by Melanie Grimes

Created on: February 13, 2008   Last Updated: April 07, 2011

For all its rainy reputation, spring is mild and arrives early in Seattle and offers a variety of activities for all ages.Crocus bloom in February. Daffodils by mid-March. But do bring a raincoat. Here are tips for enjoying the Emerald City.

Spring Skiing
The Cascade Mountains are a 45-minute drive from downtown and the slopes are open until Easter. Leave town in your shorts after lunch, ski in those shorts all afternoon, and return to a great downtown restaurant for dinner.

There are two ski resorts you can try. Stevens Pass is the higher and might have better snow, but Snoqualmie is closer.
Both have great slopes for beginners to advanced, tubing, and delicious hot cocoa.

Ride anElectric Boat
Rent an electric boat and cruise past UW Husky Stadium, Dale Chihuly's glass studio, and the houseboats of Lake Union.
Truly a unique Seattle experience.
They're easy to drive and you can bring along food and wine.

Rent a kayak
Watch eagles hunt for breakfast, while you paddle past the headquarters of Amazon.com in the center of the city.

Visit the Seattle Aquarium
Rainy day outside? Visit the otters, electric eels, octopus and abalone that live in Puget Sound, and stay dry in the process.

Walk around Green Lake
Green lake is a year-round wonder. In spring, the baby ducks sit on the banks, and the cherry blossoms are in bloom. You can travel with wheels if you rent a bike, skates or a paddle boat.

Watch the Seattle Mariners
You've got to visit the new stadium, Safeco Field, and watch Ichiro.
You can eat chocolate covered strawberries on a stick, or an Ichi-roll sushi.

Eat Dim Sum
Fun all year, but in the spring Seattle's international district is a great walking destination.
Not called Chinatown, because the influence is Japanese, Vietnamese, Korean, and Cambodian.

Visit the Woodland Park Zoo
Created for the animal's comfort as well as a great walking destination, the zoo is a wonderful spring excursion. Visit baby bunnies in the petting zoo.

9. Drink Coffee
Hey, it's Starbuck Land. You've got to drink a latte!
If it's hot, try a frozen version.
You can also try a cappuccino at Caf Ladro, Seattle Best Coffee, Tully's, or Torrefazione.

Go Clamming at Shilshole
Seattle's ocean access, Shilshole Beach, is home to the infamous Geoduck clam.
(It's pronounced Gooey Duck, so you don't embarrass yourself with the locals.)
Make you own sushi.
Dig for clams.
Watch the sun set into the Pacific Ocean.

Ride the Streetcar
Once called the South Lake Union Trolley, until a bar made up tee-shirts that said, Ride The S.L.U.T, the streetcar is a great way to see Seattle.
You can travel from Lake Union to downtown, catch a movie at Pacific Place, shop at Nordstrom's, and then travel back past Wholefoods, go kayaking on the lake, or grab some sushi.
This is Seattle at its finest.

With 90 miles of waterfront within the city limits, lots of great Pacific Rim cuisine, a diverse ethnic community, and a many walking and biking trails, there's a lot to enjoy in Seattle. Spring on in!

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