Seattle’s Hidden Gems as Seen by Locals

The Alaskan Fishing Boat at Seattle Fishermans Terminal

Colorful Cities Chief Explorer, Laura Lahm, was featured recently in Travel Awaits article,
“Locals Reveal Seattle’s 4 Most Overrated Attractions, And What To Do Instead”. Here are some of the highlighted hidden gems, plus one more that we did not mention in the article.

closeup of salmon swimming in green water

Salmon migrating up the fish ladder at Ballard Locks

Rather than going to the Seattle Aquarium downtown, check out the Fish Ladder at the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks in theBallard neighborhood. You’ll get to watch the boats come in and out of thePuget Sound and per Laura’s advice, “You can see salmon swimming up the grade ladder to lakes and rivers to the east, where there are freshwater lakes. Grab a coffee, because you can easily watch for an hour.”

A fishing boat named the Alaskan docked at the terminal — Working boats at Fishermen’s Terminal

If you can’t take the crowds of the hyper-touristy Pike Place Market, look no further than Salmon Bay itself and head over to the Fishermen’sTerminal, just south of the Ballard Bridge to buy your right-off-the-boat fish and seafood. A robust variety of salmon selections: Chinook, King,Sockeye, Copper River, Silver pair with all the goodness of a true fish monger.After shopping for dinner, be sure to walk around the docks to see the colorful boats that bring in this bounty.

Explore MLK Park and it’s thought provoking messages

Looking for a fabulous park to visit in Seattle? Check out the MartinLuther King Jr. Memorial Park in the Central District. Laura says, “The views are unlike any other viewpoint in the city. The terraced park offers space for picnics or a great stair workout. Additionally, the lower section has plaques of excepts from MLK’s famous works – some pretty explorable messages we think!” MLK Park provides the reverse super-unique view of downtown that you would see at the hectic Kerry Park in Queen Anne.

One more hidden gem you won’t find in the Travel Awaits article…. While the Seattle Art Museum (SAM) is a wonderful place to check out fabulous art, the Olympic Sculpture Park is an outdoor art space with acclaimed sculptures and amazing views of the Olympic Mountains and Puget Sound.

And all the places we mention here are FREE to visit - - how fab is that!

Special thanks to AlainaStrollo at Travel Awaits for featuring some of our favorite off the beaten path destinations in Seattle! What are some of your favorite hidden gems in Colorful Seattle? Leave a comment below and let us know where we should explore next.