#vi. the camp that's as green as ever / camp evergreen.

[smokedfires]

i think we should just stop whatever this is now.

[smokedfires]

@honeysuckleds​  said  :   “  i  wish  this  could  last  forever.  ”  /  ☢ send a symbol for a drabble about our muses.     currently  not  accepting.

i wish this could last forever.   though  it's  fabricated,  she  flashes  a  smile.  she  doesn’t  know  how  to  respond  to  him  without  lying,  and  she  really  doesn’t  want  to  lie  to  him.  as  soon  as  wyatt  looks  away,  her  mouth  relaxes  into  a  frown.  julia  came  here  with  the  expectation  that  in  three  months  she  would  be  out  of  this  hell  hole  and  the  memories  would  be  out  of  her  mind  quicker  than  she  can  down  a  glass  of  champagne.  by  this  time  next  year,  she’d  get  her  trust  fund  and  then  she  wouldn’t  even  be  able  to  remember  she  spent  a  whole,  dreadful  summer  at  camp  evergreen.  if  she  can  recall  it’s  name,  that  is.  and  yet,  it  grew  to  be  much  more  complicated.  wyatt  changed  everything.  god,  he’s  annoying.  he  had  encouraged  her  to  do  things  she  hadn’t  done  before  and  he  was  right  by  her  side  each  and  every  one  of  those  moments.  he  somehow  even  got  her  to  do  boring  camp  activities  because  with  him  they  were  anything  but  boring.  what  was  supposed  to  be  the  worst  experience  of  her  life  turned  out  to  be  the  happiest  one  she’s  had.  she  has  wyatt  and  his  inability  to  give  up  on  her  to  thank  for  that.

it  didn’t  have  to  be  this  way.  it  could  be  simple  again.  julia  has  the  option  of  picking  wyatt  over  her  parents  and  just  letting  the  rest  fall  into  place.  however,  she  still  has  this  little  voice  in  the  back  of  her  head  reminding  her  how  good  life  is  back  at  home,  how  perfect  it  is.  for  a  long  time,  she’s  held  her  past  on  a  pedestal  and  that’s  why  no  matter  how  extraordinary  being  with  wyatt  is,  she  has  to  return  home.  it’s  too  comfortable  not  to.  he  may  have  broken  her  out  a  shell,  but  nothing  can  take  her  from  her  lavish  lifestyle.  she  was  going  to  go  home  and  all  aspects  of  her  world  were  to  remain  the  same.  she  shouldn’t  have  been  so  stupid.  it’s  her  own  fault  for  getting  herself  mixed  up  with  some  random  guy.  it’s  like  she  told  ivy:  this  is  camp,  this  isn’t  the  real  world.  she  got  lost  in  this  daydream,  now  it  was  time  to  wake  up.

except  she  can’t  help  thinking  he’s  not  just  some  guy.  as  she  lay  next  to  him,  an  arm  around  her  shoulder  keeping  her  close,  this  doesn’t  feel  like  she’s  dreaming.  so,  maybe  she  can  reply  without  outright  lying.  she  does  want  to  stay  like  this  forever.  the  only  problem  being  that  she  knows,  deep  down,  it’s  not  going  to  happen.  the  truth  is  unavoidable  and  this  is  going  to  be  their  last  conversation  before  the  sun  rises  and  julia  breaks  the  news.  and  probably  his  heart  in  the  process.  it’s  kinda  sad,  he  has  no  idea  what  is  in  store  for  him  tomorrow  morning.  she  keeps  putting  off  their  goodbye  in  order  to  spare  his  feelings,  at  least  that’s  what  she  tells  herself.  honestly,  she  wants  to  spend  as  much  time  with  him  as  possible  because  she  did––––   does––––  like  him.  procrastinating  and  dragging  it  out  until  the  last  minute  had  been  her  plan  since  she  realized  how  she  felt  about  him.  and  also  a  little  part  of  her  believed  that  maybe  he  would  get  sick  of  her  and  finish  it  for  himself.  no  one  else  had  put  up  with  her  for  a  whole  summer  and  it  would’ve  made  their  situation  much,  much  easier  for  her.  but  considering  the  fact  they  were  currently  falling  asleep  next  to  each  other,  that  wasn’t  the  case.  it’s  going  to  be  awful.  sure,  hurting  others  is  second  nature  to  julia,  but  not  with  wyatt.  hurting  him  is  different.  although,  that  wasn’t  going  to  stop  her.

“     me  too.     ”

my muse tells your muse that they need to break up.   julia  didn’t  get  any  sleep  that  night.  she  spent  most  of  it  staring  at  the  ceiling.  the  thought  of  what  she  was  going  to  tell  him  in  a  few  hours  was  too  much  stress  to  even  keep  her  eyes  closed.  once  she  decided  there  was  going  to  be  no  sleeping  for  her,  she  snuck  out  from  under  wyatt’s  embrace  and  his  cabin.  it  was  far  past  curfew,  but  when  did  she  ever  care  about  the  rules  of  camp?  seriously,  what  were  they  going  to  do?  kick  her  out  on  the  last  day?  no  way  in  hell.  at  first,  she  believed  stopping  by  a  few  of  the  places  with  the  best  memories  would  be  the  best  choice  for  a  night  like  this.  like  most  of  julia’s  ideas,  it  was  a  bad  one.  it  ended  up  upsetting  her  more.  having  been  reminded  of  her  favorite  things  made  the  reality  of  leaving  tug  at  her  heart  strings.  all  she  ever  wanted  since  stepping  foot  at  this  place  was  to  go  home.  now,  not  being  here  seems  impossible.


the  sun  began  to  come  up  over  the  horizon  as  she  gently  swung  on  the  hammock  she  and  wyatt  had  fallen  asleep  at  on  a  few  occasions.  it  also  happened  to  be  the  place  she  very  aggressively  forced  him  to  make  the  first  move  between  them.  ew,  being  sad  is  not  it.  julia  quickly  rose  to  her  feet  and  took  the  usual  path  to  her  cabin.  there’s  no  better  time  than  the  present  to  start  packing.  and  it’s  going  to  take  a  while  to  put  her  ridiculous  amount  of  belonging  in  their  appropriate  bags.  that’s  when  she  reached  under  her  bed  and  came  across  those  shoes––––  the  same  shoes  one  of  the  nasty  campers  threw  up  on.  the  shoes  wyatt  cleaned  and  then  flipped  her  life  upside  down.

the  click  of  the  screen  door  causes  julia  to  jump,  slightly.  she  wasn’t  expecting  someone  to  come  in  so  early  and  the  sound  startles  her.  she  turns  to  see  what  monster  is  up  at  this  hour  to  bother  her.  wyatt,  of  course.  she  forgotten  he  woke  at  the  ass  crack  of  dawn.  when  he  asks  her  where  she’d  run  off  to  this  morning,  she  gulps.      “     i...     ”      julia  cautiously  places  her  jimmy  choos  on  top  of  the  luggage  and  shrugs.  pretending  there  was  nothing  wrong  is  starting  to  eat  away  at  her,  she  can’t  put  this  show  on  for  much  longer.  it  had  to  end  now.      “     i’m  sorry,     ”      any  signs  of  gratitude  disappears  from  her  features  and  she  takes  a  step  back,      “     i  can’t.     ”      there’s  a  pause  as  she  takes  a  deep  breath.  she  has  to  be  as  stoic  as  ever,  or  else  he’d  alter  the  decision  with  ease.      “     i  can’t  do  this.     ”

“     we’re  leaving  today,  so  i  think  we  should  just  stop  whatever  this  is  now.     ”

[smokedfires]

the  best  of   ≡   camp  evergreen

“so, c'mon. which one of you has had the pleasure of boarding the s.s. siddel more than once? go ahead and drink up, wyatt. we all know you have for sure.”

[smokedfires]

it’s still the place that jasmine and i share a cabin with eight-legged bugs who are less scary than what they serve us for lunch. but it’s just, like, i don’t mind being here because you’re here.

[smokedfires]

three  years  of  camp  evergreen  (2018-)

[smokedfires]

"You're not alone, you know." - for jas and julia 👍🏽

and in that instant, guilt floods over julia like a tidal wave. she rarely felt bad about her wrongdoings but this was an exception. jasmine, aware of how julia set her up in the past, is now standing here in front of her and providing a safe space when she didn’t even realize she so desperately needed one. “god, i’m sorry, jas,” she gives in to the feeling of remorse, changing the direction of where this conversation was headed but staying on topic. “i’m sorry about how awful this summer and i have been.” if this were a month and a half ago, julia would have shrugged off the statement, letting it go in one ear and out the other. this julia, the version that’s reaching for jasmine’s hands, experienced a whirlwind of new, unfamiliar emotions in a mere six weeks and had the other girl to thank for that. before jasmine came along, the closest thing she had to a real friend had been the people she met through her parents. they, unsurprisingly, had to approve of any one who came into her life. these ‘friends’ were usually the children of the carlisle’s employees, which obviously meant all her friends were just as privileged and coldhearted as she once was. and these arranged friendships always took a turn for the worst when the friend’s parents lost their jobs  ( where julia’s dad loved every minute of the firing process )  then never spoke to her again. losing friends didn’t really bother her though, since they were all so replaceable. it was sad but julia didn’t have any real friendships in her lifetime, no meaningful ones at least. they only consisted of the surface level things–––– clothes, make up, popularity. with jasmine, it’s the complete opposite. of course she knew she isn’t alone because anywhere jasmine was, she had a friend there. she smiles, squeezing jasmines hands gently, “promise me, when summer is over, we’ll still be friends?”

𝐒𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐄   𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐒    &    𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐌𝐏𝐓𝐒    :    ACCEPTING.

[smokedfires]

muses   &   social  media  series    ›    julia  carlisle.

[smokedfires]

⋆          @𝐄𝐓𝐇𝐂𝐑𝐄𝐕𝐋𝐒   𝐀𝐒𝐊𝐄𝐃        :        ‘  maybe we should find the person who stole your positive attitude.  ’   wyatt  x  julia

“  when have you ever known me to have a positive attitude?  ”   she throws her hands up in despair, genuinely wondering how he could answer the question in favor of his side of the argument. julia sits on a worn out beach chair at the edge of the dock. she has been, for a while now, at the request of wyatt. he told her he had something very important to do and wanted her to be there when he did it. and yet when she readily agreed, she didn’t envision the task taking–––– julia lifts her phone from her lap, her eyes fixate to the time flashing on the screen–––– an hour and twenty eight minutes.   “  and i’m sorry, wyatt, but seriously... how much longer do you need me here to watch you land your perfect cannonball?  ”

[smokedfires]

❛ you always pretend you don’t care but i know you do. ❜ and ❛ you didn’t miss me, not even a little? ❜ for wyatt and julia :p

dinner is the usual; reheated vomit with a side of trash. julia took one bite and it was so hard to keep down that her eyes began to water. a mistake she makes every night, stupidly assuming the food would somehow get better over night. after the taste test, she opts out at finishing and decides to uses her fork to swirl the food around the plate as she listens to wyatt ramble on and on, about something stupid a camper of his did today, with his mouth full, obviously. moments later, out of the corner of her eye, she recognizes a familiar figure passing by. her gaze moves from the tray of food, towards the silhouette, to establish who it is. jasmine. their relationship had become somewhat strained, you could say, after that brilliant  ‘ prank ’  of hers, but julia doesn’t understand why. she truly believes she should be receiving praises and thanks for what she’s done. she did the girl a favor by showing her how untrustworthy her friends are–––– ignoring the paradoxical fact that, in order to do it, she flat out lied. “jasmine,” she calls out, loud enough to be heard by the other. when jasmine turns her head to see where the voice is coming from, julia drops the useless utensil and waves her down with a cordial smile. “over here!” regardless of her effort, jasmine looks away, maintaining an emotionless expression, and keeps walking. she examines her path, until she sees she’s taken a seat with a few of their fellow counselors instead. “ugh,” julia groans, withdrawing the smile she had worn, and flips her hair over her shoulder. she doesn’t address the incident, but wyatt is practically on her lap; of course he saw the whole thing play out.    you always pretend you don’t care but i know you do.    his remark is made ever so softly (and thankfully after swallowing his food) into her ear.

he’s annoyingly right. he typically is, and she hates that about him. she hates how admirable the quality he possesses is; partially due to her constant demand to be right and unwanted habit of simultaneously being twice as stubborn. therefore, when she takes the opposing side, to spite him, she’s the person who is completely and embarrassingly wrong. meaning, either way she loses. and addition to that, she hates it partially because she doesn’t want to admire him at all. yet here he is–––– clashing-colored hawaiian shirt, collar half sticking up and half folded down, disheveled hair long enough to block his vision, and eating with his hands by choice–––– compelling her to think otherwise. it’d be easier to tell him the truth:    yeah, wyatt, you’re right. i do care, a lot, and you know me as well as you think you do. maybe more.    except, she wouldn’t be julia carlisle if she did. alternately, she locks eyes with him and lean in as close as she can without meeting his lips, but seeming as though she just might. before wyatt can react, she peers up at a small lock of his hair that’s fallen against his forehead, and almost in front of his eyes. angling her body away from him once again, julia takes the strand and wraps it around one of her fingers, which is quite literally where she has him. “you don’t know anything,” she whispers in response and then straightens her posture, letting go of any hold she had on him. he’s seen through the act tons of times and he’ll probably see through this act, too. nevertheless, she has no more to say on the topic. out loud, at least. she could go on to tell herself she has found a friend in jasmine, but she’s totally taken that for granted and is scared it’s irreparable. similar to wyatt, jasmine means something to julia, and she knows how important a friendship such as theirs can be. and in the end, the scary truth remains, if that thought didn’t stop her from jeopardizing that with jasmine, what makes her think it will when it comes to wyatt?

𝐒𝐇𝐈𝐏   𝐒𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐄   𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐌𝐏𝐓𝐒    :    ACCEPTING  .

❛    you  didn’t  miss  me,  not  even  a  little?    ❜

“what? no… are you doing one of your joke-things?” she turns around, hiding the bright, giddy smile that’s now taken over her face. it isn’t until this moment that she spots his t-shirt on her bed. truth is, julia had missed him. she missed him so much that she wore an article of his clothing to bed the night before. which says a lot about their relationship considering the shirt is not only used, but ugly. she tries her best to grab it sooner than wyatt can notice it there, yet slightly fumbles over her own two feet in the process. julia gracefully saves herself, landing straight up on her bed, and tucks the shirt behind her back. by the smirk displayed on wyatt’s features, he’s clearly aware of exactly what’s happened here. taking a deep breath, she brings the shirt onto her lap and stares down at it. “fine, big foot, you win,” she stands in front of him and slips the shirt on over her head, ruffling up her previously perfect hair in the process. she didn’t mind being uncharacteristically unsophisticated around him, he’s made it obvious that no matter what she did or how imperfect she let herself be, he’d still like her. letting the shirt flow over her white dress, julia shrugs, “i missed you— i missed you, but only a little.”

[smokedfires]

the best of   ≡   julia carlisle (camp evergreen)

surprise, surprise; the rigid bitch apple didn’t fall far from the tree.

[smokedfires]

the real world sucks; you’re gonna love it––––   julia   &   jasmine.

     though it was obvious the two had come from two completely different worlds and were fairly opposite on everything, jasmine could see them becoming pretty good friends by the end of the summer.   ( @melodramctics )

[charllieeldridge]

Seattle Attractions: 15 Top Things To Do in The Emerald City

Known as the Emerald City, Seattle just might be the most scenic metropolitan area in the United States. The largest city in the Pacific Northwest is surrounded by evergreen forests, mountains, and water. In addition to its natural beauty, there are also plenty of excellent Seattle attractions to visit.

As the name would suggest, Seattle is home to plenty of green spaces. As a matter of fact, there are hundreds of parks here! If you love the great outdoors, there’s no shortage of great places to visit in Seattle. 

In this guide, I’ll introduce some of the top Seattle attractions along with lots of practical info to help you plan a great trip to the Emerald City.

Introduction to Seattle

Seattle is located between Puget Sound and Lake Washington and has the Olympic Mountains to the west and Cascades to the east, making for some postcard-worthy scenery around every corner.

Unfortunately, it’s true that it rains quite often here. Don’t let it rain on your parade, though  — there are tons of great museums and other indoor activities to keep you busy when it gets a bit wet. 

Seattle is also well-known for its music and sports. The grunge era started here with bands like Pearl Jam and Nirvana and it’s now a hub for indie music and underground hip-hop. Seattle fans are some of the loudest in the country as they show their unwavering support for teams like the Seahawks and Sounders.

I’ve been to cities all over my home country from coast to coast (including Denver, Detroit, Austin, Asheville, Boston, New Orleans and many more), and Seattle is definitely among my favorites. It really is amazing how you can enjoy all the amenities of a big city and yet so easily get out in nature.

Here we go, here��s a list of the top 15 things to see and do in Seattle:

1. Visit the Space Needle

Without a doubt, the most iconic landmark in Seattle is the Space Needle. Built for the 1962 edition of the World’s Fair, it has been a fixture in the city’s skyline ever since.

The observation deck is 520 feet (158 meters) tall, so you get to enjoy 360-degree panoramic views. On a clear day, you can see the entire city along with natural wonders such as Lake Union and Mt. Rainier. 

While the Space Needle has always been one of the top places to visit in Seattle, it’s even cooler now thanks to some serious renovations. A recent multi-million dollar upgrade gave the famous tower The Loupe — the first rotating glass floor in the world. They also added wall-to-ceiling glass and the new Skyrisers, which are tilting glass benches that provide for some unreal views of the city.

The Space Needle is open daily from 8 AM-Midnight, with the last entry at 11:15. Tickets range from $32.50-37.50 for adults and $24.50-28.50 for children. Click here for directions. There are several options for combo tickets with other Seattle attractions, so check their website for all the details.

2. Check Out The Seattle Center

The Space Needle is just one part of the massive Seattle Center. This hub of education, art, and entertainment has so much going on that you could easily spend an entire day here and still not do it all.

One of the top Seattle attractions you’ll find here is the International Fountain. At different points throughout the day, the fountain is synchronized to music, making for a great show that’s fun for all ages. 

The Seattle Center is also home to Artists at Play — a funky playground designed by artists. There’s a climbing tower, labyrinth, carousel, and much more here. Best of all, it’s totally free! 

There’s much more to see and do here, including several different museums. Don’t miss the excellent Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Discovery Center. They run free group tours from Tuesday-Saturday at 2:00 PM and it’s always free to visit.

In addition to all the different attractions here, the Seattle Center also hosts thousands of events and programs throughout the year. Concerts, fitness classes, movies, festivals, and more are on tap here. Be sure to check their event calendar to see what’s going on.

3. See Chihuly Garden

One of the most popular places to visit in Seattle is the Chihuly Garden & Glass Museum. It’s dedicated to the stunning glasswork of Dale Chihuly, whose work can be seen in over 200 museums around the world.

The museum is split into three different areas — the Garden, Interior Exhibits, and the incredible Glasshouse. There’s also a theater that’s constantly showing short videos of Chihuly and his work. You’ll definitely want to carve out a couple of hours to take it all in. 

The museum is open from 8:30am – 8:30pm Monday to Thursday and stays open an hour later on the weekend. Tickets cost $32 for adults and $19 for children, or $22 and $14 if visiting after 6:00pm. Skip the line by booking tickets in advance online on their website.

They also offer a great free audio tour that you should play during your visit. If you’d prefer to explore with a real-life guide, they run group tours daily at 11 AM for $74/person. These include a book on the exhibition as well as a digital photo with the artwork for a nice keepsake.

4. Join a Food Tour

One of the most fun things to do in Seattle is eating your way across the city on a food tour. Eat Seattle comes highly recommended and has several different options for food tours in the Emerald City.

Their signature tour of Pike Place Market Chef Guided Food Tour lasts two hours and includes numerous bites. Along the way, you’ll learn all about the history and culture of the market, find some small businesses and enjoy sampling all of the amazing foods on offer. 

Another solid option is their Chef Guided Food Tour of Pike Place Market with Beer & Wine, which includes microbrews and wines, plus tasty bites at each stop. 

These are the top 2 foodie tours with Eat Seattle — one with booze, one without.

5. Visit The Museum of Pop Culture

Formerly known as the EMP (Experience Music Project), the Museum of Pop Culture is one of the best Seattle attractions around. Before you head inside, you’ll want to take some time to admire the stunning building from world-famous architect Frank Gehry.

Once you step inside the museum, which also goes by MoPOP, you’ll notice the impressive guitar sculpture called “If VI Was IX.” There are over 500 instruments making up this tornado-like sculpture! 

Speaking of music, the museum has several permanent exhibits dedicated to Seattle’s most famous rockers — Jimi Hendrix, Nirvana, and Pearl Jam. You can even channel your inner rockstar in their Sound Lab or take your picture in front of a packed audience in their On Stage area. 

That’s not all, though. MoPop also has exhibits on fantasy, science fiction, horror, video games, comedy, and much, much more. I’ve been to a lot of museums in my travels, and this one is definitely my favorite. Be sure to add it to your list of fun things to do in Seattle.

MoPOP is open daily from 10 AM-7 PM between late May and early September. They close up at 5 for the rest of the year. Tickets cost $30 for adults and $21 for children. You can save two bucks per ticket if you book them online. Click here to get directions.

6. Pike Place Market – One of the most famous Seattle attractions!

One of the top places to visit in Seattle is Pike Place Market. Dating all the way back to 1907, this is one of the oldest public farmers’ markets in the United States. 

By shopping at Pike Place Market, you’re doing much more than just checking off one of the best Seattle attractions. You’re supporting local farmers, artisans, and small businesses as well! 

There’s so much to see (and taste) here that you’ll want to make sure you come hungry and stay awhile. In addition to the farmers’ market and crafts market, there are 80 restaurants and over 200 unique shops. With so many options, it can be a bit intimidating. Don’t miss a food tour (listed above at #4) of this market. 

It’s much more than just a market, actually. It’s a community with lots of excellent initiatives, such as a senior center, food bank, and pre-school. If you want to show some extra love, pay a visit to Rachel the Piggybank. Rub her snout and make a donation, and legend has it you’ll have good luck.

The market is only closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas. It officially gets going at 9 AM, but you can come here as early as 6 for breakfast if you’re an early riser. Head over to their website to plan your visit and browse all the various options. You can find Pike Place Market on the map here.

7. Enjoy the Waterfront Park

After exploring Pike Place, you’re just a short walk from the next spot on our list of Seattle attractions — Waterfront Park. There are several benches and picnic tables here, so it’s the perfect place to sit down and enjoy whatever delicious food you picked up at the market.

The park is home to two different platforms where you can enjoy some fantastic views. On a clear day, you can even see the Olympic Mountains in the distance. There are coin-operated telescopes here to help you get an even better look at the surroundings. Be sure to check out the Waterfront Fountain as well.

One of the most fun things to do in Seattle is taking a ride on the Seattle Great Wheel. This giant Ferris wheel is open from 10 AM-11 PM Sunday to Thursday and until midnight on the weekend. Tickets cost $14 for adults and $9 for kids. You also have the option of splurging for a VIP ticket ($50) for their luxury gondola and a souvenir t-shirt.

Waterfront Park is a great spot to unwind after a big day taking of sightseeing in the Emerald City. It’s located between Pier 57 and 59. Click here to get directions.

8. Day Trip to Mount Rainier 

If you have some extra time in Seattle, consider doing a full day trip out to Mount Rainier which is an active stratovolcano in the Mount Rainier National Park. This towering volcano is 14,400 ft (4,390m) and in the National Park, you’ll find numerous activities on offer, including hiking, camping and rock climbing.

For travellers on a day trip, hiking along one of the many trails is a top choice. During the winter months, you can trade-in your hiking boots for show shoes and still enjoy the trails. 

The highly-rated Evergreen Escapes runs full-day, small group tours to Mount Rainier, which are tailored to your fitness levels. Included in the trip is transportation, a knowledgeable naturalist, lunch, snacks, and entrance fees. To learn more about this top trip from Seattle, click here, or on the image below.

  9. Take a Cruise

While Seattle looks great on land, it looks even better from the water! Taking a cruise around Elliot Bay and the Puget Sound is easily one of the most fun things to do in Seattle.

Your options for a cruise range from a simple 1-hour harbor trip to overnight getaways. On the budget end, you can simply take one of the local ferries to enjoy the views. The ferry to Bainbridge Island only costs $8.50 for adults and $4.25 for children, and the return trip is free. It’s a nice way to spend an afternoon without spending a ton of cash.

Argosy Cruises has been in business for 70 years and their tours come highly recommended. They have seven different options, including their 2.5-hour cruise of the Ballard Locks ($47) where you’ll enjoy a fully narrated trip, and experience a boat elevator as the ship rises or drops based on the tides. 

Argosy Cruises also offers a 1-hour harbour cruise through the Puget Sound ($34), offering amazing views of the Seattle skyline, and on clear days, of Mount Rainier.

10. Walk Through Washington Park Arboretum

The Washington Park Arboretum is definitely one of the most beautiful Seattle attractions to visit. This scenic park has miles upon miles of trails and is a living collection of plants. It’s a prime example of why Seattle is known as the Emerald City and a lovely place to spend a few hours.

Spring is a very popular time to visit the park thanks to the azaleas that are in bloom. Come here in the fall and you’ll see Japanese maples and strawberry trees, creating a vibrant tapestry of colors.

The arboretum is open daily from dawn to dusk and is totally free to visit. They also have several different tours and classes as well as options for birding and boating. Check their website for all the details. 

While you’re here, it’s well worth it to pay the entrance fee for the Japanese Garden ($8 for adults and $4 for children). They have free guided tours from April to October at 12:30, and you can also enjoy a traditional Japanese tea ceremony here for an extra $10. It’s a little slice of Japan right here in Seattle!

Click here to get directions to the arboretum. The Japanese Garden is in the southwest corner of the park. Be sure to add a stop here to your list of places to visit in Seattle.

11. Visit the Seattle Art Museum

Art lovers will want to experience SAM. The Seattle Art Museum actually consists of three different facilities — the main museum, the Asian Art Museum, and the Olympic Sculpture Park.

At the main museum, you’ll find an impressive collection of art from all corners of the globe. It’s known for the extensive collections of Native American and Northwest Coast art. There are over 25,000 different works of art on display here, so take your time.

In addition to the main museum, you can also pay a visit to the Olympic Sculpture Park. It’s located just a mile away (click here for directions), so it’s easy to visit both. Once an industrial site, it’s now a free public park full of unique sculptures. 

The Asian Art Museum is currently closed for renovations, but it will re-open this fall. Keep an eye on their website for more details.

The art museum is open from 10 AM-5 PM on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday-Sunday. It’s closed on Tuesday but stays open until 9 PM on Thursday. Tickets are $29.99 for adults, $19.99 for students and teens ages 15-18, and free for kids 14 and under. If you happen to be in town on the first Thursday of the month, it’s free for everyone! Click here for directions.

12. Visit The Museum of Flight

If you’re interested in air and space, you’ll want to include the Museum of Flight to your Seattle itinerary. There are over 150 aircraft on display here along with thousands of artifacts and photos.

There’s enough to see and do to spend several hours here, so this is a great option for those frequent rainy days in Seattle. A major highlight is the Aviation Pavilion, which features an impressive collection of rare airplanes. There are WWII bombers, the first Boeing 747, and even the first jet Air Force One. You can even board some of them!

In addition to all the aircraft, they have plenty of interesting exhibits to check out, which change frequently. Click here to view a list of current exhibits and see what’s coming up.

For those airplane fanatics, you can also visit the Boeing Factory which is about 30 miles (50km) from Seattle. On the tour, you’ll check out the Boeing factory with a local guide and see planes at various stages of assembly! Plus, you’ll wander around the 28,000-square-foot Aviation Gallery and check out the exhibits and displays. Learn more about this tour here. 

The Museum of Flight is open daily from 10 AM-5 PM. Tickets cost $25 for adults and $16 for children. On the first Thursday of every month, the museum remains open from 5-9 PM and it’s totally free to enter. Click here to buy your tickets online for one of the best Seattle attractions. You can find the Museum of Flight on the map here.

13. Watch Some Professional Sports

People in Seattle are crazy about their sports, and they express their love for their teams very loudly. In fact, Seahawks fans have twice set the Guinness World Record for loudest crowd noise at a sporting event. The team refers to their passionate fans as the “12s,” as they basically act as the 12th player.

The Seahawks (NFL) play their home games at CenturyLink Field. The stadium is also home to the Seattle Sounders FC, who have been selling out home games since their debut in MLS ten years ago. If you can manage to score a ticket, you’re in for a good time.

During the summer months, you can catch the Mariners (MLS) at T-Mobile Park. With around 80 home games per season, there’s a good chance they’ll be in town if you’re visiting between May and September. 

Fun fact: the Seattle Metropolitans were the first American team to win the Stanley Cup way back in 1917. The NHL wasn’t even a thing at that time, as it got started later that year. The city will finally have an NHL team starting with the 2021 – 2022 season, which will play at the New Arena in the Seattle Center.

14. Experience Discovery Park

While there are plenty of excellent green spaces in the Emerald City, Discovery Park really takes the cake. This is the largest park in the city and is home to around 12 miles of excellent trails. It also has beaches, sand dunes, cliffs, meadows, and much more. 

If it’s your first time at the park, your best bet is starting out with the Loop Trail. This 2.8 mile-long trail goes through the center of the park and branches out to other trails if you feel like exploring further. Try to make it all the way out to the West Point Lighthouse, where you can enjoy some incredible views of the mountains and water.

Discovery Park is located on Magnolia Bluff overlooking the Puget Sound, click here for directions. It’s definitely one of the most picturesque of all the Seattle attractions and is well worth the effort to reach.

15. Join an Underground Tour

Rounding out our list of fun things to do in Seattle is taking an interesting underground tour. 

Beneath The Streets is one of the most popular Seattle attractions. On this fun and educational tour, you’ll explore subterranean sidewalks and storefronts that were built on top of after the Great Fire of 1889. 

This one hour tour takes you beneath Seattle’s streets to explore three underground passageways, dating back to the 1890s. This highly-rated tour is fun for everyone and affordable at $21. Click here to learn more about the tour, or click the image below.

Ready for Seattle?

These are just some of the many Seattle attractions that await you. There’s a lot more going on in the Emerald City, including plenty of other parks, beaches, museums, tours, and a whole lot more. 

With some more time in Seattle, you can also take advantage of the many amazing day-trip opportunities. Within a few hours, you can find yourself exploring Mt. Rainier or Olympic National Park. Or perhaps you’d rather go visit a waterfall or soak in a hot spring. The options for adventure really are endless!

If you’ve been to Seattle and have a great recommendation for things to do, leave a comment below!

*Images in this post are courtesy of Shutterstock.

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