Romantic things to do and see in Seattle, Washington.
Whether you're a couple visiting Seattle for the first time, or live in Seattle and are looking for new things to do, because you're a couple you have a different perspective on travel and fun. Natural beauty (especially important in an urban setting), world class art, and trendsetting culture are necessary for a healthy relationship. Having fun together as a couple is what keeps that old spark alive. Seattle's blessed with it all. Couples seeking fun and romantic places need never leave the borders of the Evergreen State's "Emerald City". Hand holding is optional but encouraged...
Wake up early and get down to the Pike Street Market by 7 am. Fortify yourself with double americanos from any number of alternative coffee stands, and and watch as Seattle's oldest, most beloved public market wakes up. You'll avoid the daytime crowds. The Market bustles with activity as farmers, fishmongers, and other fine food and crafts vendors set up for the days commerce. Have breakfast at the Athenian. Early in the morning, there's no trouble getting a window seat view of the entire Seattle Waterfront , and breakfast's always good and reasonably priced.
After a leisurely boat watching breakfast, give the Market a good long prowl. It's old, haunted, multileveled, and fun to explore for treasures new and old. Some of the shops (and contents) seem to have been around forever.
Take the long stairway (or the elevator) down from the Market to the Seattle Waterfront. Stroll the various piers and mini-parks. Don't miss a dip in Ye Olde Curiousity Shoppe where you can marvel at the size of a genuine mummified whale member. If the rain happens to drive you completely indoors, Seattle's Waterfront Aquarium is a jewel, and especially uncrowded early and midweek. With it's low level mood lighting and often deserted halls of aquariums, couples will find it a very intimate setting. Spawning salmon will put even the most jaded couple in the mood.
After the aquarium, the best seafood in town is by happy chance, just down the waterfront. The Salmon Cooker is a standup, bus-your-own-tray outdoor fish stand with a heated, glassed-in eating area. All the seafood is fresh and cooked over a wood fire. Have some good local wine or Micro Brew with your seafood. Couples should remember; long before Viagra, there were raw oysters, and the oysters here are especially fresh. If you're newbies, it takes a bit of getting used to but it's a BIG pay off. Just be sure you're somewhere private when the effects kick in four hours later.
TRUE Seattle couples are so accustomed to rain and gray weather that it has little effect on their plans. Hedge your bets, though, and head for Volunteer Park at the top of the alternative Capitol Hill District. When the weather is fine, the park is filled with couples meandering about enjoying the park's nooks and crannies. If you have the stamina, climb the water tower at the south end of the park for the BEST 360 degree view in Seattle. On a rainy day, the Olmstead Brothers' designed Volunteer Park Conservatory is a Victorian Style, wrought iron framed, glass domed wonderland of plants, both tropical and desert, with discreet benches where you can sit amongst the greenery while inhaling the heady aroma of hundreds of exotic blossoms.
If it's a sunny day in Seattle, get a map of Public Art published by the City of Seattle (available all over town and in the lobbies of most places to stay) and let it lead you to some of the finest (and sometimes zaniest) public art anywhere.
Crank up the romance meter. Get a picnic supper, rent a canoe. and explore the dozens of hidden waterways around the Seattle Arboretum (another legacy of the Olmstead Brothers). Find you're own private little island where you can watch the boats go by.
Couples can find any number of places to share Seattle's breathtaking sunsets over Puget Sound and the Olympic Mountains, but Lincoln Park in West Seattle might be the best of the best.
The city offers a varied nightlife that's less frenetic but every bit as viable as much larger and notorious cities. There are two major nightlife guides available free on newsstands. Grab one, check the listings, and follow your urges. Or, pick a district like Pioneer Square or Belltown and try your luck simply club hopping on foot. You'll find many galleries open late, too.
If clubbing isn't your scene, take in a romantic play or movie. Seattle's theater scene is vibrant and the city has a number of independent movie houses.
Sharing the fun is the best part of being a couple, and Seattle's location, nightlife, and culture make it a truly fun city for couples at play.
