3 days in Seattle

A day that stays close to the water. A sculpture park, the old market, the big wheel on the pier, and a ferry ride across the sound in the evening. Mostly flat, with a few steep blocks near the market.

1. Breakfast

   Coffee and a pastry

   Seattle runs on coffee. Find a small neighborhood cafe, order a cup and a fresh pastry, and sit by the window for a few minutes before the day starts.

   Local tip Ask what is roasted locally and try it black first.

   
2. 1
   MorningWorth the time

   Olympic Sculpture Park

   A green park of large sculptures that slopes down to the water. The ferries and the mountains are part of the view, and there is room to sit.

   Go when Morning, when the paths are quiet and the water is bright.

   Local tip Walk the zigzag path down to the shore and look back up at the sculptures against the city.

   

   About 16 min walk0.8 mi
3. 2
   MiddayWorth the time

   Pike Place Market

   The old public market above the water, with fish sellers, flower stalls, craft tables and small cafes. Walk the lower levels as well as the main arcade.

   Go when Late morning, before the lunch crowd fills the arcade.

   Local tip Walk the lower levels for the small shops, and the back of the market for the view over the water. A fish seller tossing a salmon is worth a look.

   

4. Lunch

   Chowder or a salmon sandwich at the market

   The market is full of small counters that serve creamy chowder, grilled salmon and fresh crab. Eat standing at the rail or on a bench with the view.

   Local tip Walk the whole market once before you choose, then go back to the counter with the longest line of locals.

   

   About 5 min walk0.2 mi
5. 3
   AfternoonWorth a short visit

   Seattle Great Wheel

   A tall wheel at the end of a pier over the water. A ride gives a wide view of the bay, the ferries and the city behind them.

   Go when Afternoon, or after dark when the wheel is lit.

   Local tip Even if you skip the ride, the pier is a fine place to watch the ferries come in.

   

   About 6 min walk0.3 mi
6. 4
   EveningWorth the time

   Ferry to Bainbridge Island

   A ride on one of the green and white ferries across the sound to an island town and back, about half an hour each way. The best view of the skyline is from the deck on the return.

   Go when Early evening, around sunset (about 9:03 PM), for the long light on the water.

   Local tip Walk on as a passenger and ride up on the open deck. Check the timetable ahead and stay on for the return, when the skyline comes into view.

   

7. Dinner

   Fish and chips by the water

   Crisp fried fish and thick chips, eaten near the waterfront. A classic way to end a day beside the water.

   Local tip Choose a place that serves fish caught in the north Pacific, and eat outdoors if it is warm.

   

A compact day around the old fairgrounds, with glass, music and a tower, then a climb to a famous view. Most of the stops are indoors, which suits a gray day.

1. 1
   MorningA climb for the view

   Space Needle

   The tall tower built for the 1962 World's Fair, with a view over the city, the water and the mountains. Look at it from the grounds, and go up if the sky is clear.

   Go when Morning, when the air is clearest.

   Local tip Check the sky before you go up. If clouds sit low, look at the tower from the ground and keep the money for a better day.

   

   About 2 min walkunder 0.1 mi
2. 2
   MorningWorth the time

   Chihuly Garden and Glass

   A gallery and garden of large glass sculptures in bright colors, right beside the tower. Look at the pieces outside in daylight, when the colors shine.

   Go when Late morning, when the light comes through the glass.

   Local tip Walk out to the garden even if the weather is gray, because the colors against the trees are the part you will remember.

   

3. Lunch

   A picnic at Seattle Center

   The fairgrounds have lawns, a big fountain and a food hall with many small counters. Buy something quick and eat on the grass.

   Local tip Sit by the fountain, where children play and the sound of the water covers the traffic.

   About 3 min walk0.1 mi
4. 3
   AfternoonPick your rooms

   Museum of Pop Culture

   A building of curving metal that houses music, film and fantasy exhibits. Pick the rooms that match your taste and skip the rest.

   Go when Afternoon, a good choice if the weather turns.

   Local tip Walk around the outside first to see the curving metal, then choose two rooms and stay with them.

   

   About 16 min walk0.8 mi
5. 4
   EveningWorth the time

   Kerry Park

   A small park on a hill with a postcard view of the skyline, the water and, on a clear day, a snow-capped mountain on the horizon.

   Go when Around sunset (about 9:03 PM), when the skyline lights up.

   Local tip It is a small park and gets crowded, so be patient and wait for a spot at the rail. The mountain shows only when the air is clear.

   

6. Dinner

   Dinner in Queen Anne

   The hill around the park has a stretch of small restaurants with a quiet, neighborhood feel. A good place for a simple supper after the view.

   Local tip Walk down the hill rather than back up, and ask for a table by the window.

A day on the north side, where the city meets the water. A big park on a bluff, boats rising and falling in a lock, a troll under a bridge and a lakeside park at sunset. Allow time for the buses between stops.

1. Travel from Kerry ParkAbout 15 min by car or transit3.3 mi

   Where Day 2 ended.
2. 1
   MorningWorth the time

   Discovery Park

   The largest park in the city, with forest paths, sandy bluffs and a lighthouse on a beach. Walk to the edge for the view of the sound and the mountains.

   Go when Morning, when the trails are quiet.

   Local tip Take the loop trail through the forest to the bluff, then walk down to the beach if your legs are up to the climb back.

   

   About 18 min walk0.9 mi
3. 2
   MiddayWorth the time

   Hiram M. Chittenden Locks

   A working lock where boats of all sizes move between the sound and the lake. There is a garden to stroll through and a fish ladder with underwater windows.

   Go when Midday, when boats are moving through.

   Local tip Watch a boat rise or fall in the lock, then go down to the fish ladder. Salmon pass through in summer and fall, so check ahead for what is running.

   

4. Lunch

   Seafood in Ballard

   The neighborhood next to the locks has an old fishing heritage and many places to eat seafood, from oysters to a bowl of stew.

   Local tip Ask what came in that day, and try the simplest fish dish on the menu.

   

   About 10 min by car3.6 mi
5. 3
   Afternoon10 minutes is enough

   Fremont Troll

   A huge concrete troll under a bridge, holding a real car in one hand. A quirky stop that takes a few minutes and a photo.

   Go when Afternoon, on the way between the locks and the lake.

   Local tip Climb up beside the troll for a picture with its hand and the car. Early in the day is the quietest.

   

   About 14 min walk0.7 mi
6. 4
   EveningWorth the time

   Gas Works Park

   A park built around the rusted towers of an old gas plant, on a hill above the lake. Climb the mound for the view of the skyline and the sailboats.

   Go when Late evening, around sunset (about 9:03 PM), when the light hits the towers.

   Local tip Walk up the grassy hill for the view across the lake, and sit there until the lights come on.

   

7. Dinner

   Dinner in Fremont

   A small, artistic neighborhood with a mix of restaurants and bars that stay lively after dark. It is a short walk from the park.

   Local tip Wander the main street until a menu looks right, and ask for a table outside if the evening is warm.