Some people love the holiday season and some hate it, the holidays can be hard for people for so many reasons. Maybe they don’t have anyone to spend the holidays with, or this time of year just isn’t enjoyable to them, or it could just be that they think Christmas is just a time for over consumerism to peak. Doing fun things yourself or with your loved ones can cheer up anyone and make the holiday season better for everyone. Therefore, here are some places you can go to in the Seattle area that don’t suck and will make you feel happier.
The first place you could go is the Seattle Christmas Market. The Seattle Center Grounds is right by the Space Needle, and it starts on November 21st until Christmas Eve. The timings depend on what day you plan to go, so make sure to check the hours on their website. For tickets, one general admission ticket is $15.99 and all children under 6 years old are free. On their website, they have information for season passes and family season passes. There is no specific parking for this market, nearby parking spots are; 5th Avenue N. Garage, Mercer Street Garage, and Theater Commons ADA Parking Lot. Additionally, parking in these places, your parking fees go to support Seattle Center’s free programs, grounds, and gardens. As you enter, they have a photo op, with all of the bright lights and cheerful Christmas decorations as a beautiful backdrop. Keep walking through, and look at all of the local vendors and enjoy the many amazing snacks they have to offer. At the center of the market, there is live singing to make you feel the Christmas cheer. So if you need something to do this holiday season, the Seattle Christmas Market might be a good place to check out.
Somewhere to go if you’re looking for a full-day trip over-night, is Grouse Mountain in Canada which has activities for all ages. The drive from the Bothell area is long, but it is worth the drive and easily doable in one day. In Grouse Mountain, there are great slopes for skiing and snowboarding with a wide range of difficulty, so there is something for everyone, whether you are a beginner or an expert. Rentals are also available on the mountain, to buy or pre-book to save time. There are multiple small walks and trails that you can explore, and one of the best things there though is the natural ice skating rink. To get up to any of the activities you need to take a gondola, so you get a beautiful view of the mountains and city from above. A regular ticket will give you a roundtrip on the Skyride, as well as access to all the activities, excluding skiing and snowboarding. Each regular ticket is only valid for one day, there are also season passes available as well as other special offers. So if you are looking for something to do on a boring weekend this holiday season, definitely think about taking a trip to Grouse Mountain.
Another place, that is a little smaller is the North Creek High School Winter Bazaar. This is an annual bazaar that North Creek holds, with many vendors that sell all sorts of things, including Santa pictures, and snacks. This year, it is being held on December 7th, in the North Creek Cafeteria. This is a chance to support your local community and still have a great time. You can buy Christmas gifts that are unique or you could just look around with your friends and enjoy the festive mood.
