I was born in Seattle and grew up in the surrounding suburbs. I’ve only lived in Seattle for a year of my life when I was a baby, so maybe I’m not technically considered a Seattleite. But I’m sure that if I added up all the time I’ve spent hanging around Seattle, it would add up to at least half of my life. So yeah, Seattle has a special place in my heart.

I love Seattle as if it were my own hometown and the pride I feel when I drive past downtown, looking at all the beautiful skyscrapers, is indescribable. I might be biased, but Seattle is definitely an amazing city and one of the best places to visit in America. And if you ever do find yourself in the land of Starbucks, Amazon, Microsoft, and the 12th man, I happen to know some pretty cool things to do.

1. Pike Place Market.

Pike Place Market is a Seattle staple, and there’s a reason for it. From the cobblestone streets to salmon throwing to fresh flower bouquets to the very first Starbucks, Pike Place Market is an experience. Pike Place is especially an awesome place to visit during the spring or the summer. The weather is nice, the market expands with outside booths, and there’s a beautiful view of Elliot Bay. It can get kind of crowded (especially at Starbucks), but the crowds are usually manageable, especially if you go on a weekday near the 5 p.m. closing.

2. Seattle Center.

I have so many fond memories of going to Seattle Center as a kid. It was built 1962 to host the world’s fair, and after the fair, the city of Seattle just kept it there. Seattle center is basically a park, except it’s a park filled with funky-looking buildings. At Seattle Center, you’ll find Seattle’s most famous landmark, the Space Needle, as well as plenty of food. There’s the International Fountain, a bomb-ass dome fountain you can try to run up and touch (oh, and it will probably spray you), and the Pacific Science Center, a really cool science museum geared toward kids (but we’re all kids, right? Also they have EDM laser shows!!!). You also might run into an ethnic/cultural festival every now and then, and they are always super cool and super fun.

3. Shopping at Westlake.

Westlake Center, in the heart of downtown Seattle as well as the surrounding few blocks, is basically the mall of Seattle. Westlake center itself is small, but still, inside you’ll find a LUSH, a candy shop, a food court, a Zara, etc. Also within the surrounding area of Westlake, you’ll find restaurants like the Cheesecake Factory, shops like H&M or Nike Town, a Pacific Place (basically another mini-mall with an AMC in it), more Starbucks than you can count, and so much more. There’s also this fountain you walk through which is pretty cool.

5. Alki Beach.

Seattle isn’t really known for its beaches, and yeah, it’s usually too cold to swim in the bay, but that doesn’t mean Seattle can’t have nice beaches. Alki beach is situated just across Elliot Bay in West Seattle, with one of the most spectacular views of downtown Seattle. Right across the street from Alki you’ll find plenty of awesome restaurants, bars, and ice cream places. And when it gets dark, you can always start a bonfire at a fire pit with some friends. There’s also a mini Statue of Liberty. Why? I don’t know, but it’s still cool.

6. Chill with Vladimir Lenin.

Yeah, you read that right, you can find Vladimir Lenin in Seattle, or at least a statue of him in Seattle’s Freemont district. How, might you ask, did this Lenin Statute get to Seattle? Well turns out that it was purchased by a local carpenter after the 1989 revolution in Czechoslovakia. The statue was put up in 1996 and has been there ever since. Definitely a peculiar thing to see in Seattle, but that’s what makes it a must.

7. Take an elevator to the top of the Columbia Center.

The Columbia center is Seattle’s tallest building, and it has the highest viewing area in the Northwest. The views up there are stunning and at 902 feet with 360 degrees, you can see all of Seattle and the surrounding areas, including surrounding mountains and the bay. The best part is that tickets are only $15 (cheaper than the Space Needle at $19) and they give you access for the whole day, so you can always leave and come back. I highly recommend watching the sunset from up there. It’s beautiful!

8. Capital Hill/Broadway.

Seattle’s Capital “Cap” Hill, is just an all-around cool place. It’s super LGBTQ-friendly, and there are some really nice parks and great restaurants too. Broadway on Cap Hill, though, is where you’ll find all the action. On Broadway, you’ll find rainbow crosswalks, restaurants, cafés, bookstores, boutiques, and thrift shops. Broadway also has a strong nightlife scene with clubs, concert venues, and various bars (like the Unicorn). You also might find leftover needles lying on the streets which, yeah, is pretty bad, but hey, it adds to the urban grittiness of the place, right?

9. Golden Gardens Park.

Golden Gardens, found in the Ballard neighborhood, is hands down my favorite park in Seattle! Like Alki, there’s a beach, but there’s a whole park to add to that beach! A park with grass you can play frisbee on, a park with a playground and swings, and a park with charcoal grills. Yes, Golden Gardens might not have the same view of downtown as Alki, but that’s probably better anyway. You see, Alki is where tourists go to get a pretty picture of Seattle by the water. Golden Gardens is where Seattleites go to take a break from the hustle and bustle of the city and just chillax. The beach is also better for attempting to swim. Plus, there are even more fire pits for bonfires so it’s the perfect place to chill with friends during the summer!

10. Kerry Park.

Picture this: You have just spent the day exploring all Seattle has to offer. You have loved every minute of it, but now you’re exhausted and it’s dark outside. Before you check out for the night, you head over to Dick's Drive-In on lower Queen Anne. You treat yourself to a milkshake. After all, you deserve it! Your Apple Health app says you’ve walked over 10 miles today!

Then, with your aching feet and all-around physical tiredness, you further torture yourself by hiking five blocks up a steep incline to get to the top of Queen Anne Hill! Why make this arduous trek, you ask? To get to one of the best views of Seattle. From Kerry Park, you will see all of downtown, and seeing all the city lights shimmer in the night with the Space Needle is a sight you’ll never forget! Of course, you don’t have to go to Kerry Park just at night; go anytime of the day, really. I’ve even been there at 6 a.m., and trust me, you will always be pleased.

So there you have it. These are some of my favorite things to do in Seattle. I hope you enjoyed reading about them, and hope to see you in Seattle soon.