10 Budget-Friendly Things To Do in Seattle, Washington

Known for its iconic Pike Place Market, Pacific Northwest climate, and some of the top 500 Fortune companies, Seattle is no stranger to exceptional coffee, rainy days, and a thriving economy. Located just 230 kilometers south of Vancouver, it should come as no surprise that a weekend trip to Seattle earned a spot on my summer bucket list. When I learned that my college friend Jenna would be spending the summer in Seattle, I was even more excited to visit Vancouver’s neighbor to the south and explore Washington’s largest city. During my weekend in Seattle with Jenna, we decided to skip the pricey tourist attractions, such as the Seattle Great Wheel and the Space Needle, and focus instead on the coffee, the vegan goodies, the market, and the parks. Each of the items listed below will cost you no more than $10, so if you’re looking to visit Seattle on a budget, then just keep reading.

1. Shop local at Pike Place Farmers Market.
For more than 100 years, Pike Place Market has been a meeting place for local farmers and Seattle citizens to connect under one roof. The first produce-filled wagons were wheeled in on August 17, 1907 and thus began Seattle’s Meet the Producer tradition. Today, the 12,000 square feet of local shops and restaurants offer speciality foods and drinks, seasonal fruits and vegetables, unique handmade treasures, and more. Here you can find a beautiful bouquet of flowers, a jar of organic homemade jam or locally ground honey roasted peanut butter, or a pint of fresh cherries or strawberries.

2. Visit the original Starbucks on Pike Place.
Located at 1912 Pike Place, the original Starbucks is where it all began 47 years ago. There will most likely be a line out the door and around the block, but it moves quickly and you will soon be inside the very first of 20,000 (and counting) Starbucks locations in the world today. Established in 1971, this store maintains much of its early appearance to preserve its historic significance with original floors, fixtures, and counters still intact.

3. Make a contribution to the Seattle Gum Wall.
It wouldn’t be a trip to Seattle without a walk down Post Alley, the famous brick alleyway covered in used chewing gum. Be careful where you step as you embrace the whiff of bubble gum and listen to the echo of tourists exclaiming this is awesome and this is so gross. Stop into one of the nearby shops and purchase a pack of Hubba Bubba bubble gum to add your contribution to the 50-foot wall. Which team are you on – awesome or gross?

4. Explore some of Seattle’s many public spaces.
Aside from the 30,000 square feet of open public space that make up Pike Place Market, there are a number of additional public spaces sprinkled throughout downtown Seattle. One of these is the Waterfall Garden Park in Seattle’s historic Pioneer Square district, also known as the former heart of the city. This oasis features a 22-foot waterfall and interestingly enough, is the birthplace of UPS, otherwise called United Parcel Service.

5. Attend one of Seattle’s many festivals.
The countless annual arts and cultural celebrations in Seattle promise to keep the city fun and festive year round. From arts and crafts to film and music to culture and heritage, there is always a reason to party. My visit to Seattle fell on the weekend of the 44th annual Seattle Pride Parade, one of the happiest and most colorful events that I have ever been a part of. The Sunday morning parade along Fourth Avenue culminated in PrideFest Seattle Center, lending itself to a daylong celebration of life and love.

6. Enjoy the outdoors at Occidental Park.
Situated in the Pioneer Square district on what was once the site of a hotel and then an asphalt parking lot, Occidental Park has became a gathering place for outdoor recreation and relaxation. There are coffee shops and eateries, totem poles and woodcarvings, ping pong tables and life-sized chess games, and the list goes on. A couple notable pieces include the two figure poles known as Tsonqua and Bear by Duane Pasco and the Seattle Fallen Firefighters Memorial by Hai Ying Wu.

7. Get your cookie fix at Cinnamon Works.
Just a few doors down from the original Starbucks, Cinnamon Works has been serving vegan, gluten-free, sugar-free, and good tasting regular treats since 1983. With a selection of cookies, quick breads, muffins, rolls, and more, be prepared for the sugar rush that you will soon experience. If you are having trouble deciding, try the vegan oat raisin cookie… I promise you won’t regret it.

8. Stroll along the Seattle Waterfront.
Being that Seattle is situated on the Puget Sound between Elliott Bay and Lake Washington, there are many places to enjoy the blue water and breathtaking views. One of the most popular waterfront hangouts is Pier 57, where both the Seattle Great Wheel and Miner’s Landing can be found. For a less touristy waterfront experience, head to Gas Works Park for a view of Lake Union and the city from afar.

9. Taste ice cream churned from plants at Frankie & Jo’s.
This Seattle-based ice cream shop is made from the purest ingredients and is both vegan and gluten-free. The process includes sprouting cashew nuts overnight, making milk from sprouted nuts the next day, and then churning that milk into ice cream to create the most delicious plant-based creation. I tried the Frankie’s Brown Sugar Vanilla and Harvey Strawberry Milk in a homemade maple vanilla waffle cone and it was without a doubt the best vegan ice cream I have ever tasted.

10. Watch the sunset at Discovery Park.
Situated on Magnolia Bluff, Discovery Park is the largest city park in Seattle and one of the many green spaces to enjoy in the appropriately-nicknamed Emerald City. Its 534 acres of natural beauty offers not only breathtaking views of the Puget Sound, but also both the Cascade and the Olympic Mountain ranges. Pack a picnic and head to the park in time for the sunset, the colors in the sky are absolutely beautiful and the sounds of the waves and the creatures at dusk are incredibly soothing.

Thanks for having me Jenna and thanks for the memories Seattle.

With ♡, Julia Elizabeth