206 Things to do in the 206 (that’s Seattle)

Visitors and those new to the area will find these activities most appealing. They’re what Seattle is known for and often provide a way to get to know the area—for example, the Space Needle offers a great view of the city, tours teach you about aspects of the area, and places like Pike Place Market give you a glimpse into not only what’s popular here (fresh, local food), but also the history (this was the first farmer’s market in the country).

1. Pike Place Market: Along with the Space Needle, this is perhaps Seattle’s best known attraction, but it’s also a draw for locals for its fresh fish, produce, flowers and restaurants.

2. Space Needle: Seattle’s most iconic landmark is worth seeing. If you’ve never been up it before, it’s worth going up as well, but there are several viewpoints in the city if you find the cost too high.

3. Gum Wall: Just to the right and down a small hill from Pike Place Market’s main entrance, the Gum Wall is a quirky attraction where you can leave your mark (or...MORE at least your gum) on Seattle. It’s just what it sounds like. A big wall with tons of gum stuck to it.

4. Monorail: Running between downtown Seattle and Seattle Center, the Monorail was constructed for the 1962 World’s Fair. Today it’s a quick and historical way to get from Westlake to Seattle Center.

5. Chihuly Gardens and Glass: Glass artist Dale Chihuly makes his home in Seattle and this is the biggest and best spot to see his work on display right in Seattle Center.

6. EMP Museum: EMP Museum zeroes in on the history of rock music, and is also located in Seattle Center.

7. Teatro Zinzanni: A unique dinner theater that combines acrobatics, cabaret-style theater and a delicious meal.

8. Pacific Science Center: Seattle’s science museum is great for kids and adults who enjoy fun, interactive exhibits.

9. International Fountain: A giant fountain near KeyArena that performs to music. In the summer, wear a swim suit and you can play around its base.

10. Explore the waterfront: Seattle’s waterfront is filled with attractions including the Seattle Aquarium, Ye Olde Curiosity Shop, Wings over Washington and the Great Wheel, and plenty of places to eat.

11. Seattle Aquarium: With a focus on Northwest aquatic life, this is a perfect place to get to know the area’s natural side (and meet some cute otters).

12. Wings over Washington: An amazingly fun ride that will virtually whisk you through Washington State’s many landscapes.

13. Great Wheel: Another ride right next door to Wings over Washington that will get you some pretty stellar water views, especially on a clear day.

14. Woodland Park Zoo: Seattle’s zoo has both local animals and animals from around the world.

15. Get a City Pass: City Passes allow you to get a better deal on several of Seattle’s most popular attractions for one price. The Space Needle and Argosy Cruises are usually on the list.

16. Underground Tour: The Seattle Underground is Seattle’s original footprint. Venture on this tour and you can still see old storefronts and streets that remain underneath the modern city.

17. Ride the Ducks: Ducks are amphibious WWII vehicles that can go both on land and over water—and they do both on tours of Seattle!

18. Boeing Tour: Just north of Seattle is Boeing’s Paine Field in Everett. On the tour, you can see planes being assembled on giant assembly lines.

19. Take a tour of UW: The University of Washington is more than a college campus. It’s a beautiful place to explore. Go on your own or check with the visitor’s center for tour times.

20. Seattle Art Museum: Seattle’s largest museum, this museum is filled with art from the museum’s permanent collection as well as visiting special exhibits.

21. Museum of Flight: If you enjoy planes and aircraft, this is the museum for you.

22. Seattle Asian Art Museum: Located in Volunteer Park, SAAM is filled with Asian art and makes a great complement to exploring the park and nearby cemetery where Bruce and Brandon Lee are buried.

23. Burke Museum: Located on the UW campus, the Burke Museum is all about ancient history. Some of the greatest hits here include the collection of dinosaur bones.

24. Wing Luke Museum: This museum explores the Asian Pacific American experience through exhibits that bring that experience to life, including looks into Bruce Lee’s life or looks into specific groups, such as the Khmer.

25. Olympic Sculpture Park: An open-air, free museum at the far end of the waterfront, the Olympic Sculpture Park is fun to wander and great place to snap some photos.

26. Frye Art...MORE Museum: An art museum that started with the private collections of Emma and Charles Frye, and includes paintings and sculptures from the 1800s up to the present.

27. Bellevue Arts Museum: A smaller, more approachable museum that gets a wide array of exhibitions.

28. MOHAI: MOHAI stands for Museum of History and Industry and delves into Seattle’s hard working side.

29. Nordic Heritage Museum: Situated in historically Scandinavian Ballard, this museum is great if you’re looking to get in touch with your Scandinavian heritage.

30. Seattle Children’s Museum: For families, Seattle Children’s is tough to beat. The museum is geared toward kids 10 months to 10 years old.

31. Klondike Gold Rush National Park: While this is technically a national park, it feels more like a museum as its filled with exhibits detailing Seattle’s gold rush history.

32. Henry Art Gallery: While the name says gallery, the Henry functions more as a museum. It’s located on the UW campus and its sizeable collection includes more than 25,000 pieces of art.

33. Seattle Pinball Museum: Possibly Seattle’s most fun “museum,” the Seattle Pinball Museum allows you to play vintage machines and enjoy some snacks, beer, cider and soda while you do it.

34. Living Computer Museum: Visit to trace the modern computer’s ancestry all the way back to the beginning. The collection was assembled by Paul Allen, who founded Microsoft with Bill Gates.

35. First Thursday: Most of Seattle’s museums have an admission fee. First Thursday allows free entry to participating museums.

36. In the summer, you can find some great free entertainment and free public concerts.

37. Also in the summer, look for movies or game nights in local parks.

38. If you like your art nice and modern, the Center on Contemporary Art has exhibitions as well as events.

39. If you’re a fan of boat racing or of Seafair’s hydroplanes, the Hydroplane and Raceboat Museum is a great, smaller museum to check out.

40. For adults, spend an evening at one of Seattle’s 21+ movie theaters—kick back with a drink in your hand while you watch your new favorite flick.

41. Cinerama is a movie experience rather than just your average theater. Movie props, chocolate popcorn and other top-notch concessions, and laser projection in a historic theater all make this place unique.

42. Of course, you can always default to a traditional fav. Go bowling! There are bowling alleys throughout the city, including West Seattle Bowl, Leilani Lanes and others.

43. Go on a tour of a theater. Paramount, Moore Theater and Neptune Theater all open their doors to a free tour once a month.

44. Less of a museum and more of almost a library or resource center, the Northwest Museum of Legends and Lore is small, yet mighty. If you’re at all curious about psychics, Big Foot, DB Cooper or any other number of other mysteries, this little museum is very cool.

45. Visit Gas Works Park for great water views and to get up close to the ruins of an old gas factory.

46. Explore Volunteer Park’s green spaces and Volunteer Park Conservatory, an antique glasshouse, or climb the old water tower for views of downtown in the distance. Seattle Asian Art Museum is also within the park.

47. Lake View Cemetery is home to the resting places of Bruce and Brandon Lee, as well as Princess Angeline—Chief Seattle’s daughter. It’s adjacent to Volunteer Park.

48. A walk through Discovery Park will remind you why you’re in the Northwest in the first place. Its paved and rough trails, shoreline and lighthouse are nothing but beautiful.

49. Woodland Park is one of the most multi-faceted parks in town. As part of your visit, you can pop into the zoo, play tennis, explore a rose garden or just enjoy the green space.

50. Greenlake Park is ideal for a brisk walk or a run with its paved trail around the lake.

51. Golden Gardens Park is ideal for some time on a beach.

52. Myrtle...MORE Edwards Park is perfect for a hike paired with mountain and Puget Sound views.

53. Washington Park Arboretum is an expansive park filled with plants from around the world. It’s great for a picnic, a stroll or learning more about plants. There’s a visitor center at its core.

54. On a summer afternoon or evening, Alki Beach Park is one of the most beautiful spots in town with a sandy beach and an adjacent walking trail.

55. The Seattle Japanese Garden is small and serene, but big enough that you can spend some time strolling through. Feed the koi in the pond at the garden’s center or spend time relaxing on a bench in peace.

56. Bellevue Botanical Garden is the area’s only botanical garden. Have a photography session or simply enjoy the peaceful atmosphere. Don’t miss the beautiful Yao Garden within (especially in the fall).

57. Waterfall Garden is one of those unexpected little places. It’s a small area right at the center of Pioneer Square. It works best as a place to spend your lunch break or eat a picnic lunch if you’re in the area.

58. Go to Kerry Park for its fabulous viewpoint over the city.

59. Explore an old-growth forest right in the city at Seward Park Audubon Center or spend time on the paved trail by Lake Washington.

60. If you’ve got kids to keep busy, Jefferson Park has a skate park, a very cool tube slide, a playground and a spray ground during warmer months.

61. Carkeek Park is great for those who like something lower key than Seattle’s most popular parks, and has a small beach and trails.

62. If you love Japanese gardens, but don’t want to pay to go into the Seattle Japanese Garden, Kubota Garden marries Northwest landscapes with Japanese touches. And it’s free!

63. Go on an Argosy Cruise around the harbor, through the Ballard Locks or on one of the lakes.

64. Even better, go on a special occasion Argosy or Waterways cruise, such as those for Mother’s Day, to enjoy brunch on the water.

65. Go to Blake Island to experience a one-of-a-kind show and salmon meal. You can get there on Argosy Cruises or with your own boat.

66. Go camping on Blake Island using Argosy to get to the island and stay overnight. It’s the quietest, most private camping ground (at least with bathrooms included) you’ll find within an hour of the city.

67. The Ballard Locks offer one of the most uniquely Seattle things to do. Watching boats load into the locks can be oddly mesmerizing.

68. Cross over the Ballard Locks to see a salmon ladder up close. You might see a fish or two any time of year, but visit in July and August to see the most salmon swimming up stream.

69. Go sailing with the Center for Wooden Boats, which offers free public sails.

70. Rent a rowboat or canoe at the...MORE Waterfront Activities Center (or the WAC) on the UW campus.

71. Ride a ferry. You don’t even have to get off on the other side, just ride back and forth an enjoy the views. The Bremerton ferry is known for its Seattle skyline views.

72. The Water Taxi between downtown and Alki likewise offers stellar views of the skyline, and is a fun way to hop over to the Alki Beach area.

73. Kenmore Air operates seaplanes that go to other regional destinations, but also do air tours of the city.

74. Take a sailing tour of the harbor right from Seattle’s waterfront with Let’s Go Sailing.

75. Fishing is a common pastime in the Northwest and even if you’ve never been before, you can go on fishing charter trips with Fish Finders, All Star Fishing and other charter companies that operate out of Seattle.

76. Do you need someone to take you out to the ballgame? Head to Safeco Field for a Mariners game.

77. Go see a Seahawks games at CenturyLink field for one of the loudest football games in the country.

78. Seattle’s resident soccer team, the Sounders, also play at CenturyLink.

79. While the Sonics left town long ago, the Seattle Storm still bring basketball to the city.

80. While the Sounders get most of the glory, Seattle has a women’s soccer team too – the Seattle Reign.

81. Watch (or try out for the team!) roller derby with the Rat City Rollergirls.

82. You don’t have to go to Canada to enjoy a hockey game. The Seattle Thunderbirds are a junior team based in Kent.

83. Pyramid Brewery isn’t a sporting event, but it’s located close to both Safeco Field and CenturyLink. Stop by before a game and enjoy some beer and appetizers.

84. In the mood to see the symphony? Benaroya Hall is home to the Seattle Symphony.

85. KeyArena hosts a wide variety of shows, concerts, headliners, sports events…just about everything.

86. Paramount Theater is the place to look for concerts, comedians, musicals and touring plays.

87. The 5th Avenue Theater is one of Seattle’s most beautiful venues, making it great for a date night. It hosts plays and musicals.

88. The Neptune Theater and the Moore Theater both bring in headliners, comedians and concerts.

89. If you’re in the mood for culture, McCaw Hall is your place with ballets, vocal and instrumental performances, and speakers.

90. The Crocodile and Neumos both bring in a variety of smaller musical acts, including plenty of local talent.

91. The Showbox has two locations and brings in a huge variety of musical talent. During many months, there’s a show almost every night.

92. ACT Theater is all about contemporary theater, including dance performances, plays, musicals and more.

93. Got kids...MORE that need something new in their lives? Take them to a show at Seattle Children’s Theater!

94. Need a laid-back evening? Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley brings in some of the finest jazz talent there is to Seattle.

95. Town Hall Seattle is a different kind of venue – lower key and more intimate. Look here for artists who prefer smaller venues, choir performances, speakers and more.

96. If you need to get your Shakespeare on, you can do that too. Watch for Seattle Shakespeare Company performances.

97. Seattle Opera brings high culture to the Emerald City and performs at McCaw Hall.

98. Sometimes all you need is a laugh. Parlor Live brings in top comedy talent. It’s also got an attached nightclub and a full menu.

99. Go to the beach! Seattle has several beaches within its city limits, including Alki Beach Park and Golden Gardens.

100. Go hiking! There are almost literally endless hiking opportunities in the Seattle area. In town, look to Discovery Park. Outside of town, the world is your oyster.

101. Located in Tukwila, iFLY Seattle lets you try your hand at skydiving without having to jump out of a plane.

102. Go up the Smith Tower! Pair a great viewpoint with some local history as the Smith Tower is one of the oldest and tallest buildings in town. It’s also got a bar and café at the top.

103. Yet another viewpoint in Seattle is the Sky View Observatory at the Columbia Tower—the tallest building in Seattle.

104. Explore the UW Campus—it makes a great urban hike punctuated with cool architecture, cherry blossoms in the spring, fountains and lake views.

105. Find a festival—Seattle has festivals all year round, from cultural festivals at Seattle Center, to major events like Seafair, to holiday...MORE happenings.

106. Head to East Gate Park in Bellevue and take a ride on the zipline there.

107. Just a short drive out of Seattle is Mt. Si, one of the more challenging (but still doable) hikes in the immediate area.

108. Seattle isn’t exactly a golfing city, but there are still plenty of golf courses to get out on.

109. If a full eighteen holes is too many, consider a round of putt putt.

110. If you’ve got energy to burn (or older kids or teens with energy to burn), visit a trampoline center. There are a few in Seattle, including SkyMania and Elevated Sportz.

111. Family Fun Center in Tukwila is filled with games, food, go karts and other fun.

112. Emerald City Trapeze Arts is a place where you can learn some trapeze arts for yourself.

113. Head to Lake Union and rent a kayak.

114. During the winter, you might need an indoor activity. Visit the Seattle Bouldering Project to climb some walls.

115. Seattle has many trails, but the Burke Gilman Trail is one of the best for cutting through town on a nice, level and paved path.

116. Going for a bike ride is a great way to spend part of a day. Go out on one of the trails, or even bike through the city. If you don’t have your own bike, you can borrow a bike from Pronto, a bike sharing system.

117. Want to do or practice parkour? Seattle’s Freeway Park is the perfect place to go.

118. Located in Issaquah, Duthie Hill Mountain Bike Park has 120 acres filled with miles of mountain bike trails.

119. Climb the Wilcox Wall on Queen Anne Hill. Its 464 steps navigate uphill and provide some great views of Elliott Bay along the way.

120. Exploring any neighborhood in Seattle will yield something interesting, but Fremont is especially fun as it’s got some nifty and unique things to see and places to eat.

121. Stroll the streets of Capitol Hill and drop in on Elliott Bay Book Company or Blick Art Materials. Capitol Hill is also a great nightlife spot.

123. If you love trying out different cheap eateries, go on an urban foodie adventure in the U-District.

124. It goes without saying that there’s a lot to see and do in downtown Seattle. Go shopping. Go out to eat. Or check out the major attractions like Pike Place or the Great Wheel.

125. Georgetown is a neighborhood on the Southside where you can wander between restaurants and cool microbreweries, including Manny’s.

126. Venture over to West Seattle to explore Seattle’s largest neighborhood. It pairs nicely with a trip on the water taxi...MORE from downtown. Don’t miss Alki Beach Park.

127. Ballard is a historically Scandinavian neighborhood and its cultural roots show. Visit the Nordic Heritage Museum, stop by the farmers market, or duck into the shops.

128. Explore the cute shops and restaurants of Wallingford, where you’ll find Molly Moon’s Ice Cream and organic fare at Tilth.

129. The Fremont Troll under the Aurora Bridge is a giant sculpture that you can climb on or just admire, but either way, it’s an awesome photo op.

130. Fremont is also home to the Fremont Rocket, a tail boom that looks like a missile, and an old Communist-era colossus of Stalin. Both are within a block of each other and not far from the Theo Chocolate tour.

131. Go on the Theo Chocolate tour. Because tours are better with chocolate samples.

132. Explore Seattle Central Library. The name might throw you, but this is one of the most interesting buildings in Seattle with its colorful interiors, views from the top floor and creative exterior.

133. Yeah, it’s a little touristy, but Ye Olde Curiosity Shop is also pretty interesting with two actual mummies, shrunken heads and all kinds of kitsch and curiosities.

134. Marijuana is legal in Seattle and Washington State in general, so you can take time out to visit a shop and buy an edible or joint.

135. Any time of year, take a ghost tour of Pike...MORE Place and learn the creepy history of this farmers market!

136. Visit the St. James Cathedral, which was built in 1907. Explore the structure and view the stained glass collection, attend a mass, or watch for choir performances.

137. Take a class at or shop for glass art at the Seattle Glassblowing Studio.

138. Enjoy high tea at The Georgian at Fairmont Olympic Hotel in downtown Seattle.

139. Archie McPhee’s is known for its novelty and gag gift catalog, but you can visit the actual store in the U-District.

140. Go on a tour. Tours abound in Seattle, from joining a free tour of one of the major theaters to ghost tours to Pike Place Market food tours.

141. During the spring and summer, visit a farmers market. Many neighborhoods have one of their own and you’ll find lots of fresh, local produce and seafood.

142. Want to feel good about something going on in the world? Go to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Visitor Center to learn more about programs striving to make the world a better place.

143. Attend a taping of New Day NW, a morning TV show that airs every day on King5.

144. In the spirit of European street markets, Fremont Sunday Market sets up every Sunday all year round. Vendors sell street food, crafts, art and more. 

145. Learn more about Seattle’s Daybreak Star Center, which has exhibits, cultural activities and more.

146. Duwamish Longhouse is a traditional cedar longhouse located at the mouth of the Duwamish River. Visit and learn more about the history and life of the Duwamish Tribe.

147. Go to a Tom Douglas restaurant. This local star chef has several, all located in or near downtown.

148. Dine at Sky City, the restaurant at the very top of the Space Needle.

149. Head to Chinatown-International District and go to Uwajimaya for everything from Japanese office supplies to groceries, but the best part is the fresh-made foods.

150. A Seattle tradition, Dick’s Drive In serves up hamburgers and fries that are a favorite to many.

151. Molly Moon’s ice cream is legendary and perfect on a hot summer day.

152. Eat local chocolate at Fran’s Chocolate, located near Pike Place Market. Their salted caramels are seriously some of the best anywhere.

153. Eat doughnuts at Top Pot—one of Seattle’s best doughnut spots.

154. You shouldn’t miss having a seafood meal in Seattle. With its location right next to the Puget Sound, and only two hours from the Pacific Ocean, seafood abounds.

155. Eat cupcakes at Cupcake Royale, which are some of the most popular treats in town for a reason.

156. Try...MORE some cheese samples at Beecher’s Cheese just across from the main entrance of Pike Place Market. If you like what you taste (and you will!) enjoy a sandwich with Flagship cheese on it.

157. There’s usually a line, but Piroshky Piroshky is worth it if you appreciate unique treats. Piroshky is a breaded pastry with savory or sweet filling. Choose your poison, but the salmon is pretty delicious.

158. Pike Place Market’s fish throwers are famous, but perhaps you’re not in the market to buy a fish. Even so, the crab or shrimp cocktail is super fresh, portable and yummy.

159. Seattle loves beverages across the board. If you’re a cocktail fan, some of the best places to explore the local cocktail scene are at Seattle’s speakeasies.

160. Drink some local microbrew to try out something Seattle does really well. Beer! From Pyramid next to the stadiums, to Pike Brewing near Pike Place, to Hilliard’s, to hyper-local microbrews.

161. A half hour from downtown Seattle, you can go wine tasting in Woodinville Wine Country’s Warehouse District or directly at wineries. From Chateau Ste. Michelle to DeLille Cellars, there are more than 50 wineries here. If you don't want to drive the half hour, Seattle also has plenty of wine bars.

162. Even though there are tons of local coffee roasters to choose from, Starbucks remains a popular choice. If you want to pay homage to one of Seattle’s most recognizable companies, visit the Starbuck’s Roastery to try special roasts, watch the roasting process up close or buy cooler merchandise than you’ll find in stores.

163. Or...MORE visit the very first Starbucks location just near Pike Place Market.

164. Alternatively, get a cup of coffee at any number of local roasters from Caffe Vita to Cafe Umbria.

165. If you aren’t a coffee person, Seattle does tea pretty well too. Stop by Market Spice in Pike Place to try their signature Orange Spice tea, or go to Remedy Teas to sample one or more of 150 organic teas.

166. Go shopping at any number of malls in the area.

167. Bellevue Square just across 520 or I-90 is one of the largest malls in the area.

168. Right in downtown Seattle, Westlake Center has stores, and also has a food court at the top if you need a cheap place to eat with the kids (and you can watch the Monorail come and go too).

169. For more upscale stores, look to Pacific Place just a couple blocks away from Westlake Center. You’ll find Tiffany and Co., Barneys New York, but also Barnes & Noble.

170. Downtown Seattle overall is a great shopping destination with a huge variety of stores and restaurants.

171. Southcenter Mall south of Seattle is another of the area’s largest malls. It’s got a range of mid-level stores, but also a wing filled with Asian eateries and Seafood City, an Asian grocery store.

172. Elliott Bay Book Company in Capitol Hill is the city’s biggest book store. Aside from browsing, there’s also a café and many events and book signings.

173. Dick Blick Art Materials is...MORE a must for artists to check out, with high quality and unique art supplies beyond what you’ll find in craft stores.

174. Old Seattle Paperworks is near Pike Place Market and one of the coolest stores in town, filled with interesting maps and map-related art, travel and geography books, posters and everything else paper related.

175. Thrifting is a big deal in Seattle. Thrift shops are located in most parts of town, but the shops in the U-District are often the best as you’ll find plenty of trendy clothes catering to and resulting from the students who live nearby.

176. There’s no shortage of spas in Seattle, but Olympus Spa in Lynnwood is unique. The women-only day spa has a number of pools; infrared, steam and dry saunas, as well as treatments such as Korean body scrubs, facials and more. Be warned, most people who go to this spa do most activities in the buff as is tradition with Korean spas.

177. For a more traditional spa experience, there are many spas all around town, from spas at luxury hotels like Grant Hyatt’s Elaia spa to stand-alone spas.

178. Another way to relax is to spend some time in a sensory deprivation tank. Float Seattle and Urban Float are both options.

179. Go for a massage. Your options range from spas to massages at quick mall chair massage spots to foot massages in the Asian style in Chinatown-International District.

180. Try an escape room—puzzle rooms where you’re locked in and given a set amount of time to solve puzzles to get out. Locurio Escape Room and Ninja Escape are just two options.

181. Cougar Mountain Zoological Park is an alternative to Woodland Park Zoo. It’s less touristy and focused only on endangered species.

182. Drive by Edith Macefield’s House in Ballard—the inspiration for the Up house.

183. Visit Bainbridge Island and go exploring. There are plenty of places to shop, go hiking and more.

184. Seattle has festivals all year long. Any month of the year, find a festival and jump into the fun! But here are some of the best.

185. Bumbershoot in September is one of the biggest concerts in town with headliners and local acts alike on multiple stages, as well as art, comedy and more.

186. The Fremont Solstice Parade is a little something different, but all in good fun. However, if you have issue with naked bike riders, maybe pass on this one.

187. Northwest Folklife is a festival held every Memorial Day weekend at Seattle Center that brings in all kinds of music, food, dance and crafts.

188. Hempfest is just what it sounds like. If you appreciate hemp or related crops, you will find lots of like minds here.

189. Looking to try out as many different types of food as possible? Go to the Bite of Seattle, a summer festival at Seattle center that brings out restaurants and food producers galore.

190. Seattle’s ultimate summer festival is Seafair, which is actually an umbrella term for...MORE dozens of different neighborhood and city-wide festivals. Among the biggest events are Seafair Weekend and the Torchlight Parade.

191. If you’re a movie buff, look to the Seattle International Film Festival (SIFF), which has events throughout the year, but the main festival brings in movies from around the country and around the world.

192. In the autumn, wait for a nice day and head out to enjoy pumpkin patches and/or a corn mazes (often, pumpkin patches have corn mazes set up).

193. In late October, the area’s haunted houses range from scary to family-friendly.

194. For the holidays, get out to view some Christmas lights at one of the area’s lights displays, located at Woodland Park Zoo, Bellevue Botanical Garden and more.

195. The Christmas Ship Festival is a unique way to get into the holiday spirit. Board the Christmas Ship or one of the parade boats that follows for a night of lights, live music and fun.

196. If you’ve got kids with lots of energy or celebrating a birthday, Wiggleworks is the perfect indoor space.

197. For younger children, there’s no finer festival than Whirligig at Seattle Center, a celebration of all things inflatable and bouncy.

198. To get outside and enjoy a free activity, playgrounds are perfect. Some of Seattle’s best playgrounds are at Luther Burbank Park on Mercer Island, Cal Anderson Park and Jefferson Park.

199. Pair a trip to Bainbridge Island with a stop at Kids Discovery Museum, which isn’t a large museum, but has plenty of play-oriented fun to keep younger children busy for a few hours.

200. Got kids with the need for speed? Take a ride on some go-karts! You’ll find karts at the Family Fun Center in Tukwila and Sykart Indoor Racing Center in Tukwila.

201. Snoqualmie Falls is less than an hour from Seattle. These falls are higher than Niagara Falls and make a picturesque sight. Nearby, the small town of Snoqualmie is fun to walk around, and the Snoqualmie Brewery there is worth checking out. Snoqualmie Casino isn’t far from the falls and is one of the area’s larger casinos.

202. Visit Rick Steve’s Travel Center in Edmonds. If you’re a travel buff, you’ll find all things Rick Steves here, but there are also classes and workshops held throughout the year, including some by Rick himself.

203. Go down to Tacoma, Seattle’s smaller sister to the south. Tacoma’s downtown is filled with museums and restaurants all within close proximity, including the Washington State History Museum, Tacoma Art Museum, Museum of Glass and LeMay – America’s Car Museum.

204. Go whale watching. While there are a few tours out of Seattle, there are more out of Everett and Anacortes to the north. Whales depend on the time of year and include Minke and Gray whales,...MORE as well as orcas.

205. Take the ferry to Bremerton and visit the USS Turner Joy, a Navy Destroyer that’s open for self-guided tours.

206. Take the ferry to Vashon Island and experience a quieter kind of life not far from Seattle.