Adventures are always better with a view, and Seattle offers plenty of those.

While Seattle is often recognized for the Space Needle and Starbucks, there's so much more that makes this city unique. Nestled on Puget Sound in the Pacific Northwest, Seattle is surrounded by water, mountains, and evergreen forests, with thousands of acres of parkland. As Washington State's largest city, it boasts a thriving tech industry, with giants like Microsoft and Amazon headquartered in the metropolitan area. Of course, the Space Needle, a legacy of the 1962 World’s Fair, remains its most iconic landmark.

Here are a few fun facts we picked up during our time in Seattle:

Seattle has more houseboats than any other city in the world.
Pike Place Market was created to combat overpriced onions.
The bronze pig and the flying fish at Pike Place Market have some interesting backstories.
Despite the rain, Seattleites buy more sunglasses than residents of any other city in the world.
Seattle is home to the world’s longest permanent floating bridge.
Cities like Houston, New York, Atlanta, and Boston receive more rainfall annually than Seattle.
The Space Needle was initially sketched on a cocktail napkin.
Seattle is the birthplace of Starbucks.

Our day began with a beautiful, sunny 75-degree morning—proving that Seattle doesn't always live up to its rainy reputation. While the city does have its fair share of gray days, it only averages about 38 inches of rain per year.

We kicked off our morning at Top Pot, a local favorite for doughnuts. With several locations around Seattle, we chose the South Lake Union/Terry Ave spot. I asked the barista to surprise me with a sweet, coffee-based drink, and the result was delicious! We opted for the half-dozen special, but those doughnuts were huge—we could have easily done with just one each. While we’ve sampled many specialty doughnuts across the U.S., we all agreed that these were just okay.

Artists at Play Playground

Our next stop was the Seattle Center, where we secured a time slot for the Space Needle. With nearly two hours to spare before our turn, we walked over to the nearby Artists at Play playground. This imaginative, artist-designed playground offers active, free fun for all ages. It’s located in Next 50 Plaza, between the Museum of Pop Culture (MoPOP) and Seattle Center Armory. Initially, the twins were hesitant to climb the rope structure leading to the slides, but once Foster figured it out, he was unstoppable—he must have gone up 25 more times! At one point, he even had to rescue Emmie from a mini 6-year-old panic attack, but she eventually conquered the climb too. Meanwhile, Hawkins became the ultimate merry-go-round pusher for a bunch of kids. This playground was the perfect spot for the kids to burn off some energy before our Space Needle adventure.

MoPOP

The Museum of Pop Culture (MoPOP) was just next door, and what a sight it was! MoPOP is home to some of the world’s most immersive pop culture experiences, showcasing iconic moments in TV, rock 'n' roll, science fiction, and more. The building itself is magnificent—a fusion of textures and myriad colors, with an exterior that conveys the energy and fluidity of music. Comprising 3,000 panels made up of 21,000 individually cut and shaped stainless steel and painted aluminum shingles, the building seems to change appearance depending on the light and viewing angle, reminding us that music and culture are always evolving.

Space Needle

Finally, our time had come—Space Needle, here we come!

Or so we thought. Did you know that once your time slot arrives, you still have to wait another 50 minutes to get on the elevator? Neither did I, and with three tired kids who had just spent two hours running around the park, the wait was a challenge. But it was worth it in the end. I had to bribe the kids with ice cream to keep them motivated, but the interactive and informative posters along the line helped pass the time. It was fascinating to see the Space Needle’s construction progress.

In 1961, Edward E. Carlson sketched the Space Needle on a cocktail napkin, inspired by the upcoming 1962 World’s Fair. Thanks to its underground base extending up to 30 feet, the structure—built in just 400 days—can withstand wind speeds of up to 200 mph and 9.1 magnitude earthquakes. The Space Needle offers two levels of thrilling views of Seattle, Puget Sound, Mount Rainier, and beyond. After the long wait, we took our time enjoying the views, snapping pictures, and sipping drinks on the revolving level. We even played a game of “I Spy,” which everyone enjoyed.

Pike Place Market

As Drew was finishing up work, he decided to meet us at Pike Place Market. Pike Place Market, which opened in 1907, is the oldest continuously operating farmer’s market in the country. Interestingly, it was created to combat the high prices of onions. In 1906, the city proposed establishing a public market where farmers could sell directly to consumers, avoiding the high prices charged by intermediaries. While the market can be a bit of a tourist trap, it’s an experience you don’t want to miss. We strolled through the stalls, admired the vibrant bouquets of fresh flowers, checked out the fresh fish market, and explored the knick-knack shops. I couldn’t help but envy the gorgeous West Coast flowers—they put the ones we get in Texas to shame! Emmie hand-picked each stem to create her very own bouquet! The market is famous for its fish-throwing stall, but unfortunately, the flying seafood was nowhere to be seen that day. We did, however, find the bronze piggy bank named Rachel in the middle of the market. She weighs 550 pounds and was named after a real 750-pound pig who won the 1985 Island County Fair. We sampled a variety of foods, from Thai dumplings to Washington cherries. Before leaving, we headed downstairs to check out the infamous Gum Wall—eww! This unexpected and colorful display is an intriguing representation of Seattle’s unique charm and character.

Gum Wall

The Gum Wall started in the 1990s when local patrons and performers at Unexpected Productions began sticking their used gum on the wall. Since then, it has grown piece by piece to cover an enormous expanse of brick and continues to expand down Post Alley. The resulting colors and overall imagery are enough to catch the eye of any passersby. To visit, head down a ramp to the left of Pike Place Market’s iconic “Public Market Center” clock sign. At the bottom of the ramp, veer left into Post Alley, and you’ll find The Gum Wall on both sides.

Shug’s Ice Cream

Since I used ice cream as a bribery tool, we searched for the yummiest joint before leaving the area. Shug’s did not disappoint. Drew and I shared a sundae but wish I had tried the Prosecco Float! Another lady ordered it and she said it was delicious, plus it was cute! The kids ‘cheered’ their cones for the good day!

Where we stayed.

Lake Pleasant RV Park is a top-rated resort located in Bothell, WA with deluxe amenities & full hookup RV sites near Seattle. We were right across from the park which the kids said was the ‘best campsite park so far’!

We ran out of time during our Seattle day, but there are so many places I’d love to check out on future visits—especially the wineries! They’re all on my list for next time.

Seattle Love