The magic of Seattle is that most of the tourist destinations are actually as good as the guidebooks say — sometimes even better. Many of them are nestled in the heart of downtown, just 10 minutes from Seattle Pacific University. Perched on the edge of Elliott Bay, downtown Seattle offers more fun than you’ll ever be able to cover in four years as a college student. What a good problem to have!
A downtown bucket list might include everything from sipping lattes at the world’s tallest Starbucks (on
Columbia Center’s 40th floor) to claiming your local library card at the Seattle Public Library’s flagship location, an architectural marvel that opened in 2004. The library’s “living room” is designed to be a communal space where people can read, hang out, and enjoy a quiet afternoon studying off campus. The library also hosts community events like poetry slams and, last summer, World Cup games on a massive theatre screen. That’s what we call an ideal study break.
Many tourists enjoy a trip to the top of the Space Needle, but for a fresh view of the downtown skyline, hop on the Seattle Great Wheel and take it for a spin. This gleaming Ferris wheel is silky smooth and actually hovers over Elliott Bay waters — a perfect location to spot the orca whales that visit every so often (not even kidding). Football and soccer seasons cover nearly every weekend of the year at the Clink (i.e., CenturyLink Field), where the famed 12th Man cheers Seahawks to victory and Sounders to MLS glory. Garlic fries make the experience even better.
Locals know Pike Place is a must-see, but they also know it’s a much more relaxing, navigable destination on a weekday morning than on a Saturday afternoon. Good news for students with flexible schedules! No matter the day of the week, Anglophiles find a bright spot at The Crumpet Shop, where proper English tea and clotted cream are always on hand. Order a crumpet with lemon curd and ricotta — and you’ll understand what all the fuss is about. Assuming you’ve saved room for more culinary delights, make another market stop at Ellenos Greek Yogurt. “How good can yogurt be?” you ask. So good you’ll be dreaming about it three weeks later. It’s dreamy creamy. Eat some at the market and nab another carton for your mini-fridge on campus. Worth every penny!
Grab a 10-buck bouquet of local flowers on your way out of the market, and before you head home, stop for selfies at the Seattle Art Museum’s outdoor Olympic Sculpture Park. It’s completely free and a great place to wander … and wonder how in the world artists create these massive works.
At Christmastime, downtown shines. One favorite seasonal event is the annual Great Figgy Pudding Street Corner Caroling Competition. It’s a mouthful, but it’s also a great way to kick off the holiday season every December. If you love carolers and you love being with people who love carolers, then hit the streets to listen to dozens of jolly musicians belt out the songs of the season on downtown corners. Close to 10,000 people come out for the festivities, and you can count yourself among them.
Whether you’re doing some people-watching or cruising through downtown on the way back from a Mariners game (World Series … someday), Seattle’s core is always full of life. Artists, scholars, Cross Fitters, street performers, and everyday Seattleites mix together in a melting-pot district you’ll never want to leave.