Seattle Beyond ‘I Do’: Unforgettable PNW Experiences for Wedding Guests

You’re coming to Seattle for a wedding. Lucky you! Seattle is awesome. You’ll have a great time. But, if you’re going to be in town for a few days, hopefully, there is time to enjoy my wonderful city outside the wedding ceremony. Here is a guide of some ideas and advice from someone who has lived in the area their whole life.

Things to avoid during your Seattle weekend

First, let’s start with the things to avoid. I know. That’s an off way to start. But, I’m just going to get these out of the way. 

• Avoid the ‘first’ Starbucks – It’s not the first Starbucks, and it’s exactly the same as every other Starbucks. 
• Avoid the gum wall – Please don’t make my beautiful city grosser.
• Don’t eat at a chain – Seattle has great local restaurants. If you’ve been to the same restaurant in a different city, you’re doing it wrong.
• Don’t underestimate the hills – They’re rea,l and they’re steep.
• Avoid traffic – Basically, don’t drive between 3-6:30 pm.
• Avoid umbrellas – It doesn’t really rain hard enough to really need them.
• Don’t worry about “unsafe” areas – Seattle is a great, friendly and safe place to visit, especially any of the locations listed here in this guide.

What to do during your time in Seattle

OK. We got the avoid things out of the way. This is what you should do.

Go on a ferry

Ah the Washington State Ferry system or as I call them the Public Yacht System. This is the easiest way to get across the water, but is also a reasonably priced trip out on the water. If you’re leaving from Seattle for a day trip, the best option is the Bainbridge Island ferry. It’s a 30-ish minute crossing and is beautiful. Also, Bainbridge is a cute little town to enjoy for a few hours on the other side. You can’t go wrong, especially if you’re returning to Seattle at sunset.

Since you’ll probably be leaving/returning to the Coleman Docks in downtown Seattle, you’ll also have opportunities to enjoy the Seattle Waterfront and Pike Place Market before or after your trip. It’s a great combination.

Also, you can get married on the boats. It’s an awesome idea.

Go to a brewery/winery

Most of the nation’s hops are grown in Eastern Washington as well as some of the best wine grapes. With that, there is a great brewery and winery culture here. 

Pro tip: If you’re in WA in September or October, look for “Fresh Hop” beers. These are some special brews that are made with hops that go directly from the vine to the vat, creating some lovely different tastes.

Here is a list of some of my favorites in the city limits

• Stoup
• Reubens
• Project 9
• Seapine
• Old Stove
• Holy Mountain
• House of Smith wines

Do downtown tourist stuff

The downtown experience is fun. If it’s your first time, it’s totally worth hitting up the main stops. As a local, I don’t go to these places very often (if ever), but they are cool. This is always kinda the fun thing about visiting a city. Do the things the city is known for. But, you should be able to do all the ones you really want in a day. 

• Pike Place Market (Also, don’t call it “Pike’s Place”)
• Space Needle
• Underground Tour
• The Great Wheel
• Sports

Check out the individual neighborhoods

Think of Seattle as a network of villages. Each neighborhood is it’s own little town with a center. Most of these neighborhood centers are really wonderful, walkable and vibrant parts of the community. Sometimes they’re hard to get between (if you’ve ever tried to get to Ballard from I-5 during rush hour, you know), but once you get there, park your car and enjoy the evening hopping between all the area has to offer.

Cool neighborhoods to check out

• West Seattle
• International District
• Columbia City
• Madison Valley
• Stumbletown
• Greenwood

Go to good restaurants

I’m hungry just thinking about this. I love food. I love living in a diverse city with so many different opitons of what to eat and where to go. 

Pro Tip: Look up menus before choosing a restaurant. Seattle restaurants can be expensive. The $, $$, $$$ system on Google Maps isn’t necessarily the best tool. I see posts ever week of people complaining on the r/Seattle about prices, tax, tipping and such. Do your research so you won’t be surprised at the end of an otherwise awesome meal.

A few nicer restaurants worth checking out:
Archipelago – Filipino fine dining, Outstanding Chef and prior James Beard semifinalist recognition.

Musang – Filipino comfort food, Best Chef: Northwest and Pacific semifinalist.

Homer – Mediterranean‑leaning, wood‑fired neighborhood spot, Best Chef: Northwest and Pacific semifinalist.

Little Beast – Ballard gastropub, Best New Restaurant semifinalist.

The Wayland Mill – Creative café/restaurant near Gas Works,

Atoma – Intimate Wallingford spot with a nostalgic, fine‑dining feel and a tasting‑style menu that changes with the seasons, led by James Beard finalist chef Johnny Courtney.

Pancita – Warm, design‑y Ravenna neighborhood restaurant from James Beard–recognized chef Janet Becerra, serving creative, masa‑driven Mexican dishes and excellent cocktails in a cozy, date‑night friendly space.

And if you’re looking for not-fancy food:
Dick’s Drive‑In – Old school Seattle burger stand with super simple burgers, fries, and shakes, perfect for a late night snack after the reception.

Ivar’s (Fish Bar or fast casual) – Classic local seafood, think fish and chips and clam chowder, with walk up spots right on the water.

The Sloop Tavern – Ballard dive bar known for giant schooners of beer, cheap bar food, and a very laid‑back neighborhood feel.

Linda’s Tavern – Capitol Hill divey bar with a great patio, affordable drinks, and solid bar food, fun for a group hang.

Tacos Chukis – Casual taco spot with multiple locations, inexpensive and very good tacos and baby burritos for a quick bite.

Go to good coffee shops

If you are in town for a wedding and want very Seattle coffee without touching a chain, here are some great local spots to mention:

• Santo Coffee Co. – Bright, design‑y café with really dialed‑in espresso drinks and a neighborhood feel.
• Bambino – Tiny, cozy spot that feels like a true local hangout, great for a quick latte and people‑watching.
• Cloud City Coffee – Chill north‑end café with plenty of seating, good coffee, and a very “live here for a minute” vibe.
• Sea Wolf Bakery – Technically a bakery, but the coffee is solid and the pastries and breads are some of the best in the city.
• Victrola Coffee – Capitol Hill staple with in‑house roasted beans and that classic old‑Seattle‑café atmosphere.
• Elm Coffee Roasters – Minimal, airy space with excellent filter coffee and espresso, perfect for coffee nerds.
• Kuma Coffee (and cafés that serve it) – Small local roaster known for bright, nuanced coffees, often featured at indie shops around the city.

Check out some rad parks

There are a lot of awesome parks in Seattle. Here are a couple that are worth the trip:

Kerry Park – This is the iconic view of downtown Seattle. If this is your first time in town, it’s worth it. It will also be busy. There is always a crowd. 

Pro tip: walk west to the end of Highland Drive. It has a great view towards the Olympic Mountains and the Puget Sound.

Washington Park Arboretum – This is the prettiest park in Seattle. It’s easily accessible from Capitol Hill or the U District. There are so many wonderful little pockets of different trees, the incredible Japanese Garden or the fun waterways beyond Highway 520. It’s a great place.

Discovery Park – This park was formerly a US Army base, but now is one of the biggest and most diverse parks in the city. Whether you’re looking for a walk in the woods, kite flying on the main grass, sunset views from the bluffs or even the waterfront and lighthouse, you can’t go wrong.

Pro tip: When the Discovery Park Visitor’s Center is open, you need to acquire a pass in order to park at the lower lighthouse. These are easily given out to folks who can’t make the hike (ADA, with kids, pregnant, elderly, etc). But, if the offices are closed (like in the evening or on a holiday), then anyone can park down below.

Hot Tub Boat

I’ve only done this once, but it was awesome. You’re in a hot tub, in a boat in the middle of a lake. How can that not be awesome. I even went on a cold winter night and it was even more fun because Lake Union was totally empty as we puttered around looking at the lights of the city. 10/10 recommend.