One of the American cities you shouldn’t miss while traveling is Seattle. Seattle is a pricey city, but budget-conscious tourists shouldn’t avoid it! There are many activities that are either free or inexpensive, despite the high cost of hotels and some attractions. A travel manual is necessary if you want to visit Seattle. These pointers can enable you to fully experience Seattle without going over budget.
Find the Ideal Time to Visit
June, July, and August are the best months to visit Seattle because of its famously beautiful summers. However, shoulder season offers relatively similar weather, cheaper travel and lodging, and fewer tourists.
Typically, December through February are the most affordable months to travel to Seattle. However, given that hotels anticipate visitors from family and friends during the holiday season, lodging costs may still be high. Therefore, try traveling to Seattle in the shoulder seasons, such as March, April, and October, if you want to get a good deal on flights and find affordable lodging. If rain is predicted, don’t be discouraged; rainfall during shoulder season is typically light, and it usually passes quickly.
Use Seattle’s Public Transit
Utilizing Seattle’s reliable public transportation system is one of the best money-saving travel tips we can offer. You can get almost anywhere you need to go in the city using the Link light rail, buses, Seattle Center monorail, and streetcars, saving you the cost of a rental car.
Use the public transportation in Seattle instead of renting a car. You must purchase an ORCA card, which can be done at participating businesses in Seattle or ordered online and delivered to you. As soon as you get it, register for an account on the ORCA website and load funds onto your card so it will be usable the moment you get there. The Link Light Rail, buses, monorails, streetcars, and ferries all accept ORCA cards as payment.
Get Your Flight Affordable
According to price analysis and reporting, Sunday is the best day to book flights because it has lower prices than popular days like Friday and Saturday. That’s because fewer people are vying for seats on flights on Sunday due to lower booking volume. You can save anywhere from 5% to 20% on your airfare if you remember to book your flights on a Sunday. The time of day as well as the days of the week you book and fly have an immediate impact on the cost of your flight. According to SkyScanner, booking early in the day and selecting flights between 5:00 a.m. and 8:00 a.m. results in lower flight prices. Check the websites of low-cost airlines like Frontier and Southwest in addition to your usual searches for airfare to find appealing deals.
Opt For a Hostel Instead Of a Hotel
Though it’s difficult, there are ways to reduce the cost of lodging in Seattle. Some of Seattle’s most well-known attractions, including Pike Place Market and the waterfront, are located in downtown, and there are several public transportation options nearby. The best option is a hostel because it’s in a convenient location, but hotels are expensive there.
Since most of Seattle’s tourist attractions are concentrated in downtown, it makes sense that most hotels are also there, along with the highest rates. We advise against staying here unless you’re going to one of the less expensive hostels in the downtown area. While the downtown area serves as the primary bus hub, other neighborhoods also have good access to the public transportation system, so you don’t necessarily need to be in the middle of everything.
Don’t Eat at Sit-Down Restaurants
Seattle is a foodie’s paradise thanks to all the fantastic restaurants there, but for those on a tight budget, it’s a nightmare. By purchasing your snacks from bars, food trucks, delis, and small takeaway shops, you can avoid these costs while still experiencing a true taste of Seattle. You can get some seriously delicious food at a lower price if you choose these over your more standard restaurant options.
Use the neighborhood farmers markets in Seattle, where you can buy necessities like bread, cheese, and sweets as well as pre-made food from vendors. Bring your supplies to Gas Works Park for a tranquil picnic and breathtaking scenery.
Naturally, you’ll want to try a few of the local eateries, and Seattle offers wallet-friendly happy hours as a way to do so. In addition to offering affordable drink specials, food menus are also available. Serious Pie, Ocho, and Japonessa offer some of Seattle’s best happy hours.
Make Use of Seattle Citypass
A city pass might be a good investment if you want to see a lot of the city. With this card, you’ll be able to enter many of Seattle’s must-see locations for free and even get discounted rates on public transportation.
You can get discounted admission tickets with a CityPass to places like the Space Needle, the Seattle Aquarium, the Museum of Pop Culture, and more! This is particularly advantageous if you want to take in the majority of Seattle Center’s attractions. By taking advantage of this great offer and buying a CityPass instead of tickets at the door, you’ll save close to 50%.
Make Use of a Water Bottle
One of the last things on your mind likely when packing for a trip is bringing a water bottle. However, having a dependable and reusable travel water bottle with you can make all the difference, whether you’re taking a quick hike or a lengthy international flight.
You can save money and ensure that you stay hydrated at the same time by bringing your own water bottle. Additionally useful for transporting other beverages like coffee or tea are travel water bottles. Drinking Seattle’s water is absolutely safe and delicious.
Enjoy the Views from the Skyview Observatory at Columbia Tower
On the 73rd floor of Seattle’s Columbia Center skyscraper, you can find the Sky View Observatory. With a height of 902 feet, the Columbia Center, a prominent landmark on the Seattle skyline, was built in 1985. It is the fourth-tallest structure on the West Coast of the United States and was formerly home to Amazon before the company moved to South Lake Union. Downtown Seattle’s Sky View Observatory is situated at 700 4th Avenue.
Stunning renovations worth $25 million were made to the atrium in 2018. There is a wood-built, eye-catching staircase in the atrium, as well as a food court and gift shop. In the magnificent atrium, you can take pictures on the grand staircase. If you don’t want to pay the $25 admission fee, go to the Columbia Tower’s Starbucks on the 40th floor. For the price of a latte or pastry, you’ll still get a great view even though it’s considerably less expensive than the observatory.
Visit Bainbridge Island for a Day Trip
You’ve come to the right place if you’re looking for a fantastic day trip from Seattle that is accessible—you don’t necessarily need a car—and packed with exciting things to do, see, eat, and drink. Unquestionably one of the best day trips from Seattle is a trip to Bainbridge Island, which involves a quick ferry ride across Puget Sound.
Go to Bainbridge Island by ferry if you have time for a day trip. Depending on the season, the walk-on fare ranges from $4.60 to $5.60 for seniors and children under the age of 18 and from $9.25 to $10.25 for adults. The trip back to Seattle is on the house. The Bainbridge Island Museum of Art, boutique stores, Eagle Harbor Book Co., restaurants, and MORA Iced Creamery are just a few of the attractions in the walkable village of Winslow, where the ferry drops you off.
See Seattle’s Preferred Baseball Team Play
T-Mobile Park has developed a reputation as a fantastic baseball venue and a great place for baseball fans locally, regionally, and nationally since the Inaugural Game on July 15, 1999. T-Mobile Park offers fans an experience unmatched in Major League Baseball thanks to expansive views of Seattle’s downtown skyline, gorgeous sunsets over Puget Sound, and excellent views of game action from all angles.
You don’t need to spend a lot of money to enter a ballpark to watch a game. Even if your seats aren’t the best, you can go down to the pen and watch the game from right next to center field. Seats can cost as little as $10 during certain value games. We advise avoiding the food inside and purchasing a hot dog from one of the stands outside the park in order to reduce costs.
Take a Look at the Center for Wooden Boats
The Center for Wooden Boats promotes the maritime heritage of the Pacific Northwest through instruction, interpretation, and practical experience in the construction, upkeep, and operation of small craft.
Take a stroll along the dock and admire the vintage boats, or opt for a fun educational activity and take out a free peapod rowboat! These are great for doing as a family or in a group because they can accommodate up to five people. Canoes, kayaks, and other small and larger sailboats are also available for rental, with rates beginning at $35.
Consider Visiting the Ballard Locks
The Ballard Locks, also known as the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks, are one of Seattle’s most visited tourist destinations, especially in the warm months. The Carl S. English Jr. Botanical Garden, one of Seattle’s most stunning park settings, is also located on the grounds.
You can watch the fascinating process of the boats on the ship canal moving from one body of water to the next as they pass through the locks, which connect saltwater Puget Sound and freshwater Lake Washington. The locks serve as a fish ladder for spawning salmon as well. The salmon run can be seen from a viewing gallery. Following a recent $1 million renovation, the viewing room now has a video wall on salmon.
Look Around Pike Place Market
The main attraction in Seattle is Pike Place Market. It’s a historic area that is sometimes referred to as Seattle’s “soul,” and it’s one of the best things to do in Seattle. On your trip to Seattle, make sure not to miss this iconic location!
One location that is distinctly Seattle is Pike Place Market. Additionally, there is no cost to view it. Alternately, spend a few pennies to buy a tasty snack or a unique Seattle memento. The century-old market offers more than the typical farmer’s market. Produce stands, artisan stores, a crafts market, flying fish, dining options, and a variety of shops are all present here. You’ll enjoy exploring every inch of this amazing place, which has everything from exquisite flowers to incredible produce, artisanal foods, and exquisite handicrafts.
Check Out the Gum Wall
The Gum Wall, a secret piece of art in Pike Place Market, is tucked away down a quiet alleyway. This interesting display is a surprising illustration of Seattle’s distinct charm and character. Local customers and performers at Unexpected Productions created the Gum Wall in the 1990s by sticking their used gum on the wall. Since then, the wall has continued to grow down Post Alley, covering a vast area of brick as it has done so.
Yes, it is strange. It’s also kind of amazing, though. The Gum Wall is a fun and original Seattle photo location, if you can handle it. If you’d like, you can also make a donation to the wall. Any passerby would be drawn in by the resulting colors and overall imagery. To get there, take a ramp to the left of the recognizable “Public Market Center” clock sign at Pike Place Market.
At The First Starbucks, Take a Picture
The earliest Starbucks location can be found at 1912 Pike Place. It’s smaller than you might anticipate for the parent company of more than 20,000 Starbucks locations worldwide. Nevertheless, it draws tens of thousands of visitors each day, both foreigners and residents, who come to chat over a cup of coffee, share a special moment, or even propose marriage.
You can enter the store for free, and it makes for a fantastic photo opportunity. However, expect to wait in line because many tourists frequent the area. Stay in line and place an order for a small drink if you want to be able to say that you had coffee at the oldest Starbucks location in the world.
Take a Trip to the Olympic Sculpture Park
This award-winning, nine-acre sculpture park on the waterfront is Seattle’s largest downtown green space and is only one mile north of the Seattle Art Museum. It is covered in enormous works of art. It is situated by the water and provides views of Elliott Bay and the Olympic Mountains.
The location was developed by the Seattle Art Museum (SAM), and it was first utilized for the storage and transfer of fuel. Along with the artwork, the park now has native plants. An amphitheater and event pavilion are also present. Every day of the year, the park is free and accessible to the general public.
Visit the Seattle Public Library
Although going to the library is not typically a holiday activity, the Seattle Public Library is unquestionably exceptional. The library’s website offers self-guided audio tours of the interior, which is just as stunning as the exterior, which resembles a hybrid of a greenhouse and a spacecraft. The building is surrounded by native Seattle trees interspersed with perennial grass fields that slope, fold, and overlap as planes of different greens. The library has a full calendar of events all year long, including storytime for kids (in several languages) and author readings.
Take Advantage of Free Museum Days
You really have no excuse not to take advantage of everything Seattle has to offer. Although most of Seattle’s museums and art galleries charge an admission fee, many of them offer free entry during specific hours on particular days. The Seattle Art Museum is particularly impressive; on the first Thursday of each month, you can view its free exhibits of works of art from around the globe. On the same day, the nearby Museum of Flight is also free, but only from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Even without going inside, the Museum of Popular Culture is worth visiting for its stunning exterior. On the first Thursday of every month, between the hours of 5 and 8, you can check it out without charge. Put these dates in your calendar to take advantage of the opportunity to visit Seattle’s museums and galleries for nothing at all.
Fly Kites in Gas Works Park
Gas Works Park, a Seattle landmark and National Register of Historic Places listed park, is situated on a promontory jutting out from the north shore of Lake Union. There are many parks and green areas in Seattle, but Gas Works Park stands out in particular.
The park’s defining feature and namesake is a former oil gasification plant that is now just ruins, quietly rusting away in the middle of the park. This is a very striking scene, especially with the Seattle skyline on the other side of Lake Union in the background. The 20-acre park is ideal for kite flying because it is mostly exposed to the elements and has few trees.
See Also the Fremont Troll
On Halloween 1990, the Fremont troll—a large, terrifying, car-crushing brute—set up residence beneath the northern end of the Aurora bridge. He was created by Steve Badanes, a home builder who had never created a statue before, along with Ross Whitehead and Will Martin, two of his University of Washington architecture students, and his then-girlfriend Donna Walter. The Fremont Arts Council’s head-and-shoulders sculpture design by Badanes was the winner of the competition.
The Fremont Troll has become a Seattle landmark. The sculpture, which is located beneath the George Washington Memorial Bridge, was inspired by a Norwegian folktale about a troll who dwells beneath a bridge. Due to its unusual location just off the freeway, the sculpture stands out as a distinctive landmark in the city. The Troll resides in Fremont, which is where it is said that the universe was created. Some of Seattle’s top coffee shops, including Fremont Coffee Company and Milstead & Co., are located in this eccentric, counter-cultural neighborhood. An enjoyable afternoon can be had without breaking the bank at the Sunday farmers’ market that extends to Ballard.
Attend Free Concerts
Seattle is known for its vibrant musical scene, which you can partake in for free on specific days and times. Every first and third Thursday of the month, stop by City Hall for lunchtime concerts featuring music from big bands to jazz and beyond. Around the months of July and August, you can also catch performers in a variety of downtown plazas and parks, such as Freeway Park and Pioneer Square, during lunchtime. Expect a wide range of music, from classical to rock and roll. The Family Series on Thursdays and the Kids Noon Tunes on Tuesdays, two series of outdoor concerts at Pioneer Park, are back.
At Kerry Park, Enjoy the Best View of the City
Kerry Park is located at 211 West Highland Drive, Seattle, WA 98119, five minutes north of the city center in the affluent Queen Anne neighborhood. A panorama of the Seattle skyline, Puget Sound, and the Space Needle can be seen from this small park. No other location offers a more breathtaking view of Seattle.
Take a selfie with the Seattle skyline in the background while admiring the breathtaking views of the Seattle Needle and Mount Rainier. The best coffee shop in Seattle, Cafe Fiore, is located three blocks north of Kerry Park on Galer Street. You can also get ice cream at the delicious Molly Moon’s. After dark, visit Kerry Park again for stunning views of the sparkling lights.
All of Seattle’s top sights, including the Space Needle, Museum of Pop Culture, Chihuly Garden and Glass, and Ride the Ducks, are only one mile to the north of Kerry Park. Other attractions are also accessible by car from Kerry Park. Drive 4 miles northwest to the breathtaking Discovery Park, where you can find a trail that leads to a beach and a lighthouse as well as stunning bluff views over Puget Sound and the Olympic Mountains. Alternatively, drive 7 miles northwest from Kerry Park to the sandy beach at Golden Gardens.
Have a Good Time at Flatstick Pub
There are three locations of The Flatstick Pub in Seattle: South Lake Union, Pioneer Square, and Kirkland. Similar to its Kirkland original, Flatstick Pub’s second location in Pioneer Square is nearly three times larger and entirely underground. Try your hand at the mini-golf and shuffleboard hybrid game called Duffleboard at Flatstick Pub, which also features local craft beer on tap. It’s so much fun to go to this mini golf bar with food and other games on a date or with friends. You’ll have a blast here even if you don’t like to play golf.
Go For a Walk around Green Lake
Green Lake is a picturesque Seattle neighborhood with many craftsman-style homes and lovely, tree-lined streets, located 10 minutes north of downtown Seattle. With a 2.8-mile paved inner loop path that you can walk around, this lovely urban lake is popular year-round. Bicycles will no longer be permitted on this inner loop as of 2022, but strollers and other mobility aids are still permitted.
The 2.8-mile trail that circles Green Lake is the ideal place to spend a Friday evening or Saturday morning. In addition, you can rent kayaks and paddle around the lake on one of the park’s many soccer fields. Both beaches lack sand, but there is a sizable grassy area where you can lay out and catch some rays. In the summer, it is impossible to find a parking space at any of Green Lake’s crowded parking lots; therefore, it is preferable to search the nearby streets for a space.
Seattle is a fantastic destination, but planning a low-cost trip there can be extremely difficult. Fortunately, we have put together some advice for you that will help you take the vacation of your dreams without breaking the bank.
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