What to Do in Seattle During Spring Break

If you’re wondering what to do in Seattle during spring break, you’re in for a treat. Starting in March, Seattle starts to come alive after our often dreary winters. While we still see spring showers, the days get longer and we often see more sun. In fact, there’s a joke that “false summer” starts appearing in April.

Everyone is aching to get outside come Seattle’s spring season March through mid June. The temperate weather will range between the 50s and low 70s on gorgeous days, particularly during that window of false summer. This variability means you’ll find both indoor and outdoor things to do during spring break.

So whether you’re in school yourself or trying to find something to do with your kids, here’s what to do in Seattle during spring break.

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What to Do in Seattle During Spring Break

Here’s everything to do during spring break in Seattle, whether you only have 48 hours in Seattle or live here!

Explore parks and beaches

There are so many awesome Seattle viewpoints for taking in the nicer weather. Here are some of my favorites worth exploring on weekdays with less crowds.

woman at beach in Seattle | What to Do in Seattle During Spring Break

Discovery Park

Discovery Park is my favorite park in Seattle, so it’s my number one tip on what to do during spring break. I love the varied terrain: it starts in meadows, then goes through woods, and ends on a pebbly beach with a lighthouse. Kids love coming here to pick sea glass and rocks, while adults love the ability to hike and run the trails.

If you want to explore the park from a different perspective, take this electric bike tour of Discovery Park!

Alki Beach

Alki Beach in West Seattle is a popular spot for a beach day. There is a paved path along the beach perfect for walking or biking. Explore it yourself or take this guided West Seattle e-bike tour.

There are also shops along the other side of the street that makes it feel like you’re down the shore. It also has gorgeous views of the Seattle skyline across the Puget Sound. If you come here, make to also check out the best restaurants in West Seattle for lunch!

Golden Gardens

Golden Gardens is the beach everyone in North Seattle comes to for a beach day. It offers a soft sandy shore for swimming, lounging, and beach volleyball. It also has a playground, barbecues, and fire pits for passing the time while you take in views of the Puget Sound and Olympic Mountains.

Gas Works Park

Gas Works Park sits right on Lake Union in Fremont. It still houses the historic gas light company machinery, offering steampunk vibes among breathtaking views of the Seattle skyline.

Olympic Sculpture Park

Olympic Sculpture Park is right along the Seattle waterfront downtown, which means you get uninterrupted views of the Puget Sound and Olympic Mountains. It’s operated by the Seattle Art Museum, so you’ll also see funky sculptures scattered around the park.

My favorite thing to do is walk the about 3 mile paved Elliott Bay Trail to Magnolia. It weaves along the water before getting to the train yard. I love the stark contrast in landscape between nature and industrial!

Green Lake

Green Lake can get crowded in the spring, but it’s worth a visit during weekdays when most people are at work. It’s one of the most family-friendly parks in Seattle, with swimming spots, paddle board or SUP rentals, and playgrounds. There’s an approximately 3-mile paved loop popular for biking, walking, and running. There are also hiking trails, tennis courts, and a skate park in Woodland Park across the street from the lake.

woman walking along trail on Lake Washington

Seward Park

Seward Park in South Seattle is another family-friendly Seattle park to visit during spring break. They have a playground in one area and a ~2.5 mile paved loop that weaves along Lake Washington.

Attend the Tulip Festival

The Skagit Valley Tulip Festival is perfectly timed during spring break. Every April 1-30 you can drive the hour north up to the Skagit Valley to witness rows upon rows of colorful tulips and daffodils. It’s a fun experience for photography enthusiasts, plus it’s the perfect excuse for exploring all the other fun things to do in Skagit County.

Since this annual festival typically draws more than a million visitors per year, make sure to check out my guide on avoiding crowds at the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival. And since you’ll need to eat between tulip stops, check out my guide to the best restaurants in Skagit Valley.

If you don’t want to have to worry about driving from Seattle, check out this Skagit Valley Tulip Festival day trip tour.

Skagit Valley Tulip Festival | What to Do in Seattle During Spring Break

Seek out cherry blossoms

Every April the University of Washington quad explodes with pink cherry blossoms. It’s a popular spot to go and feel like you’re transported to Japan.

Get their really early (I’m talking before 8 am) to get photos without a ton of people in your shot. And please don’t shake branches to make the flowers fall. It’s bad for the trees and annoying for UW to have to clean prematurely.

Finally go to that one museum

There are so many museums in Seattle, so why not use spring break as an excuse to finally visit them on a weekday sans the crowds? Here are some of my favorites, but you can find even more in my guide on what to do in Seattle during winter.

Seattle Art Museum

Seattle Art Museum is my favorite museum in Seattle. It features modern art exhibits, including everything from paintings to cool sculptures. During non-pandemic times they host a remix event each month which turns the museum into a swank lounge with music, drinks, and posh vibes.

Chihuly Garden and Glass

Chihuly Garden and Glass is in Seattle Center right under the Space Needle. It features breathtaking blown glass from artist Dale Chihuly, which you’ll find scattered around manicured outdoor gardens and indoor exhibits.

Afterwards, head up to the Loupe Lounge in the Space Needle for happy hour drinks and bites overlooking the Puget Sound and Seattle skyline!

Pacific Science Center

Pacific Science Center is near Chihuly Garden and Glass so you can hit up both places on the same day. While Chihuly is all about the art, PacSci is where you go to embrace all things science.

They have a lot of exhibits both kids and adults alike can dig, like one about dinosaurs and even a butterfly house. Don’t miss the planetarium to immerse yourself in the stars, and save time to see an IMAX experience. They even show many of the Marvel movies in the IMAX theater!

Spend the day at Pike Place Market

Visiting Seattle’s biggest farmers market can be a pain on summer weekends with all the crowds. So I always recommend Pike Place Market when people ask me what to do in Seattle during spring break.

I have a free self-guided walking tour of Pike Place Market you can download and bring along with you as you explore. If you want to make a day of it, take the light rail from Seattle Center after you visit the Chihuly museum!

If you’d prefer an in-person tour, take this early-access Pike Place food tour or this plant-based market tour.

Hit up the city’s other farmers markets

We have a bunch of farmers markets around Seattle so you can find one pretty much any day of the week. My favorite is the Ballard Farmers Market because it’s an excuse to hop into all the quirky shops along Ballard Ave NW. You can also take my Ballard self-guided food tour Ballard Self-Guided Food Tour and make a day of it!

For more information about the other markets and what to expect, check out my guide to the best Seattle farmers markets.

Go on a brewery crawl

The brewery scene in Seattle really comes alive once it starts getting warmer. You’ll see people laughing and vibing in the outdoor patios, enjoying a flight and food truck meal.

My favorite area to go on a brewery crawl is Ballard. Check out my guide to planning a self-guided Seattle brewery tour or take a guided Ballard brewery tour.

Visit the zoo and aquarium

I used to work at the Woodland Park Zoo, so I love heading here during spring break with my nieces because it’s perfects for both adults and kids age 12 and under.

Or, if your crew prefers marine mammals, head to the Seattle Aquarium instead. They have a lot of programs for kids ages 12 and under, including virtual programs if you’d prefer to spend spring break at home.

Go foraging

Foodies wondering what to do during spring break? Besides the obvious eating everything in sight and other Seattle for foodies bucket list ideas, do something quirky and go foraging!

One place to do it right in Seattle is the Beacon Hill Food Forest. It’s about 2 acres and in it you’ll find goodies you can forage, like berries, greens, and more.

person holding a truffle they foraged in spring in Seattle

If you’re looking to get out of the city you can also go on hikes known for foraging. For example, Tiger Mountain in Issaquah is popular for foraging stinging nettles, fiddlehead ferns, and miner’s lettuce. Check out this handy guide from Washington Trail Association for other hikes and tips on identifying edible plants.

If you’d prefer not to figure this out yourself, The Field Trip Society hosts foraging trips for greens and truffles in the spring.

Take a hands-on class

There are so many fun hands-on activities you can do during spring break. For example, those who love the kitchen can take virtual cooking classes at places like PCC or The Pantry.

If you’d prefer more crafty activities, check out The Works for DIY kits and in-person events during non-pandemic times. If you have kids, another fun activity is pottery painting at ceramic art shops like Paint the Town in U-Village.

Partake in casual sports

If you’re wondering what to do in Seattle during spring break that’s a bit more active, rent a bike and take a long ride on the Burke-Gilman Trail. You can also take a guided Emerald City bike tour. Or get outside by playing some mini golf at the Interbay Golf Course.

For indoor activities, try axe throwing or bowling in Capitol Hill for a quirky way to spend a rainy day during spring break.

Go kayaking or whale watching

Seattleites flock to the water come the warmer weather. Do the same by renting kayaks from NWOC to take on Lake Union and Lake Washington. Or if you’d prefer not to do a ton of work, go whale watching on a motorized vehicle.

front of a kayak | What to Do in Seattle During Spring Break

Take a day trip

With the extra time, one of the best things to do during spring break is take a day trip to some of the awesome areas surrounding Seattle. I have a whole list of awesome scenic day trips from Seattle, but here are some of my favorites for spring when you need both indoor and outdoor options.

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Bainbridge Island

There are a ton of islands near Seattle, but Bainbridge is only a 20-minute ferry ride from downtown Seattle. Read my guide on how to spend one day on Bainbridge Island. While there, make sure to check out the best Bainbridge Island wineries and Bainbridge island restaurants!

Vashon Island

Vashon Island is another great island for a day trip from Seattle because it’s only about a 20 minute ferry ride from West Seattle. Check out my guide on things to do on Vashon Island, including the best Vashon Island restaurants worth a visit.

Olympia

Visit our state’s capital for a fun day trip exploring wildlife, farmers markets, breweries, and more. Read my guide of the best things to do in Olympia, Washington for ideas of what to do in the area.

Tacoma

Tacoma, Washington is about an hour south of Seattle and is a perfect family-friendly day trip. It has a lot of parks along the water, museums, and the Point Defiance Zoo. Read my favorite things to do in Tacoma, WA for ideas of what to do in the area. And if you go, make sure to try the best food in Tacoma, WA.

Woodinville

When I was in college at Syracuse University in upstate New York, one of my favorite ways to spend spring break was wine tasting in the Finger Lakes. Seattle urban wineries are worth a visit if you’d prefer to stay in the city, but it’d be a fun spring break activity to make the drive 30 minutes east of Seattle and go wine tasting in Woodinville.

If you don’t want to have to think about driving, check out these Seattle wine tours that will take you wine tasting to areas within an hour of the city.

Mt. Rainier National Park

Yes, it’s possible to take a day trip to Mt. Rainier from Seattle! It’ll be a long day, but there’s still plenty of time to explore the best hikes at Mount Rainier. Just make sure to check the weather and conditions before you go. If it’ll be snowy, consider going snowshoeing or cross-country skiing and the stretch the winter a bit further into spring!

If you don’t want to have to think about driving, take one of these tours:

San Juan Islands

Sure, the San Juan Islands are 2-3 hours away from Seattle, but you can still do a day trip to San Juan Island if you’re ready to make a long day of it. Or stay overnight so you can spend the day kayaking with orcas or whale watching via a high speed boat.