Seattle Travel Guide! (What to Know Before You Go)

Heading to Seattle? Don’t leave home without reading this Seattle Travel Guide!

Whether it’s your first visit or your tenth, Seattle never ceases to amaze.

The stunning Seattle skyline views backed by the giant Mount Rainier to the south, Pike Place Market filled with local produce growers and fishermen, cozy coffee & donut shops on Queen Anne Hill, riding a big white and green ferry to cross the Puget Sound – these are just some of the reasons why I keep returning again and again!

I want to help make your next visit to Seattle amazing, so I’ve put together this Seattle Travel Guide filled with the best places to eat, memorable day trips, a handy packing checklist, and even some budget tips to help make your trip a reality.

Get yourself ready to explore Seattle with these fun tips…

Seattle Travel Guide

Related:

Top Things to do in Seattle:

Pike Place Market

Originally a farmer’s market, Pike Place has transformed into the bustling central market of Seattle. You’ll find local growers selling their produce; fresh fish being tossed around with unexpected enthusiasm; as well as a wide collection of eclectic shops in the lower levels selling everything from antiques to coins to souvenirs. Overall, Pike Place Market is the perfect first stop on your trip to Seattle, giving you a (literal) taste of the city!

Gum Wall

Adjacent to Pike Place Market, down a small alley to the south, you’ll find one of Seattle’s quirkiest attractions… the Gum Wall! Don’t forget to purchase some chewing gum in Pike Place so you can make your own contribution to the wall!

Original Starbucks at Pike Place

After picking up some free Starbucks gift cards, indulge in your favorite coffee at the one and only original Starbucks at Pike Place. If you’ve ever been to Starbucks, visiting the very first Starbucks is always a memorable experience.

Stroll Along the Seattle Waterfront Downtown

You’ll find the Seattle Aquarium with adorable sea otters, the Waterfront Park, Argosy Puget Sound Cruises, Red Robin with boats bobbing outside the windows, Ye Old Curiosity Shop, Ivars Acres of Clams, the Seattle Ferry Terminal, and so much more.

Seattle Monorail

Originally built for the 1962 World’s Fair, the Seattle Monorail has been whisking 2 million annual passengers through the city. Catch yourself a ride at Westlake Center Mall (about an half mile walk from Pike Place), and ride over to the Space Needle and Seattle Center!

Space Needle

A trip to Seattle would not be complete without visiting the city’s futuristic tower! Splurge and pay to take a ride up the elevator for unrivaled views over Seattle and the Puget Sound. Want even more time at the top? Make a reservation at the Restaurant at the top and you’ll enjoy 360 degree views of Seattle every hour.

Kerry Park

This small park on Queen Anne offers post card perfect views of the Seattle skyline. It’s the perfect place to hang out, drink some coffee, sit on a bench and slow down to take in the views!

Gasworks Park

This former coal gasification plant, now a public park, offers tremendous views of Lake Union and the Seattle skyline. Also, it happens to be conveniently located right off of the Burke Gilman Bike and Pedestrian Trail!

Burke Gilman Trail

From Gasworks Park, catch the Burke Gilman and enjoy a pleasant stroll or bike ride west to the Fremont Canal Park, about a mile to the west. Or enjoy the entire Burke Gilman Trail and ride your bike a total of 37 miles, first going north of Seattle, then east to Lake Sammamish.

Washington Park Arboretum

The 230-acre Washington Park Arboretum offers miles of paved and dirt walking trails through native Pacific Northwest vegetation. Other popular activities include canoeing, birding, and more!

Seattle Japanese Gardens

Located at the southern end of the Washington Park Arboretum, the Seattle Japanese Gardens combine a unique blend of traditional Japanese plants and Pacific Northwest natives that you’ll find nowhere else. Come here for a peaceful stroll after a full day of sightseeing.

Ballard (Hiram M. Chittenden) Locks

America’s busiest locks are quite a sight to behold: ships of all sizes rise or drop 20 feet (depending on the direction) in this amazing feat of engineering. The Ballard Locks connect Puget Sound with Lake Union, allowing much of the Alaska Fishing Fleet to harbor off season.

Woodland Park Zoo

Located at the southern end of Green Lake, Woodland Park Zoo is home to over 300 species from all around the world. Enjoy walking through the ‘tropical’ Asia area with tigers, the ‘cold north’ area with bears and penguins, and more.

Green Lake

After you visit the zoo, take a stroll or ride your bike around the lake using the paved pedestrian trail.

Golden Gardens Park

The beachside Golden Gardens Park offers tremendous views of the Puget Sound and Olympic Mountain Range in the distance. There are also grills, great sunsets, and a off-leash dog area in the northern end of the park.

Boeing Factory Tour in Everett

For a truly unique Seattle experience, head north to Everrett and take a tour of the Boeing Factory, the largest building in the world by volume. In the tour, you’ll see 747, 777, and 787 planes being built on the production line.

Alki Beach Park

Take the West Seattle Bridge to Alki Beach and Hamilton Viewpoint Park. Hamilton Viewpoint Park is amazing place to catch views of city across the water. This is one amazing place to take your camera! Then head to Alki Beach with your volleyball or beach chair and enjoy beautiful views of the Puget Sound.

The Museum of Flight

All aviation fanatics will love this massive museum, home to the Boeing Red Barn, the original manufacturing center for Boeing planes. You’ll also find a Concorde jet, giant rooms filled with planes from both World Wars, and the Air Traffic Control Tower museum.

Where to Eat in Seattle:

Check out these Seattle Washington Best Places to Eat for the ultimate list of restaurants in Seattle! I’ll load you up with the best places to grab seafood, burgers and of course… coffee!

How to Get Free Stuff for Your Seattle Vacation

By bringing the right things, your visit to Seattle can go from good to great! Below, I’ve compiled the best things to pack for Seattle for any month of the year. But first, pick up some Free Amazon Gift Cards to make the shopping a whole lot cheaper! 😉

Free Amazon Gift Cards

What to Pack for Seattle:

Rain Jacket

Selfie Stick

Camera Lens Attachments

Seattle Travel Guide – Budget Tips

Straight off the bat, the Seattle City Pass is the best way to save money on your trip to Seattle. Essentially, you can visit several of Seattle’s famous attractions with one discounted ticket, offering savings of up to $89. The Seattle City Pass includes places mentioned in this post such as…

Space Needle
Seattle Aquarium
Argosy Cruises
The Woodland Park Zoo
And More

Get Your Seattle CityPass Here!

Using Swagbucks, you can get free gift cards for Southwest Airlines and Delta. Overall, this is the the best way to score deals on plane tickets to Seattle. I’ve been a member of Swagbucks for about 9 years now, and it’s still one of my favorite ways to earn extra money each month, including deals for travel!

Here’s how it works:

Sign up with Swagbucks
Then start earning Swagbucks SB Points. There are so many EASY ways to earn Swagbucks! You can earn by Searching the Web {just like you would using Google}, Taking Surveys, Using Coupons, Shopping Online, Watching Videos, etc. I typically earn an easy $25 each month on Swagbucks!
Cash in your Swagbucks SB Points for Free Southwest Airlines Gift Cards and Free Delta Gift Cards!

Day Trips from Seattle

Snoqualmie Falls (About 1/2 Hour)

This beautiful 268-foot waterfall can be viewed from above, or from a 1.4 mile roundtrip hike to the base.

Kingston and Fort Worden

From Seattle, drive north to Edmonds and hop on the ferry to Kingston. After getting dropped off in Kingston, grab a lunch at one of the many delicious cafés before driving up to Port Townsend. Overall, it’s about 2 1/2 hours, not including traffic or time waiting for the ferry.

Then, head into Fort Worden State Park (right outside of Port Townsend), and explore the remains of this former military fort strategically located at the head of the Puget Sound.

Fort Casey

From Seattle, drive about half an hour north to Mukilteo, and take the ferry across to Clinton. After arriving in Clinton, continue northwest to For Casey, which is an addition half hour. Overall, it’s about 1 1/2 hours, not including traffic or time waiting for the ferry.

Once you’ve arrived, don’t miss the lighthouse and battery. Also, the views over the Sound across to the Peninsula are breathtaking!

Go to Skagit Valley in Spring for Tulips (1 1/2 Hours)

For a fun April day trip, head north to the Skagit Valley for the world-famous Tulip Festival. Get ready to see colorful tulip fields as far as the eye can see. The locations of the tulip fields change every year, so be sure to visit the Tulip Festival Office in Mount Vernon for details. Address: 311 W Kincaid St., Mount Vernon, WA 98273

Leavenworth (Approx. 2 Hours 20 Minutes)

Drive scenic Highway 2 over the Cascade Mountains to the cozy German themed town of Leavenworth. Walk along Front Street, and head inside to some of the fun little stores like The Hat Shop, The Tannenbaum Shop, Village Pharmacy, The Wood Shop, The Taffy Shop and so much more. Then be sure to enjoy some authentic German cuisine before you go!

Mount Rainier National Park

Whether you want to enjoy a beautiful hike or take a leisure scenic drive, Mount Rainier National Park is the place to go! The Paradise Area and Sunrise Area are the park’s two main districts, both of which are about 2 1/2 hours from Seattle.

Vancouver, British Columbia (2-2.5 Hours)

For the ultimate internationally flavored Seattle day trip, take your passports and head across the border into Canada to explore the beautiful city of Vancouver. Check out these Best Vancouver BC Travel Tips before you go.