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}
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.
The University of Washington Athletics – Huskies
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.
Seattle Center is also home to:
Inside the Center House, you will find a variety of restaurants, coffee shops, and sweet treats.
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
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.
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.
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:
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’s major art museum is in the heart of downtown.
Collections and exhibitions range from primitive to classical, contemporary to pop culture.
Closed for renovation until Spring 2020.
Extensive collection of Asian art.
The museum is located in Volunteer Park.
Pop Culture
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.
Technology
Hands-on computer museum covering the history of computers; 80’s rewind, mainframes, and home computers.
With a look to the future; robotics, Augmented Reality and self-driving cars.
Only in Seattle!
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.
| Bellevue | 10.4 Miles |
| Kirkland | 11.1 Miles |
| Redmond | 15.3 Miles |
| Issaquah | 17.2 Miles |
| Bothell | 19.8 Miles |
| Everett | 28.6 Miles |
| Tacoma | 33.6 Miles |
| Olympia | 60.9 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.
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.
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.
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.
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
