First and foremost, our 'usual tourist traps' are... actually pretty fun, and I recommend you try at least a few of them as scheduling, etc, allows. These are:
- Space Needle
- Pike Place Market
- The Great Wheel (big ferris wheel down by the docks)
- Experience Music Project (EMP), now called the 'MoPop museum'
- Chihuly Glass Museum
- Pacific Science Center
- Bainbridge Island Ferry Ride (walk-on)
- Seattle Library Tour (Downtown location)
The less-common (but still fun) regular attractions:
- Seattle Underground Tours
- Argosy water cruises/tours
- Bezos' Balls (Amazon Spheres; free tours, but need to schedule)
- Movie at the Cinerama (gigantic wraparound screen)
Tons of hiking, etc, trails (some even public-transport accessible), such as:
-
https://seattle.curbed.com/maps/car-free-hiking-trails-seattle
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Winery/distillery Tours in Woodinville (a town outside of Seattle, but well worth the bus ticket/car rental; Chateau Ste Michelle has one of the better tours IMHO)
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Electric Boat Co mini-boat rental by Lake Union
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various food tours in the Belltown area of Seattle
We are also known for our coffee. I recommend skipping "the original Starbucks location in Pike Place Market", as it's not particularly special - generic SB menu, etc. If you're looking for a mind-blowing cuppa, consider:
- Victrola
- Vivace
- Anchorhead
- Fuel (multiple locations)
- Solstice (super comfy chairs, great wifi)
- Roy St Coffee & Tea
- Ada's Cafe (very decent coffee, also great hang/technical bookstore)
- Coterie Worklounge (less 'mind blowing coffee' and more 'great coworking space')
Great breweries/bars:
- Optimism Brewery
- Flatstick Pub
- Pioneer Square Saloon
- The Central Saloon ('oldest bar in Seattle'; also live music 7 nights/week)
Great restaurants
- Windy City pie (LEGIT chicago-style deep-dish pizza)
- Sushi Kashiba (must-visit legendary sushi; show up early (no reservations allowed) and try to get a seat at the sushi bar. Order the 'omakase' (and nothing else), and be prepared to have your mind (and potentially wallet) blown open
- Taylor Shellfish Farms restaurants (Pioneer Square is a great location)
- Marjorie
- Arashi Ramen
- Marmite
- Walrus and Carpenter
- Omega ouzeri (Greek food)
- L’oursin (French seafood)
- 13 Coins (24h restaurant, many locations)
- The 5-Point (24h Cafe)
- Pel Meni Dumpling Tzar (open to ~3am)
Great music places:
- The Royal Room (low-key jazz/soul/funk space)
- The High Dive (very divey, bands hit or miss, but the 'hits' can be very worth it
- Nectar Lounge
- Conor Byrne
- Tractor Tavern
- The Triple Door
- Sunset Tavern
- The Showbox
- The J&M Cafe (decent dive-bar too)
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