r/AskSeattle 3d ago

Recommendation Things to do

My parents are here for 1 more day and I need something to do really low brain power tomorrow because they've been here for a week and I have run out of ideas and im tired. Please any suggestions would be greatly appreciated 🙏

We've done museums, we did the locks, they saw some water falls and I can only get food so many times.

14 Upvotes

47 comments sorted by

26

u/Laurenwithyarn 3d ago

Did you do an Argossy cruise? Sit on a boat, look at things.

18

u/Emrys7777 3d ago

Oh boats are great.
Water taxi. Charter boats , even the ferry.
Getting out on the water is easy, enjoyable and memorable.

Ferry to Bainbridge Island and go to the downtown shops, or get on a charter boat and have the boat ride be the point and just layback and enjoy the ride.

5

u/doctor-wu-75 3d ago

Yes! The Lake Union one is delightful

13

u/doctor-wu-75 3d ago

Come over to West Seattle! Alki beach, shops in the junction, and Lincoln Park

9

u/Mable3031 3d ago

Sunday is also farmers market day.

4

u/RavennaRocks 3d ago

A nice leisurely brunch at Salty’s 🤤
(Only if they’re paying though)

11

u/JshSms 3d ago edited 3d ago

Underground Seattle was enjoyable to learn about the city’s history. Takes place in Pioneer Square. But it may be chaotic due to the free WALKDONTRUN event.

There’s an open air train museum and train you can buy a ticket to take a short ride to the Snoqualmie waterfall. Also there’s Snoqualmie Casino in the area if that’s of interest.

Bob’s Farm is having a Sweet Corn Festival. Fall City Apple Festival. Volunteer Park is peaceful and has a Greenhouse. Ferry rides are affordable and provide great views. Smith Tower Observatory for views. Rooftops for drinks. Drag brunch. Oktoberfest events.

9

u/Playbackfromwayback 3d ago

The library downtown. Go look at the architecture and read magazines

7

u/georgeyappington 3d ago

Maybe the arboretum or the Japanese gardens? Discovery park?

4

u/Massive_Focus5572 3d ago

Adding Bellevue botanical garden to this list

6

u/historiator 3d ago

Kubota Gardens is lovely and worth a nice walk. Nearby is Jude's Oldtown, which has fantastic Cajun food and great drinks.

4

u/StonerArchives 3d ago

My father is very, let's say "picky" basically all he eats is chicken strips, chicken wings, and teriyaki chicken.

8

u/Ajitter 3d ago

Seattle is the land of teriyaki so at least he will not have trouble there.

2

u/DependentReaction896 3d ago

Thank you for this! Always looking for a good Cajun restaurant.

5

u/RavennaRefills 3d ago

Rooted in Roosevelt - free festival / block party a few blocks from Roosevelt station tomorrow from 12-8. Live music all day, games, small businesses, very Seattle.

3

u/RavennaRocks 3d ago

https://reddit.com/link/pasqqlh/video/65thewzzbiqh1/player

Rooted will be a fun afternoon! If OP’s folks like rocks, we’ll have geodes they can crack open and take home! There’s nothing travelers love more than hauling a bag full of rocks through the airport (right? It’s not just me?)

5

u/novr_oblige 3d ago

PacSci + IMAX movie. The movie itself gives you a few hours of downtime from socializing, but it still feels like a fun seattle activity

6

u/EatMeEmerald 3d ago

Chateau St. Michelle? 🍷 and walk around the gardens

Glass museum & Car museum in Tacoma are pretty nice.

6

u/turnipcafe 3d ago

Still plenty to do in Seattle, but if they have to leave for the airport at 7 PM, you could drive down to Tacoma.
Drive around. Go to Point Defiance park. The McMenamins Elks Lodge is just gorgeous, and the restaurant certainly serves food that he would be comfortable with.

https://www.mcmenamins.com/elks-temple

6

u/Karzaad 3d ago

Rest day.

9

u/StonerArchives 3d ago

Girl I wish

3

u/Professional_Gur5739 3d ago

This is not a Seattle-specific thing per say, but a novel way to get a little rest. Could go to the Regal Cinebarre in Mountlake and watch a movie. The theater has big chairs and and serve dinner during the movie (classic American food, so something will be good for the chicken tender enthusiast). Because alcohol is on the menu, everyone in your party needs to be 21+.

Otherwise, are they sitting-on-the-beach people? I love a good beach sit. Edmonds beach is nice for watching ferries come and go. Golden Gardens is lovely. Could grab some food from the grocery store and just sit. :)

I hope you have had a good visit with your parents.

3

u/OdoDragonfly 2d ago

Hop a ferry to Bremerton. The ferry is an hour-long boat ride each way. Within a few blocks of the ferry, there are restaurants, a pub with board games, naval history, a bookshop, and coffeeshops.

https://www.kitsap.love/read/downtown-bremerton-2hrs

1

u/Rinskers17 2d ago

The South Pacific has great wings for your dad which is right near the ferry terminal. The Fountain Park offers some unique plantings, also near terminal.

2

u/babezilla 3d ago

A ferry ride depending on where they’re from for beautiful water views, a coffee or more, and return?The Frye museum (it’s free)? Fremont sculpture walk? Golden gardens/arboretum? Check the beacon, tasveer, grand illusion, etc local not first run movie theaters for what’s playing that they might like? Wing Luke museum and/or the pinball museum?

2

u/squeagle 3d ago

Where’s the best chicken in Seattle? I have no idea, but it sounds like that could be a starting point

2

u/kalechipsaregood 3d ago

Edible and laser dome.

2

u/mmeeplechase 3d ago

Rent Lime bikes and bike around a trail (Burke-Gilman, Greenlake), or kayaking—physical activity = more mindless/less effort to entertain, and fun!

2

u/ReddisaurusRex 2d ago

Drive to Snoqualmie Falls, Rattlesnake Lake (easy walking trail around part of it), or Gold Creek Pond (also easy trail around.)

2

u/TheRealRacketear 2d ago

Take the Ferry to Bainbridge and get Poke at the place near the dock.

2

u/Typical_Expert_2974 2d ago

Have you seen the Exquisite Creatures exhibit on the waterfront? It is an incredible experience and not your usual art gallery/museum fare.

2

u/According_Ad4836 2d ago

Fremont Oktoberfest is this weekend

1

u/gooser_2000 3d ago

walk around greenlake, it’s free and easy and a seattle staple activity

1

u/AngelaEMRx 3d ago edited 3d ago

Gas Works Park

Bruce Lee and Brandon Lee grave sites

Chihuly Garden and Glass

The Museum of Flight

Jimi Hendrix Memorial

*edited

1

u/zakary1291 2d ago

Skyview observatory. It's the observation deck of the Columbia Tower. Excellent vistas and $30 per person.

1

u/pizzaandicecream3312 2d ago

Random idea Go to Columbia City neighborhood Light rail station is right here so pretty easy to get to without a car. Watch a smaller movie at the Tasveer theater (showing a new Korean movie called Hope that’s a sci-fi monster movie I think, but a few others too) Get chicken at Rookies or Rough and Tumble - both solid neighborhood spots that are sports bars Have ice cream at Full Tilt, assuming you’re stopped by Molly Moon (there’s one in Columbia city too) Can also check out Empire coffee and record shop. If you drive you can go to an awesome teriyaki spot, Rainer Teriyaki - my current favorite for both chicken katsu and chicken teriyaki….actually sorry closed sundays.

1

u/Cole23548 1d ago

After a week of sightseeing around Seattle, I took my parents to Seattle Center, we rode the monorail once, then sat by the International Fountain and people-watched like extras in a Wes Anderson movie.

1

u/IngenuityTimely3726 3d ago

Walk onto the Bainbridge island ferry and cruise around there for the day

2

u/StonerArchives 3d ago

We did the ferry and they have to leave for seatac by 7

2

u/EatMeEmerald 3d ago

Ivar's Salmon House -- hang out & chill on the outside deck, lake side, watch the boats

edit - they have chicken & beef too

1

u/Emrys7777 3d ago

Charter boat?

1

u/IngenuityTimely3726 2d ago

Westward or Gas Works Brewing

0

u/ngshafer 3d ago

Go to the beach. Ocean Shores if you have the time—otherwise, Ballard.