If you’ll be springing into Seattle this spring, consider yourself lucky - it’s one of the most exciting times to visit! The season brings longer days and warmer weather that beckons visitors and locals alike to brave spring showers in search of fun and frivolity. You’ll find plenty of both across the area as you attend annual festivals, enjoy unique spring activities, and stroll the scenic streets of the Emerald City. 

Whale Watching

Spring is one of the best times of year to channel your inner captain Ahab on a whale watching adventure. You can see pods of majestic Gray Whales during March and April as they stop by the Puget Sound to dine on native ghost shrimp as they make their bi-annual migration to Alaska’s Bering Sea. If you’re visiting later in the spring season, May is the best time to spot the popular orca whales as they enjoy the strong salmon runs in the Salish Sea.

Boat tours are the most popular way to whale watch and most offer sighting guarantees (or a free trip on them!). FRS Clipper is the only whale-watching tour that leaves directly from Seattle to explore the Salish Sea. If you’re staying closer to Port Townsend,  Puget Sound Express is one of the area’s most experienced guides and offers full half-day tours for maximum fun.  

When you are done exploring, you can enjoy the luxurious appointments of Magnolia, a charming gem within Seattle's pantheon of amazing neighborhoods.  It is marked by stunning views of the water and skyline, as well as proximity to parks, groceries, shops and all the attractions that Seattle has to offer!

Catch a Mariners Game

Nothing says spring in Seattle like seeing the Mariners take to their home diamond at T-Mobile park. Tickets are very affordable, and you can enjoy this classic American game as you munch on peanuts, down greasy hot dogs and sip ice-cold beer. Thanks to the stadium’s retractable roof, you can do it all while soaking up the warm spring sunshine (while still being prepared for a pop-up spring shower).  The Field of Dreams, is a luxury 4-bedroom Seattle townhome that has a baseball theme throughout!  

Skagit Valley Tulip Festival

This month-long festival of flowers is a sure signal that spring has arrived in Seattle. Each April, hundreds of thousands of visitors flock to Skagit Valley to marvel at Mother Nature’s beauty as millions of colorful tulips burst into bloom in farm fields across the area. The event is designed as a driving tour so there is no one location to attend - the fields are centrally located with a variety of trendy attractions and events scattered across Skagit Valley.   And Swiss Marmot is a newly built, expertly crafted home that offers the perfect Pacific Northwest mountain getaway, along with being a short drive to the festival activities. 

The 2022 festival runs from April 1 to April 31, but the blooms erupt according to their own schedule sometime during the festival. It’s best to check the festival’s bloom status before you go. You can also purchase tickets to visit RoozenGaarde or Tulip Town, the tulip farmers responsible for the festival flowers, to see dramatic displays, enjoy family activities, and purchase fresh-cut tulips. 

Northwest Folklife Festival

The Northwest Folklife Festival has been Seattle’s can’t-miss event for Memorial Day weekend for over 50 years. The annual festival celebrates the area’s rich cultural diversity with exciting displays of ethnic, folk, and traditional art, crafts, music, and more. It brings together over 250,000 visitors to enjoy the talents of more than 6,000 artists and 200 local food vendors each year. 

The 2022 festival will occur on March 27-30 at the Seattle Center in downtown Seattle. The community-powered event is free and open to the public, but donations are encouraged and necessary to keep the program afloat. 

Ready to enjoy spring in Seattle? Northwest Stays offers a variety of rentals in some of Seattle’s best neighborhoods to help you enjoy a spectacular spring stay. From a large home near the Arboretum  (another great spring spot) to a luxurious home on Lake Washington, we can help you find a property that puts you near the best spring action Seattle has to offer.