Top 10 Things to do in Seattle

Seattle has always been on my list of places to visit, but for some reason or another I never make it up there. Last summer it was because I had already driven a lot during the summer (2000 miles in 3 weeks), so I wanted to rest—and this year I didn’t have the money to go all the way up there. However, the upside to this is that I now have more time to plan an awesome trip! In the wintertime, Washington offers great skiing, and for the really adventurous, Whistler, Canada is not far for those looking for even better conditions. In the spring and summer the hiking and the natural wonders of the state draw in thousands of visitors each year—not to mention the city itself is supposed to be one of the most amazing in the country. With a huge art and music scene, fresh food, gorgeous landscape, and wildlife offerings around the city, it’s a wonder Seattle is not talked about, and traveled to more frequently. Here is my personal Top 10 list of things I would like to do on my visit to Seattle.

1. Washington to San Juan Islands

So this trip doesn't focus on Seattle exactly, but it's in the vicinity, and it ranked as the second top place to visit in the travel issue of The New York Times in 2011. Let's be honest, being second in this case is pretty darn good. Plus, if there's one thing we can learn from Hawaii, The Galapagos, Fiji, and the Bahamas, it's that islands are never a bad call for a vacation. The islands offer great whale watching, a variety of plants and trees, other wildlife native to the area like seals, and great cuisine. You can kayak in the sound, trek the islands, hike Mt. Constitution, and still eat like a king or queen at the end of the day—It's the type of place that provides nature when you want it, and creature comforts when you don't.

2. Northern Rockies Hike

This trek begins with about a day and a half stay in Seattle, allowing you to explore on your own, then takes you on a tour of the Rockies over a period of 15 days all the way down to San Francisco. I have a buddy of mine that spent an entire semester before college hiking the Sierra Nevada Mountains and he said he wouldn't trade the experience for anything, so I can imagine that this is even more amazing.

3. Seattle Cycling Tour

This is a nice way to get some endorphines pumping, while also seeing all the sights of the city. The 3 hour ride offers a speedy way to zip about while also being face to face with the people of Seattle. It's not super intensive or long, so you get a nice look at the city and still have time later to go back and explore more if you wish. It offers more flexibility as a day trip than many of the others.

4. Seattle Sea Kayaking

Sea Kayaking is one of the best beach pastimes—nothing but you, the ocean, and the wildlife. Because the area is so good for whale watching, I wouldn't be surprised to see some fish, seals, and maybe even something larger. The ocean is so relaxing that you'll soon feel right at home as you glide by many of the sights that are visible from the water. 

5. Woodinville Wineries Tour

Washington is known for its organic foods and amazing natural environment—both of these facts mean that it's a place to taste wines. This tour covers 1 or 2 large wineries as well as 3 or 4 smaller ones in Woodinville, which has become the wine country of Washington. The 5 hour tour is enough to whet your appetite without overtiring you.

6. Seattle Food and Cultural Tour

I'm a complete foodie. I love food more than air. I check www.foodporndaily.com frequently and I dream about having my own restaurant just so I can have amazing food at my fingertips. So when I saw this trip featuring delectable foods that also lets you wander about the city, I was sold. Imagine, wandering through the city with your friends giddy from the good company, the great food, and the amazing sights—this sounds like one of the greatest opportunities around. 

7. Seattle Brews and Views

There are about 82 breweries in Washington, and many of them lie in downtown Seattle. Spend about 5 hours touring the city seeing the sights and tasting the unique output of all these microbreweries. Because there are so many breweries, and because many of them release a limited product, the places visited each time will vary, but what won’t vary is the effect this trip will have on your palate. Never again will you be able to taste mainstream beer in the same way. Come expand your palate and your friends on this trip!

8. Birding Trip, Early September

After seeing Jack Black, Steve Martin, and Owen Wilson battle it out in the 2012 flick ‘The Big Year’ birding has officially made my bucket list. Something about the way Steve Martin described it made me want to partake in this unique pastime. In the movie, the three of them battle it out to be the top birder in the world by seeing the most species of birds in one years’ time. In reality, fishing is more about being in nature than it is about catching fish—birding is no different, which is why it sounds so interesting. Nothing to do but ponder as you gaze at some of the best birds in the Pacific Northwest.

9. Photography Tour of Seattle

I’ve never heard of a trip like this before, but then again, it’s not something that would dawn on me to search for. This trip takes you around Seattle to some of the sights and teaches you about photography while you snap your shots. It has somewhat of an educational spin, which makes it especially interesting.

10. Seattle Tour

Sometimes you want an extreme adventure, and sometimes you want an adventure within certain bounds. For those of you out there who are the latter, this tour is perfect. It focuses on urban exploration, but also highlights some of the natural attributes that the city is so proud of. Your guide will relay stories of the history and geology of Seattle leaving you with a lot of information. This 2 hour tour is definitely for the more traditional, but doesn't lack excitement like other tours sometimes do.