If you attended the latest 3rd Ward Activity, you'll know all about the best fun, free, and cheap activities to do in Seattle, but just in case you missed it, here's a list to overwhelm you:
Dates:
Dates:
- Waterfront Activity Center Kayack/Canoe rental. $6-$7/per hour.
- Columbia Tower- the tallest building in Seattle with 360* views! $5 per person. Located on 5th & Columbia downtown. Open business hours only, no holidays
- Date Nite at the Institute- Come for cheap (but good!) dinner, socializing, and a special speaker every 3rd Friday of the month (with exceptions. Watch the ward bulletin for more information). $2.50/person for dinner. Dinner at 6pm, Speaker at 7pm. Kids welcome.
- Cheap Theater! Showing recently released movies for $3/person, you can't go wrong with The Crest Cinema! Call 206-781-5755 for showtimes. Located at 16505 Fifth NE, Seattle 98155
- Take a Ballroom Dancing class with your hunny! Capitol Hill Studio offers regular walk-in classes in everything from salsa to lindy hop for $15 a lesson! Visit centuryballroom.com or call 206-324-7263 for more information
- Discover the Frye Art Museum - its always free! Visit FryeArt.org for hours.
- Take a romantic stroll through the Japanese Gardens. Just $5 for adults (or $3 with college ID). Closed with inclement weather. Call ahead for hours of operation 206-684-4725
- Rent a kayak at Agua Verde (206-545-5870) Visit this link for more details.
- Drive-in movies at Auburn or Everet
- Alki beach & Golden Gardens allow fires
- Dinner at the temple and a session
- Rock climbing at UW (206-616-7227, website) or REI downtown.
- Watch a movie at the PSC IMAX.
- Laser light show at Pacific Science Center.
- Free summer music concerts in the U-Village Parking lot.
- Drive up 99 at night and look at the lights.
- Visit Cafe Besalu for a breakfast date- best pastries in Seattle.
- Pier in Des Moines, eat at Anthony’s.
- Go shopping with your honey at Pike Place Market, where you'll find a wide variety of beautiful bouquets starting at $5.
- Take a Safeco Field Tour. Adults $9; Children $7
- Take the Ferry and have dinner on an Argosy Cruise around the Sound. Rates are $70-$80 for dinner, and $40-$50 for lunch.
- Space Needle Café Besalu, breakfast date
- Partake in the UW Arts: visit this link for more information on upcoming events. Admission varies.
- Visit 3rd Place Books and find affordable used books!
- Take a class together at the Experimental College- even if you're not students.
- Gun range in Wade, ladies night is Tuesday Arboretum with 1/2 price lane rental and free gun rental (with purchase of Wade's ammo)- husbands love this!
- Motorcycle Show, December 10-12 Qwest Field
- Seattle International Auto Show November 10-14 2010, Qwest Field Event Center
- Go watch Shakespeare in the Park. Macbeth is running from October 8-30th, Thurs- Sun at 8pm. Reservations required. Macbeth will play at 2115 5th Ave, Seattle (right next to Cinerama and across the street from Top Pot Doughnuts).
- Groupon is a great resource for limited-time local coupons. Check back everyday for a different coupon!
- For great music, the tractor tavern in Ballard features lots of local groups and is usually a little cheaper. For more on the music scene, visit the crocodile, neumos, the paramount & the moore, the showbox sodo & the showbox market, key arena & wamu theater (usually bigger ticket bands), the vera project. Sonic Boom record store features in-store preformances, plus there are a ton more little spots all over capitol hill.
- Watch a movie OUTDOORS! Check here for dates, venues, and movies (shows run through September!)
- Watch the Stars at the UW Observatory! (Check the link for open dates and times)
- Ever had a Theo Chocolate? How about a tour of the factory? $6/person, ages 1 and up only. Reservations required for weekend visits.
With your Kids:
- Freddy's Mondays! (Oct 2010 - Apr 2011)Be one of the first 1,000 people to walk through the PSC gates on the first Monday of the month, and receive free admission to permanent exhibits. See this link for exact details.
- Mommy Movies! Have an infant? Really want to see a new release movie? Visit these east-side theaters which offer baby-friendly lower-volume, moderate lighting movie times!
- Columbia City Cinema "Cry Baby Tuesdays" - all shows before 6pm every Tuesday
- Kirkland Parkplace Cinema "Baby's Day at the Movies" 9:45am every other Friday
- Lincoln Square Cinemas "Mothers Day Thursdays" 10am each Thursday
- Seward Park has a refreshing 2.4 mile level path along Lake Washington with beautiful views of Mercer Island and the I-90 bridge. Visit www.seattle.gov//parks for more information.
- Visit Top Pot Donuts for a sweet snack!
- Molly Moon’s for homemade ice cream like Honey Lavender, and Balsamic Strawberry. YUM!
- Visit the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival in Mt. Vernon. Small admission fee, worth the drive.
- Watch the Daffodil Parade in Tacoma & Puyallup, April 9th, 2011
- Visit the Ballard Locks (free) to see beautiful gardens, a fish ladder, and the boat "elevator".
- The Great Train Show, Puyallup fairgrounds, Nov. 13, 2010
- Visit the train museum and take a train ride in Snoqualmie! Weekends only. $12 adults; $8 children
- While you're there, walk to Snoqualmie Falls! free!
- Paint the town in U-Village. (Pottery painting)
- See a play at Seattle Children’s Theatre
- Magnuson Community Center, indoor play place on Fridays
- Visit Mt. Rainier, beautiful in the fall
- Camping on Olympic Peninsula
- Camping on Oregon coast
- Irish Festival March 12, 2011 at the Seattle Center
- Cherry Blossom & Japanese Cultural Festival April 2011, free! at the Seattle Center
- Camping at Dash Point, Saltwater State Park, and Tolt- MacDonald Park
- Seattle International Children's Festival May 9-14, 2011, Seattle Center
- Seafair 2011 Aug 5-7 throughout Seattle
- Chinatown-International District Summer Festival July 10-11, 2010 at Hing Hay Park
- Tibet Fest at the Seattle Center. Visit this link for more info.
- Italian Festival. See here for more information.
- The Lego Convention - Happening 9/30-10/3 at the Seattle Center Exhibit Hall.
- Or, you could just visit the Lego Store at Bellesquare
- Summer Events at the Parks!
Around the Holidays:
- St. Patrick's Day Parade March 17, 2011 at the Seattle Center
Easter:
- Egg Hunts (for kids ages 3-11) at Seattle area Community Centers,10 a.m Saturday before Easter
-
Alki Community Center (with a pancake breakfast starting at 8:30am, $4/person, Under 3 = free), Ballard Community Center, Bitter Lake Community Center Annex,
Delridge Community Center, Garfield Community Center, Green Lake Community Center,
Hiawatha Community Center, High Point Community Center, International District/Chinatown Community Center, Jefferson Community Center (ages 10 and younger. Pancake breakfast to follow egg hunt, $1/person or $5/family), Loyal Heights Community Center, Queen Anne Community Center, Rainier Community Center, South Park Community Center,
Southwest Community Center (with a pancake breakfast starting at 8:30am, $4/person, Under 3 = free), Van Asselt Community Center (ages 10 and under. Pancake breakfast to follow egg hunt, $1/person or $5/family), Yesler Community Center
- The Naval Station Everett Fleet and Family Readiness (F&FR) annual Easter Eggstravaganza,10 am
- Mill Creek’s free Easter Eggstravaganza, 11am
- Vasa Park Easter Egg Hunt, 10am
- Arlington Airport Easter Egg Hunt, 11am
Bremerton Memorial Day Parade, May
Auburn Veteran’s Day Parade, 11am
Halloween:
- Pumpkin patch in Carnation
- For more information on where to find the best corn mazes and pumpkin patches, visit this website: www.pumpkinpatchesandmore.org
Top 5 Seattle Neighborhoods to Trick-or-Treat:
- Wallingford
- Queen Anne
- Magnolia
- University District
- Capitol Hill
- University Village always has trick-or-treating on Halloween night, usually from 4pm-6pm.
Christmas:
- Winterfest 2010! Nov. 26 – Dec. 31 at the Seattle Center includes Ice Skating, Fireside Singing, and other family friendly attractions!
- Tree Lighting Celebration & Holiday Parade November 26, 2010 at the Westlake Center
- Cut your own Christmas tree, Visit www.nwtrees.com
- Christmas Carousel at Westlake Center
- Christmas snow at Pacific Place Mall downtown.
- Gingerbread houses at Sheraton Hotel
- Candy cane tours in Woodinville
- Lighted Ship Parade, Nov 27-Dec 23. See this website to find out when and where you have to be to see them!
Christmas Light Displays:
- Candy Cane Lane, Ravenna Boulevard.
- Garden d'Lights, Bellevue Botanical Garden
- Bellevue Magic Season Snowflake Lane, along Bellevue Way and NE 8th St.
- Clam Lights, Gene Coulon Memorial Beach Park, Renton
New Year's Eve 2010 fireworks at the Seattle Space Needle
Parks:
For more park information, search the City of Seattle Parks guide.
Gas Works Park
Volunteer Park
Interlaken Park- hiking
Magnuson Park
Carkeek Park
Volunteer Park
Interlaken Park- hiking
Magnuson Park
Carkeek Park
Discovery Park
Green Lake, lake activities for rent, 2.8 mile loop around park
Lakewood Park has 18 hold disc golf course
Matthews Beach- life guarded beach
Pratt Park, water spray play area
Jetty Island, free ferry ride
Jetty Island, free ferry ride
Seward Park – nice bicycle ride
Madison Parl- great waterfront and lifeguards in the summer
Madrona Park- great waterfront and lifeguards in the summer
Madison Parl- great waterfront and lifeguards in the summer
Madrona Park- great waterfront and lifeguards in the summer
Museums Free on 1st Thursday:
Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture 10am - 8pm
Experience Music Project 5pm - 8pm
Henry Art Gallery 11am - 8pm
Museum of Flight 10am - 9pm
Museum of History and Industry 10am – 8pm
Henry Art Gallery 11am - 8pm
Museum of Flight 10am - 9pm
Museum of History and Industry 10am – 8pm
Northwest African American Museum 11am - 7pm
Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame 5pm - 8pm
Seattle Art Museum 10am - 9pm
Seattle Asian Art Museum 10am - 9pm
Wing Luke 10am - 8pm
Museum of Glass in Tacoma, third Thursday 5pm - 8pm
Seattle Asian Art Museum 10am - 9pm
Wing Luke 10am - 8pm
Museum of Glass in Tacoma, third Thursday 5pm - 8pm
Bellevue Arts Museum, first Friday 10am – 9pm
