Free Things to Do in Seattle

The Seattle, Washington area is a great place to visit. In addition to the various city attractions, you're only a few hours drive from the coast and the mountains. The best part is it doesn't have to cost a lot to be entertained; there are a lot of free activities to enjoy in the city and in the surrounding area.

Seattle is home to one of the oldest continually operated public markets in the United States. Overlooking Elliot Bay, Pike Place Market opened in 1907 and each level features a unique variety of shops and restaurants. While wandering the market, don't forget to stop in at the Pike Place Fish Market. This open-air fish market is famous for their fishmongers throwing fish that have been purchased before being wrapped.

The Center for Wooden Boats is located on Lake Union. It offers adult and youth workshops and has a library in the Boathouse. It also operates a fleet of historic wooden vessels that are available for rent, but on Sundays, you can sail for free. The sails begins at 2pm, and you can sign up as early as 10am. The boats fill up quickly, so it's best to get your name on the list early.

Several of the area museums offer advertised free admission on certain days of the month. Some examples include the Seattle Art Museum, the Seattle Asian Art Museum, Experience Music Project/Sci Fi, the Museum of Flight and the Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture. A little known fact is that admission at many of the museums is a suggested fee only. If you ask, you may well get in free any day of the week.

Near the Seattle Asian Art Museum is the Lakeview Cemetery, where Bruce Lee is buried.

The Washington Park Arboretum is made up of 230 acres that contain internationally recognized plant collections. It is jointly managed by the UW Botanic Gardens and the City of Seattle's Department of Parks and Recreation, and is always free to the public. 95% of the Arboretum's collections are on display and include rhododendron, azalea, mountain ash, pine, spruce, cedar, fir, crabapple, holly, magnolia, camellia, and Japanese maple. Free guided tours are offered at various times throughout the year.

Benaroya Hall is home to the Seattle Symphony and also features glass art by world-renowned artist Dale Chihuly. The Hall offers free public tours on Tuesdays and Fridays. Also, on select days throughout the year, there are also recital demonstrations of the Symphony's 4,490-pipe Watjen Concert Organ.

The Olympic Sculpture Park is always free to the public. You can wander through the 9-acre park while enjoying views of the city, the Olympic Mountain range and Puget Sound. It's adjacent to Myrtle Edwards Park, which features a bike and walking path where puffins, eagles and gulls are often sighted.

There are also free things to experience in other nearby cities. Renton, about 30 miles south of Seattle, is home of the Jimi Hendrix Memorial.

Directly across Lake Washington, part of the area known as The Eastside, is Bellevue. The Bellevue Botanical Garden is open 7-days a week, and is always free. From April through October, a free tour starts at the visitor center every Saturday and Sunday afternoon. The garden features 53 acres of display gardens, woodlands, meadows and wetlands.

Also in Bellevue is the Kelsey Creek Park and Farm. Barnyard animals are available for viewing daily. There are also programs available for children for nominal fees.

Since you're already on The Eastside, you may as well drive 15 miles north of Bellevue to Woodinville. Woodinville is home to many wineries including Chateau Ste. Michelle, oldest in the area. It offers a 35-minute, no cost tour which ends with a sample of their Columbia Valley wines.

Also in Woodinville is Molbak's, a commercial nursery. Molbak's features hour-ling workshops on various topics and you can explore the 15-acres that include the garden, a restaurant, gift shop and other retail ventures.

With a little creativity, you can fill several days with free activities. Enjoy your stay!

Sources:

http://www.pikeplacemarket.org/frameset.asp?flash=false

http://www.pikeplacefish.com/

http://www.cwb.org/

http://www.seattleartmuseum.org/

http://www.seattleartmuseum.org/visit/visitSAAM.asp

http://www.empsfm.org/

http://www.museumofflight.org/

http://www.washington.edu/burkemuseum/

http://www.seattlesymphony.org/benaroya/tour/

http://www.seattleartmuseum.org/visit/osp/

http://www.lakeviewcemeteryassociation.com/

http://depts.washington.edu/wpa/index.htm

http://www.jimihendrixmemorial.com/

http://www.bellevuebotanical.org/

http://www.ste-michelle.com/http://www.molbaks.com/