Seattle Activities for Rainy and Dry Days

Seattle’s wet season runs roughly from October to April, and it is mostly drizzle rather than downpours. That makes a two-list plan useful: indoor options when it is grey, and outdoor ones when the sky clears. All prices are in US dollars before sales tax.

When it rains

  • Chihuly Garden and Glass (305 Harrison St): Dale Chihuly’s galleries and Glasshouse, with adult tickets listed at about $40 to $45.
  • Seattle Art Museum: adult entry about $30, free to everyone on the first Thursday of the month, with children 14 and under always free.
  • Pacific Science Center (200 Sue Bird Court N): open Wednesday to Sunday only, with the planetarium and daytime laser shows included in admission.
  • Museum of Flight (9404 East Marginal Way S): daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., adults $29.
  • Pratt Fine Arts Center (1902 S Main St): glass, metal and wood classes, so look at the class calendar for an open slot.
  • Pike Place Market (85 Pike St): free to enter, and much of it is under cover. Hours and events are on the market’s site.

When it is dry

  • Discovery Park: more than 500 acres of trails, bluffs and beach. Daybreak Star Native cultural center is inside the park.
  • Olympic Sculpture Park: a free waterfront park run alongside the art museum, with city hours that differ by season.
  • Hiram M. Chittenden Locks: free grounds where you can watch boats and fish pass between the Sound and the Ship Canal. Opening times for the visitor center are seasonal, so confirm them with the Army Corps of Engineers first.
  • Lake Union by paddle: Northwest Outdoor Center at 2100 Westlake Ave N rents kayaks and paddleboards, though rates and days are worth confirming.

Safety on and near the water

Everyone aboard a kayak, canoe or paddleboard in Washington must have a Coast Guard-approved life jacket, and children 12 and under must wear theirs. Lake Union and Puget Sound stay cold in every season, which turns a fall in from an annoyance into an emergency. Dress for the water, not the air. Gas Works Park is a lawn-and-views stop only: its old towers are off limits, and the shoreline sediment is contaminated, so keep out of the water there.

A living cultural place

The Duwamish Longhouse and Cultural Center at 4705 W Marginal Way SW in West Seattle is run by the Duwamish Tribe, whose community is part of Seattle today. It opens Tuesday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Call 206-431-1582 to ask about admission, or start at the Longhouse page .

Money and movement

Link light rail costs $3.00 flat for adults and is free for riders 18 and under. Tipping at restaurants is customary at 18 to 20 percent. For the big Seattle Center sights, the Space Needle site lists general admission at $35 to $55 with timed entry.

Read more: outdoor activities in Seattle has more ways to spend a clear day. For guided choices, try Seattle activity listings .