definitely think Seattle is a foodie city. So far, my favorite places to eat include:

Sit Down Spots

• Lola
  • Lola serves Pacific Northwest food with Greek influences. My sister, mom, and I ordered 4 dishes to share. The menu changes, but our server had great recommendations. We shared 1 spread, a veggie dish, and 2 main dishes. 

• Macrina Bakery
  • There are several locations throughout Seattle. The store is very cute. The bakery is delicious. I love their homemade bread and the cookies are divine. I especially loved going to brunch. The food and coffee were a perfect start to a day of exploring the city.
• Lowell’s
  • This place is a diner/restaurant inside Pike’s Place. Despite the heavy tourism, the food here was really good. I especially liked sitting upstairs and enjoying the view. It’s a good spot to stop in for some fresh seafood when you’re already out and about in Pike’s Place.
  • Clam chowder is one of their most popular dishes, and it is delicious.
• Serious Pie Downtown
  • These pizzas were so delicious. The menu is seasonal. We ordered 2 pies. One had roasted mushroom and truffle cheese. The other was topped with local clams, pancetta, and lemon thyme. Both pies were certainly memorable. It was also a comfort meal after a long day. You can make reservations online, which I recommend doing during the summer season.

Quick Eats

• Top Pot Doughnuts
  • A Seattle local told us about Top Pot. It’s a chain, but they have very good donuts. I’m team cake dough donuts, and these were great. Try their old-fashioned donut selection.

• Storyville Coffee Pike Place
  • My sister stumbled upon this loft. The space is very cool and inviting, and the coffee is strong.

• The Public Market
  • The market isn’t just there for you to look at. With all the fresh fruits and veggies in front of you, you’ll be tempted to buy all the goodies. We bought many snacks- apples, strawberries, nuts, and more doughnuts.

Get Out and Enjoy a Walkable Seattle

Seattle is a much bigger city than you might expect, but a lot of sites are walkable. It’s a beautiful city with a lot to see, eat, and explore. Even my non-walking family members agreed it was easy and convenient to get around. My parents have actually returned several times for their cruise ports. If they say it’s walkable you can take their word for it.