A Vibrant Spring Seattle Itinerary: 3 Days in Seattle

You’ll never believe me when I tell you that the first time I ever visited Seattle was in 2013 with my two sisters to audition for America’s Got Talent.

Yes, you heard that right. Over ten years ago, my sisters and I found ourselves dancing in front of the producers of the compelling prime-time TV event where people from all over the world showcase their wild talents.

Together with our “momager” – our incredible mom who oversaw all the travel details and helped us arrange the audition – we stepped into a chaotic convention center in our homemade costumes. 

The dance we performed as preteens was hardly “million dollar prize material”, but with supportive parents that feed into your delusions, you can go anywhere…including the America’s Got Talent audition rooms. 

Though we never made it to prime-time television, having the opportunity to go after our dreams created an unstoppable mindset for pursuing future ambitions. No dream was too ambitious. If we can make it to the America’s Got Talent audition rooms, we could make it anywhere.

Over ten years later, I would find myself back in the very city where my dreams came true. Only this time, I wasn’t prancing around in a sparkly handmade costume. Instead I was back in the Emerald City with a different purpose. I was chasing after a bucket list adventure: to experience the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival and stay in a Seattle treehouse. My two-for-one bucket list deal.

Things lined up perfectly. A coveted reservation at a luxurious treehouse getaway opened up during peak bloom at the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival. Had I just won the lottery? It sure felt like it. 

I didn’t hesitate to book my flight for a mid-April Seattle weekend getaway, and it became one of my favorite weekend trips of all-time! I figured I would compile a complete list of everything I loved about my mid-April weekend trip to Seattle and pass on that information to you so you could enjoy this bucket list adventure!

Here are some helpful tips for visiting Seattle in April, including my ultimate 3-day Seattle spring itinerary!

Why Visit Seattle in April?

Many travelers shy away from the Pacific Northwest during the Spring months for fear of thunderstorms thwarting well-planned itineraries.

But I can confirm that spring in Seattle is a great time to enjoy lower flight and hotel rates, while still experiencing all the best activities and events Seattle has to offer.

Spring in Seattle is a time of efflorescence; a spectacular array of regrowth and blossoming. Though many days are filled with the typical PNW downpour, there are a good number of days where the sun shines on the fresh blooms all over the city and countryside.

I really enjoyed my long weekend in Seattle in April because of the lower hotel rates and fewer crowds. Regardless of destination, I always opt for shoulder season travel! 

If the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival in North Washington isn’t enough to bring you to Seattle in April, many hotels are still offering guests “winter rates” in late April, making it the most affordable time of year to visit Seattle. Shoulder season is a time where the city experiences reduced strain from tourism and fewer cruisers departing from Seattle. 

April is the perfect month to visit Seattle for lower prices and a mix of typical Seattle weather and sunny spring days!

Where to Stay in Seattle in April?

Depending on your weekend plans in Seattle, there are a variety of options for choosing a great hotel in Seattle based on your travel style.

Most people who visit Seattle for the first time want to find a hotel near Pike Place Market, the most popular local market in Seattle, or in Downtown Seattle. 

Pike Place Market and Downtown Seattle are great areas to stay for first-time visitors due to their proximity to tourist attractions including the Seattle Aquarium, the Seattle Great Wheel, and other Seattle bucket list activities! The Space Needle and Chihuly Glass Museum are just a short ride away on the affordable Seattle monorail.

My top recommendations for hotels in Seattle are Alexis Royal Sonesta Hotel ($$ – Downtown Seattle), Hyatt House Seattle Downtown ($$ – Lower Queen Anne Neighborhood next to the Space Needle), and the Fairmont Olympic Hotel ($$$ – Seattle Downtown).

Seattle at a Glimpse: Hotel Options for All Budgets

*Pricing based on mid-April rates

BEST BUDGET

Green Tortoise Hostel

The best budget-friendly accommodation in Seattle steps away from Pike Place Market and the light rail station. This comfortable hostel is perfect for budget or solo travelers!

BEST MID RANGE

Alexis Royal Sonesta Hotel

An elegant, yet affordable four-star hotel in Seattle near the waterfront located just ten minutes from Pike Place Market and other Seattle activities. 

Hyatt House Seattle Downtown

What stood out most to me about this specific Hyatt Hotel was its location. Immediately adjacent to the Space Needle, the iconic Seattle monument can be seen from the hotel’s rooftop!

BEST LUXURY

Fairmont Olympic Hotel

A historic, luxury hotel in Seattle built in the 1920s. The Fairmont Olympic Hotel is one of the best hotels in Seattle for travelers enjoying the opulent luxury of Downtown Seattle.

Unique Getaways Near Seattle

If you’re looking for a more “off-the-beaten-path” getaway near Seattle, I highly recommend checking out Treehouse Point in Issaquah, Washington. 

Just thirty minutes from downtown Seattle is the ultimate luxury wilderness escape where you can find peace and tranquility high above the trees. This coveted treehouse getaway (YES, you can ACTUALLY stay in a treehouse in Seattle!) is a unique experience for travelers searching for a unique getaway in Washington. 

Pete Nelson, the mind behind the awe-inspiring luxury treehouses featured on the hit TV series called Treehouse Masters, built a set of unique bungalows high above the trees in Issaquah, Washington. Treehouse Point is this unique collection of eccentric and elegant treehouses, each with their own curious features. 

I was lucky enough to experience the magic of both the Burl treehouse, a scene straight from Endor (I’m a BIG Star Wars fan!),  and the Temple of the Blue Moon, the property’s first treehouse. My experience at Treehouse Point was BY FAR one of the coolest getaways on my bucket list – I HIGHLY encourage you to add it to the top of yours!

Weather in Seattle in April

No matter the season, Seattle weather can be very unpredictable!

April temperatures in Seattle average between daily highs of 55 – 57°F with a good mix of spring showers and Seattle sunshine. 

Don’t let the rain stop you from visiting Seattle in April! April is a great month to visit if you want to experience the Emerald City with fewer crowds, find better accommodation prices, and enjoy the season of regrowth and bloom. 

During the month of April, Seattle sees the blooming of cherry blossoms and other beautiful flowers. Washington Park Arboretum is a beautiful place to experience springtime in Seattle. 

North Washington also experiences peak tulip bloom during April in the Skagit Valley. Mid-April is the BEST time to experience the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival in all its splendor. 

3 Days in Seattle: The Perfect Spring Itinerary

The perfect April Seattle itinerary!

April is one of the best times to visit Seattle to experience the city in bloom.

Here’s my three-day Seattle April itinerary to help you plan the best springtime trip to the Emerald City!

Day 1: Iconic Seattle Sights and Waterfront Wanderings

Day 1 of your Seattle itinerary will be spent exploring iconic Seattle sites along the mesmerizing waterfront!

Start your morning off at the Pike Place Market with a chef-guided food tour of the best bites at Seattle’s largest continuous farmer’s market (this is TRULY one of my FAVORITE tours EVER).

The Pike Place Market, founded in August of 1907, was originally the site where a small group of local farmers would bring wagons of fresh produce for local Seattle residents who didn’t want to pay premium prices for fresh produce in the city. On August 17th, 1907, the first official day of the market, the vendors sold out by lunchtime. 

Today the market has evolved beyond just a local produce market. There are a variety of vendors selling all kinds of homemade goodies from fresh baked goods to greek-cultured frozen delicacies. Even today, many of the popular vendors sell-out by lunchtime, which is why I recommend you start your morning early at the market to beat the hungry crowds. 

A chef-guided food tour is the best way to discover the top eats around Pike Place Market! From aged Gruyère mac and cheese to smoked salmon candy and famous clam chowder, I enjoyed every bite of this tour!

After eating your way around the Pike Place Market, I recommend venturing over to the Seattle Great Wheel, a ferris wheel on the waterfront with incredible views of the city and the harbor around it. The ferris wheel is a fun adventure for families or daring travelers hoping to see the Space Needle from above!

The best way to learn about the city’s history and experience iconic views of the Seattle skyline is to take a boat tour of the Seattle Harbor. Argosy Cruises is the best Seattle sightseeing tour providing guests with beautiful views of the Emerald City. The 1-hour harbor cruise is a fun way for families or adventurous travelers to experience Seattle. 

If you plan on visiting many of Seattle’s iconic sites, I highly recommend purchasing the Seattle City Pass. This affordable all-in-one ticket provides travelers with access to the Space Needle, the Seattle Aquarium, and your choice of three additional Seattle attractions. A harbor cruise with Argosy Cruises is featured on the list!

This saver ticket is great for first-time visitors hoping to explore all the sites and attractions of the Emerald City.

When you return from your sightseeing harbor cruise, I recommend an afternoon stroll around Olympic Sculpture Park. This free sculpture park, designed and operated by the Seattle Art Museum, is a space of monumental contemporary sculpture set against the beautiful skyline of Seattle. 

By late afternoon, you’ll be hungry after a morning indulging in delectable bites at the Pike Place Market, here’s my top recommendation for dinner around Pike Place Market and Downtown Seattle:

Matt’s In the Market

I was a little skeptical when our chef recommended we book dinner reservations at a local seafood restaurant IN Pike Place Market. Mainly because I thought that many of the restaurants around the market would be overpriced and under deliver. However, Matt’s In the Market, an elegant, yet affordable seafood restaurant with views of the iconic Pike Place Market sign, was a tasty surprise.

I highly recommend booking reservations for this restaurant in-advance due to its prime location and top-notch seafood, straight from the fish market below it!

Sticking around the Pike Place Market area for the evening? I highly recommend heading back to the market, after-hours, to experience a wild burlesque show at Can Can Culinary Cabaret. This was the first stop on our chef-guided market tour – an eccentric theater-meets-restaurant where we indulged in crispy, buttery French toast – and I couldn’t wait to visit again after dark!

That concludes the jam-packed first day of your Seattle itinerary!

Day 2: Sky High Views of Seattle and Marvelous Museums

Day 2 in Seattle is your moment to experience out-of-this-world views of the city skyline and explore marvelous museums in Seattle. 

Start the second day of your Seattle itinerary at the Space Needle, a towering American monument six hundred feet above the city. 

Originally built for the World’s Fair in 1962 in honor of the event’s theme, “The Age of Space”, this monumental tower represents the historic global advancements in space exploration. Today the Space Needle acts as both an exhibition for the tower and a place to experience incredible views of the city of Seattle. 

This attraction is one of Seattle’s most popular, so I highly recommend getting to the Space Needle bright and early to avoid waiting in long lines! 

You can purchase a combo ticket for the Space Needle and the Chihuly Glass Museum to experience two of Seattle’s best activities for less (I highly recommend!).

Many people opt to take the stairs down the Space Needle rather than wait in line for the elevator. The “road less taken” down the tower, though arduous and more work than taking the elevator, was what I considered to be a unique experience in Seattle! Plus, I couldn’t pass up the free t-shirt (and I didn’t want to wait in line for the elevator…)! 

Next to the iconic Space Needle is Chihuly Garden and Glass, a museum showcasing the intricate glass works of Dale Chihuly. Known to create towering glass structures of luminescent colors, Chihuly was a master of glass artistry. Throughout the museum and the sculpture garden, you’ll discover jaw-dropping glass works in every color. I loved exploring this museum when I visited Seattle.

By now you’ve worked up an appetite. How about creole-cajun meets French flair? Toulouse Petit was another restaurant recommended by the chef on our guided food tour of Pike Place Market. Toulouse Petit is an upscale, modern cajun-creole restaurant near the Seattle Space Needle! 

After lunch, there are a few options for ways to spend your afternoon in Seattle.

Option 1: Visit MOPOP, the Museum of POP Culture

OR

Option 2: Catch the ferry to Bainbridge Island for iconic views of Seattle

The Museum of Pop Culture offers visitors an immersive rundown of the pop culture that shaped American society. From the music we listen to everyday to films that define cultural eras, MOPOP has it all. Like the ever-evolving culture of our society, MOPOP evolves with unique exhibitions every season. 

An afternoon ferry journey to Bainbridge Island is a great way to explore other areas around the city of Seattle. Located 35 minutes from Seattle, as the Orca swims, Bainbridge Island is an enjoyable afternoon adventure for all types of travelers. I recommend strolling around the town and stopping at Proper Fish for classic fish-n-chips. 

Take your pick! There’s no wrong answer!

If weather permits, I highly recommend ending your evening at Kerry Park, a beautiful viewpoint in the Queen Anne neighborhood with incredible views of the Seattle skyline. I could’ve sat there for days watching the planes fly into the city of Seattle. 

Here are my top recommendations for dinner in the Seattle area:

Rock Creek

I spent a LOT of time researching the best restaurants in Seattle and Rock Creek seafood restaurant appeared dozens of times in my detailed search. This classy seafood restaurant in the Fremont area is a great place to enjoy an upscale dinner. I enjoyed a variety of fresh seafood – including to-die-for WHOLE Branzino – and I can definitely say that this seafood restaurant is one of Seattle’s best!

Umi Sushi

When in doubt, SUSHI. That’s basically my life motto. Umi Sushi was the third restaurant recommendation by our local chef from our guided Pike Place Market tour. That man went three for three with his recommendations because the sushi at Umi was mouth-wateringly fresh and delicious. Portion sizes at Umi Sushi are also quite big so this is one of the more affordable places to get upscale sushi in Seattle. 

The day’s not over yet! Wrap up day two of your Seattle spring itinerary with a tour of the Seattle underground. There’s more to the city than just pointy towers and local markets. The city of Seattle has an intricate history…one that’s literally buried beneath your feet. Explore hidden passageways and uncover the eccentric stories that shaped Seattle into what it is today.

A tour of the Seattle underground passageways is a great way to learn about the unique history of the Emerald City!

Day two of your three day Seattle spring itinerary is now complete!

Day 3: Skagit Valley Tulip Festival

The third and final day of your Seattle April itinerary will be spent exploring the colorful tulip fields in the Skagit Valley. 

If you’re planning on staying in Seattle for the weekend, the drive will be approximately one hour from Downtown. 

The Skagit Valley Tulip Festival is one of the most incredible springtime events in North Washington, visited by travelers from the Seattle area and all over the US. I highly recommend getting to Skagit Valley early to avoid afternoon crowds!

Before venturing from tulip field to tulip field, start your morning at Whidbey Island Bagel Factory in Mount Vernon.

Next, drive along the “tulip route” from farm to farm to explore each individual tulip field. During the weekends, this majestic route gets very busy, which is why I recommend visiting the tulip festival during a weekday to avoid crowds and traffic!

Start your tulip journey at Garden Rosalyn, a small farm at the beginning of the tulip route.

Featuring decorative fields of colorful tulips and a picturesque blue windmill, Garden Rosalyn is the perfect farm to visit early in the morning for a tourist-free tulip experience. Garden Rosalyn is the first farm to open, welcoming visitors at 8am. I arrived at this magnificent garden around 9:30am and I was the FIRST visitor!   

Because Garden Rosalyn is smaller, fewer people visit than the larger tulip farms. This small farm is the perfect place to get family photos with the scenic tulip fields as a picturesque backdrop. 

The next farm along the tulip route is Roozengaarde, North Washington’s largest tulip field. 

Roozengaarde is the largest of the tulip farms and therefore the most visited! By 10am, this farm gets busy!

At Roozengaarde fields and fields of tulips paint the horizon. In mid- to late April when peak bloom is happening (or earlier depending on the year!), this farm is one of the most picturesque scenes in North Washington. I was blown away by the rainbow of colors that painted the Skagit Valley horizon. Roozengaarde also offers tulips for purchase if you want to take home a decorative souvenir from your trip to Washington!

Once you’ve visited the largest tulip farm in North Washington, it’s time to visit Tulip Town. 

Tulip Town features a beautiful white windmill and colorful fields of tulips with stunning red and vibrant white tulips. This small farm also offers guests a ride in the tractor along with your ticket purchase!

Tulip Town was my favorite tulip farm in the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival. 

Next to Tulip Town is Tulip Valley, a small farm where you can pick your own tulips! This farm is a great place to visit if you want to bring home a bouquet of fresh tulips!

Before stopping for lunch, I recommend visiting Schuh Farms, a local family-owned farm stand providing guests with fresh produce and baked goods. I picked up a mouth-watering blackberry pie to eat for dessert after the tulip festival!

For lunch head to Train Wreck Bar and Grill in Burlington for American classics. 

If you have time before flying home, I highly recommend adding the Museum of Flight to your 3-day Seattle itinerary. Located a short drive from Seattle Airport, the Museum of Flight showcases a spectacular array of aircraft and spacecraft. Air travel has evolved so much since the Wright brothers took to the skies, and the Museum of Flight is a great way to learn about the evolution of flight!

That concludes day three of your EPIC Seattle itinerary for April! I hope you have as much fun in Seattle as I did! 

What to Pack for Seattle in April

Layers and an Umbrella

The weather in Seattle is very unpredictable during springtime, but you can always bet on thunderstorms or overcast skies. Always bring extra layers when visiting Seattle!

Rain Boots or Durable Shoes for the Tulip Festival

You’ll be surprised to hear that I got away with WHITE AF1s at the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival. I was definitely lucky to experience April sunshine in North Washington! Bring durable shoes that you don’t mind getting muddy for the tulip festival if the weather is unpleasant.

Reusable Water Bottle and Tote

Live and travel sustainably! Bring a reusable water bottle to stay hydrated and a tote bag to carry your stuff around the city! When in Seattle, do what the Seattleites do and travel sustainably!

Final Thoughts

Is April a good time to visit Seattle?

April is arguably one of the best times to visit Seattle due to reduced crowds and lower accommodation rates. I absolutely loved experiencing the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival in North Washington and I was lucky to witness peak tulip bloom! If you’re wondering whether or not to book that April getaway to Seattle, let this be your sign!

Have fun exploring Seattle and the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival!