Making the most of 24 hours in Seattle

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The waterfront city is frequently at the forefront of new cultural trends, thanks to its tuned-in population of chefs, musicians, and multi-cultural engineers at cutting-edge tech companies. With its compact city center, Seattle is well suited to travelers who want to pack the most into short trips. Try this fun-filled itinerary to make the most of 24 hours in Seattle, but first check out these exciting new 2018 Seattle updates.

New Things to do in Seattle in 2018

This year brings a lot of exciting updates to the city of Seattle, from art installations, festivals, museums, and more. Add one of these new activities to your itinerary if you only have a day, or perhaps consider extending your trip to make the most of what Seattle has to offer in 2018. Whether you are a frequent visitor or a first-timer, these new Seattle activities and attractions are worth planning ahead for.

Amazon’s The Spheres and The Understory Open Downtown

Amazon’s new structure officially opened on January 29, 2018. The Spheres are a collection of unique collaborative workspaces for Amazon that were built with biophilic design—incorporating natural elements such as light, plant life, and water into the workplace to inspire more creativity and increase the brain function of employees. To get an interactive experience and learn more about the plants in The Spheres, as well as the engineering and science behind the buildings’ designs, visit The Understory. This visitor center on the lower level of The Spheres is open to the public 7 days a week. For more information, visit seattlespheres.com.

Beyond the Frame from February – December 2018

Plan some time to learn about regional and national history through Seattle art. “Beyond the Frame” is a project that uses the distinguished photos of Seattle native Edward S. Curtis as a platform for conversations focused on the identities and perspectives of Native Americans. More than 20 libraries, museums, Native cultural centers and more will be holding events in 2018. Visit beyondtheframe.org to learn more.

Seattle Celebrates Shakespeare: Spring – Fall 2018

From March through August, this exciting arts and culture festival will host approximately 40 film, music, theatre and dance companies for a unique collaboration on the theme of William Shakespeare. Stop by seattlecelebrates.org for full details on events and tickets, and don’t miss the opportunity to witness this unique collection of talented artists performing symphonies, jazz, ballet, musical theatre pieces, and more.

New Nordic Museum – Grand Opening May 2018

If you’re visiting Seattle in the month of May, enjoy the Grand Opening of the new Nordic Museum and its coordinating Nordic Seattle celebrations. This museum is the only one in the entire U.S. that is specifically dedicated to shining a light on the history and culture of the 5 Nordic countries: Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden. Previously located in a 1907 building originally rented from Seattle School District, the new museum has a significant size increase and an original Mithun architectural design, allowing visitors to experience a much more expansive Nordic experience. Visit nordicmuseum.org to learn more.

Now that you have some of the best 2018 Seattle updates to keep in mind, enjoy this classic 24-hour itinerary in the Emerald City. Whatever activities you choose to do in Seattle, one thing is for sure—there’s no shortage of beauty to take in, great food to eat, and arts and culture to be surrounded by in this great city.

Morning to Mid-Day: Pike Place Market

People often say, "No visit to this city is complete without …," and this sentiment is definitely true when it comes to Seattle's Pike Place Market. Featuring fresh produce, seafood, honey, nuts, flowers, and crafts produced by Washington locals, Pike Place Market first opened its doors in 1907. A visionary city councilman pushed for the opening of the public market. With hundreds of vendors onsite every day to greet customers, the market focuses on the vital connection between producer and consumer to this day.

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Original Starbucks

Start your day in Seattle with breakfast at one of the many cafés and bakeries in the market, or stop by the original Starbucks, which lies just outside the covered central area. With a constant line during operating hours, the café is reminiscent of the brand's less corporate days when it was a natural fit near the handmade Russian pastries at Piroshky Piroshky and the creamy cheeses at Beecher's cheese production shop.

Independent Shops

After breakfast, spend the rest of the morning exploring the many delights of the marketplace. Independent shops offer everything from vintage items, such as vinyl records and memorabilia, to handmade craft items. The screening process only allows the top craft artisans to sell items.

Be sure to stop for lunch at one of the markets more than 80 restaurants, cafés, and food counters. The culinary possibilities include fresh seafood, international dishes, and fresh farm-to-table selections.

Afternoon: Seattle Center

After lunch, head to the 74-acre entertainment complex known as Seattle Center. The city added the phenomenon known as Chihuly Garden and Glass next to the base of the Space Needle in 2012. The museum honors local glass artist, Dale Chihuly, who uses techniques learned from Venetian glass blowers to create signature aerial sculptures of trumpet-like, jewel-toned flowers. His creations grace museums, public spaces, and buildings throughout the world, including the Louvre in Paris and the Tower of David Museum in Jerusalem.

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The museum consists of an exhibition hall, garden installation, and Glasshouse — a visually stunning creation that pages homage to the botanical garden conservatory. It features a 40-foot-tall structure of transparent glass filled with a 100-foot-long glass sculpture that alters its colors with the changing light throughout the day.

Evening: Space Needle

Built for the 1962 Seattle World's Fair, the Space Needle is the product of architects and engineers who were heavily influenced by the Space Age. It attracts millions of visitors each year who make the journey to the top and photograph it from below. At 520 feet in the air, the view from the observation deck is worthwhile, but the best way to justify the cost is to have dinner in SkyCity, the revolving restaurant at the top. Admission to the observation deck is free when dining in the restaurant.

Sky City

Featuring cuisine created by Executive Chef Jeff Maxfield, SkyCity offers everything from seafood selections to local favorites. Try fresh waterfront seafood choices, such as razor clams, mussels, and wild salmon, or opt for selections that feature fresh ingredients from the surrounding mountain forests, including wild huckleberries and mushrooms. SkyCity is open daily for lunch and dinner and on weekends for brunch.

Does this Seattle plan have you itching for more adventures surrounding Washington State? Check out our other blog posts featuring the best activities and things to do across the Pacific Northwest region, including Tacoma, Washington. If romance is more your style, we recommend these romantic getaways along the Pacific coast.