Itineraries for Your Trip to Seattle
1 Day in Seattle for First Timers
Growing up in Portland, Oregon, I witnessed plenty of gentle rivalry between Seattle and my hometown. While I certainly feel civically obligated to defend Portland’s honor, I definitely think Seattle has a lot going for it. The Emerald City, as it’s nicknamed, has a great bar and restaurant scene, wonderful museums showcasing everything from pop culture to glass arts, and great evening entertainment. It’s also a good place for lovers of the great outdoors, with easy access to area waterways and nearby forests and mountains. And while it’s certainly a big city, it’s also compact enough to pack in plenty with just one day in Seattle. This itinerary will show you how.
If you only have time for one thing, make it Chihuly Garden and Glass.
Seattle is known for its rain, but it can get quite balmy in the summer.
Start your day off with a visit to one of Seattle’s most popular attractions: Seattle Center. Built in 1962 for the World's Fair, this popular area in the Queen Anne neighborhood, just north of downtown Seattle, is home to many of the city's most popular attractions. Highlights include the Museum of Pop Culture (MoPop), Chihuly Garden and Glass, and the city’s top landmark, the Space Needle, which offers sweeping views of the city and Puget Sound from its observation deck.
In the afternoon, head downtown to Pike Place Market, a short light rail ride south of Seattle Center. It’s a great place to pick up local crafts and food, sample Seattle’s famous coffee, or just enjoy the lively ambiance of shouting fishmongers and enthusiastic hawkers. Food tours are a great way to see the market through the eyes of a local, and often include so many filling samples that you won’t feel like getting lunch.
If you truly want to know what it feels like to be “sleepless in Seattle,” consider a ghost tour of the city. Most such experiences include a mix of local lore and history-related anecdotes, and they’re a great way to get familiar with Seattle in a safe and fun way. Some experiences even combine the spookiness of a ghost tour with the fun of a pub crawl, complete with tastings.
