Seattle for Everyone: Discover the Many Sides of the Emerald City
Grooving to a beat all its own, Seattle bursts with an avant-garde energy you won’t find in any other major US city. It’s an eclectic, DIY vibe that has attracted artists and other creative spirits to its streets for years — streets that wind through the stunning beauty of the Pacific Northwest, mountains to waves.
From whale watching in the Salish Sea to gravity-defying aerial performances at the city’s longest-running drag show, you’ll find countless unexpected experiences throughout the Emerald City. While you’re here, make it your mission to strike your own Seattle beat, whatever it may be, by uncovering something out of the ordinary. We hope this guide gives you a good place to start.
Seattle has more than its fair share of creative energy, whether you’re talking about the past, present, or future. After all, it’s home to artists from Jimi Hendrix to Dale Chihuly. There are a multitude of ways to experience art and creativity in Seattle — which ones speak to you?
Flip your way through Twice Sold Tales
Where rare and collectible titles line the shelves...
Flip your way through Twice Sold Tales
Twice Sold Tales will excite any bibliophile with the rare and collectible tomes that line its shelves. The used bookstore in Capitol Hill is home to more than literature—you may just happen upon one of the four live-in cats that hang out amidst the stacks.
Photo: Benjamin I. Koch/Twice Sold Tales
Celebrate contemporary art at Martyr Sauce
A gallery space to celebrate all things weird and renegade...
Celebrate contemporary art at Martyr Sauce
You won’t want to miss a visit to Martyr Sauce, now celebrating 10 years of cultivating artistic space and community. The Black-owned, artist-led pop art museum and gallery in the historic arts district of Pioneer Square is led by founding owner and curator Tariqa Waters, a multifaceted contemporary artist known for her whimsical, larger-than life fabrications, paintings, self-portraitures, and installations.
Photo: Martyr Sauce
See how molten glass is shaped at Chihuly Garden and Glass
Celebrating the world-renowned glass sculpture artist...
See how molten glass is shaped at Chihuly Garden and Glass
Celebrating the world-renowned glass sculpture artist Dale Chihuly, this gallery-museum in Seattle Center amazes visitors of all ages with its vibrant glass sculptures that mimic the vibrancy of life and nature. Don’t miss the Glasshouse, within which a stunning 100-foot-long sculpture resides. At the live flameworking demonstration, meanwhile, you’ll get up close and personal to witness all the intricate work that goes into creating these whimsical pieces.
Photo: Chihuly Garden and Glass
Shop Native art at Eighth Generation
This Snoqualmie Tribe-owned shop showcases inspiring Natives...
Shop Native art at Eighth Generation
This Snoqualmie Tribe-owned shop, located in Pike Place Market, prides itself on showcasing inspiring Natives rather than Native-inspired works, featuring Native artists from across the US. Shop for handmade home goods like blankets and art prints that celebrate local Indigenous heritage.
Photo: Ken Yu/Eighth Generation
Be captivated at Can Can Culinary Cabaret
Celebrating 17 years and almost 7,000 shows...
Be captivated at Can Can Culinary Cabaret
Tucked into Post Alley in the heart of Seattle’s Historic Pike Place Market, Can Can Culinary Cabaret will captivate you with dance (classic, modern, cabaret, and burlesque), acrobatics, vocal performances, and comedy five nights a week. Dine on delicious French Pacific Northwest-inspired cuisine and craft cocktails before being enchanted by the art, music, scenic design, costuming, and choreography in the 120-seat dinner theater—the vibe is reminiscent of early 20th-century Paris.
Photo: Nate Watters/Can Can Culinary Cabaret
Food & Drink
Though the delicious seafood and coffee the city is known for are easy to track down, Seattle has many quirky and unique flavors worth a bit more of a hunt. Here’s a selection of eateries and drinkeries to fulfill every curious appetite.
Grub on breakfast biscuits at Morsel
Head here for a morning pick-me-up...
Grub on breakfast biscuits at Morsel
Located in Seattle’s University District, Morsel is beloved by students who need a morning pick-me-up on their way to class. The buttermilk and cheddar chive biscuits are mouthwatering as is, but you can level up by adding homemade honey butter, jams, or gravy. To really fuel the start of your day, order one of Morsel’s sandwich options, which turns breakfast into a filling feast.
Photo: Marie C Fields/Shutterstock
Lick a cone of Molly Moon’s
Flavors you won’t be able to stop thinking about...
Lick a cone of Molly Moon’s
With multiple locations to choose from around Seattle, this famous-yet-local ice cream spot has flavors you won’t be able to stop thinking about. Of course, the usual classics like cookies & cream and cookie dough are churned year-round, but consider trying locally sourced favorites like honey lavender or seasonal raspberry chip and vegan melted chocolate.
Photo: Visit Seattle
Indulge at the quirky Unicorn bar
You’ll think you’ve arrived at a carnival...
Indulge at the quirky Unicorn bar
Walking into this whimsical Capitol Hill bar is like walking into a carnival. Feast on a menu including homemade corn dogs with a variety of wild toppings (sriracha cream cheese, anyone?); satiate your thirst with a Snozzberry Frost or Sassy Belladonna cocktail; and delight in an events calendar filled with trivia nights, karaoke, and drag bingo. That right there is a full night’s entertainment.
Photo: Rachael Jones/Visit Seattle
Try Native American dishes at Off the Rez Cafe
This Native-owned food truck and cafe are the first of their kind...
Try Native American dishes at Off the Rez Cafe
This Native-owned food truck and cafe are the first of their kind in Seattle, and the couple who own the businesses are dedicated to sharing their Blackfeet heritage with others. The truck makes stops around the Seattle area, but there’s a permanent cafe located in Burke Museum on the University of Washington campus. The menu is based around fry bread, the Native American staple carb of fried flatbread. Try a sweet version after indulging in a savory chili Indian taco, which uses the fry bread as a shell.
Photo: Off the Rez
Sip some brews at Black Coffee Northwest
This Black-owned coffee shop has two locations in the Seattle area...
Sip some brews at Black Coffee Northwest
Yes, Seattle may be the birthplace of Starbucks, but there are many small coffee shops worth supporting here as well. This Black-owned coffee shop has two locations in the Seattle area and uses its proceeds to give back to the community in the form of youth programs. The coffee and pastries are pretty bangin’, too.
Photo: Black Coffee Northwest
Seattle is set against a gorgeous backdrop of evergreen trees, mountains, and expansive bodies of water, making it a haven for all things outdoorsy. Even the Pacific Northwest rain — which doesn’t come as often as you’d think — can’t stop the nature-loving fun.
Take a day trip to Ebey’s Landing
Kids, dogs, and other curious creatures will enjoy exploring Ebey’s Landing...
Take a day trip to Ebey’s Landing
Located on Whidbey Island about 35 miles north of Seattle, Ebey’s Landing makes for a wonderful day trip, accessible by ferry, car, and public bus. Kids, dogs, and other curious creatures will enjoy exploring the historic nature reserve. Trails take you along bluffs, historic farmland, old batteries at Fort Casey, and more. Keep a lookout for bald eagles in the sky and sea lions down in the water.
Photo: DmHall/Shutterstock
Explore Discovery Park
Get your nature fix without actually leaving the city...
Explore Discovery Park
To get your nature fix without actually leaving the city, Discovery Park is the place to go. With 534 acres of natural areas to explore (making it the city’s biggest urban park), you can hike amongst the evergreen trees, run down the beach and look for seashells, or check out the West Point Lighthouse that’s been operating since 1881.
Photo: Dene Miles/Shutterstock
Snap that Twin Peaks selfie
If you’ve ever watched Twin Peaks, you know Snoqualmie Falls...
Snap that Twin Peaks selfie
If you’ve ever watched Twin Peaks, you know Snoqualmie Falls very well. But even if you haven’t, this natural attraction less than 45 minutes outside of Seattle is certainly worth the trip. A beautiful, 268-foot-tall waterfall that rushes over granite cliffs, it’s quite the sight. Reaching the lower falls viewpoint is easy, and the gentle trail takes visitors through local flora and educates all who walk the land about the Snoqualmie Tribe.
Photo: Alyssa Tidwell/Shutterstock
Get introspective at Kubota Garden
This quiet Japanese garden became a public park in 1987...
Get introspective at Kubota Garden
Originally created by Fujitaro Kubota in the 1920s, this quiet Japanese garden became a public park in 1987. The garden is open year round and free to enter. (Dogs are welcome on leash.) On these 20 acres of land, Japanese and Pacific Northwest nature and design collide into misty hillsides, colorful maple trees, and koi ponds with stones to help guests stay above the goldfish.
Photo: Adrian Baras/Shutterstock
Try your eye at whale watching
You’ll never forget the first whale you see in the wild...
Try your eye at whale watching
You’ll never forget the first whale you see in the wild, and Seattle is the perfect place to check the experience off your list. To get the best view possible of these majestic creatures, take a whale-watching cruise from Seattle or visit Alki Beach Park. While you can spot whales any time of year, they typically travel through the San Juan Islands starting in May and eventually head south around October.
Photo: Monika Wieland Shields/Shutterstock
Music runs deep in Seattle’s blood. From being the launchpad for Ray Charles and Quincy Jones to the birthplace of ’90s grunge, the city has serious music roots. Today, visitors and residents alike have many ways to experience the symphony of sounds pulsing through the Emerald City.
Dine and groove at Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley
This jazz club has hosted Grammy-winning artists...
Dine and groove at Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley
Since 1979, this jazz club has hosted Grammy-winning artists from around the world in an intimate venue in downtown Seattle. No seats are farther than 50 feet off the stage. It’s perfect for a date night that takes you back to the golden age of jazz in the 1930s, cocktails and class included.
Photo: Dimitriou's Jazz Alley
Browse music at Easy Street Records
Considered one of the best record stores in the US...
Browse music at Easy Street Records
Considered by Rolling Stone to be one of the best record stores in the US, this shop in West Seattle is the place to go to pick up some physical music. The vinyl spot is so iconic, Pearl Jam and other major names have performed in the store. The onsite cafe is ready to fuel your browsing.
Pay your respects at the Jimi Hendrix Memorial
The legendary Jimi Hendrix was born and raised in Seattle...
Pay your respects at the Jimi Hendrix Memorial
The legendary Jimi Hendrix was born and raised in Seattle, and the city is proud of his legacy. In nearby Renton, you can visit his burial site at Greenwood Memorial Park and pay your respects to the influential electric guitarist. A permanent Hendrix collection is on display at MoPOP, which originally started as a Hendrix-only museum but has since expanded in exciting ways.
Photo: Mariusz S. Jurgielewicz/Shutterstock
See where legends recorded at London Bridge Studio
Grunge music occupies a special place in Seattle’s heart...
See where legends recorded at London Bridge Studio
Grunge music occupies a special place in Seattle’s heart. For fans of Pearl Jam, Alice in Chains, Soundgarden, and other Seattle superstars, you can take a one-hour guided tour at the London Bridge Studio to learn the stories of some seriously iconic recording sessions.
Photo: London Bridge Studio
Watch professional productions at Seattle Opera
You don’t have to be an opera fan to enjoy this one...
Watch professional productions at Seattle Opera
You don’t have to be an opera fan to enjoy shows at Seattle Opera, which has been in operation since 1963. With a mix of traditional favorites and newer works, you’ll hear—and see—some of the best vocalists in the world take the stage.
Photo: Philip Newton/Seattle Opera
Sports by the Sound
If you only think of the Seahawks when it comes to Seattle sports, you have an education coming. From the Kraken to the Storm, the Seattle sports scene fills arenas, fills the stands, and fills the calendar.
Crouch, bind, set with the Seattle Seawolves
These two-time champions aim to thrill...
Crouch, bind, set with the Seattle Seawolves
The Seattle Seawolves, founding member of Major League Rugby in the US, aim to thrill their fans, win with excellence, and inspire the community. The team claimed back-to-back championships (2018 and 2019), are the 2022 Western Conference Champions and finished second overall for the 2022 MLR Championship. See them back on the pitch at the Starfire Sports stadium in Tukwila for the 2023 season.
Photo: Rick May/Visit Seattle
Cheer on the Seattle Kraken
Seattle welcomed the newest NHL team to town in 2021...
Cheer on the Seattle Kraken
Seattle welcomed the newest National Hockey League team to town in 2021 with an appropriately seaworthy mascot. Named after a legendary Norwegian sea monster, the Seattle Kraken hits the ice in the Climate Pledge Arena at the Seattle Center from October through April.
Photo: Visit Seattle
Watch the Seattle Storm
This four-time WNBA championship team...
Watch the Seattle Storm
Four-time WNBA champions, the Seattle Storm, are one of 12 WNBA teams that still compete in the US. The Climate Pledge Arena at the Seattle Center turns Kraken ice into a b-ball court for the Storm’s home games from May to September.
Photo: Visit Seattle
Catch the MLB All-Star Game
In 2023, baseball’s All-Star Week will be hosted in Seattle...
Catch the MLB All-Star Game
In 2023, the MLB’s All-Star Week will be hosted in Seattle for the third time (the last was in 2001). The American League takes on the National League in the Midsummer Classic at T-Mobile Park in July. Exciting events are planned for the week, including the SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game, where the sport’s best prospective big-leaguers are showcased; All-Star Celebrity Softball; and the T-Mobile Home Run Derby.
Photo: Visit Seattle
Mark your calendar for FIFA World Cup 2026
FIFA World Cup 2026 chose Seattle’s Lumen Field...
Mark your calendar for FIFA World Cup 2026
While it’s a few years from now, the FIFA World Cup 2026 chose Lumen Field in Seattle as a host venue for its international men's soccer championship. Soccer aficionados from around the world will converge in the Emerald City for this epic event, and the atmosphere around town is sure to be electrifying.
Photo: pixfly/Shutterstock