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You are here: Home / Destination / A Weekend in Seattle

A Weekend in Seattle: Choose Your Own Adventure

Plan a weekend in Seattle, the city sitting on the edge of Puget Sound.

The Emerald City is diverse, unique, and quirky.

Choose your own adventure with the options we share below as you spend a weekend in Seattle.

See What is the Pacific Northwest {for travelers}

Table of Contents
  • A Weekend in Seattle: Choose Your Own Adventure
  • Friday night activities 
  • Saturday
  • Saturday Morning Activities
  • Saturday Afternoon Activities 
  • Sunday
  • Sunday Activities 
  • Plan a Trip to Washington:
  • Choose Your Own Adventure Series:

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Friday night activities 

Take in a sporting event

Seattle is sports-crazy, the city hosts a full gamut of professional leagues as well as college-level sports.

No matter the season, you will probably be able to find a game.

Seattle Mariners Baseball

Seattle Seahawks Football

Seattle Sounders Soccer

Seattle Storm Basketball

The University of Washington Athletics – Huskies

Weekend in Seattle, Baseball field

Seattle Center Performances

If sports aren’t your thing, check out this list of performing arts venues.

All of these venues are in or around the Seattle Center.

Pacific Northwest Ballet

Seattle Symphony

Seattle Opera

Book-It Repertory Theatre

Seattle Children’s Theatre

Seattle Rep

Seattle Shakespeare 

Seattle Center is also home to:

Chihuly Garden and Glass

Pacific Science Center

Seattle Children’s Museum

IMAX Theater

Space Needle 

Festivals

Inside the Center House, you will find a variety of restaurants, coffee shops, and sweet treats.

Seattle Space Needle against a pure blue sky, with tree leaves along the edges of the frame

Underground Tour

Seattle burned to the ground in 1889.

The current city was built right on top. This left a labyrinth of underground streets and tunnels.

Bill Speidel’s Underground Tour takes you down below to experience Seattle 1.0.

Tours start on the hour – the last tour leaves at 6 p.m. (5 p.m. in the winter, see schedule), so you can squeeze in one more activity before dinner.

If you haven’t been on the Underground Tour, consider it at the top of the list as you plan your weekend in Seattle.

Dinner

Pam’s Kitchen

Trinidadian-Caribbean

Wallingford and South Lake Union locations

Caribbean stew, jerk chicken, curries, and all the sides.

Pam’s is also known for its Sorrel Rum Punch.

Skillet

Comfort food

Multiple locations

Try the counter at the Seattle Center before your show.

Dinner served until 8 p.m.

Saturday

Breakfast

Serious Pie and Biscuit

The Westlake location offers the “Serious Biscuit Menu”

If you like biscuits for breakfast this is the place for you.

Geraldine’s Counter

Breakfast served all-day-long.

Famous French toast served with a different topping each day.

Saturday Morning Activities

Option 1

Indoors/Outdoor

Waterfront

The Seattle Waterfront is getting a massive face-lift, the project is to be completed in 2023.

In the meantime, the area is still worth a visit.

Start at one end, parking at the Olympic Sculpture Park and walk to the other end.

Meander and take your time.

Along the way stop at the many shops; Ye Olde Curiosity Shop and Pirates Plunder are two quirky options.

Ride the Great Wheel.

Or take in the world-class Seattle Aquarium.

Weekend in Seattle, Waterfront and the Great Wheel

Option 2

Indoors/Outdoor

Pike Place Market

I will admit, this is not my favorite tourist attraction in Seattle.

Whenever we had out-of-town guests spending a weekend in Seattle Pike Place was their number one request.

Dragging four children through the crowded market is a recipe for anxious parents and cranky kids.

If you are determined to visit the oldest running farmer’s market in America, I suggest taking one of the Seattle Free Walking Tours.

Instead of running a gauntlet you will be given “The Market Experience”.

Spending an hour getting the guided inside scoop will make your time at the market much more enjoyable.

Weekend in Seattle, Pike Place Market

Lunch

Pike Place Chowder

Seafood

Famous for their line-up of 7 or so chowders – and sourdough bowls.

Pike Place Chowder also serves fish n’chips, fish tacos, and all things seafood.

Ivar’s Acres of Clams

Northwest Seafood chain

Restaurant on the Pier 54 waterfront is iconic – and waterside.

Traditional seafood options.

Blue Moon Burgers

Burgers with natural ingredients

Locations on Capitol Hill and Alki Point

Build your own burger just the way you like it, or choose one of Blue Moon’s signature sandwiches – either way, yum!

They offer a Paleo burger and have dedicated gluten-free fryers and an extensive menu of gluten-free options.

If you need more options for lunch, check out the food truck scene:

www.seattlefoodtruck.com

Saturday Afternoon Activities 

Option 1

Indoors

Museums 

If you’re into museums, you are in luck. Seattle is packed with fabulous, state-of-the-art museums. Be sure to include one in your Seattle weekend plan.

Art museums

Seattle Art Museum

Seattle’s major art museum is in the heart of downtown.

Collections and exhibitions range from primitive to classical, contemporary to pop culture.

Asian Art Museum

Closed for renovation until Spring 2020.

Extensive collection of Asian art.

The museum is located in Volunteer Park.

Seattle weekend, conservatory at Volunteer Park

Pop Culture

MoPop

Museum of Pop Culture (formerly the Experience Music Project)

Adjacent to the Seattle Center.

Exhibitions change several times a year, they are always multi-media, interactive and amazing.

At MoPop you will find music, science fiction, video game exhibits, movie making, and fantasy.

Weekend in Seattle, MoPop
Yes, this bazaar building is MoPop, and it’s a great addition to any weekend trip in Seattle.

Technology

Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Discovery Center

Yes, this is thinly disguised public relations for Microsoft, but the museum is so fascinating and beautifully designed, it’s a must-see.

Learn how the Foundation is using technology and science to make major breakthroughs in some of the world’s most pernicious problems.

Weekend in Seattle, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
Bellevue10.4 Miles
Kirkland11.1 Miles
Redmond15.3 Miles
Issaquah17.2 Miles
Bothell19.8 Miles
Everett28.6 Miles
Tacoma33.6 Miles
Olympia60.9 Miles

Option 2

Outdoor

Gas Works Park 

Wallingford Area

Gas Works is built on the site of a former gas plant. The industrial equipment is still on-site, giving this park a surreal, urban-hip vibe.

Add a play area and large play barn (the play barn is an ingenious way to stay out of the rain and still go to the park – it is Seattle).

Kite flying is popular here.

And…the Burke-Gilman Trail runs right past the park, so if you want to tour Seattle by bike, check it out.

Weekend in Seattle, Gas Works Park

Dinner

Pacific Inn Pub

Seattle’s famous fish & chips.

Seafood, salads, burgers, and sandwiches.

Lola

Greek

Seattle location

Serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner

Greek spreads and pita bread.

Meze and kebabs.

Sunday

Special breakfast options 

Lunch Box Lab

Multiple locations

Burgers and all the fixings.

Build your own burgers with 15 sauces to choose from.

Mamnoon

Middle Eastern Brunch

Come here for something different than the typical American brunch.

Mezze, egg specialties, and sweets.

Fat’s Chicken and Waffles

Southern, New Orleans influenced

Open for brunch Saturday and Sunday.

Fried chicken, shrimp, grits and andouille sausage gravy – it’s as close to the south as you will get on the west coast.

Coffee houses

Seattle is arguably the coffee capital of America.

There are so many great coffee shops, in beautiful spaces, it’s hard to pick 3. Plan for as many as your heart can take during your weekend in Seattle.

Coffee in Seattle isn’t just about the warm liquid in a cup – it’s about art, sustainability, the global community, and people.

These are a few to get you started, but the best experience will be finding that neighborhood gem near your lodging.

Scoop in a vat of coffee beans

Cafe Allegro

Cafe Allegro won a spot on the list because it’s the oldest espresso bar in Seattle.

Small batch, in-house roasting.

Great University District location.

Lighthouse Roasters

Many coffee shops around Seattle serve Lighthouse coffee, this is the flagship store on N 43rd.

They treat coffee like art.

Lighthouse also supports the creative community through their monthly rotating exhibits of local artists.

Zoka Coffee

The “youngest” roaster of these 3, Zoka takes coffee seriously.

Zoka is committed to being a contributing member of the world community.

They also make it a priority to build the local community.

The four unique locations throughout Seattle serve as hubs for locals.

Sunday Activities 

Option 1

Indoors/Outdoors

Center for Wooden Boats

A maritime museum, ongoing exhibits include; historic small craft, art, and photography, the restoration of the Blancard, and more.

Sailboats, rowboats, canoes, and kayaks are available to rent Wednesday – Sunday.

Enjoy a free Sunday public sail, a great way to end your weekend in Seattle. You can find all the details here.

Right next door is MOHAI (The Museum of History & Industry)

Exhibits change frequently – see the current list here.

This is a gorgeous museum using innovative exhibits.

Weekend in Seattle, MOHAI

Option 2

Indoors/Outdoors

Chinatown 

Seattle has a great Chinatown – International District.

I suggest you take a tour to unlock the mysteries.

The Wing Luke Museum hosts Chinatown Discovery Tours – they are very popular, so buy tickets ahead of time.

Visit Uwajimaya – a 35k square foot emporium of Asian foods and specialty products. There’s an entire aisle of noodles!

Seattle Pinball Museum – an interesting museum filled with 50+ vintage pinball machines. Pay a flat fee for unlimited pinball play.

Try Dim Sum at one of the local restaurants.

Plan a Trip to Washington:

Check out our complete guide to planning your next trip to Washington State.

Choose Your Own Adventure Series:

A Weekend in Ashland: Choose Your Own Adventure 

A Weekend in Bend, Oregon- In Summer

A Weekend in Eugene, Oregon: Choose Your Own Adventure

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