Interested in taking a trip to the Pacific Northwest? If you’re wondering about the top things to see and do in Seattle, look no further. We’re excited to feature Natasha from Suitcases in Seattle in this quick guide as she takes us around her hometown.
MEET SUITCASES IN SEATTLE
Natasha, her husband Peter, and her two young children Julia and James live in the state of Washington. They love exploring Seattle and traveling across the world together. Natasha began studying French in high school, which continued through college and led to a year abroad in France. This cross-cultural experience led to a love of adventure of travel. In fact, she says she needs to leave the house at least once a day to avoid going crazy with cabin fever. Her kids also love exploring new places and are already great little travelers.
Later in this post, Natasha shares more about her top travel memories and tips. For now, let’s head over to the PNW and learn more about the Emerald City!
TOP THINGS TO DO IN SEATTLE
Why should someone visit Seattle?
“Seattle is often referred to as the Emerald City because everything is so green! I love that we are within an hour of forests and mountains. But we also have some amazing local parks (like the Washington Arboretum and Discovery Park) where you can see beautiful native plants and Puget Sound. Don’t worry about the reputation for rain. It’s really more of a mist and helps keep our natural surroundings green.”
What is a touristy attraction you recommend and why?
“Pike Place Market. It’s one of the most famous spots in Seattle, but it’s a great place to visit in the morning when it’s not as busy and the vendors are feeling fresh. There are also some lovely murals on walls in the area for a free art tour. Watch the cheesemaking process through a window at Beecher’s Cheese and grab picnic ingredients at DeLaurenti Food & Wine. If breakfast is more your thing, pick up tea and crumpets at the Crumpet Shop (our favorite is the Vermont with cream cheese and maple butter). You can take your provisions down to Victor Steinbrueck Park and watch the boats.”
What is a touristy attraction you don’t recommend and why?
“The Space Needle. We’ve lived here for seven years and still haven’t been. The Seattle Center area has a lot of other fun things to do and see, like the Artist at Play playground. But parking is challenging and the Space Needle is pretty pricey. For views of the city, you’re better off heading to Kerry Park or taking a ferry ride.”
What is an attraction that is not as well-known that you would recommend and why?
“Any boat ride! Our ferry system is amazing and you can sometimes even see whales on board. If you’re staying downtown, you don’t even need a car to hop on the ferry to Bainbridge and visit the museums and cute little shopping area. We also love combining a visit to the Seattle Aquarium with a water taxi ride (weekdays only) to West Seattle. This small passenger boat has a quick crossing and has beautiful views of the Seattle skyline. We stop for some kalua pork sliders at Marination Ma Kai and a little time on the beach before heading back across the water.”
What is a must-visit restaurant and why?
“Dough Zone Dumpling House is a great spot to stop when touring the International District. The green onion pancakes are deliciously crispy and the vegetable steamed dumplings are a great way to convince kids to try new veggies. In North Seattle, we love Bongo’s Cafe. An outdoor covered seating area has tables in sand so kids can play while you eat their delicious Caribbean food. It’s also near Green Lake Park if you need a spot to stretch your legs after lunch.”
MORE TRAVEL TALK WITH NATASHA
Thanks Natasha for sharing all your great tips on the top things to do in Seattle! We had a trip to Seattle and British Columbia planned for Karen’s 30th birthday which unfortunately got canceled due to COVID-19. Now we’re more excited than ever to reschedule our trip after reviewing Natasha’s recommendations.
In addition to her home city, we also asked her about some of her other travel experiences below:
Where is your favorite destination you’ve ever traveled to?
“Before we had kids, my husband and I took a tour around India. We loved strolling the streets of Udaipur and watching the sunset from our balcony. For a splurge, we spent a night cruising on a kettuvallam (a small houseboat) in Kerala. With kids, I’m hard pressed to choose between Lisbon and Crete. Both locations offered a great balance of relaxing time (like the pink sand of Elafonisi beach) and activities (like sailing in Lisbon), and were very family friendly and fairly economical.”
What is at the top of your travel bucket list at the moment?
“I’m in the throes of planning a road trip to Glacier and Yellowstone National Park for next summer. There’s so much to see and do along the way! Once the pandemic passes, I’m looking forward to taking the kids somewhere further afield like Morocco. I’d love to take a kid-friendly cooking class with them and stay in a traditional riad.”
If you could only share one travel tip, what would it be?
“When in doubt, choose an activity with outdoor components. We have avoided or calmed so many tantrums by taking a break outdoors and then returning to focus on the activity. Whether it’s a visit to the Sintra palaces near Lisbon or touring World War II sites in Normandy, having a space to breathe some fresh air and stretch little legs makes family travel easier.”
CONNECT WITH SUITCASES IN SEATTLE
Again, we want to thank Natasha for collaborating with us and sharing her knowledge of the Seattle area. To follow their adventures in the Pacific Northwest and beyond, connect with her on Instagram at @suitcasesinseattle and check out her blog here. You’ll be sure to get plenty of ideas for kid-friendly family adventures.
Have you been to the Emerald City? Let us know your favorite things to do in Seattle in the comments below. Thanks for reading and be sure to check out our other Trips and Tips!