10 Things to Do in Seattle in Summer

Seattle is a city with a lot to offer: great parks, beaches, hiking trails, waterfalls ... this city is waiting for you to enjoy the hot summer days with dozens of outdoor activities.

Although it is known as the city of rain, Seattle has a pleasant summer with temperatures around 25 degrees and sunny days. So, if you are thinking of traveling to the emerald city in these months and do not know what to see and do in Seattle, I tell you in this article all the plans that the city offers for you to make the most of it. Pack your suitcase and head for the city known as the Gateway to Alaska to fall in love with its islands, conquer all its hiking trails and relax on the beach before ending the day with a sunset on the rooftops of the city and an outdoor movie.

With the arrival of warm weather, it's impossible not to think about riding the waves in the summer sun. Head to Pier 52 to hop on a ferry that will take you around Bainbridge Island. Ferry fares start at $7 and take approximately 30 minutes. You can buy your round trip ticket or stay on the island to enjoy a beautiful sunset. On Bainbridge you can enjoy art galleries, boutiques and cozy cafes.

On weekends you can also go to South Lake Union Park and take one of the small ferries that will take you on a tour of the houseboats, where you can see the famous Sleepless in Seattle house. On these ferries you can have a snack such as ice cream, drinks, etc. Prices for adults range from 14€ and from 9€ for children.

Vashon Island is another option for a day trip by ferry from Seattle. It is only a 20-minute ride from the west coast of the city. Once on the island you can enjoy great food and a more rural side of Washington State with small local stores, lavender pastures and quiet beaches.

Pack sunscreen, swimsuit and towel because Seattle in summertime rivals the beaches of California. Alki Beach is one of the must-see white sand beaches on the west side of the city. Get ready for a game of volleyball, ride a bike along the boardwalk or enjoy a nice swim (though be warned, water temperatures don't exceed 14 degrees).

During the month of July, the Capitoll Hill Block Party brings together different local and internationally renowned artists that set the streets of the neighborhood with the best music. The whole neighborhood joins this event that fills the streets, bars and restaurants with joy. You can visit this website to see the final dates, what music and artists will be part of the event and all the information you need to organize your itinerary.

You can also enjoy other festivals such as Fremont Solstice Fair and Bumbershoot.

Mount Rainier is one of the most famous mountains in the state and in the summer it is at its best. If you are traveling in July or August to Seattle, you can't miss this day trip from the city, check out this guide to see the different hikes to Mount Rainier from Seattle.

If you visit the mountain during July you will be lucky enough to see the snow that still remains on the summit begin to melt and in August, you will be able to enjoy all the wildflowers, a beautiful postcard to make your tour in a dreamy atmosphere. Getting to Mount Rainier from Seattle will take you approximately three hours. You can head there on your own in a rental car, by bus, or hire organized day hikes.

Other popular hikes include Mt. Si, Rattlesnake Ridge and Twin Falls. These hikes are quite popular and more so on summer days, so I recommend you arrive early so you can park your car in the nearest parking lots. You can also hike inside some of the national parks such as North Cascades and Olympic National Park.

For many of these hiking trails you will be asked for an entrance fee, which is about 5 euros for a full day pass. Around the trail you will find small stands or stores where you can buy water, snacks and refreshments.

Summer nights in Seattle are perfect to go out for a stroll and enjoy a pleasant evening with the best temperatures. That's why Seattle hosts outdoor movie screenings at the South Lake Union Saturday Market. Get your popcorn and snacks ready for a movie night under the stars. You can also find other different movie screenings throughout the city, as some bars or businesses host these events as well.

You can visit this website to see all the events that are organized at the market and when the summer months arrive you will have all the information about the movies and times.

You can also enjoy movies at Marymoor Park in Redmond and Chateau Ste. Michelle in Woodinville. All of these places have kiosks to buy your snacks and refreshments, but if you want to make your evening even more epic I recommend that you take the complete picnic kit, so it will look like you are at a movie while you enjoy your movie.

If Seattle's beaches are postcard-worthy, its hidden waters are even more so. Head to the west of the city, Edmonds and Whidbey Island, where you will find different companies that offer diving services and even classes to get your certification. You can equip yourself with wetsuits because even though it is summer the waters of Seattle are usually quite cold (not usually exceed 14 degrees Celsius). Once equipped and with an expert guide, dive into the blue waters and enjoy all the underwater life.

The city of Seattle organizes this marine fair, called Seafair, during the summer months. The sun and the pleasant temperatures will accompany you to enjoy endless activities on the beach: the milk carton derby brings together hundreds of people who witness this race of boats created with milk cartons where the originality of the designs is incredible, join the party on Lake Washington where dozens of boats are tied together for one of the best environments and do not miss the seaplane races, a movie show.

Enter their website to see all the activities, dates, times and prices.

With the arrival of warm weather, friends, families and couples gather around Green Lake. A good game of softball, a nice swim, grab a board and do some paddle surfing... a lot of activities are waiting for you to enjoy the sunny and warm days.

Seattle has created this website so that you have all the information about the city's public parks and all the activities that take place in them.

Although many of these markets are held throughout the year, all of them are at their peak in the summer months. In July and August the product offerings increase as there is a larger audience and more events are organized. In total, there are two organizations that plan these markets around the city: Seattle Neighborhood Farmers Market and Seattle Farmers Market Association. Although you will find these markets around different areas of the city: Capitol Hill, West Seattle, the University District, Magnolia, Ballard, etc. I recommend that you take a look at their official websites so you can have all the details of the schedules and events organized at the markets.

Another popular market is the Washington State Fair in Puyallup. This market usually comes at the end of summer in September and in addition to numerous stores, they offer games for the whole family, rides, concerts, etc.

Strawberries, blueberries, raspberries... a myriad of berries are waiting for you to join in the picking of these delicious fruits. Washington State is one of the top berry producers in the United States, primarily blueberries. Some farms, such as Harvold Berry Farm and Bolles Organic Berry Farm. You can find all the information on where to pick berries on this website

Many of these places also have restaurants where you can enjoy homemade products made from the berries picked on the same day or stores so you can take home jams or candies of all kinds.

Due to Seattle's rainy and cold weather, many of these bars only open their rooftops in the summer. Take advantage of the long days of the summer months and enjoy spectacular sunsets while sipping a delicious cocktail or dining on one of these rooftops. You can find several places in the city center and around the university.

Seattle is fortunate to be in the middle of the orca migration. From mid-April to mid-September you can enjoy this wonderful spectacle of nature. Many companies around Seattle offer half or full day tours around the San Juan Islands to see the so-called killer whales. On these tours you can also see other species such as porpoises, seals and much more wildlife.

Although you can visit year-round, the falls are a perfect choice for summer days, as the sunny weather will make your experience much more enjoyable. Less than an hour's drive away you can enjoy Snoqualmie Falls, one of **Washington'**s most visited tourist attractions. 270 meters of waterfall are waiting for you to enjoy this day in nature. Take a waterproof coat with you as you will undoubtedly end up wet with this spectacular waterfall. If you don't know how to get there I recommend you to read this article about the best excursions to Snoqualmie Falls from Seattle.

Temperatures in Seattle in summer range from approximately 20 to 25 degrees Celsius maximum and minimum temperatures range between 10 and 12 degrees Celsius. In summer the weather is drier and sunnier than the rest of the year.

• June: although it is not so hot, it is a perfect month to travel, since there will not be so many tourists and you will be able to enjoy your favorite attractions on a sunny day and save a little more money since it is not considered high season.
• July: it is considered the beginning of summer for locals, with higher temperatures than in June, families decide to spend the weekends enjoying the lakes and hiking.
• August: it is the hottest month, temperatures can reach 25 or even 30 degrees. It is the best time for water activities, jet-skiing, kayaking, boat tours or enjoying long days at the beach.

These months are undoubtedly the best for outdoor activities, as Seattle is generally known as the Rainy City. Seattle has an oceanic climate that gives it a lot of humidity and cloudy days.

Due to the good weather, the summer months are the most popular months in Seattle, bringing thousands of tourists from all over the world to the city. Although this has negative aspects such as long lines for the most important tourist attractions and a considerable rise in prices for accommodation, flights, etc.. It also has its benefits, as the city organizes numerous events and markets to welcome all the tourists who want to enjoy the city.

If the prices in July and August scare you a bit, don't worry, because June is a great option. With good temperatures and sunny days, the month of June is not yet considered high season, which will be of great help to have a greater supply of accommodation and enjoy Seattle more calmly.

Summer comes with pleasant temperatures and sunny days that will invite you to spend your days at the beach, lakes, waterfalls, etc. so I recommend that you do not forget your bikini, towel and sunscreen. Although as a general rule you will enjoy a warm temperature, I recommend that you always pack a jacket or warm clothing in your suitcase in case it cools off so you can keep warm while watching a movie outdoors or riding a ferry, as the weather is quite unpredictable and it can always get cloudy or start raining.

Also remember to pack a waterproof jacket and cases for your camera and phone because, even though it's summer Seattle is still the city of rain, so there's bound to be some drizzle or showers.

Seattle offers a wide variety of tourist attractions for all tastes and times of day or year. So, if the summer gets too hot and you prefer to spend the day in an air conditioned place you can always visit the aquarium or the different museums in the city that offer air conditioning. Click on this link to see other options for tours in Seattle and purchase your Seattle City Pass to benefit from numerous discounts on the most tourist attractions.

The downtown area is quite small and the tourist attractions are usually quite close to each other, so walking is a highly recommended option. However, if you want to get out of downtown, public transportation will be a great help. You can count on the King Country Metro bus network, another regional bus line called Sound Transit or the Link Light Rail. To visit Seattle's surroundings or the islands you will have to take a ferry or even the curious water cabs.