11 of the Best Things to Do on a Sunny Day in Seattle

Learn about fun things to do on a sunny day in Seattle in Washington State. Be inspired to get outside and enjoy everything that sunny Seattle has to offer.

Sunny Seattle? The Pacific Northwest and Seattle in Washington State specifically has a reputation (much like my current home town of Dublin, Ireland!) for cloudy, rainy weather. 

Imagine my surprise when I touched down to cloudless skies and sunshine in mid-April. Read on for my recommendations of fun things to do and places to see on a sunny day in Seattle in Spring!

1. Visit Seattle's Pike Place Market

Pike Place Market is a tourist 'must do' in Downtown Seattle. Stroll around on your own or book yourself a place on one of the Pike Place Market food tours. 

Pike Place Market gets some great light and breeze off of Puget Sound on a sunny day. I briefly perused the stalls for some flowers to brighten my day and of course stopped to see some of the famous fish mongers before heading down to Seattle's waterfront to soak up the sunshine.

2. Stroll Down to Seattle's Sunny Waterfront

I chanced upon a really steep stairway not far from Pike Place Market in Seattle. Why not? I thought as I began the descent. The stairwell deposited me on a sunny walking path along the Seattle waterfront that was lined with local Pacific Northwest artwork and stunning views of Puget Sound.

3. Do a Bit of Birdwatching on Sunny Day in Seattle

As an added bonus, I spotted large flocks of pigeon guillemots cruising on Puget Sound in Seattle. Turns out that Seattle is great for birdwatching, particularly on a sunny day. 

4. Walk Along Seattle's Piers

I wound my way in and out of the various piers, exploring the unique architecture and water views that Seattle offers on a sunny day.

5. Scope Out Seattle's Miners Landing

One of Seattle's piers is home to Miner's Landing. Miner's Landing is full of restaurants and a very popular ice creamery. I loved the wooden sculptures scattered throughout the building. 

Head into Miner's Landing to take a break from the intense rays on a sunny day in Seattle. When the sun shines in Seattle, it can get quite warm.

6. Take a Harbor Cruise in Sunny Seattle

A harbor cruise is just the thing to do when the sun shines in Seattle. On a whim, I signed on for a 90 minute Argosy cruise of Seattle's Puget Sound. For just $27 USD, cool breezes and amazing views of the Seattle waterfront await. We even saw seals basking in the Seattle sun on a platform on the water.

7. Marvel at Washington's Mount Rainier

I felt extremely lucky on this trip to Seattle. Not only was the sun shining, but Mount Rainier was visible. The iconic Pacific Northwest mountain can be seen from Seattle less than 100 days out of the year. 

I'm glad that I didn't wait to do the Seattle harbor tour...Even the next day, Mount Rainier was no longer visible from Seattle.

8. Watch the Ships Get Unloaded at the Seattle Container Port

Seattle is a major US port. It was fascinating to watch enormous container ships unload their cargo destined for eager American consumers on a sunny Sunday in Seattle. 

9. Admire A Sunny Seattle Skyline

The Seattle city skyline simply shines when the sun is out. Historic and modern skyscrapers alike (plus low-lying waterfront buildings) reflect off the waters of Puget Sound.

10. Take the Bus to Seattle's Kerry Park for Golden Hour Views

The narrator on my Argosy harbor cruise gave us all a tip that Seattle's Kerry Park is an ideal spot to watch the sunset in Seattle. I hopped on a public bus headed in the direction of Kerry Park and was not disappointed. 

The bus dropped me off and after a steep climb for a few blocks, I found myself agape at amazing views of the Space Needle and Seattle skyline with Mount Rainier standing stoically in the background. A sunset on a sunny day is an awesome free thing to do in Seattle. Simply stunning!

11. Stop and Smell the Flowers in Seattle

I was in Seattle for business but this picture reminds me both literally and figuratively to stop and smell the flowers especially when the sun is shining. Why fly in and fly out; ping ponging between the office and hotel and not see anything interesting. 

By coming into Seattle over the weekend, I enjoyed an amazing day filled with sunshine, beautiful views, and cherry blossoms to rival some of the best destinations in the world. I could get used to spending sunny days in Seattle!

For more fun things to do in Seattle, check out:

• A Perfect Sunday: Seattle in a Day
• Coffee in Seattle's Fremont Neighborhood: A Different Cafe for Every Day of the Work Week

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Post Archive

The following things to do were included in my original post but have sadly closed down. I am keeping them here in the archive as a record of my trip.

Get a Cup of Seattle's Finest Coffee to Go and Bask in the Sun

Seattle has a deep-seated coffee culture with quirky coffee shops serving a fine cuppa. On a sunny day in Seattle, save time and take your java to go. I popped into Bedlam in Seattle's Belltown neighborhood. I admired Bedlam's take on the Space Needle before heading outside to see the real thing on the streets of Seattle.