Seattle is more forest and water than it is city. The year-round evergreens mean no need to endure a long stick season in the winter. The breathtaking mountains and vast waterways are what make this state so beautiful. If you're here in the summertime, you are in one of the best places on Earth. The summers here are unmatched, and I've been all over the world. The rain is next to none, humidity is low, and people are so happy to see the sun again after enduring the long, dark winter days. The sun doesn't set until 10 pm, so you can take full advantage of long, dry, temperate summer days here. This is where I started to do my first half marathons because it's said to be one of the better environments for running. I moved here for the summers, there's no way around it. July and August are the best months, but in some warmer years, April is pretty nice, and September can still be dry!

I have an entire road trip map for Washington state that you can find here!

1. Explore all Seattle has to offer

Seattle is one of my favorite cities in the U.S. There is so much to do, especially in the summer. The summer is why I moved here. It's also a city rooted in music and technology, which are two things I love. The city is full of coffee-lovers, hipsters, and techies. You could easily spend an afternoon walking down by the Pikes Public Market Center, sipping coffee at the original Starbucks (be prepared for the longest line you've ever seen, come in the winter to avoid it!) or shopping the public market for local gifts and goods; they always have fresh juices based on the season. The yellow Rainer cherries are a summer staple for your snacks! You can also find the famous Seattle Gum Wall tucked beneath the market. There are plenty of ways to see the city from above, whether it be from the famous Space Needle or the city's iconic Ferris wheel.

I would recommend the Space Needle at sunset for the best views. You can also take in the free skyline views at Kerry Park with some local Molly Moon ice cream! The city's monorail is also easily accessible from the Space Needle and lets you ride above the traffic and people and see the city from a new perspective; you can also bring dogs on the monorail, and it's very cheap. Another favorite place of ours is the Museum of Pop Culture; it's a great place for kids and adults! I geeked out on seeing Back to the Future's hoverboard. If you're into tech, then explore deeper into the city and stop by the Amazon-Go store or the "Bezo Balls" for a glimpse into where technology can take us.

Cap Hill

My favorite coffeeshop for my iced Americanos is Analog coffee in Capitol Hill; you MUST try their egg breakfast sandwich, it's incredible, I get their vegetarian version spicy! If you like makeup, head to Glossier (you can bring the dogs in for a special treat!). I also adore the thrift shops in Cap hill, they have an unusually great selection of higher-end branded clothing. There are also cat cafes and bookstores if that's you're thing. While you're there, one of the BEST thrift shops is called Crossroads, where I buy secondhand Aritzia, Reformation, Madewell, and Abercrombie! If you don't mind buying new, then you should check out U-Village for all these brands and a really pleasant outdoor shopping experience! You can bring dogs, and the parking is free. I also stop at outlets up north before or after hiking, you can snag really good deals on Lululemon there.

Mt Bagel has the best bagels, just be sure to check their Instagram stories because they usually sell out around 11 am/late morning. Hey, Bagel in U-Village is also popular.

If you want food, Danbo Ramen is a must (their vegan ramen is to die for, even better than the vegan broths I tried in Japan!). The Starbucks Reserve is nearby, you can pop in for an espresso martini or a unique artisan pastry, as they have a special menu here. It's the perfect place to bring friends and seats free up quickly!

Fremont / Ballard

I also adore the Fremont area. You can walk to Gas Works Park for the 4th of July fireworks, and get a yummy croissant at Sea Wolf Bakery. Ballard has a busy farmers market every Sunday, too, and it's close to Golden Gardens beach for sunsets. I love grabbing some poke bowls and bringing friends there in the summer.

Where to Stay

If you're staying in Seattle, some options for stays are The Westin, Courtyard Marriott (good location for running on Lake Union Trail), Edgewater Hotel (if you want to be on the water and near Pike Place), or StayPineapple for a little outside the downtown, but still a busy area. The downtown area can be a bit rough, but it is generally a lot safer than most American cities, and I used to live in Baltimore.

Depending on the time of year, you may get to see some beautiful flowers! In March, you can find daffodils up north of the city. In late March/Early April, you can find Cherry Blossoms at the University of Washington quad or Seward Lake. Magnolias are also abundant around the city. In April, you'll find tulips in season, and you can visit Skagit Valley for the tulip festival. In early May, you can go to the Columbia Gorge for the iconic yellow wildflowers. In July/August, you have the wildflowers starting to bloom everywhere in the national parks. You can also explore the lavender fields around the August timeframe.

2. Hike all the things

The most talked-about hike is the Enchantments. You need an incredibly difficult-to-obtain permit to camp here, but most people do the hike in one day. It's a steep climb, but such an accomplishment. There are a ton of other hikes to do based on where you're going, though, below.

Check out my blog post on Top Hikes in Washington State to get inspired!

Mount Rainier National Park

If you're into photography and/or hiking, Mount Rainier National Park is one of the most beautiful places in the U.S. you can visit. It's a few hours South of Seattle and is stunning on a beautiful summer day. You can drive your car to the top for an easy-to-access entrance and trail at the Sunrise Visitor Center. From here, you can walk along the gravel path and capture beautiful pictures and views. If you're visiting during normal hours, you'll need to get a permit from Recreation.gov, but if you don't have one, just try to show up super early.

If you're more interested in hiking the summit or just higher view points, then try visiting the Henry Jackson Memorial Visitor Center at Paradise. Here you can take the Skyline trail and get panoramic views of Washington's most beautiful mountain ranges, and get up close and personal to Mt. Rainier. You can also see a large waterfall about .4 miles from the parking lot.

Olympic National Park

Another popular national park outside of Seattle is the Olympic National Park. We found the trails to be moderately easy and less crowded. There are plenty of trails by the water or deep into the forest. This is also the forest where some of Twilight was filmed/set (Forks, WA!), so it may look familiar to some of you! Check out my other post for a guide to the Olympic Coastline.

Non-National Parks, Bring the Dogs!

My favorite hikes in Washington are pretty scattered around the state. If you're looking for close to Seattle, then your go-tos are Snow Lake, Rattlesnake Ledge, Gold Creek Pond, Little Si or Mount Si, Mailbox Peak, Tiger Mountain, Discovery Park, and Summit Lake. On a rainy day, I love Coal Creek Falls as it's covered by trees and a short drive away.

Some other fun waterfall hikes are Wallace State Falls, Twin Falls, and Franklin Falls (if you haven't noticed, we have a lot of waterfalls).

If you don't want to hike, but you're willing to drive for a view, Picture Lake and Snoqualmie Falls (where you can see scenes from the Twin Peaks TV show!). The cafe from Twin Peaks is also around Snoqualmie, Twede's Cafe.

If you don't mind a drive, then you MUST check out the Artist Point area. Ptaramigan Ridge is long, but wide open and stunning. It's my favorite area in WA. I also love Maple Falls loop, the Enchantments through hike (Colchuck lake), Cape Flattery, Dog Mountain on the Columbia River gorge, and Lake Valhalla.

3. Get yourself into the Water

There are so many lakes all over Washington state to visit, even near Seattle. You can find several kayaking or paddleboarding opportunities all around a good driving distance from Seattle. The water is calm, and the temperatures are perfect around July and August. If you're in the city, people love to go to Gasworks Park or Green Lake. You can even SUP on Lake Union and ride over to Gas Works Brewing and park your SUP while you enjoy the views! I used to live in East Lake, so I would SUP after work with Sora, You can rent them by the water from a small popup stand.

I've found Green Lake to be warm enough to swim. They have rentals at both lakes. A little outside of the city, Lake Sammamish is not a far drive, People love to picnic there with friends and families. I found that the water was slightly rougher for paddleboarding. If you don't mind a drive, head out to Diablo Lake (or Ross Lake) for some stunning glacier blue water (right photo below).

4. Crystal Mountain Gondola Ride

If you're looking for panoramic views of Mount Rainier, but aren't interested in hiking, then drive out to the Crystal Mountain Gondola to take the cable car to the top of Crystal Mountain. This ski resort transforms into a beautiful summer escape. There's a lovely restaurant at the top to eat lunch and enjoy a beautiful view of Mount Rainier. There are also some adorable little animals waiting at the top! It's a great way to get out into nature without the stress of hiking. You can bring dogs on the gondola too!

4. Island Hoppin' and Finding a Beach

If you're looking to escape the mountains and see the ocean, then there are several coastlines you can visit for a relaxing day at the beach. The water will likely be too cold for swimming, and the sand may be covered in rocks, but you can still take in the views while enjoying some food and drinks. If you're in Seattle and don't have time to drive to the full coast, stop by Golden Gardens or Alki Beach for sunset; they both overlook the Olympic mountain range on a clear night, and sometimes you can watch the seals swimming! There are always lots of people and live music on the beach.

Seattle has many islands within close proximity. A popular favorite summer day trip is to Bainbridge Island. When you're there, you can visit the wineries (white wine is more prevalent in this region), shop the local boutiques, or even pick up some pickleball gear! Pickleball was actually first created here in Bainbridge, which is pretty cool.

Vashon Island and Whidbey Island are also nice for day-tripping.

Ebey's Landing (on Whidbey Island) offers a beautiful sunset too, Golden hour is particularly nice here. I took my friend's engagement photos here and they came out so lovely!

If you want more remoteness and don't mind a long drive, then plan a trip to the Olympic Peninsula.

San Juan Islands make for a good weekend trip, but housing books up quickly for them, so plan ahead! If you're in the San Juan Islands (Friday Harbor), then I highly recommend Whale Watching to get a chance to see the orca whales.

6. Go for a Run!

Running culture is HUGE in Seattle. There are endless running clubs/meetups, and the Burke Gilman trail is loved by virtually all locals for cycling, running, and walking. I always try to live on or near the trail because it is long, flat (which is hard to come by in a hilly city like Seattle), and super safe. As a woman, I do not enjoy solo running in heavily wooded areas, but this trail is in the city and safe because there are so many people on it at all times. You can do the Lake Union loop, which is about 6 miles total, and then add/remove as much as you want if you go into where the Ship Canal is or the Ballard Locks. Popular run clubs like Cooldown Running, Frelard Running, and CSRD are the meetups I've attended in the summertime.

If you want some competition, you can partake in the free Perrigo Park 5K Runs every Saturday! You register online, show up, run, and you get a time/place! These are in Redmond, which is also a nice area to check out while you're visiting.