Tucked up in the far northwest corner of the continental US, surrounded by water and mountains sits Seattle, home of Starbucks and Amazon. For years, it was considered somewhat of a backwater covered in grey sky most of the year. But in 1962, the World’s Fair, with its sleek modern Space Needle, put this city on the map. Seattle has been growing and gaining popularity ever since, with occasional hiccups along the way. Known as the Emerald City, Seattle has become a world class city blessed with natural beauty and dozens of attractions. Many of these popular attractions come with a price. Having previously lived in Seattle for nearly twenty years, I learned about, and experienced a lot of things to do in this amazing city, including many that are totally free. Below I’ve created a list of some of my favorite free things to do.
Watch fish being thrown at Pike Place Market
One of the most well known landmarks in Seattle is the Pike Place Market, located downtown overlooking Elliot Bay. Visitors are greeted by a large red neon sign and clock above the market’s roof at the foot of Pike Street. Opened in 1907, it is one of the oldest continuously operated public farmers’ markets in the US. The huge market housed within multiple levels and buildings has over 200 shops and restaurants, including vendors selling produce, flowers, souvenirs, crafts, clothing, artwork, and much more. It is also home to the very first Starbucks store. The fish market is famous for the fishmongers wearing bibs and boots, who holler while tossing fish across countertops, providing free entertainment for buyers and tourists alike.
Watch Salmon Climb a Ladder
A top attraction in Seattle is the Hiram M. Chittenden Ballard Locks, operated by the US Army Corps of Engineers, and opened in 1917. The two locks allow boats to move between Puget Sound and Salmon Bay, and Lake Union and Lake Washington further east. The locks include a fish ladder, where visitors can observe Pacific salmon climb the ladder as part of their life cycle of migrating between the sea and fresh water to spawn. The peak viewing season is during July and August, or spawning season.
Visit a Troll
In the funky hipster neighborhood of Fremont, north of Lake Union, visitors can find a troll hiding beneath a bridge. The troll is really an 18-foot tall concrete sculpture of the bust of a troll clutching a Volkswagen Beetle. This unique attraction was created by four local artists who were selected as part of an art competition in 1990 that was meant to deter homeless from sleeping under the bridge. The idea of the troll is derived from Norwegian folklore, perhaps playing homage to the Scandinavian roots of much of the local population. The troll is located on N. 36th Street at Troll Avenue North, beneath the Aurora Bridge.
See the Statue of Liberty at the Beach
On the tip of the West Seattle peninsula, across from downtown, is Alki Beach. This long strip of beach facing Elliott Bay and Puget Sound is where the first white settlers arrived in Seattle in 1851. First time visitors may think they’ve been transported to southern California. On a typical summer day, the beach is crowded with people soaking up the short Seattle summer rays, volleyball players, inline skaters and bikers. Within the park is a 6-foot tall replica of the Statue of Liberty erected by the Boy Scouts in 1952. Hungry visitors can either picnic within the park, or visit any of the popular restaurants, including seafood shops, lining the park along Alki Avenue. The beach offers spectacular views of Puget Sound and the Olympic Mountains, and beach fire pits are available during the summer.
Get Your Art on at Olympic Sculpture Park
Situated in the Belltown neighborhood at the north end of downtown and along the waterfront is Olympic Sculpture Park, operated by the Seattle Art Museum. The contemporary designed nine-acre park is free to the public and includes an outdoor sculpture area, and an indoor pavilion, all while offering stunning views of Elliott Bay and the Olympic Mountain range.
Take a Long Walk in the Park
Seattle has many great parks throughout the city. Three of my favorites offer the perfect opportunity for taking a long hike or walk, while taking in the view. In southeast Seattle, Seward Park is situated on a large peninsula jutting into Lake Washington. The park contains a 300-acre forest, some of it old growth, and trails go within the forest and around the periphery offering great views of Mount Rainier. In the summer, Andrews Bay is a popular boat party spot. In the beautiful Magnolia neighborhood that sits on a bluff is Seattle’s largest park, Discovery Park. The 534-acre park occupies a former military base and provides views of both the Cascade and Olympic Mountain ranges. The many trails provide access to two miles of beach, meadows, forest growth, sand dunes, an active lighthouse and an Environmental Learning Center. Lastly, Green Lake Park, located in the Green Lake neighborhood of north Seattle is a very popular urban park, great for recreation or people watching. A three-mile long trail wraps around Green Lake, with separate lanes for pedestrians and cyclists and skaters. A number of good restaurants, many with outdoor dining, are located nearby on East Green Lake Drive.
Fly a Kite at a former Gas Plant
Gasworks Park, located on the north end of Lake Union in Wallingford, is situated on the site of a coal gasification plant that closed in 1956. The 20-acre park, opened in 1975, has been described as one of the strangest parks in the country, mainly because it still includes remnants of the former plant. The remnants include a series of towers, tanks and pipes that act as a monument to the site’s industrial past. Another unique feature of the park is an artificial kite flying hill with a sculpted sundial built into the summit. The hill, known as the Great Mound, offers a spectacular view of the downtown skyline, and Lake Union filled with kayakers, seaplanes, houseboats and fishing vessels. On a good day, visitors can be seen lying all over the hill taking in the view, while observing the numerous colorful kites.
Pay Respect to Bruce Lee
Legendary martial artist and actor Bruce Lee moved to Seattle when he was 18 years old and opened a martial arts school out of his home. Later, he became a pop culture icon before passing away in 1973 at the young age of 32. He, along with his son Brandon Bruce Lee, is buried in Lake View cemetery, located on 15th Avenue East in the trendy Capitol Hill neighborhood. His grave is about half way up the hill from the entrance. While you’re here, you can walk next door to Volunteer Park, home of the Seattle Asian Art Museum, and the Volunteer Park Conservatory. A water tower with an observation deck is also within the park, offering free views.
Sit beneath a Cherry Tree Surrounded by Amazing Architecture
My alma mater, the University of Washington is one of the most beautiful of college campuses in the US. The University sits above both Portage and Union Bays, offering stunning views of the Cascade and Olympic Mountain ranges, and Mount Rainier. The Liberal Arts Quadrangle, also known as the Quad, is formed by series of pink shaded Gothic style buildings. Between mid March and early April, thirty Yoshino Cherry trees on the Quad are adorned with pink blossoms, attracting thousands of visitors. In addition to the Quad, cherry trees can be found throughout the campus, including along Rainier Vista, which aligns directly with Mount Rainier.
View the Space Needle and Skyline from High Up
Fans of the old sitcom ‘Frasier’ may remember a striking view of the Seattle skyline and Space Needle from Frasier Crane’s living room. Those of us who know Seattle well also know that there is no residential tower that offers this exact view. However, the best comparable view is from high atop Queen Anne Hill, at Kerry Park. Located off West Highland Avenue, the park is a popular spot both day and night, where photographers and visitors can capture the ever growing skyline, Space Needle, Puget Sound and Olympic Mountains. On a clear day, you’ll even see Mount Rainier looming in the background. Hands down, it’s one of the best city views in the world.
Read a Book Next to a Waterfall
Right in the middle of the historic Pioneer Square neighborhood, on the south end of downtown, is a waterfall that many people are unaware of. A popular lunchtime spot for downtown workers, Waterfall Garden Park features a 22-foot man made waterfall, landscaped seating areas, and walls to buffer surrounding noise. Visitors can sit at a table on the dual level surrounding patio and observe, and listen to the sound of the falling water, and forget that there is a hectic city just outside the park’s walls.
Catch an Amazing Sunset
Golden Gardens Park, located in the Ballard neighborhood, is where Seattleites go to watch the sunset. This park is located north of the huge Shilshole Bay Marina, and offers extraordinary views of Puget Sound and the Olympic Mountains. Within the park are wetlands, trails, volleyball courts, a playground, picnic areas, fishing pier, boat launch and large sandy beach with fire pits. While there are many good places to watch the sunset in Seattle, Golden Gardens is the most popular.