The sporting and cultural hub of the Pacific-Northwest region, Seattle offers a range of fun activities for visitors to enjoy. As well as playing the tourist at historic markets or iconic landmarks, visitors can also join the locals in taking in a game or a musical performance, with tickets usually easy enough to come by.
Take to the Dance Floor
Though it may be cold outside much of the year, in dozens of venues across the city, locals and visitors alike keep warm enjoying a range of dancing styles.
Fans of salsa and swing can dance along to live bands in the retro-themed Century Ballroom and Cafe on Pine Street, while the Washington Dance Club offers swing, Latin and ballroom fans the chance to take a beginner's or top-up class, or just enjoy an active night on the tiles.
For more up-to-the-minute beats, there are numerous clubs, some of them three floors high, on and around Pioneer Square, where it's possible to enjoy the Seattle nightlife while working up a sweat and burning off that seafood sinner.
Take in a View at the Space Needle
Built for the 1962 World's Fair, the Space Needle has established itself as arguably the most iconic of Seattle's buildings, with thousands of people visiting each day.
As well as the daytime views over Puget Sound and to the surrounding islands and mountains, the landmark's 250-foot-high observation deck is open to the public until 11 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and 11:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, giving visitors the chance to see the Seattle skyline at night.
Discover Pike Place Market by Night
No longer a simple farmers' market, Pike Place Market is now home to antique and crafts stalls, and traders and consumers are joined by camera-wielding tourists during the bustling daytime hours.
By night, however, the market area transforms into one of Seattle's premier drinking and dining spots, with venues ranging from old-fashioned dive bars to swanky wine and cocktail bars, world-class French and Italian restaurants and, for the healthy-minded, fresh seafood restaurants.
And, according to some folk, it's not just revelers who frequent the market after sundown.
Its colorful past -- it was opened in 1907 -- means Pike Place Market is also the destination for regular evening ghost walks.
Take in a Game
Seattle is home to several leading professional sports teams, with at least one of them likely to be playing at home one evening of any given week of the year.
The Major League Baseball outfit, the Seattle Mariners, play their home games at the modern Safeco Field, in the city's SoDo district, while the Seahawks play their National Football League games at the easily accessible Qwest Field.
Additionally, soccer fans are usually able to pick up tickets for the evening games involving the Seattle Sounders, who also play at Qwest Field.
Enjoy Seattle's Classical Music Scene
As well as its grunge music heritage, Seattle is also widely regarded as a major hub for the classical performing arts.
The Seattle Symphony Orchestra in particular is routinely cited as being among the world's finest. Visitors are sometimes able to pick up last-minute tickets to its regular evening performances at the futuristic Benaroya Hall in the heart of the city, though it does pay to book well in advance.
Additionally, the city is also home to the Seattle Opera and the Pacific Northwest Ballet companies, as well as numerous other performance groups, all of which hold regular evening concerts.
Member Comments