A Day in the City. 5 Things to do in Seattle.

Sometimes the hardest part of planning a vacation is figuring out where to go and how to schedule everything you want to do as efficiently as possible. Lucky for you, I’m here to help! Having done all the legwork for you, all you have to do is follow this itinerary, and you will see the highlights of Seattle in the easiest way possible.

The following are the sites our family wanted to see while in the city. Of course, there are many more places and attractions to explore so more research may be in order. If you like to include some more unusual things in your trip, this post is for you: 11 Weird and Wonderful Things to do in Seattle. Have two days in the city? Make sure to check out A Day in the City. 3 More Things to do in Seattle as well!

The following can be done in 1 day. It could take 5-8 hours depending on shopping time.

1. Pike Place Market

Make sure to check out seafood vendors throwing fish and find Rachel the piggy bank, the market pig statue (under the market sign).
Allow lots of time. Pike Place Market has multiple levels and lots to see. Finding a restaurant is easy as there are many to choose from.
http://pikeplacemarket.org
Market Hours
Breakfast: 6 a.m.
Fresh Produce & Seafood: 7 a.m.
Official Market Bell: 9 a.m.
Crafts Market: 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Farm Tables: 8 a.m.-4 p.m.
Merchant Hours: 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
Restaurants: 6 a.m.-1:30 a.m.; varies
The Market is open 363 days a year, closed only on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.
Location
1st Ave and Pike St., Seattle, WA 98101
Parking
The easiest and most convenient place to park at the Market is the Public Market Parking Garage at 1531 Western Ave. or the MarketFront Parking Garage at 1901 Western Ave.
Best time to visit
Mornings before 12 pm are generally less crowded. Less-visited times are late fall, winter and, early spring, other than holidays. During peak summer months, weekday mornings are the best times to visit.

2. The First Starbucks

102 Pike Street (across from Pike Place Market)
*visit early. This store gets crowded. When we went to visit, the line was out the door and down the street.
 According to Starbucks, here are some notable store elements

• The leather on bar’s outer facing was scrap obtained from shoe and automobile factories.
• The walnut used in the tables, doors and bar top was salvaged from a nearby farm.
• The signage on the bar uses recycled slate from a local high school.
• The community table is twice reused; it was previously located at a Seattle restaurant and before that, in a home.
• The restroom partitions are made from recycled laundry detergent bottles.
• The wall tapestry is made of repurposed burlap coffee bags from our local roasting plant.

3. The Gum Wall

Located at the left end of Pike Place Market, down Post Alley. This wall has been a Seattle institution for over 20 years. Make sure you bring a piece of gum to leave your mark on the wall!

4. The Great Wheel

7 min walk from Pike Place
https://seattlegreatwheel.com/
Location
Pier 57-Miner’s Landing
1301 Alaskan Way (206) 623-8607
Hours
M-Th: 11:00-10:00PM, Fri: 11:00-12:00AM, Sun: 10-10
Price
Adults: $14, Seniors: $12, Children: $9
purchase at the ticket booth or *website (to skip lines, but must print a ticket or have to wait in line)
Duration
10-15 min ride

5. Beneath the Streets Tour

A small view of what lies beneath the streets

This tour provides a fascinating account of Seattle’s growth and how it literally became a city on top of a city. Enjoy walking a few of the tunnels that made up “old Seattle” and learning about life beneath the streets.
https://www.beneath-the-streets.com 
Location

102 Cherry Street
Seattle, WA 98104

The tour begins downstairs at the corner of 1st Avenue and Cherry Street. Follow the Beneath The Streets sign down the stair under the Spooked in Seattle metal awning.
Tour times
Monday-Thursday
10:30 am    11:00 am
11:30 am    12:30 pm
1:00 pm    1:30 pm
2:00 pm     2:30 pm
3:00 pm    3:30 pm
4:00 pm
Additional Tours:
Fridays – 4:30 pm
Saturdays -12:00 pm, 4:30 pm
Sundays -12:00 pm
Tours run rain or shine! 
Price

Adults $19, Seniors (60+) $17, Military ID (active, retired, or family) $17, Students (13-17, or with college ID) $17, Children (7-12) $10
Duration
1 hour

This is a fun itinerary for all ages. It certainly has something for everyone. Happy planning. I hope you have a great trip to the beautiful Pacific Northwest!

Please make sure to double check times and prices. They are subject to change.