5 Seattle Summer Experiences You Can’t Miss

Seattle is infamous for it’s gloomy weather, so when the sun comes out it feels like a gift. Seattle is one of the most awesome places I have seen to spend a summer. Here is a short list of experiences you can’t miss during Seattle’s beautiful summers.

Lake Washington beach days

Lake washington has a handful of beaches for the public to enjoy. My favorite one is Madison beach because it has a tall diving board. Lake Washington can be pretty cold, but it feels great to jump in on a hot summer day. It would be wrong to let the summer pass without jumping in the lake. Here are a few beaches to check out:

• Madrona Beach  (Has a small diving board) – Location
• Madison Beach  ( Has a small and large diving board) – Location
• Denny Blain  (Nude beach ) – Location

Summer Festivals in Seattle 

The summer festivals in Seattle are a lot of fun. Join a drum circle at the Folk Life Festival, Smoke a joint in the park with your community at HempFest , dance in the pride parade, or participate in a naked bike ride in the public Fremont streets during the Summer Solstice Parade.

The Center For Wooden Boats Free Sunday Boat Rides

When I first moved to Seattle I stumbled upon the CWB in South Lake Union while exploring the city.  Every Sunday CWB gives free boat rides around Lake Union. This happens all year round, but it is particularly nice to go in the summer. You have to get there early (around 9:30am) and signup for a ride. The line gets big very quickly. It’s a great place that offers a lot of value to the community.

Rooftop vibes

Seattle has a rooftop culture. You can get some pretty awesome views from a variety of accessible rooftops. I am addicted to views and I hunt for them. Below is a list of some of my favorite Seattle rooftops to soak in those summer rooftop vibes.

• Pike Place Urban Garden – (Sound views) – Location
• Mbar – (Restaurant/Bar.. Lake Union Views) – Location
• The Nest – (Restaurant/Bar.. Sound Views) – Location
• Frolik – (Restaurant/Bar.. Skyline/Urban Views) – Location
• Russel Investments Center 17th floor – (Business Building .. Sound Views) – Location

The last one on this list is not really open to the public, but it is accessible during business hours. As long as you don’t act crazy or out of place nobody is going to make you leave.

Mountain Exploration

Washington has some great outdoor areas that need to be explored. Cougar mountain or Rattlesnake ledge are great spots to go if you don’t want to go too far away from the city. If you have the chance though, although a little bit more of a road trip, the Olympic Peninsula has an amazing rainforest and has the best mountain views I have ever seen. There are a lot of trails as well as viewpoints that you can just drive up to. More details below.

• Cougar Mountain – Location
• Rattlesnake Ridge – Location
• Olympic Peninsula
  • Hoh Rainforest – Location
  • Hurricane Ridge – Location