It’s always a good idea to have at least a few ideas for rainy-day things to do in Seattle in your pocket. After all, there’s a good reason for its nickname, the Emerald City – it wouldn’t be as lush as it is without the rain! Many locals work hard to fight against the prevailing stereotype, but the reality is, there are plenty of days with at least a little drizzle. In the winter months, it’s pretty much unavoidable. But that doesn’t have to mean dull days battling cabin fever! You’ll find plenty of things to do without risking soggy shoes.
Of course, if you’re not a Seattleite, you’ll need to know where to look. The good news is that we have the answer! In fact, we have 20 of them, all ideal for those who want to stay dry while exploring.
And, great news for Canadians visiting from Vancouver Island- you can save money that can be used on some of your favorite rainy things to do in Seattle –
BOOK NOW for discounts on the FRS Clipper’s fast & scenic ferry ride from Victoria!
1. Stroll Through a Tropical Paradise
On a damp day, 75-degree heat pretty much sounds like perfection, right? Luckily, you can skip the flight to an exotic locale and instead escape to the Volunteer Park Conservatory instead! It’s one of our favorite rainy-day things to do in Seattle. The 100-year-old greenhouse is made up of 3,426 individual glass. It also underwent a $3 million restoration and improvement project. Inside, the steamy air will transport you to a tropical paradise bursting with a world-class botanical collection ranging from cacti to hundreds of unique plants, some as old as the building itself.
Don’t leave the park without climbing to the top of the water tower! Although it’s a slightly steep trek up the flights of stairs, the panoramic views of the city that include the Space Needle, waterfront and downtown skyscrapers, make it well worth the trip, especially when there’s a break in the clouds.
2. Meet Creatures from the Deep
Want to connect the kiddos with nature while avoiding the raindrops? Check out the Seattle Aquarium for an undersea experience without ever getting wet! Wander through the enchanting moon jellyfish ring, toward everyone’s favorite 8-legged animal, the giant Pacific octopus. Next, enter the dreamlike underwater dome for a 360-degree view of the Puget Sound aquatic ecosystem. Finish up your trip with a visit to the always entertaining otter and seal exhibits.
3. Visit a Rainbow in the Rain
Despite the gray skies, you can spend a colorful day by visiting Chihuly Garden & Glass at the Seattle Center. From a colossal wall of rainbow-hued woven blankets to a back-lit ceiling loaded with kaleidoscopic blown-glass pieces, this is a stop your eyes won’t soon forget.
Stroll through a forest of iridescent shapes in all colors that combine with tangled, swirling structures to find the pièce de résistance: the Glasshouse. At 40-feet-tall, the exhibit feels more like a conservatory than a museum floor. The 4,500 square-foot space is bathed in glowing oranges and fiery reds. Natural light from above shines through the intricate glasswork and dances across the floor, making for a truly show-stopping installation.
Coming from Victoria? You can save by booking this tour with Clipper!
4. Spot Some Celebrity Visitors
It doesn’t matter whether the sun is shining or not for a gray whale watching excursion from the FRS Clipper terminal at Pier 69. The whales don’t care what the weather is! Plus, you can enjoy it from the comfort of a heated, covered indoor cabin with large windows for viewing. If you’re here in the spring, you’ll get to watch for the migrating gray whales that make their way through every March on April on their lengthy journey to Alaska.
If you don’t plan to visit Seattle in March or April, don’t despair. Just book the wildlife and whale watching tour! There’s plenty to see throughout much of the year, including orcas, humpback whales, porpoises, seals, sea lions, and bald eagles.
5. Get to Know Seattle from Top to Bottom
You’ve seen the bustling streets of Pioneer Square, but did you know there’s an entire skeleton of a city below? Discover the roots of the Emerald City as you trek through the catacomb-like maze of the Seattle underground on a Beneath the Streets tour. You won’t have to worry about getting wet down here. This one of the most obvious rainy-day things to do in Seattle!
Explore a network of storefronts, sidewalks and basements that were once the hub of downtown, but became buried underground when the city rebuilt on top of its origins after the Great Seattle Fire. Not only will you leave with some memorable stories of the city’s interesting and colorful past, you’ll also discover the purpose of those mysterious purple glass squares embedded into Seattle’s sidewalks.
Coming from Victoria? This is another opportunity to save by booking the Beneath the Streets tour with Clipper!
6. All About Aircraft
One of the best rainy-day things to do in Seattle for aviation aficionados, and those who have an aspiring pilot in tow, is to visit the iconic Boeing Future of Flight. You’ll travel through the heart of Boeing’s production factory for a rare glimpse at the inner workings of a commercial jet assembly plant. Budding astronauts can even hop inside a full mock-up of the U.S. Laboratory Module Destiny to see what it’s like to live and work on the International Space Station.
Or, spend an afternoon marveling at hangars packed with notable, historic and straight-up awesome aircraft at the Museum of Flight. The biggest independent museum of its type on Earth, the museum boasts more than 175 different aircraft from each era. Put your aeronautic skills to the test in The Pilot Experience, then grab lunch in the café with a front-row seat to the comings and goings of Boeing Field.
7. Ascend the Space Needle
Even on a gray day, the Space Needle provides some of the most dramatic panoramic views of the Emerald City and its surrounds. Snap a time-lapse video from the elevator as you whisk 520 feet up to the observation level in a mere 41 seconds. Warm up with a steamy drink at the Atmos Café espresso bar while gazing out at the city skyline through floor-to-ceiling windows.
And be sure to pop down to the 500-foot-level for a bird’s-eye view of the ground below through the first-of-its-kind rotating glass floor. The entire city is at your feet, including Chihuly Gardnens & Glass!
Those coming from Victoria can book both the Space Needle and Chihuly Gardnens & Glass for more savings through Clipper!
8. Enjoy a Night of Performing Arts
From glittering crystal chandeliers to ornately detailed acoustic ceilings, the Paramount Theatre has all the trappings of a historic music hall. Choose a show from the impressive calendar. It features everything from Grammy-winning artists o stand-up comedy legends, enjoying among the elegant atmosphere of this iconic nearly century-old downtown establishment.
9. Game Night On the Town
Mini-golf in the rain? Nope, you don’t need to get wet while enjoying a little friendly competition at Flatstick Pub. You can sip a pint from the locally-focused tap list as you wind your way around a challenging indoor course for one of the best rainy-day things to do in Seattle! In addition to your standard windmill and clown mouth putt-putt, you’ll also find Flatstick original games like Duffleboard™, Ball Jockey™ and ‘stick putt™!
Bowling more your scene? Cruise up to Capitol Hill and grab a lane at the Garage. Boasting a crave-worthy menu of pub food, late weekend hours and a massive room full of pool tables, this is the perfect spot to wind down the night with your crew.
10. Don’t Skip Brunch
Is it an early lunch? A late breakfast? We really don’t care as long as pancakes and a mimosa are involved. Portage Bay Café has multiple locations around town with indoor seating from South Lake Union to the Ballard neighborhood. And, they even take reservations, a rarity for brunch hour! There are lots of great pancake options, and they’re all extra fluffy. But if you’re in the mood for something decadent, try the Ricotta Lemon Pancakes.
11. Browse the Seattle Library
Staying downtown? Then you’ve likely spotted the geometric, futuristic design of the Seattle Public Library. But don’t just gaze at it from the street! The real treat is through the doors, with colorful hallways and escalators adding to the vivid experience. Duck inside to grab a coffee in the library’s adjoining café, then take some time to explore its neon-yellow escalators, artwork on exhibit and views from the tenth floor.
12. Blissful Relaxation at the Spa
You’ll forget all about the weather by heading inside for a steamy day at Banya 5. Warm up with an invigorating scrub, luxuriate in a long Signature Massage, or try something a little different with a Botanical Mud Wrap. You can extend relaxation bliss with time in the Russian-style sauna, soaking pools and Turkish steam room. This is pure heaven as one of the most stress-melting rainy-day things to do in Seattle!
13. Treat Yourself
Surrender to your sweet tooth with a visit to Hot Cakes Molten Chocolate Cakery in Capitol Hill. Its decadent treats range from a classic vanilla bean crème brûlée to an innovative grilled dark chocolate sandwich. Plus, you can cap off your visit with one of the boozy brews like the Drunken Sailor, a frothy peanut butter, caramel, and whiskey combo. Or try the Butter Beer, which can be ordered with or without the sparkling wine component, perfect for a visit with any Potter-loving little ones.
If you take the art of patisserie seriously, you won’t be disappointed in Interbay’s Fuji Bakery. Started by pedigreed baker Taka Hirai (who studied under three-Michelin-star-rated chef Joel Robuchon), this bakeshop offers unique confections such as green tea Danishes and mango-coconut croissants.
14. Indulge Your Inner Bookworm
What pairs better with a rainy day and a snug café than a great book? Pop over to Ballard’s charming Secret Garden Books to browse the shelves, then head around the block to grab a latte at Seattle Coffee Works and dig into your new read.
If you find yourself further east, make a stop at Third Place Books in the Ravenna neighborhood. From an adorable kids’ corner to a calendar full of literary events, this is a worthy destination for book-lovers. Can’t wait to crack into your new purchase? Head down to the Pub at Third Place beneath you, where you’ll find a tempting food menu and 18 rotating beers on tap.
15. Take a Trip to the Pacific Science Center
The Pacific Science Center offers another one of the perfect rainy-day things to do in Seattle. Settle into a seat at the Planetarium for a show that’s out of this world, then immerse yourself in their indoor oasis full of butterflies and colorful tropical plants.
It’s easy to fill an entire day here as you can also watch a movie on one of the world’s largest IMAX screens. Catch a jaw-dropping nature film or a new release from Hollywood and prepare to feel as if you’re immersed in every scene.
16. Get Your Caffeine Fix with a Coffee Crawl
Calling all coffee addicts! You probably know how Seattleites love their coffee. While there are multiple tours that will take you to explore some of the best spots for your caffeine fix, on a rainy day, head to Pike Place Market for a coffee crawl. Duck out of the rain beneath the covered areas of the market, hopping between shops like Ghost Alley Espresso and Storyville Coffee. Don’t miss the historic, original Starbucks, birthed in 1971 right along the cobbled streets of the famous market.
17. Dig Into Some Crates
There’s nothing more satisfying than unearthing a rare gem in a dusty stack of albums and Seattle has no shortage of record shops to peruse. If you’re in Fremont, Daybreak Records may be tiny, but it’s a vinyl haven.
Flip through rows of carefully-curated crates to find your next favorite EP, then pop into a local favorite, Easy Street in West Seattle, also doubling as a diner café! Vinyl and hash browns, is there anything better?
18. Sip Your Way Around Town
Seattle best-known beverage may be coffee, but the city’s craft beer scene is impressive too. Grab a spot at a picnic table beneath strings of twinkling lights in the industrial-chic SoDo tasting space at Seapine Brewing Company. The award-winning Sea Witch Stout is a favorite, or try the mainstay Seapine IPA. You really can’t go wrong here!
Want a little nosh with your brew? Grab a table at Redhook Brewlab to order from the mouthwatering menu of elevated pub grub. Pair a pint of the signature ESB with a crisp-crusted pizza or multiple smaller plates, best enjoyed alongside a flight of tasters.
19. Mosey Around a Museum
Exploring the city’s museums is a no-brainer as one of the top rainy-day things to do in Seattle. You can’t help but notice the Seattle Art Museum with its 48-foot-tall black steel kinetic sculpture hammering right outside the entrance. Step inside to discover why the museum is a must-visit. While there are ever-changing exhibits, you’ll always find impressive works from across the globe, and across the centuries.
The Museum of Pop Culture (MoPoP) fuses sci-fi and music under one roof. Get hands-on with musical instruments, check out an impressive lineup of iconic rock memorabilia, and discover a fascinating array of rotating displays. The Frank Gehry-designed structure also houses a concert venue on the top floor, along with the Seattle monorail, which runs straight through its center.
Looking for some motivation to get a jump on your year-long goals? Get inspired to be your most creative self with a visit to the Museum of History & Industry (MOHAI). Highlighting the Puget Sound region’s diverse history of innovators, MOHAI dives into what’s established Seattle as a hotbed of imagination and ingenuity. And who knows, after your visit you might even be inspired to dream up the next breakthrough discovery yourself!
20. Explore the Nooks and Crannies of Pike Place Market
Last, but certainly not least, beyond the coffee crawl, The Market is often the first stop in town for visitors. Of course, it’s just a short walk from the FRS Clipper terminal, making it easy for arrivals to explore. But even if you’ve been before, there’s plenty you probably haven’t seen. It would take an awful long time to experience all that Pike Place has to offer in one, or even multiple visits. There are more than 500 locally owned shops, restaurants, and vendors in this nine-acre historical district. Not to mention, you can catch live buskers rain or shine!
Rather than holing up and waiting for the sun to reappear, fill up your calendar with some of these rainy-day things to do in Seattle. It’s practically guaranteed to turn the gray sky blues into a joyful day of adventure!
Feature Photo: Nick Harris
[…] Volunteer Park Conservatory – While wandering through Volunteer Park, be sure to stop in at the Conservatory, a 100-year-old greenhouse made up of 3,426 glass panes (but who’s counting?). Inside, you’ll […]
[…] wandering through Volunteer Park, be sure to stop in at the Conservatory, a 100-year-old greenhouse made up of 3,426 glass panes (but who’s counting?). Inside, you’ll […]