Home of exciting Fremont Troll, Post Alley Gum Wall, Fly beside Mount Rainier in a hot air balloon and lots of things to do in Seattle on Memorial Day. We've compiled some of the best activities to do in Seattle on this Memorial Day holiday.
The Fremont Troll is one of those things you just have to see if you’re in the area. In true troll fashion, this grumpy beast lives beneath a bridge in the Fremont neighborhood. You can find him hiding under the north end of the George Washington Memorial Bridge.
Seattle is full of all sorts of quirky sights and photo ops, but the most famous (and accessible!) is arguably the Post Alley Gum Wall.
While it’s definitely no secret, the gum wall is a quirky stop to make during your visit to Seattle during Memorial Day. Plus, it’s right around the corner from Pike Place, so you really can’t miss it.
It takes something special to get us up before sunrise, but we’d definitely make an exception for this experience.
Flying in a hot air balloon at sunrise directly in front of Mount Rainier is what dreams are made of.
You’ll launch just prior to sunrise, which gives you the opportunity to view cotton candy skies from thousands of feet. Not only do they fly right in front of Mt. Rainier, but you’ll also float over rivers, lakes, and forests.
A visit to Seattle on Memorial Day weekend would be incomplete without stepping foot in this iconic market. Did you know it is the oldest continuously-operating market in the United States? Crazy, huh?!
Super touristy? Yes. Worth a visit? Yes! Arguably the most famous farmers market in America, Pike Place is one of the can’t-miss things to do in Seattle on Memorial Day.
The most famous attraction here are the fishmongers who toss the fresh catch of the day between each other when a customer makes a purchase. I remember visiting Pike Place as a child and being wowed by this, and I was pleased to find that they’re still flingin’ those fish nearly two decades later. Get your camera out to capture those flying fish because it’s quite the sight!
If aerial seafood doesn’t impress you, walk down the rows of fresh produce, locally-made cheese and artisan goods and you’re sure to find something that piques your interest.
If you happen to be in Seattle on Memorial Day weekend, try to make it to the Fremont Sunday Flea Market and we don’t think you’ll be disappointed!
With up to 200 vendors selling antiques, collectibles and other goods, this is the coolest market in you’ll have fun scoping out the quirkiest treasures you can find (as well as sniffing out the best-smelling food!). Open rain or shine, all year long, Seattle’s coolest market (in our opinion!) has been in operation since 1990.
For sweeping views of the skyline famously punctuated with the Space Needle, Kerry Park is the place to be. Here you’ll get some killer views of the Seattle skyline and Mount Rainier looming in the distance (if you’re lucky enough to have a clear day!).
Don’t let the big views fool you – this park is perched on a tiny little slice of land, so you don’t need to allot much more time here than it takes your camera shutter to click. And boom, you’ve captured one of the most Instagrammable spots in Seattle area during Memorial Day!
But on the other hand, if you’re looking for time to kill with a killer view, Kerry Park makes a great setting for a picnic!
Seattle is a city with a lots of green space, so you’ll have no problem finding parks for picnicking and people watching. But if you’re looking for a park that’s out of the ordinary, here is a park with a bit more character than most.
Located on the north shore of Lake Union, this park is the site of the former Seattle Gas Light Company plant. It’s cooler than it sounds, trust us. The old plant structures are still intact, though a little graffiti “decoration” has been added for… color?
On a nice day, you’ll see people in Gasworks Park flying kites, enjoying picnics on the lawn and taking in the unique view of Seattle that many tourists miss.
One of the top things to do in Seattle for first-time visitors is to take a walking tour.
We love going on Free Walking Tours in cities we’ve never visited before. We find it gives us a lay of the land and helps us set our bearings. Plus, the guides usually share local tips and interesting history that you can’t get elsewhere.
Sometimes if we really like the guide, we stay afterwards and pick their brains about their go-to restaurants and bars in town so we have the local inside scoop!
There are a few Seattle Free Walking Tours to choose from:
Spend a sunny day at Alki Beach
If Seattle is enjoying a beautiful day, head to Alki Beach to soak up the sun, see the city from a unique perspective and experience a different feel than the rest of the city. We found the vibe to be hipster meets Jersey Shore and the crowd to be more locals than tourists.
Relax on the sand, use one of the public grills and picnic tables or sip on an iced coconut Americano from Ampersand coffee shop. If you’re in the mood for a beer, head over to West Seattle Brewing Company to enjoy the laid-back patio atmosphere and a cold brew.
And in the evening, you can enjoy a bonfire on the beach and watch the sunset from your sandy seat.
Spot the iconic Space Needle from below (or go to the top!)
This iconic building is an integral piece of the Seattle skyline, and you can either opt to see it from the ground (like we did), or get up in there and take in the view of Mount Rainier (on a clear day) from 520 feet in the air on the observation deck.
Tickets cost for the Space Needle is $36 for adults and $28 for kids.
If you want to check out a few more popular things to do in Seattle, like the Chihuly Gardens and Glass, Seattle Aquarium and take a harbor tour, you might want to look into getting the Seattle CityPASS. The CityPASS saves you $95 for adults and $52 for kids on 5 of the most popular attractions in Seattle. Buy your CityPASS online today.
