Seattle offers an endless list of fun activities, even for those on a budget. If you're strapped for cash, don't worry. You can still listen to live music or visit museums and art galleries. Sample local produce at a farmers market or take a bike ride along Lake Washington. Seattle is a great place to find free, fun activities.
Music
Seattle is well-known for its music scene and you can experience it at no cost. A variety of no-fee concerts and shows take place all over the city year-round. In the summer, check out the Seattle Peace Concerts, a free summer park concert series. Each Sunday from June until August, Summer Peace Concerts hosts local, regional and sometimes even national musicians at city parks throughout town. If you'd like to listen to live music on your lunch break, head to Seattle City Hall. All year, the city hosts free noontime concerts on most Thursdays. Sonic Boom Records, an independent music store, offers a series of in-store, free concerts. Most feature local bands. Check the store's website for dates and times.
Seattle City Hall
600 4th Avenue
Seattle, WA 98124
206-684-2489
seattle.gov/arts/community/seattle_presents.asp
Museums
Get a dose of culture at Seattle's many museums. From science fiction to natural history to fine art, the Seattle area has more than 15 museums to choose from. Most of them offer a free admission day each month. For example, each first Thursday of the month, museums like the Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture, the Experience Music Project's Science Fiction Museum, the Museum of Flight, the Northwest African American Museum and the Seattle Art Museum offer free admission.
Art Walks
Support local art and enjoy an evening stroll around your favorite Seattle neighborhoods at the many art walks around town. Once a month, art galleries, businesses and eateries keep their doors open late and local artists display their wares on the sidewalks. Each neighborhood holds the art walk on a different day, including the Wallingford neighborhood on the first Wednesday of the month, Seattle's Pioneer Square neighborhood on the first Thursday, Capitol Hill on the first Saturday, and the Chinatown International District on the third Saturday.
Sample Local Fare
There's no better or more fun place to sample fresh produce than a farmers' market. Seattle offers several, and all feature locally-grown and organic goods that support the sustainable food movement. Markets are held in different neighborhoods across the city, such as the University District market on Saturdays, the West Seattle market on Sundays, and the seasonal Phinney market on Fridays. Most vendors happily offer samples of their products.
Ride a Bike
Seattle is a bike-friendly city with over a hundred miles of urban and suburban trails throughout the region. The Burke-Gilman Trail is one of the most fun to ride along. The 27-mile trail winds from Ballard all the way to Lake Washington, with water views most of the way. If you want a longer ride, you can even follow the trail extension all the way to Kenmore just northeast of Seattle. Other fun city bike trails include the Interurban, Chief Sealth and Duwamish trails.
Member Comments