Okay, so I was super bored last weekend and decided I needed to find some stuff to do in Seattle that didn’t cost a dime. I mean, Seattle’s awesome, but it can be pricey, ya know?
First thing I did was hit up Google. Just typed in “free things to do seattle” – classic move, right? Tons of stuff popped up, but I wanted stuff I could actually do that weekend, not some random event from 2018.
So, I started digging through the results. Saw a bunch of stuff about parks, which, yeah, Seattle’s got great parks. I zeroed in on Discovery Park. I’d heard about it but never actually been. Looked like a good size, plus had a beach? Sold.
Saturday morning, I packed a lunch – peanut butter and jelly, don’t judge – grabbed a water bottle, and hopped on the bus. Getting there was easy enough. The park itself is HUGE. I spent a good few hours just wandering around. Found some cool trails through the woods, checked out the views of the Puget Sound, and eventually made my way down to the beach. It was a bit chilly, but still totally worth it. I even saw a couple of seals hanging out!
Pro tip: Wear decent shoes. Those trails can be a bit uneven. And bring a jacket, even if it seems sunny. Seattle weather is, well, Seattle weather.
The next day, Sunday, I was still feeling the free vibe. I remembered someone mentioning the Olympic Sculpture Park, which is right downtown. Being an outdoor art museum? Sounded interesting enough.
So, again, bus time! Got off right near the waterfront and walked over. It’s a pretty cool space, right on the water with all these huge, weird sculptures. I’m not gonna pretend I understood all the art, but it was fun to walk around and take pictures. There were tons of people just chilling, families with kids, couples, all sorts. Good people-watching spot.
After the sculpture park, I was still near Pike Place Market, which, while it’s not totally free (temptation to buy all the flowers and fresh fruit is REAL), it’s free to walk around and soak up the atmosphere. I watched the fishmongers throwing fish for a bit (always entertaining), listened to some street musicians, and just generally wandered around. Managed to resist buying anything, which, honestly, was a win in itself.
Another pro tip: Pike Place gets CROWDED, especially on weekends. If you’re not a fan of crowds, maybe go earlier in the morning.
Overall, it was a pretty solid weekend of free activities. I got some exercise, saw some cool stuff, and didn’t spend a dime (except for bus fare, but that’s practically free, right?). Definitely recommend both Discovery Park and the Olympic Sculpture Park if you’re looking for something to do in Seattle without breaking the bank.
Next time, I’m thinking of checking out the Ballard Locks. I’ve heard those are pretty cool too. Gotta keep the free adventures going!
- Discovery Park: Great for hiking and beach views.
- Olympic Sculpture Park: Interesting outdoor art right on the waterfront.
- Pike Place Market: Fun atmosphere, even if you don’t buy anything.
