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Winter Activities In Seattle That Are Relaxing

Even though Seattle is known for having gloomy and wet winters, it’s a wonderful place to spend a winter vacation since the residents know how to make the most out of even the cloudiest of days!

Even if there is a considerable probability that it may rain during your trip, you should merely carry a raincoat with you and be prepared to embrace the little wetness of the city in order to make the most of the various activities that are available in Seattle during the wintertime.

First, before we get into some of our favorite wintertime things to do in Seattle, let’s take a moment to discuss the winter weather in Seattle.

The Winter Climate in Seattle: Typical Conditions

The winters in Seattle are often gray and chilly, and the high humidity in the air makes it seem a touch chillier than it really is, despite the fact that the temperature looks to be about the same. This makes even days with blue skies feel fairly sharp and cold.

In most years, December is the month with the lowest average temperature. Expect daytime highs of 46 degrees Fahrenheit and nightly lows of 39 degrees Fahrenheit in Seattle during the month of December, with an average of 14 days of precipitation.

Expect daytime highs of 47 degrees Fahrenheit and nightly lows of 39 degrees Fahrenheit in Seattle during the month of January, along with an average of 14 days with precipitation.

The month of February in Seattle sees an increase in temperature, with daytime highs of 49 degrees Fahrenheit and nightly lows of 40 degrees Fahrenheit, along with around 12 days of precipitation.

Therefore, there is around a 50% probability of precipitation every day. Your journey to Seattle in the wintertime requires that you bring along an umbrella, a thick waterproof jacket, and waterproof shoes at the very least.

When it gets cold in Seattle, does it ever snow?

Not on a regular basis. Because of the Pacific Ocean’s moderating effect on Seattle’s temperatures, snowfall in the city occurs far less often than you may believe it does.

If you want reliable snow, you’ll need to go to mountainous regions like Leavenworth, for example.

Having said that, it does snow in Seattle on occasion, and the snowstorms that occur there are often disruptive since the city is not well-equipped to deal with them.

Annual snowfall in Seattle ranges from around 5 to 6 inches and is often spread out across four to five days of mild precipitation.

On the other hand, it is not impossible for really powerful winter storms to arrive overnight and drop at least 15 centimeters of snow in a single day.

When that does occur, the city pretty much comes to a halt and comes to a standstill in terms of traffic and transit; but, if you’re just a pedestrian roaming about a snow-filled metropolis, it can be a lot of fun!

In the year 1880, before official records were established, there was reportedly a snowfall of 4 feet, followed by a snowfall of 21.5 inches in the year 1916 when records were officially kept.

On the other hand, it is quite unlikely that it will snow (much!) during your vacation to Seattle in the winter. But if you use our list, you’ll discover plenty of ways to be warm and snug anyway; here are some of our favorite things to do in Seattle during the winter.

The Most Fun Things to Do in Seattle During the Colder Months

Be astounded by the incredible glass masterpieces that surround you.
In the event that it rains while you’re in Seattle, you’ll be happy to know that there are plenty of things to do inside, and the Chihuly Glass Museum is one of the most breathtaking indoor museums you’ll discover.

Dale Chihuly is a glass artist who was born in Tacoma, Washington. He is famous all over the globe for his glass sculptures and displays that he has created throughout the years.

Each glass sculpture is detailed and the planning for it is done with great care. A significant number of the museum’s sculptures are large enough to fill a full room on their own.

The museum is home to three “Drawing Walls,” which are works of glass art installed onto walls, in addition to eight galleries showcasing various works of art. Your knowledge of glass art will be tested across the many galleries and walls.

The museum is home to the Glasshouse, a sculptural and creative portrayal of a greenhouse that is made out of red, orange, and yellow flower-like glass art that is suspended from the ceiling. In addition to the interior galleries and the Drawing Walls, the Glasshouse can be found in the museum.

The garden that may be seen outside of the Glasshouse was recently recognized as a national historic landmark. The garden is made up of the glass pieces that are interspersed among the real plants and the walking pathways.

You will need to purchase a ticket in order to access the Chihuly Glass Museum, which is located in the Seattle Center in the heart of Seattle.

Consider taking a trip on the boat.

The Washington State Ferry system is a hallmark of the city of Seattle and the state of Washington. The ferry boats link the important islands and peninsulas that are located inside and surrounding the metropolis that is surrounded by water.

Ferry boats are most often used by residents as a mode of transportation for their daily commutes; but, for visitors, taking a ferry boat ride is an enjoyable trip in and of itself.

There is a ferry boat that goes to Bainbridge Island and back from the downtown area of Seattle, and there is another ferry boat that travels to and from Bremerton. The ferry ride from Seattle to Bainbridge Island takes around 35 minutes, whereas the trip from Bremerton to Seattle takes approximately an hour one way.

Either park your vehicle close to the ferry port and board the vessel on foot, or drive your vehicle onto the boat to take a trip over the water. If you don’t intend to do any touring on the other side of the water, walking aboard the ferry is the most cost-effective option. Additionally, walk-on customers are given priority boarding.

On a stormy day, passengers on the passenger deck have the option of either staying inside the cabin or venturing out onto the observation platform.

You should be on the lookout for marine life no matter where you are, so don’t lose focus. Be on the lookout for resident orca whales as they make their way into central Puget Sound during the winter months. Aside from that, when riding on the ferry, it is not uncommon to see porpoises, harbor seals, and California sea lions.

Pike Place Market is a great place to explore.

When summertime rolls around in Seattle, one of the most popular places to go is Pike Place Market. However, throughout the winter months, the market remains open, and there are far fewer people there.

Pike Place is an indoor market in Seattle, Washington, and it has a wide variety of shops and sellers spread out throughout its several levels. Within the market, there is such a vast range of different merchants that it should be possible for almost anybody to discover something that piques their interest.

Be careful to look up when you go to the market so that you can see the Pike Place Market sign with the neon lettering and the clock hanging over the entrance.

Although it is worthwhile to stop in any of the stores inside the market, there are a select handful that have earned a reputation as must-see locations.

Fish from Pike’s Place

Pike Place Fish, home of the world-famous fishmongers who toss fish at customers, is definitely a stall that should not be skipped.

When a patron places an order, the employees here will toss fish in order to facilitate the movement of the fish. If there are visitors around, they would also toss fish at them for fun.

In addition, the winter months are prime time for Dungeness crab, so make the most of this opportunity!

Take in the beauty of the lit-up Woodland Park Zoo.

Both the Woodland Park Zoo and the Bellevue Botanical Garden decorate their grounds throughout the months of November and December with festive lighting displays that make imaginative use of Christmas lights. Both are wonderful options for a nighttime excursion, particularly considering the early onset of darkness that winter brings to Seattle.

The Woodland Park Zoo may be found at the north end of Seattle, in close proximity to Green Lake. The zoo is home to a large variety of animals and serves as the epicenter for many different types of conservation activities when it is open for regular business hours.

Even though the zoo is normally closed in the evening and the most of the animals are sleeping, the zoo will be open for its light festival throughout the months of November and December.

When you go to the Zoo Lights festival, you will have the opportunity to stroll around the zoo grounds and see the lights that have been made to appear like the many animals that are housed at the zoo.

Pay a visit to the neighborhood cafes.

The widespread presence of coffee shops in Seattle is illustrative of the city’s well-known reputation as a java-obsessed destination.

On a dreary, rainy day in Seattle during the winter, one of the best things to do is to hunker down in a warm coffee shop. The following are some of the places that you really must go.

Take in the beauty of the Bellevue Botanic Garden illuminated at night.

The Bellevue Botanical Garden, which is located in the city of Bellevue, which is close to Seattle, has a festival of light arrangements that is quite similar to the one in Seattle.

The botanical team at the garden, on the other hand, instead of moulding lights into creatures, produce beautiful displays in the shape of various flowers and plants called the Garden of Lights.

Each exhibit has a label that identifies the plants that it depicts, which promotes additional engagement and learning. When you are through exploring the garden, you will even have the opportunity to buy some flower-shaped light setups that would make an excellent memento of your time spent in Seattle during the winter.

Visit the town of Leavenworth on a detour.

During the winter months in the state of Washington, Leavenworth is a fantastic destination. It is about a 2.5-hour trip from Seattle to the destination.

This town, which is designed in the Bavarian style, is stunning at any time of year; however, the town takes on an especially merry air during the winter months due to the town’s half-timbered architecture and Germanic styling, particularly in December when the Christmas lights are turned on in full force.

If you are looking for a spot to get some snow action during the winter, this is a terrific area to go skiing, snowboarding, or snowshoeing since there isn’t a lot of snow that falls around Seattle very often.

Slate Coffee Roasting Machines

Slate Coffee Roasters is another another one-of-a-kind coffee store that can be found in the Pioneer Square neighborhood.

This particular coffee shop offers something called a “deconstructed mocha,” which consists of the various components of a mocha being served in their own individual cups.

It’s up to you whether you sip from each glass individually or combine them into a single larger one, but either way, the experience will be one to remember!

Experience the Space Needle with less people around.

As the most popular tourist destination in Seattle, the Space Needle is almost always quite crowded, which may make it difficult to compete with other visitors for a good vantage point or picture site during the city’s warm summer months.

You won’t find as many people visiting the Space Needle in Seattle during the winter as you would at other times of the year since the number of tourists is much lower at this time of year.

If you go to Seattle in December, you’ll also be able to view a massive Christmas tree in front of the Space Needle that has been beautifully decorated. This is an excellent location for taking pictures of your trip to Seattle during the Christmas season and getting into the holiday spirit!

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