Seattle, Washington is always a fun trip for us along the coast. The city has plenty of activities centrally located and plenty of nature outside its walls.

For avoidance of doubt, the below reflects our own experiences with the below activities, restaurants, and hotels. We do not have a relationship with any of the businesses referenced in this article nor have we been compensated in any way.

How long to stay?

It can be challenging figuring out the right amount of time to spend in a big city like Seattle, Washington. One consideration can be whether you want to spend any time outside the city at places like Olympic or Mount Rainier National Parks. If you’re interested in just the city itself, we’d say spending three nights is sufficient. But if you’d like to explore nature, tack on another day for each excursion as a rule of thumb.

Seattle also isn’t a bad spot to fly into if you’re interested in driving up to Vancouver, British Columbia. Just remember to register your Global Entry cards if you’re going to drive back from Canada.

What we did in Seattle, Washington

Woodland Park Zoo

One of the better zoos we’ve been to is found just north of the downtown area and accessible via bus. You’ll find all the typical zoo animals here, but what intrigues us the most are the things that help stand it apart from the others. That includes a fantastic indoor playground area with plenty of areas for kids to stretch their imagination. There’s also a nice butterfly garden that’s fun to walk through.

There’s also a petting zoo within the zoo itself. Expect a lengthy line to get inside to pet the friendly goats. You might not find the wait worth it, but if there isn’t much of a line, it’s not a bad idea to stop by especially if the kids are with you.

Pacific Science Center

Our children have been getting a little too old for children’s museums but not too old for science museums. They love walking up to each of the exhibits and learning what they’re trying to teach. If only they would pay attention so intently to what we say to them normally!

There are plenty of activities to find within the Pacific Science Center, including a fantastic laser light show and some great outdoor activities.

The kids found plenty to do here for half a day, making it a great place for them to release some energy while in a fun, educational environment. It’s also conveniently located within the city and it’s nice to not have to travel far to get here. Definitely worth a visit if you have some time to spare and you’re with kids.

Pike Place Market

A little touristy, but still worth a visit is the Pike Place Market. Here, you’ll find plenty of vendors selling goods like fresh fish, fruits, flowers, crafts, and more. Depending on the time of day you come here, it can get a little crowded, so stopping by in the morning before lunchtime might work out better. For those who like shopping local, there aren’t any many big chains at Pike Place (aside from the ones that started there: Starbucks and Sur La Table).

When the crowds aren’t around, it’s a nice walk to do some light window shopping.

While you’re here, check out the gum wall if you’re feeling a bit adventurous. It’s found on the bottom level in an alleyway.

It’s both amusing and a little gross. Don’t lean up against the walls or you’ll regret it.

Seattle Aquarium

Near Pike Place Market is the Seattle Aquarium, which isn’t too bad if you want to go to an aquarium. We’re not as big of a fan of this aquarium as we are of the zoo, but it’s not bad if you happen to be in the area anyways.

It might seem a bit strange, but our kids liked doing stuff that didn’t involve looking at the fish, like playing with stuffed animals and reading books. You don’t need to pay an admission fee to do that at home, but we’re not going to discourage it if that’s how they want to spend their time. Once you buy the admission ticket, it becomes a sunk cost, so do what you want with your time.

Museum of Pop Culture (MoPOP)

Lovers of pop culture icons will want to stop by MoPOP and check out the many decades of exhibits they have. From Super Mario Bros. to Predator and Alien and everything in between, the museum allows for a nostalgic trip through memory lane. Even if you’re not a fan of the typical museum, you’re sure to find something you like here.

Snoqualmie Falls

There are plenty of hikes and nature-related activities to do once you’re outside city limits. Some of the larger ones you can do are Olympic National Park and Mount Rainier National Park. Those aren’t a bad idea if you’re in the mood for a lot of hiking. If you just want a flavor of nature, one option for you is checking out some of the waterfalls off I-90. The one that I particularly liked was Snoqualmie Falls.

Once here, there’s a path you can take through the woods–not to grandma’s house but to a view of the falls from the base level. It’s a simple path, so hiking shoes aren’t necessary.

We’re big fans of waterfalls and how soothing they sound while you’re in their presence. Getting some valuable therapy with nature is necessary from time to time.

• For more information on these and other children’s activities in Seattle, check out our dedicated post.

Where we ate in Seattle, Washington

Beecher’s Handmade Cheese

One of our favorite spots to go to in Pike Place Market is Beecher’s Handmade Cheese. If you want delicious cheese made the “right” way (yes, we know cheese-lovers from Wisconsin who admit it’s the proper technique), this is the place to go. Don’t be surprised to see a lengthy line here during lunch.

We ordered some grilled cheese sandwiches and mac and cheese. Guilty pleasure food, for sure, but it’s so delicious. We’ve also been to other locations (like in LAX or SLC airports), but it’s always a treat to come back to the Seattle location.

While you’re here, check out the small factory attached to the restaurant where you can see the cheese-making process.

Dough Zone

There are several Dough Zone locations in Seattle, but we’ve only been to the Pine Street location. This particular location tends to get fairly crowded in part due to its proximity to the nearby conference center.

If you’re in the mood for some xiao long bao, this is a nice spot to come. Even with a Din Tai Fung just a couple of blocks away, this will satisfy your craving without the incredibly long waits common at Din Tai Fung.

Once you’re inside, the vegetable dish to try is the sweet and sour cucumber. The flavor isn’t too strong, but it’s refreshing.

The xiao long bao don’t have quite as much flavor as the ones at Din Tai Fung, but it still hits the spot.

Andare Italian Kitchen & Bar

It might seem strange to specifically call out Andare, which is inside the Hyatt Regency Seattle, but it’s a pretty pleasant dining experience. This is the restaurant where you’d be eating breakfast if you’re a Hyatt Globalist, but it’s worth stopping by for dinner.

The pizza is pretty good, with a deliciously chewy crust. There isn’t too much cheese on the pizza, but it doesn’t need that much. We’re a fan.

Meanwhile, the short rib is excellent. It’s served on top of some fried polenta, which offers some great contrast in texture. This was on the menu because of a special for restaurant week. If you find it available, give it a try.

As an aside, I like it when Hyatt offers up some extra points just for dining in their restaurants even when not staying there. Every little bit helps!

Daily Dozen Doughnut Company

If you need a quick pick-me-up in Pike Place, get a half-dozen from the Daily Dozen. Sure, it’s a small upcharge to get a full dozen, but do you really need a full dozen? The way I see it, if you don’t need a dozen, then you can both save money and save the calories by only buying what you need. That’s the case for anything with a small upcharge to a larger size than needed.

While you’re in line, you can watch them making new donuts. It’s almost like you’re at a Krispy Kreme except the line of donuts is smaller and I’d even wager I like these better.

All the donuts made here are of a smaller size. They’re tasty and with a variety of toppings, it’s a great snack while you’re wandering around the area.

Where we stayed in Seattle, Washington

Hyatt Regency Seattle

In about a two-block span sit three major Hyatt hotels (the Hyatt Regency, the Grand Hyatt, and the Olive 8). Of the three, we enjoyed our time at the Hyatt Regency Seattle the most. It has the nicest (and newest) rooms, a good dining outlet in Andare, and is excellent for Hyatt Globalists. This is one of those properties that has a lounge but breakfast is instead served in a restaurant. That’s because the lounge is used just for light snacks and an area to stretch out.

As mentioned, the rooms themselves are comfortable and thoughtfully decorated. The kids had plenty of room to stretch out and the TV is quite large for the room. The only downside was the lack of a shower door, but if that’s the only complaint, it’s doing something right.

Hyatt at Olive 8

The Hyatt Olive 8 is a rare “regular” Hyatt. In fact, you can complain about Hyatt’s footprint all you want but there’s actually only 15 of these regular Hyatt hotels in the world. We’ll forgive you if you use this as an excuse to stay here just to collect the brand credit–that’s what we did too. What we found was a hotel in need of a refresh. It isn’t a tall hotel because there are residences taking up the top floors, and so you won’t get much of a view. Dining here is adequate, but their menu needs a refresh.

Their rooms look rather yellow but it didn’t seem quite as yellow in person. What is true, though, is that there’s not much in terms of style or uniqueness that sets it apart from other hotel rooms. But they do offer rewards in exchange for declining housekeeping if you ask for it.

Grand Hyatt Seattle

The Grand Hyatt Seattle should be the best of the three hotels just based on its branding. A Grand Hyatt is supposed to be better than a Hyatt Regency and a regular Hyatt. But, while the rooms here were nice, the dining outlets didn’t thrill us. I have to admit–it’s been a few years since we’ve stayed here, so perhaps it’s time for a refreshed perspective.

That said, this isn’t by any means a bad hotel at all. The hard product is good, but when you’re comparing three major Hyatt hotels in the span of two blocks, the minor details play a larger role.

The other “problem” for Hyatt Globalists is the breakfast is provided in the lounge. In general, food quality in lounges within U.S. hotels isn’t going to rival what you get in a restaurant. And that’s the case here.

W Seattle

Another hotel that we haven’t tried in years, the W Seattle is one that lacks identity. Or, perhaps it’s just better to say that we’re not sure what to make of the W branding these days. It’s very much a cookie-cutter hotel type, each attempting to cater to a younger crowd with the same food outlets inside. If you’ve been to one, it feels like you’ve been to all of them. Maybe that helps create a familiar feeling when you’re not in a familiar city, but some variety would be nice.

The rooms are fine enough, but service was a bit lacking (mostly just going through the motions). We’d recommend considering a different hotel if you’re a Marriott enthusiast looking for a place to stay in Seattle.

I unfortunately don’t have any pictures from our time here, as it was years before we considered blogging, but it seemed relevant to call out our feelings here since we’re talking about Seattle hotels.

What is your favorite thing to do in Seattle?

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