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 rainy city, Seattle has a pleasant summer with temperatures of around 25 degrees and sunny days. So, if you're thinking of travelling to the Emerald City during these months and don't know what to see and do in Seattle, this article will tell you about all the things the city has to offer so you can make the most of it. Pack your suitcase and head to 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 city's rooftops and an outdoor movie.

With the arrival of fine weather, it's impossible not to think about riding the waves in the summer sun. Head to Pier 52 for a ferry ride around Bainbridge Island. The ferry costs from €7 and takes approximately 30 minutes. You can buy a return ticket or stay on the island to enjoy the beautiful sunset. On Bainbridge you can enjoy art galleries, boutiques and cosy 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 start at €14 for adults and €9 for children.

Vashon Island is another option for a day trip by ferry from Seattle. It's 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 shops, lavender pastures and quiet beaches.

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

During the month of July, the Capitol Hill Block Party brings together local and internationally acclaimed artists to liven up the streets of the neighbourhood with the best music. The whole neighbourhood joins in this event that fills the streets, bars and restaurants with joy. Check out this website to see the final dates, which music and artists will be part of the event and all the information you need to plan 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 summer it's at its best. If you're travelling to Seattle in July or August, 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'll be lucky enough to see the snow that still remains on the summit begin to melt and in August, you'll be able to enjoy all the wildflowers, a beautiful picture postcard setting for you to make your way around in a dreamy atmosphere. Getting to Mount Rainier from Seattle will take about three hours. You can drive yourself in a rental car, take a bus or book organised day hikes.

Other popular hikes include Mt. Si, Rattlesnake Ridge and Twin Falls. These hikes are quite popular on summer days, so be sure to arrive early so you can park your car in the nearest car parks. 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 usually around 5 euros for a full day pass. Along the trail you'll find small stalls or shops where you can buy water, snacks and refreshments.

Summer evenings in Seattle are perfect for strolling around and enjoying a pleasant evening in the cooler temperatures. That's why Seattle hosts outdoor movie nights 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 movie screenings throughout the city, as some bars and businesses host these events as well.

You can visit this website to see all the events at the market and when the summer months arrive you'll 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 full picnic kit, so it'll look like you're at a movie while you're enjoying your movie.

If Seattle's beaches are postcard-worthy, what's hidden in its waters is even more so. Head to the west side of the city, Edmonds and Whidbey Island, where you'll find a range of companies offering diving services and even scuba diving lessons. You'll want to pack wetsuits as, despite the summer, Seattle's waters tend to be quite cold (they don't get much warmer than 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 hosts this marine fair, called Seafair, during the summer months. The sun and the pleasant temperatures will accompany you to enjoy a host of 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 atmospheres and do not miss the seaplane races, a movie show.

Go to 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... there are plenty of activities waiting for you to enjoy the sunny, warm days.

Seattle has created this website to provide you with 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, they all have a peak in the summer months. In July and August, there is a wider range of products on offer with more people and more events organised. In total, there are two organisations that plan these markets around the city: the Seattle Neighbourhood Farmers Market and the Seattle Farmers Market Association. You will find these markets in different areas of the city though: Capitol Hill, West Seattle, University District, Magnolia, Ballard, etc. I recommend you check out their official websites for details of market schedules and events.

Another popular market is the Washington State Fair in Puyallup. This market usually takes place in late summer in September and in addition to numerous shops, there are family games, rides, concerts and more.

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 main berry producers in the United States, mainly 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 day or shops where you can take home jams or sweets 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 centre 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 all 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 metres of waterfall await you for a day in the wilderness. Bring a waterproof coat as you're bound to get wet at this spectacular waterfall. If you don't know how to get there I recommend you read this article about the best trips to Snoqualmie Falls from Seattle.

Temperatures in Seattle in the summer range from approximately 20 to 25 degrees Celsius (68 to 77 degrees Fahrenheit) with lows between 10 and 12 degrees Celsius (50 and 60 degrees Fahrenheit). 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, as there will not be so many tourists and you will be able to enjoy your favourite attractions on a sunny day and save a little more money as it is not considered high season.
• July: considered the start of summer for locals, with temperatures warmer than June, families spend weekends enjoying the lakes and hiking.
• August is the hottest month, with temperatures reaching 25 or even 30 degrees Celsius. This is the best time for water activities, jet-skiing, kayaking, boat trips or long days on the beach.

These months are definitely the best months for outdoor activities, as Seattle is generally known as the Rainy City. Seattle has an oceanic climate with high 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 queues for major tourist attractions and a considerable rise in prices for accommodation, flights, etc., it also has its benefits. It also has its benefits, as the city organises 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, June is not yet considered high season, which will help you to have a wider choice of accommodation and enjoy Seattle at a more leisurely pace.

Summer comes with pleasant temperatures and sunny days that invite you to spend your days at the beach, lakes, waterfalls, etc., so don't forget your bikini, towel and sunscreen. Although you will generally enjoy warm temperatures, I recommend that you always pack a jacket or warm clothes in your suitcase in case it gets chilly so you can keep warm while watching an outdoor movie 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 as, even though it's summer, Seattle is still a rainy city, so there's bound to be some rain or showers.

Seattle offers a wide variety of tourist attractions to suit all tastes and times of the 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 tour options in Seattle and purchase your Seattle City Pass to benefit from numerous discounts on the most popular tourist attractions.

The city centre is quite small and the tourist attractions are usually quite close to each other, so walking is a good option. However, if you want to get out of the city centre, public transport is a great way to get around. 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 surrounding areas or islands you'll need to take a ferry or even the odd water taxi.