Nonalcoholic drinks are trending and the 10-day forecast is filled with rainclouds – it must be January in the Puget Sound!
Here in the Emerald City, we’re notoriously known for our gloomy weather. However, as any local will tell you, you can’t let a rainy day ruin your plans.
A post shared by Volunteer Park Conservatory (@vpconservatory)
From modern museums to charming cafes, there are plenty of fun things to do in our region, even when the weather isn’t ideal.
So, grab your rain jacket and your ORCA card, and let’s check out the best activities for a rainy day that you can access via public transit!
Warm up in a greenhouse
Volunteer Park Conservatory
Location: 1400 E Galer St, Seattle, WA 98112
Distance from station: 1 mile from Capitol Hill Station
Hours: Tuesday-Sunday, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. (closed Mondays)
Modeled on the great Victorian conservatories of Europe, the Volunteer Park Conservatory is a work of art and a living museum. It has housed an impressive collection of plant species from around the world for over a century. And it’s a great place to escape the rain with only a $6 admission (and free days on the first Thursdays and first Saturdays of the month!)
W.W. Seymour Botanical Conservatory
Location: 316 S G St, Tacoma, WA 98405
Distance from station: 0.3 miles from Stadium Station
Hours: Wednesday-Sunday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. (closed Mondays and Tuesdays)
The Conservatory, located at Tacoma's historic Wright Park, features a twelve-sided central dome and 3,000 panes of glass. Watch the rain fall on the roof as you enjoy 250 species of exotic tropical plants as well as a beautiful, changing display of blooming plants.
Gather with a group
The KEXP gathering space
Location: 472 1st Ave N, Seattle, WA 98109
Distance from Station: 0.5 miles from the Seattle Monorail (transfer from the 1 Line at Westlake Station)
Front desk hours: Daily, 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
KEXP's Gathering Space was created as a place for the community to connect and share their love for music and the arts. It is a welcoming and inviting space for Uptown Arts District neighbors, freelancers, travelers and music fans, providing free wi-fi, comfortable seating, and featuring the music of KEXP as the central soundtrack.
Puzzle Break – Room Escape & Team Games
Location: 2124 2nd Ave, Seattle, WA 98121
Distance from station: 0.5 miles from Westlake Station
Hours: Monday-Thursday, 1-10 p.m., Friday 11 a.m. – 11:30 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. – 11:30 p.m., Sunday 10 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Why not escape the rain with a literal escape room? Grab a group of friends to help you collect the clues and crack the codes to escape. While the rooms aren’t scary, they are only for those 18+ and 16+ with a guardian.
Find a new place to read
UW Reading Room
Location: 4000 15th Ave NE, Seattle, WA 98195
Distance from station: 0.6 miles from University of Washington Station
Hours: Monday-Thursday, 8 a.m. – 8 p.m., Friday 8 a.m. – 5 p.m., Sunday 1-8 p.m. (closed Saturdays)
Combine Hogwarts and silence and you have the Reading Room. Rows of brass-lamped, oak study tables, beneath a 65 foot high ceiling, diffusely lit with natural light through leaded and stained glass windows. This is the only part of the library designated as a silent study area.
Seattle Public Library – Central
Location: 1000 Fourth Ave., Seattle, WA 98104
Distance from station: 0.2 miles from University Street Station
Hours: Tuesday-Thursday, 10 a.m. – 8 p.m., Friday-Monday, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
The library is one of Seattle’s coolest buildings – with a geometric, futuristic design. The 11-floor building contains an innovative "Books Spiral," a 275-seat auditorium, and open spaces where patrons can meet, study, search the web or read.
Looking for more places to curl up with a good book? Check out our list of cozy bookstores along the 1 Line!
Learn something new
Seattle Aquarium
Location: 1483 Alaskan Way Pier 59, Seattle, WA 98101
Distance from station: 0.4 miles from University Street Station
Hours: Daily, 9:30 a.m. – 6 p.m.
The Aquarium is a great place to visit, rain or shine – perfect for an underwater experience without ever getting wet!
Underground tour
Location: 614 1st Ave, Seattle, WA 98104
Distance from station: 0.2 miles from Pioneer Square Station
Hours: Daily, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Bill Speidel's Underground Tour, Seattle's most unusual attraction, is a humorous walking tour of the buried city.
From bowling to bouldering, crafting to classes, movies to museums, and cafes that feature everything from board games to adoptable cats, there’s no shortage of things to do in the city. What did we miss? Let us know by tagging @SoundTransit on social media!