2006-12-01 06:59:37 · 7 answers · asked by mekcoco 1 in Travel ➔ United States ➔ Seattle
This time of year with the holidays, there is alot of great stuff downtown that's free or near free. I love just wandering around downtown checking out the holiday lights at Westlake Center, Pike Place Market or the Waterfront. Too, Seattle Center is having their Winterfest right now, which includes alot of free stuff to do. Here's a link:
http://www.seattlecenter.com/
Also, if you happen to be going on Thursday, there are are a few museums in town that are open late and are FREE on Thursday nights. The MOHAI is my favorite...
http://www.seattlehistory.org/
Hope that helps!
2006-12-01 18:01:15 · answer #1 · answered by seattlecutiepie 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Window shopping is fun. Wander around Pike Place Market or Pioneer Square
2006-12-01 07:02:10 · answer #2 · answered by MOM KNOWS EVERYTHING 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I always took my dates on a ferry ride at night to look at the city with all the lights, or you can drive around to look at christmas lights.
2006-12-01 22:28:23 · answer #3 · answered by jsm2779 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
These places are all free, all the time.
1. The Center For Wooden Boats
1010 Valley St
Seattle, WA 98109
(206) 382-2628
Category: Boating, Museums
I've always wanted to learn to sail and when I do it will be here. Not only is this place fascinating with beautiful boats, it's FREE! Not only free to visit, but I recently learned you can go on a FREE 1/2 hour boat ride on Sundays, year round, weather permitting. What better way to spend a cheap day? Kids and adults alike love this place and climbing in the boats is a such a cool and authentic way to acquire an appreciation of an art that's been around almost since the dawn of mankind. The gift shop has a clothing, posters and a few other things that are NOT priced at usual gift shop prices but are eminently affordable. With workshops, events and more, it would be harder to find a more worthy place to support.
10/30
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2. Frye Art Museum
704 Terry Ave
Seattle, WA 98104
(206) 622-9250
Category: Museums
District: First Hill
Art is good. Free admission is good. The marriage of the two is the Frye, but the whole is more than the sum of its parts in this case. This intimate space houses the lovely and old and the new and modern in thought provoking, shoulder rubbing ways and I never walk away from a visit feeling like I've just seen the same old thing.
11/08
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3. Volunteer Park Conservatory
1400 E Galer St
Seattle, WA 98112
(206) 684-4743
Category: Parks
District: Capitol Hill
I couldn't tell you the scientific name for a single plant on the planet, but that doesn't stop me from thoroughly enjoying a visit here. Even the "ordinary" plants take on an exotic tinge in these greenhouses. The Cactus House is great, I never knew there were so many varieties, and the Palm House is like a trip back through time. Way back. Flowers, trees, carnivorous plants... you'll see them all and appreciate the stunning diversity of our planet. It's a peaceful walk and a perfect way to spend a grey Seattle day when you need a little color in your life.
03/29
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4. Pike Place Market
85 Pike Street
Seattle, WA 98101
(206) 682-7453
Category: Shopping, Food
District: Downtown
It might be overrun with tourists, but locals shop here just as much. It's hard to find a better place to people watch and the flowers for my sister's wedding came from here - fresher and less expensive than most florist shops. I get a hombow and listen to the street performers and shop for stuff from local farms and artists. I get cheese from Beecher's and try on handmade hats and scarves and get herbs and spices from Market Spice. The fish guys will heckle you while tossing your fish and wrapping it up in about 3 seconds flat. Do not miss the shops downstairs, see the Shoe Museum and the Magic Shop and Golden Age Collectables and DO NOT forget to feed Rachel the pig your spare change. It helps keep the Market going. Really try not to go on a weekend though, weekdays are so much easier to get around.
04/04
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5. Leavenworth National Fish Hatchery
12790 Fish Hatchery Road
Leavenworth, WA 98826
(509) 548-7641
Category: Active Life
The Ballard Locks kicked up quite a few notches. This fish hatchery is fun to visit with plenty of salmon to be seen most times of the year. Their size, of course, will depend on what time of the year you go. There's a Visitor Center with exhibits and you can go on a self guided tour of the hatchery. There's also a little nature walk outside and places for a picnic. During the season, fishing is good here on Icicle Creek - they tell you where you can go. Great day trip.
03/30
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6. Arboretum
Washington Park
Seattle, WA 98112
(206) 543-8800
Category: Parks
District: Madison Park
This place takes more than a day to discover - section it off and keep coming back. Miles of trails, but don't miss the Foster Island trail at the north end for a view of Lake Washington and Husky Stadium and all the boats going by. If you go in spring, prepare for mud on the trail. Nice little floats with benches on the water. Also don't miss the Japanese Garden, famous in these parts. Pay the small entrance fee, buy some food to feed the koi, don't be disappointed that you can't actually walk through the Emperor's Gate and watch for the turtles. It's a horticulturalist's playground.
08/03
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7. Hiram M. Chittenden Locks
3015 N.W. 54th Street
Seattle, WA 98107
(206) 783-7059
Category: Parks
Best known as the Ballard Locks, this is a great place to spend a few hours, especially in August. It's easy to lose track of time as you watch all the boats navigate the locks from Puget Sound to Lake Union and the botanical gardens are gorgeous. There are usually free concerts outdoors on the weekends, interesting local groups like the old time swing band from Edmonds I heard last summer, but the best part about the locks is the FISH LADDERS! Watch the salmon and you'll spend hours saying, "ok, just one more, then we'll leave." Yeah, right, it's mesmerizing. Just time it for when the salmon are running.
08/06
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8. Chihuly At Union Station
1717 Pacific Ave Rm 1310
Tacoma, WA 98402
(253) 572-9310
Category: Art Galleries
I traveled on a train in the "old days" that stopped at Union Station back when it was a seedy stop for Amtrak, but that's all changed now and it's a courthouse with an amazing public space chock full of Chihuly glass installations, including his famous medusa chandelier. Worth a visit, especially if you cross the Chihuly bridge from the Museum of Glass. Free public art is good and the historic and restored Union Station with its dome top is a great place to see it.
01/26
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9. Seattle Center
305 Harrison Street…
Seattle, WA 98109
(206) 216-0877
Category: Performing Arts, Amusement Parks
I've got to chime in on the International Fountain too, it's simply one of the best places to hang out outside in Seattle, get wet, people watch, listen, be mesmerized by the play of water and kids... It doesn't get as much tourist press as some other places, but it wouldn't be Seattle without it. The rest of the Center is a great place to spend a weekend, because you won't see or do it all in a day, from the Pacific Science Center to the Fun Forest, Center House to McCaw Hall, EMP to the Children's Museum, theaters to the Space Needle... and on and on. Don't overlook little corners and out of the way spaces, there are stunning galleries and displays here that are easy to miss in the bustle.
While Bumbershoot is great, my favorite big event here is the NW Folklife Festival. Dance, music, diversity, poetry readings, movie screenings, international food... it's outstanding and a great way to start the summer. The Seattle Center is a vital part of our city and not to be missed.
09/02
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10. Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park
319 Second Avenue South
Seattle, WA 98104
(206) 220-4240
Category: Museums
As Peter said, perfect stop after doing the Underground Tour. I told my kids it would be educational. They whined. We went inside. They found it interesting. They wouldn't commit to more than that after the whining, (pride you know), but I'll commit
2006-12-02 04:27:53 · answer #4 · answered by twocrafty65 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The Zoo
2006-12-02 09:08:24 · answer #5 · answered by fatsausage 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Picnics, walks in parks, some museums are free, make dinner at your house... :o)
2006-12-01 07:05:22 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Feed the pegion at the Public Market.... :)
2006-12-01 16:11:37 · answer #7 · answered by R 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋