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Seattle’s stunning views and laid-back vibes make it an ideal place to simply wander and enjoy the surroundings. Stroll the waterfront paths, stare at the big mountains, and then stop for a cup of coffee that demonstrates why everyone here is so obsessed with the drink. Breathe in the refreshing, invigorating salt-water breeze on a boat across Puget Sound, and suddenly it makes sense how good the seafood from that same water tastes.
Seattle’s main tourist attractions fit the same map: the Space Needle shows off the view, and Pike Place Market shows off the fish. Getting on a boat—or a couple different boats—is an essential component of understanding Seattle, as is enjoying the natural beauty of the city.
That makes visiting Seattle great for anyone looking to spend time outside, to breathe in the smell of spring blossoms or fall leaves, to pad along forest floors—even in the middle of the city—and then eat food from those same landscapes and hear music inspired by them.
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Midnight deadline—last chance to invest in $46B magic
Fun fact: Disney’s princess IP has generated over $46.4B in revenue!
Here’s another: Elf Labs secured 100+ historic trademarks for characters like Cinderella, Little Mermaid, and Snow White! Now, they’re using advanced patented tech to bring them to life right in your living room.
🚀 Think headset-free VR and AI-powered talking toys.
Now, get this—they’re launching three new princess franchises in 2025 (two already funded) and are backed by a team that’s previously closed over $6B in licensing deals.
But here’s the catch—only limited shares remain.
Cinderella’s magic ended at midnight. Don’t let yours—invest now.
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Day 1
Seattle Center and local sounds
Start your day with a cup of expertly brewed coffee at the polished, modern Fulcrum Coffee Café, which imports and roasts unique single-origin beans, including one from a co-owner’s family farm in Costa Rica.
Then stroll down the mostly pedestrianized Bell Street, and take a right on Western, which brings you to the Olympic Sculpture Park. The nine-acre display of outdoor art, including Alexander Calder’s Eagle, is run by the Seattle Art Museum, which provides an audio tour of the public park on its website.
Circle back up Broad to Seattle Center, where you can get a combined ticket to see the bold colors of Chihuly Garden and Glass and the iconic Space Needle. On the far side of the Seattle Center complex, find Taylor Shellfish Oyster Bar, and sit down with a Pacific Northwest seafood feast in the form of geoduck chowder, a dozen oysters, and Dungeness crab.
Pop into the KEXP Gathering Space to rest your feet and listen to Seattle’s impressive independent radio station. If you hear something you like, the Light in the Attic Record Shop in the corner of the room might carry it. Then head to one last stop in Seattle Center, the Museum of Pop Culture (MoPOP), where you can make some music of your own, learn about Seattle’s superstar musicians, and wander the Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame that’s housed there.
Head up to Capitol Hill for dinner, where the city’s center of LGBTQ+ life also features many of the best restaurants, including a tasting menu of local ingredients at Lark and Spanish snacks at MariPili Tapas Bar. Whatever you eat, follow it up with some live music at one of the neighborhood's many storied venues: Neumos, ChopSuey, or ChaCha Lounge.
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Last chance to own a piece of Cinderella
Elf Labs secured 100+ historic trademarks for legendary characters like Cinderella & Snow White, and are giving investors a rare opportunity to tap into the $2T entertainment & merchandising market.
With new global licensing deals across toys, apparel, and food—they’re using patented AI, AR & VR tech to bring these characters to life on a revolutionary new platform.
Midnight is your last chance to get in on this groundbreaking venture. Invest before it’s too late.
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Day 2
Boats and Ballard
First thing in the morning is the ideal time to check out Pike Place Market: The crowds aren’t there yet, and the best stands sell breakfast foods. Watch the freshly made doughnuts drop at the Daily Dozen, pick a hum bow at Mee Sum Pastry, or choose one of the refreshing frozen yogurt options at Hellenika (who says you can’t have dessert for breakfast?).
Then watch the fish counters set out their seafood and the produce people create towers of tangerines, all at a leisurely pace and with none of the jostling required at busier times.
When you finish, make your way back to the Link light rail and take it to the University of Washington Station. Walk past Husky Stadium (also known as “the Greatest Setting in College Football” thanks to its impressive view) to UW’s Waterfront Activity Center, which rents out canoes and row boats. Navigate your craft across the shipping canal, and enter the lily-pad-lined aquatic paths of Washington Park Arboretum.
Return to shore and follow the canal around to Saint Bread, just south of campus, for lunch on the waterfront. The eclectic menu of pastries and sandwiches mixes Japanese, American, and Scandinavian traditions, resulting in a fried egg sandwich on melonpan; okonomiyaki-style tortilla; and a killer cheeseburger.
After lunch, hop on the number 44 bus across town to the Ballard Locks. The locks were completed in 1917 by the Army Corps of Engineers to manage the water levels in the new Lake Washington Shipping Canal as they reached the saltwater of Shilshole Bay, and they remain absolutely fascinating today. Pop by the visitors center for one of the free ranger-led tours, and then meander the botanical gardens or cross to see the salmon at the fish ladder.
Make your way west from the Locks shopping for souvenirs in the boutiques lining Ballard Avenue. Look for jewelry and housewares from local artists at Venue or clothes that rep the Pacific Northwest at Standard Goods.
As the stores peter out, you’ll hit the Ballard Brewery District. Choose from IPA-specialist Stoup, the joint taproom from Bale Breaker and Yonder Cider, or the Chinese-influenced Lucky Envelope, and expect to see lots of kids and dogs—locals use these brewhouses like bonus backyards.
Grab dinner from one of the food trucks parked in front of a brewery, or head to Mexican steakhouse Asadero Prime for bone marrow crostini, ribeye tacos, and a colorful salsa bar.
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Day 3
International flavor and a ferry
Start your third day south of Downtown in the Chinatown–International District. Early 20th–century immigrants from Asia, excluded from the city center, set up enclaves here, including Chinatown and Japantown, with Little Saigon coming along many decades later. Today, the public spaces reflect those heritages, and the neighborhood’s restaurants and shops carry on the legacies.
After digging into a dim sum meal of dumplings and rice noodles at Harbor City Restaurant, head to the Wing Luke Museum of the Asian Pacific Experience to understand more about how the neighborhood evolved and where it’s going. The immersive museum includes a tour of the historic hotel in which it’s housed, so make sure to aim your arrival to include the 1:30pm tour (it also runs at 10:30am and 3:30pm).
When you finish there, make your way back downtown toward the Colman Dock to grab a ferry across the water to Bainbridge Island for dinner. It’s about a 35-minute ride, with excellent views looking back at the city and south toward Mt. Rainier.
From the Bainbridge port, it’s a short walk up the hill to Windsor Way, the main road through town. Wineries, a bookstore, and small-town charm line both sides of the road. Plan to spend some time poking around before heading to dinner at Ba Sa Restaurant, where second-generation Vietnamese American restaurateurs Rang Nguyen and Huyen Tran mix local ingredients, traditional foods, and modern techniques to produce dishes like pepper flake razor clams and corn milk crème brûlée.
Staying a bit longer? Read our full guide for how to get out of the city center and into the mountains during your extended stay in Seattle.
When to visit, where to stay, and how to get around Seattle: Find it all online.
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With local expert:
Naomi Tomky
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Award-winning Seattle-based writer Naomi Tomky explores the world with a hungry eye, digging into the intersection of food, culture, and travel for AFAR, Saveur, Travel + Leisure, and more. Find her on the shelves of your local bookstore as the author of The Pacific Northwest Seafood Cookbook.
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Now through Feb 18, refer friends and enter to win $1,000 in free flights and a $199 Elite Going membership. Each person you get to sign up at going.com earns you another chance to win.
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