What are the top 10 things to do in Seattle in September? We will only be in town for a long weekend.?

Question

We like to keep busy while on vacation and try to work in as many things as possible. My wife I only, two year old son will stay home with grandparents.

Answer 1

Hello,

Here are my top 10 picks for you. Some of these picks may have an entrance fee or costs associated with them. Below are some event calendars to see if there are any specific events or festivals going on. Keep in mind these places are associated with "Seattle." If you can travel plans include adventure outside of Seattle or the suburbs, let me know so I/someone else can provide further details.

Top ten (in no particular order):

1)Visit Seattle Center
Home to the Space Needle, Pacific Science Center, Experience Music Project, Key Arena, musical fountain, monorail to downtown (if open -- monorail currently closed), Fun Forest (small amusement park for kids), and more.
http://www.seattlecenter.com/attractions/default.asp

2)Walk/Run/Rollerblade around Green Lake
If you're an active person, Green Lake is a mecca for daily exercise. The loop is roughly three miles.
http://www.seattle.gov/parks/parkspaces/greenlak.htm

3)Visit the zoo! The Woodland Park Zoo is the city's major zoo.
http://www.zoo.org

4)Seattle waterfront
The waterfront along downtown is home to several souvenir shops, eateries, boat tours, and more. It's where most cruise ship vacation guests go when they get off the ship. The Seattle Aquarium is also located on the waterfront.
http://www.seattle.gov/tour/water.htm

5)Downtown Seattle
Large shopping district and unique places to eat are downtown. You'll also note a Starbucks or Tully's coffee practically on every street corner (along with everywhere else in Seattle). Shopping at Westlake Center is an option, along with visiting some of the historical buildings in the area: Also cool is going to the top of the Columbia Tower, the largest skyscraper on the Western USA coast. At one point, it was the tallest man-made structure built until the Las Vegas Stratosphere was built. Other neat buildings: Smith Tower, Rainier Square, & Pioneer Square neighborhood. Lots of night life, pubs, places to eat, and more.
http://www.downtownseattle.com/content/visitors/Attractions.cfm

6)Pike Place Market - Downtown
Just above the waterfront - home to flying fish and several venders selling unique items. The original Starbucks Coffee is just above the market entrance.
http://www.pikeplacemarket.org/

7)Attend a sporting event/Tour the stadiums.
Tickets may be available for a Seattle Mariners or Seattle Seahawks game. Tours are provide of both Qwest Field (home to the Seattle Seahawks) and Safeco Field (home to the Seattle Mariners).
http://www.qwestfield.com/ or
http://seattle.mariners.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/sea/ballpark/safeco_field_tours.jsp

8)Ballard Locks are a neat place to explore.
http://www.nws.usace.army.mil/PublicMenu/Menu.cfm?sitename=lwsc&pagename=mainpage

9)Alki Point/Beach Park - nice waterfront neighborhood and park
http://www.seattle.gov/parks/parkspaces/alki.htm

10) Tillicum Village/Blake Island
http://tillicumvillage.com/
A fun boat cruise to Blake Island; have to experience the smoke salmon dinner!

Additional Places:
http://www.seattle.gov/html/visitor/

Hope this helps,
Kevin

Answer 2

Bumbershoot is a great folk festival during September (if I remember correctly--or is that October? Check into it..) down at the Pacific Science Center.
Pike Place Market goes all year 'round and is an absolute must see. Great little open air market unlike anything in the U.S., and nice little restaurants, too. Gotta see the "flying fish" while you're there...watch out for that gooey (sp is wrong there!) duck (you'll know when you see it!). Go to Kell's (and other pubs) on Post Alley at night--wonderful Irish folk bands. But if you can't make it during the evening hours, still wonderful beers. Make sure you try out all of the wonderful microbrews around Seattle if that is something you like. For nightlife, try out Pioneer Square. I recommend Cowgirls, Inc. No, you need not be a cowboy...they play more rock than country, but it is rather a sight to see....ever see the movie "Coyote Ugly"? Same premise. LOTS of fun. My hubby and I had a blast. Ladies get to dance on the bar, hubbys get to watch... ;)
Go to the top o' the Needle...but don't bother to eat there. Over-priced and food isn't worth a hoot, but the view is incredible. (If you must sit in the rotating restaurant, their desserts aren't bad...but you pay for the view, which does make it worth it.) You can go on the observation deck for the fee of the elevator, which isn't much. If you're eating at the restaurant (even for just a dessert) I believe it's still free for the trip up.
Take a ferry ride to Bainbridge or another island in the Sound. It's cheap and on a nice day, there are incredible views.

If you make it up slightly further north, check out Deception Pass, which is a breathtaking bridge from the mainland to Whidbey Island. It's incredible! You can take trails and go to the beach a-round-a-bouts there, too.
There are also Orca Whale watching boats that leave from the piers daily. Beautiful boat trips through the San Juans and every time I've been on one, we've come upon a pod of them. HIGHLY recommend that. There is also the Spirit of Washington Dinner train, which will take you through a winery, I believe, and a similar thing that is a sunset/dinner boat cruise on Lake Union or Elliot Bay.
I hope this helps. Have fun...and a latte, too!