The Stranger Presents: How to Seattle 2024
99 Things to Do Before the Big One Takes Us All
How to Seattle: Outdoors
Sure, the View Is Beautiful, but It’s Gonna Kill Us All
How to Seattle: Food & Drink
The Best Side of Seattle Is Waiting for You at the Hot Dog Cart
The 99 Things to Do in Seattle Checklist
Download It and Print It Out to Keep Track of Your Progress!
How to Seattle: Attractions & Landmarks
Welcome to Our Weird Little Corner of the Country
How to Seattle: Shopping
Because You Can't Take It With You
How to Seattle: Music & Nightlife
From Punk Shows at Roller Rinks to Trivia Nights Hosted By Jeopardy! Champs
Where to Pickup a Copy of The Stranger's How to Seattle 2024 Issue
Find it at Hundreds of Locations Around Seattle!
How to Seattle: Arts & Culture
Only in Seattle Can You Scream in a Museum and Dance to Robyn at Church
How to Seattle: Extra Credit
Adventures That Require a Bit More Time, Money, and/or a Willing Grindr Date
Hereâs something you might not expect to read in an alt-newspaper run by cynical assholes: many of Seattleâs well-known attractions are worth visiting. Pike Place Market, the Seattle Center, Smith Tower, the Seattle Underground... sure, theyâre often crawling with tourists, but theyâre also packed with history, offering context to this strange little world weâve created in the upper left corner of America. And hereâs a fun fact, while weâre talking about Seattle constantly being threatened with devastating natural disasters, aka the Big One: The Space Needle was built to withstand up to a 9.0 magnitude earthquake. Good luck up there!
Have a Picnic at the Hats ânâ Boots at Oxbow Park
Georgetown
Eating a sandwich under, or near, the largest hat and boots in America is a simple joy. Back in the â50s, Hat ânâ Boots served as the respective office and restrooms of the stateâs most successful gas station. Business boomed until I-5 siphoned traffic from the Georgetown neighborhood and it closed in 1988. The giant accessories wouldâve been erased from the face of the earth if passionate neighborhood residents hadnât wrangled the funds to save, restore, and relocate the iconic structures to Oxbow Park in 2003. Itâs a really big hat! Giddy up! (VIVAN MCCALL)
Stand on the Space Needleâs Glass Floor
Seattle Center
âItâs a tourist trap!â they cry. âWhat a waste of money!â they shout. Ignore the haters. Whether youâre in town for the weekend or a lifelong Seattleite, itâs worth taking a trip to the top of the Space Needle at least once in your life. The 605-foot-tall attraction was built for the 1962 Worldâs Fair, but it underwent a massive renovation in 2017 and now features a disorientingly awesome (awesomely disorienting?) rotating all-glass floor. You can stand on it or sit on it or lay on it belly down to feel like youâre (very slowly) flying above the city. One floor above that is an all-glass observation deck that offers one of the best views in the city. (MEGAN SELING)
Get High and Go to the Seattle Aquarium
Waterfront
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One day last year when I was feeling particularly depressed and burnt out, I decided to realize my dream of living out the Reductress headline âStoned Woman Eating Pretzel Bread at Aquarium Has No Need for God or Money.â Just as Iâd suspected, a little herbal enhancement transformed my grown-up field trip into a transcendent experienceâI got to learn about the resident harbor seals, witness frolicking sea otters, coo over puffins, and prod anemones in a touch tank. The highlight was gazing at undulating jellyfish in an illuminated tank, which I truly could have done for hours in my altered state. I highly recommend this entire outing as a salve for the melancholy soul. Plus, itâs a little-known fact that you can book free tickets to the Seattle Aquarium through the Seattle Public Library, so with some planning, this low-lift excursion was also completely free. (JULIANNE BELL)
See Where That Person Got Abducted in Malignant
Pioneer Square
There is nothing quite like taking a pilgrimage to pay respect to an iconic horror destination right here within the city. No, not The Ring remake. Iâm talking about where the one tour guide was abducted in Malignant. You know, the Seattle-set film that was absolutely not filmed here though is still one of the most bonkers to ever pretend to? If youâre unfamiliar, the film features a key scene where a character is taken while cleaning up from an underground tour. The real tour in Seattle, Bill Speidelâs Underground Tour, is nothing like how it appeared onscreen; itâs actually much more useful for understanding the true and complicated history of this place. But hey, you can always imagine thereâs a terrifying figure lurking in the darkness thatâs just waiting for its moment to strike. Just make sure you donât lose your head. (CHASE HUTCHINSON)
Duck Under Flying Fish at the Pike Place Market
Pike Place MaretÂ
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Pike Place Market may be one of the most stereotypical Seattle things you could do, but that place is legit magic. The market is full of tourists, but itâs absolutely a place locals go as well. (Never call it âPikeâs Placeâ unless you wanna get run out of town, and know that most Seattleites just call it âthe market.â) There are 500 VENDORS, so every stop can be a new experience, but on your first trip, prioritize two things: fresh flowers and fresh fish. The flowers, sourced from local farms, are unbelievably beautiful and the huge bouquets are a bargain compared to florist shops or even grocery stores. Just beyond the rows of flowers, youâll find the famous flying fish. A gimmick? Sure. But itâs pretty damn cool to watch the fishmongers throw fish orders back and forth to each other to be bagged up and rung up for customers. And if youâre lucky, you might see celebrities including Bruce Springsteen, Chelsea Handler, or any number of local professional athletes fielding a fish for fans. (RACHEL STEVENS)
Ride a Ferry
Waterfront
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Every local has their preferred view of Seattleâs skyline. Some swear by Kerry Park on Queen Anne; others insist on Alki Beach in West Seattle. Personally, my favorite view of the city is the one you see while standing on the deck of a Washington State Ferry as it pulls away from Colman Dock downtown. Walk, bike, or drive onto a boat headed to Bremerton or Bainbridge Islandâboth have charming little city centers within walking distance from their respective landingsâand grab a spot on the outside deck on the backside. It will be windy, it will probably be cold, but the air is crisp and salty and the view is incredible. You will see the whole skyline, from the Space Needle to Mount Rainier, stretching out across the horizon. Breathe it in. Then, as the city fades into the distance, warm up inside with a too-hot cup of hot chocolate from a vending machine that looks like itâs been there since the â80s. (MEGAN SELING)
Use Your Saliva to Save the City (or at Least the Gum Wall)
Pike Place Market
While we might not know who put the first piece of colorful, chewed-up goop along Post Alleyâs now-saliva-encrusted bricks, we do know that adding your gum to Seattleâs iconic Gum Wall could be the key to saving the city. Tucked alongside Pike Place Market, youâll find a tunnel-like passageway covered in chewed-up gum dating back to the 1990s. (The City did try to clean the wall once, in 2015, and removed more than 2,350 pounds of gum, but surely they missed some of the early bits, right?) Grab a pack of your favorite flavor and head on down to become a part of Seattleâs most disturbing wallpaper. Perhaps when the Big One hits, there might be enough of the sticky substance to stop the city from splitting in two... just make sure to wash your hands after. (NICO SWENSON)
Feed the Penguins at Woodland Park Zoo
Phinney Ridge
If you want immediate gratification after walking into the west entrance of the Woodland Park Zoo, head straight to the penguin exhibit to give the little buddies some snacks. Every day from 11 am to 2 pm, people can purchase four fish for $5 and feed the penguins. The exhibitâs basically the first thing you hit and can start your trip off right. The habitat for the Humboldt penguin colony allows you to watch as these birds zip around underwater. Feed the penguins yourself, for the additional fee, or go to just watch the feedings at 2:30 pm every Thursday and Saturday. (ASHLEY NERBOVIG)
Get Soakedâor Donât!âat the International Fountain
Seattle Center
You havenât truly been to Seattle until youâve been baptized in the waters of the International Fountain at the Seattle Center on a barely hot enough summerâs day. Built in 1961 for the Worldâs Fair, the fountainâwhich cycles through water shows set to music between 10 am and 9 pmâis a prime place to soak up the sun, dare your friends to touch the metal dome without getting drenched by unpredictable water cannons, or watch kids of all ages experience the purest forms of surprise and delight. Itâs free, itâs fun, itâs in the shadow of the Space Needle, and itâs a lifelong challengeâI have never once touched the dome without getting absolutely soaked, though to my intense chagrin, I have watched a cocky teenager walk backward to the fountainâs heart with nary a drop. Iâll get you one day, fountain... (SHANNON LUBETICH)
Hang Out with Vlad
Fremont
The TV news and right-wing pundits love to paint Seattle as some communist hellhole. To be fair, Seattle is a hellhole for many working people, but blame the corporatists in charge. But they do have one monument to help prove their point. A 16-foot bronze statue of Russian communist revolutionary Vladimir Lenin stands on the corner of Evanston Avenue North and North 34th Street in Fremont. Discourse reemerges every so often about ripping the statue down, but the statue, ironically, is protected because itâs privately owned and sits on private land. Go give it a look and get some Dumpling Tzar while youâre in the neighborhood. (HANNAH KRIEG)
Watch the Musical Film About Seattleâs Great Fire at the Museum of History & Industry
South Lake Union
The MOHAI is a must-see for both locals and visitors. The museum houses many stories, artifacts, and activities that help attendees connect with the region and its history, from the Great Fire to the birth of grunge music and technology that changed the world. Permanent exhibits include Maritime Seattle, the Bezos Center for Innovation, and True Northwest: The Seattle Journey. (On that journey, it is very important to watch the musical film about the fire, if only so you can hear the words âGLUE POT, GLUE POTâ ringing in your head for days.) (STRANGER STAFF)
Go Troll Hunting
Various locations
Under the famous, almost 3,000-foot-long Aurora Bridge sits Seattleâs most famous troll. (Several other not-so-famous ones live in The Strangerâs online comments sectionâhar har.) A few fun facts: The Fremont Troll was installed in 1990, it weighs 13,000 pounds, and it was a filming location for the 1999 teen rom-com 10 Things I Hate About You. For years the Volkswagon-eating beast ruled the region, but in recent years, Seattle has seen somewhat of a troll resurgence. Buoy, the Seattle Krakenâs grunge-loving blue-haired mascot, moved into the Climate Pledge Arena in 2022, and more recently five of artist Thomas Damboâs giant wooden trollsâtheyâre anywhere from 15 to 30 feet tallâhave taken up residence in Ballard, West Seattle, Issaquah, Bainbridge Island, and Vashon Island. Try to spot them all! (MEGAN SELING)
Danceâand Drink, and Eat, and Partyâin a Neoclassical Skyscraper
Pioneer Square
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After a revamping in 2021, Pioneer Squareâs iconic Smith Tower now has all kinds of cool shit going on, including its actually very good lounge, the Smith Tower Observatory Bar. They do movie nights in the Orcas Room, historic talking tours, DJ nights in the summer on the 22nd-floor lookout, and thereâs a scary sky cage ringing around the entirety of the 35th floor, and you can get drunk and walk around in it! They also offer cocktail classes that are, at $125 a pop, admittedly not cheap, but you each get three cocktails and a complimentary glass of bubbly and you get to stuff your face interminably on a fancy charcuterie station with kiwi and capicola and about nine kinds of cheese. Itâs a whole cityâs worth of fun events packed into a single Neoclassical skyscraper. (MEG VAN HUYGEN)
Find Macklemore. It Will Happen. Give It Time.Â
Various locations
Every Seattle local has had an encounter with 2010s pop-rap icon Macklemore. I donât think you can truly claim local status until it happens to you. The Stranger does not condone stalking, so please do not hide in his bushes. Part of the beauty of a Macklemore encounter is that it happens organically, after spending enough time out and about. All I can really say is that vigilance is keyâhe looks like a great many white guys, so if you donât have Mack on your mind, you may just pass him by. (HANNAH KRIEG)
Go Back in History at the Klondike Gold Rush National Historic Museum
Pioneer Square
The Gold Rush Museum is tucked away on a corner in Pioneer Square, and if you arenât looking for it, youâll probably walk right past it. That is a major mistake. Everyone in Seattle should visit the Gold Rush Museum, which also happens to be one of the countryâs tiniest national parks. Many bigger-budget, higher-profile museums do a terrible job of presenting their artifacts, but thatâs precisely where the Gold Rush Museum shines. When you enter the museum, your first task will be to choose your character, RPG/Oregon Trailâstyle. Youâll then stock up on provisions and choose your route. Thereâs a lot to do in this small space, and the journey pairs particularly well with a pot lozenge. (SYDNEY BROWNSTONE)
Visit a Cool Building Featured on the Buildings of Seattle Instagram Account
Various locations
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Buildings of Seattle is one of the best things to happen on Instagram. Founder Keith Cote created the account at the beginning of the pandemic, and he posts detailed but compressed descriptions of the homes, apartment buildings, and towers of our city. I did not know there was so much to say about Seattleâs architecture until I read the steady and never-disappointing stream of information on this feed of photos and words written in a style that is as informative as it is charming. Itâs also noteworthy that Cote is not part of a movement, nor does he take sides with one architectural style over another. He only writes about what catches his eye during one of his many long walks around the city. Scroll through his Instagram feed, find a building that catches your eye, and read up on its history while paying it a visit. (CHARLES MUDEDE)
Having fun? Download a free PDF of the checklist here!Â