Out + About Cheat Sheet to Iconic Seattle

Story and photos by JiaYing Grygiel

Seattle ranked No. 2 — just behind Orlando, Florida — in this summer’s top travel destinations in the United States, according to Allianz Partners.

We are so lucky to live in this beautiful city that everyone wants to visit. Whether you’re going to be hosting out-of-town guests or planning a sweet staycation, save this cheat sheet to quintessential Seattle landmarks, from the iconic to those a bit more under the radar.

1. Space Needle

You can’t come to Seattle and not go to the Space Needle. The iconic structure, built for the 1962 World’s Fair, was renovated in 2018, and standing on the revolving glass floor is quite a trip. Below, don’t miss out on the thrilling Artists at Play playground (seattlecenter.com). The Peace Garden at the Seattle Center is home to the Anne Frank Tree, one of 11 saplings propagated from the original chestnut tree Anne Frank wrote about in her diary.

The best view of the city, however, isn’t from the top of the Space Needle. Head up Queen Anne Hill to Kerry Park, where you’ll get that postcard-perfect panorama encompassing the Space Needle and Mount Rainier.

2. Pike Place Market

You know about the fish throwers. The super gross Gum Wall. The first Starbucks.

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But do you know about the secret garden?

The Pike Place Secret Garden is truly a hidden gem. To find it, turn left just before you reach Maximilien Restaurant. From this rooftop garden, you get great views of downtown, and it’s the perfect quiet spot to enjoy a picnic of treats purchased at the market. All the herbs and vegetables grown here are donated to the Pike Market Food Bank.

3. The great outdoors

They don’t call it the Emerald City for nothing. The 534-acre Discovery Park is just 15 minutes from downtown, but it feels like a world in itself. In 2009, a wild cougar even found its way to the forested bluff. We love taking the Loop Trail down to the lighthouse to catch a sunset.

Runner-up is West Seattle’s Alki Beach, a sandy strand that feels more like Cali (complete with a palm tree) than the soggy Pacific Northwest.

4. ‘Sleepless in Seattle’

Tom Hanks was at Benaroya Hall in May for a Seattle Arts & Lectures event. If you missed the actor in person, you can always see him in the classic rom-com “Sleepless in Seattle,” which is marking its 30th anniversary this year. Today, swoony widower Sam Baldwin’s houseboat on the west side of Lake Union is a private residence. Navigate your kayak, motorboat or stand-up paddleboard on by to check it out. The Center for Wooden Boats (cwb.org) offers free monthly public sails that pass by the famous houseboat. Other screen-tastic Seattle landmarks include the “Grey’s Anatomy” intern house

(303 W. Comstock St. in Queen Anne) and the “Singles” apartment complex (1820 E. Thomas St. in Capitol Hill).

5. Mount Rainier

You have a narrow window in July and August to drive up to Paradise to see the delicate, subalpine meadows on Mount Rainier. Lots of other people have the same idea. The National Park Service is considering requiring reservations. For now, based on experience, we will tell you that you need to be at the gate before 10 a.m. or you’ll be out of luck for a parking spot. Mount Rainier is a 2.5-hour drive south of Seattle. Plan accordingly.

6. Cruise ship central

The cruise business is back and it’s big. The arrival of giant cruise ships marks the summer season in Seattle, but our favorite “cruise” is the 35-minute ferry ride to Bainbridge Island. Beautiful views of the water, a cute little walkable village on the other side and the best ice cream ever (Mora’s Iced Creamery). Plus, it’s cheap: Kids ages 18 and younger ride free, adults pay $9.45 for a round-trip ticket.

Bonus: Ferry riders sometimes spot orcas!

7. Bruce Lee

The martial arts legend called Seattle his home, and his favorite restaurant, Tai Tung Chinese Restaurant (taitungrestaurant.com) in the Chinatown–International District, has a booth dedicated to him. Bruce Lee and his son, Brandon Lee, are buried next to each other in Lake View Cemetery in Capitol Hill, about halfway up the hill in the cemetery.

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