Cheap Things to do in Seattle
Seattle is an amazing city, bursting with personality and arts and a wide range of activities for travelers of all ages and interests. As a city that is so friendly to the those who John Stenbeck referred to as vacilandos, an entire culture has sprung up that provides the more economically challenged among us with a smorgasbord of entertainment opportunities. For the local on a budget, Seattle is an embarrassment of options. For the traveler on a budget, Seattle provides great activities that will help you create terrific memories and build an unforgettable vacation, yet return home with money still in your bank account. Here are some suggestions for your Seattle journey which cost less than $20.
In a city with so many attractions from nature, the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks are a marvel of human engineering. The locks (also called the Ballard Locks) are used to keep the salt water of the sea from contaminating Lake Washington and Lake Union, and regularly transport ships from the salty to the fresh. Also part of the experience, a fish ladder designed to aid in salmon migration. The facility also includes botanical gardens. It might be impossible to remember a time when humanity’s shipping was totally beholden to the whims of Poseidon, but the creation of shipping locks opened a lot more cities to the advantages of shipping, and the likes of the Ballard Locks served to aid in the spreading of civilization. And you can see it and appreciate it for less than $20.
Speaking of mankind’s overwhelmingly awesome accomplishments, let’s talk about chocolate. Theo Chocolate, the only chocolate factory in the USA that makes organic, fair trade product and they are so proud of what they do, they will show you around. The Theo Chocolate Factory tour starts with the history of chocolate and ends with sampling the wares of Theo. And at $6 per person, you can bring two friends, and still come in under the $20 threshold. But say you don’t want to destroy the magic. If you want to continue to believe that magical oompa-loompas create the creamy goodness in a chocolate river, and fear that the tour will burst your bubble, just visit the tasting room. It’s free and open to the public, and they allow you to sample any of Theo’s delights. That’s right. Free chocolate. Two words that belong side by side.
Though the amazing offerings at the Pike Place Market are often pricey – and worth it. I mean, you pay extra for homemade pesto pasta, as opposed to the mass-produced stuff, but wow, gourmet doesn’t cover it – but the experience of the market itself is free, and that’s where a lot of the fun lies. You can watch the machines churn the cheeses in the cheese shop, chat up the local artists selling their work in the market, watch the fish guys shout and toss fish around, and taste free samples all day. Get there early so you aren’t preventing these marketeers from selling their wares to the crowds who visit later in the day, and appreciate the range of human creativity and accomplishment for little or no money.
Seattle has rightfully earned a reputation for excellent sushi, and we all know how easy it is to accidentally overspend at a sushi restaurant. If you find yourself with some extra money set aside for an indulgent meal, sushi is what you want. But in the meantime, swing by Pies & Pints during their Happy Hour. A wide selection of appetizers and their eponymous meat pies are available for a reduced rate. You will need to be particular about what you order, but sneaking a meal for two under that $20 line should be doable. If you’re alone, you should be nice and full by the time you drop your Jackson and head back out into Seattle to see what other free or inexpensive options await you.