Seattle in Spring: Things To Do
Seattle in Spring will definitely be filled with rainy days, but that doesn't stop this from being one of the most popular times to visit the city. With cherry blossoms in full bloom, coffee shops to keep you warm and farmers markets starting up, there's no wonder why Seattle shines! Here are some of the best things to do when visiting the Seattle area during the spring months:
Travel to the Famous Tulip Festival
The Skagit Valley Tulip Festival is a sight to behold. The Tulip festival is dependent on that year's weather and rain patterns but takes place between March 25 – May 1, 2022 at Roozengarde and April 1-30, 2022 at Tulip Town and Garden Rosalyn. The great thing about the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival website is they have updated images to help you gauge the best time of the year to visit Tulip Town. Tulips and daffodils bloom once a year, so pick your moment wisely. I recommend going during the month of April, but if you're heading to Tulip town I would avoid the first week as A. There are often larger crowds when it first opens and B. some of the flowers have not yet bloomed as nicely as they will by the second week. No matter when you visit there will be field in bloom and you are suddenly transported to your own personal Sound of Music hill scene.
Seattle Night Market
The 206 Night Market hosts Seattle’s largest, monthly Night Market at Magnuson Hangar and there are more than just local artists and vintage treasures to be found here. A 21+ event, the Seattle Night Markets host cocktail bars, DJs and food trucks to keep your spirits up as you shop the many vendors who come together for this ever-growing event. Tickets are $15, which is a bargain in Seattle prices. They also offer a free farmers-market-ready tote, featuring the theme of the month, to the first 1,000 people to arrive.
My first time to the market was in February of 2022 and the theme was the lunar new year, celebrating the year of the Tiger with a red and gold design. The night market is tons of fun and with the shops under the Hangar, even if it starts to rain you'll be under cover enjoying a high-energy event!
Warm Up at Coffee Shops
Seattle is regarded as one of the world centers for coffee roasting, giving a home to over 400 coffee shops! The home to local coffee shops, incredible cups of coffee and the chilly weather to support the need for a hot cup at all times, Seattle in Spring is a coffee (or tea) lovers paradise. Escape the rain or take a break from exploring Downtown and pop into a local coffee shop!
A few coffee shops in Seattle to check out: the classic Seattle Coffee Works, The Station in Beacon Hill, Caffee Umbria, and London Plane (more of a restaurant, but with a great London Fog).
Support the Seattle Sounders
The Seattle Sounders are Seattle's Major League Soccer Team, and their season typically runs from the end of February to the start of October. Soccer fans take it seriously, with a die-hard fan section that is on their feet singing chants the entire match; their spirit is infectious even if you don't live and breathe soccer yourself! This is a fantastic Spring activity because to experience the sport culture of Seattle is to really be a Seattleite. Plus, going to a game at the start of the season means the season can still go either way, so there is an energy around the games as eager fans have awaited the return of the game for months!
As you might guess, a big part of being a soccer is repping the teams jersey- but having the teams scarf is another staple. This stems from how popular soccer (aka football) is in Europe where they also have a lot of use for scarves at the outdoor matches. Numb the cold with a few beers or wrap up warm & join in yelling at the ref!
Cherry Blossoms at the University of Washington
The University of Washington is known for being one of the most beautiful areas to visit during the cherry blossom season. The UW quad is packed with tourists as the cherry blossoms line the lawns, making it both a magical site and a bit difficult to get a picture without someone in the background. If you get here early in the morning, you have a better chance of getting the Instagram shot you're looking for amongst the trees and historic architecture. The best time to go is around the end of March, as by the start of April there will have been rains to knock-down the delicate blooms.
Tip: there are cherry blossoms all over Seattle and surrounding cities, so if you don't get the perfect shot at UW, just keep your camera ready and keep exploring!