Things To Do In Downtown Seattle

Situated on a series of hills, downtown Seattle faces Elliott Bay. Its waterfront location makes it attractive for water sports such as canoeing, kayaking and sailing. Visitors can stay active by exploring downtown by foot. They can stay healthy with organic produce and fresh seafood purchased from Pikes Place Market. Visitors can spend down time visiting museums or attending a play. Downtown Seattle offers healthy food options, outdoor activities, and art and culture during their stay.

Water Sports

Lake Union, a popular site for water sports, sits within the city limits of downtown. At Lake Union Crew, discover recreational and competitive rowing. Adult programs include beginner and advanced sweep and scull, which hone technical skills and endurance levels. Rowers interested in racing will find locally and nationally competitive-designed programs. On the southwest corner of Green Lake, the Seattle Canoe and Kayak Club predominately concentrates on Olympic flat-water canoe and kayak racing. Register for the basic "learn to row," which focuses on rowing basics, boat handling, terminology and coxing skills. Improve skills and increase aerobic capability with sweep rowing and sculling classes. Practiced paddlers can join the adult sprint team.

Lawn Bowling

Lawn bowling has gained popularity as a leisure activity, improving coordination and skill development. The Jefferson Park Lawn Bowling Club offers open bowl events to allow nonmembers to try out the sport. Members can enjoy casual, noncompetitive weekend games or join a league and participate in tournaments. On the south side of Woodland Park, visitors will find greens just north of the Horseshoe Pits. Interested participants can sign up for free lessons on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

Urban Hiking

Explore Seattle's many diverse neighborhoods on foot. Walk 1 1/2 miles along Alaskan Way to capture Seattle's historic waterfront. View the panorama and the sculptures in the Olympic Sculpture Park. Trek around the Queen Anne Hill neighborhood at the north end of Seattle's city center. Catch sweeping views of the skyline and see some of Seattle's early architecture.

Walking Tours

Learn more about Seattle through a walking tour. The 1TArt Walk happens the first Thursday of every month starting in the Pioneer Square neighborhood. Art lovers can explore art galleries, view exhibits and art installations. Discover the less-traveled portion of downtown by registering for an underground tour of Pioneer Square. The guided tour brings visitors below Seattle's sidewalks and streets in three city blocks. For the cultural and culinary aspects of Seattle, visitors can enroll in the Seattle Bites Food Tour. This 2 1/2-hour guided tour takes foodies through Pike Place Market to provide an insider view of the market and its history. Guests can sample smoked salmon, truffle buttered popcorn and other delectable bites.

Gardens

Gain a sense of serenity with a stroll through the Seattle Japanese Garden situated on the southwest corner of the Washington Park Arboretum. This 3 1/2-acre garden features stone bridges arching over koi ponds, stepping stones and flora such as bamboo, ginkgo and flowering cherry trees. Register for a docent-guided tour to learn about bromeliads, palms, ferns and seasonal flora.