17 Anniversary Ideas in Seattle for a Memorable Celebration

man and woman kissing in a sunflower field, one of the best anniversary ideas in Seattle

Considering today is my partner and my 10-year anniversary, it felt like the perfect excuse to share my anniversary ideas in Seattle. We’ve spent countless anniversaries in the city together, and I’m always finding new ways to ring in the special occasion.

Of course, just because there are a lot of Seattle date night ideas doesn’t mean they’re all anniversary-quality. Anniversaries are special occasions and are the perfect excuse to do something special, whether it’s dining in a fancy restaurant, catching a show, or exploring a new part of the city.

To make sense of all your options, I’m sharing a roundup of anniversary date ideas, whether it’s your first anniversary or your fiftieth!

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Anniversary Ideas in Seattle

Save this to Pinterest for later, as I’ll add more romantic date ideas in Seattle as I discover them!

Picnic and sunset viewing at a park

How often do you see people picnicking at the park and think, “That’s so romantic, we should do that!” I know I do. I have a whole roundup of the best Seattle parks, but my favorites for a picnic anniversary date are:

Gas Works Park for a view of the Seattle skyline
Alki Beach for its beach and panoramic view of the city
Ravenna Park for its secluded forested walks and lack of crowds

If you want to make it extra special, hire a company like Love Blooms to create a dreamy set up and do all the work to plan a memorable picnic. Or make a scavenger hunt and game of it and take a mystery picnic where you collect items at local businesses first.

Get on the water in a hot tub or sauna boat

website | 2401 N Northlake Way (get directions) | neighborhood: South Lake Union | best for: hot tub soak

hot tub boat in Seattle — *Image courtesy of Hot Tub Boats*

My partner and I go kayaking on Lake Union a lot. One of the Seattle water activities I’ve always wanted an excuse to do is rent a hot tub boat and float around Lake Union. Picture it, just you and your partner, maybe some champagne, and a picturesque view of the cityscape from the center of the lake. What could be more romantic?

Don’t love the idea of a hot tub? There is also a sauna boat you can rent with a bit more space. Or head to Von Sauna to experience saunas floating on a dock of Lake Washington.

See a romantic candlelight orchestra

pianist surrounded by candles on a stage — *Image courtesy of Fever*

My partner is an audiophile, so these candlelight orchestras make the perfect anniversary date. Events are hosted all over town, and it’s one of the few chances you’ll get to catch covers of the greats like Adele, The Beatles, or Queen performed by musicians in a dreamy, candlelit space.

Spend the day as a tourist exploring downtown

space needle viewed from below inside Chihuly Gardens and Glass Museum with an ornate glass sculpture in the foreground

If you’re a local, you probably haven’t explored as much of the city as tourists. So why not take a weekend to enjoy a staycation in Seattle? One of the quintessential activities you can do is explore Pike Place Market and check out the best restaurants. I created a free self-guided tour of the market so you can plot your day, or you can take this Chef Guided Food Tour of Pike Place Market guided tour.

After the market, pop into a new-to-you museum. The Museum of Pop Culture is worth a visit if you love entertainment, and since it’s in the Seattle Center, you can explore the Space Needle and Chihuly Garden and Glass in one go. This discount combination ticket gets you into the latter two so you can explore them for less.

Take a tour of the city

City tours are the perfect way to get out and see parts of Seattle you’d never otherwise discover. If you want it to be just the two of you, self-guided tours are the way to go. My self-guided food tours cover major foodie neighborhoods and include a constantly-updated list of restaurants worth visiting, along with tips on when to visit and what to order.

Self-guided Seattle food tour of the Ballard neighborhood

Ballard Tour

FREMONT TOUR

person diving fork into colorful layered cake from a restaurant on The Emerald Palate's self-guided Seattle food tour of the Georgetown neighborhood

Georgetown Tour

If you’re up for a guided tour, try one of these food tours:

If you’re keen to explore more of the city, try one of these guided city tours:

Go wine tasting

wine tasting at a Bainbridge Island winery

If your significant other is into wine, you can surprise them with a wine tasting experience. Stay local and explore Seattle’s urban wineries or hire a shuttle service to take you to any of the nearby wine regions. Here are some tours to give a try:

Go on a day trip to an island by ferry

woman walking in grass on island, one of the best road trips from Seattle

With so many islands near Seattle, you can easily explore one or two as a day trip. I’m partial to Vashon Island because it’s only a 30-minute ferry ride from West Seattle. It also has a rich food culture, so you could easily spend a day eating at the best restaurants as you discover things to do off the beaten path.

Here are some more islands worth dedicating a day or two to explore:

If your anniversary celebrations fall between April and October, I suggest spending the weekend in the San Juan Islands so you can go whale watching. Here are some tours to help make that happen:

Take a cooking or craft class

Taking a class together is one of the most romantic date night ideas in my opinion, and in Seattle, we have tons of options. If you’re into food, you can take a private cooking class with a professional chef, explore the options offered at The Pantry, or find a cooking class deal on Groupon.

If you’re more into crafts, you two can craft your own pottery, make a scented candle, or learn how to blow glass and make your very own glass bowl! The Works Seattle is one of my favorite craft studios with a ton more options.

Spend the day at the spa

I think dedicating a day to relaxing at a spa is one of the best anniversary ideas in Seattle, hands down. Whether you’re looking for couples’ massages, hydrotherapy, facials, or just all-around pampering, there’s a spa in Seattle for every service and budget.

I’m partial to Yuan Spa for their heavenly thermal pools, but you could also check out one of these deals from Groupon:

Enjoy a meal in the dark

website | 400 Dexter Ave North (get directions) | neighborhood: South Lake Union | best for: creative dining experience

Whatever crazy dining experiences you two have had so far, I promise this one is totally unique. For starters, you are literally dining with a blindfold, and you have no idea what food is being served to you (don’t worry, they accommodate dietary restrictions). The idea is that it’s a thrill for the senses, making for a unique shared dining experience.

Eat at a romantic restaurant

nest of tajarin pasta at a fancy Seattle restaurant

Anniversaries are the perfect chance to venture out and splurge on some of Seattle’s best fine dining restaurants. I’m partial to Cafe Juanita for their Italian tasting menu, Yesler 84 in Pioneer Square for their creative pre fixe, or Archipelago for their fancy Filipino cuisine.

Watch a sultry burlesque or cabaret show

burlesque performance, one of the best Halloween fun in Seattle

If you’re feeling frisky, one of the best anniversary ideas in Seattle is a burlesque or cabaret show. The Triple Door is a diner theater and lounge that hosts frequent themed burlesque shows. For an authentic cabaret experience, check out Can Can Cabaret in Pike Place Market.

Feel like a kid again at the zoo or aquarium

There’s something so touching about a couple aimlessly strolling through the Woodland Park Zoo or Seattle Aquarium. It’s the perfect chance to put down your phones, sit on a bench, and zone out watching the animals live their lives.

Finally try that speakeasy or rooftop bar

Seattle skyline, a must see during your 2 days in Seattle

Seattle has so many rooftop bars and speakeasy lounges, but since they’re not out in the open, it’s easy to go months without making a point to check them out. I suggest popping into Needle & Thread for some prohibition-era cocktails, then visiting The Nest in downtown Seattle in time to watch the sunset.

Get a tarot or astrology reading

If you’re curious as to what the next year of your relationship looks like together, why not explore your future with a tarot card or astrology reading? Seattle-based astrologer Jazmin will read your astrology and birth chart either in person or virtually.

Or you can check out one of these psychics and tarot card readers:

Walk among flowers

woman covering head with rainjacket during rain storm in a tulip field

Being in the Pacific Northwest has its advantages, like finding seemingly-endless flower blooms in spring and summer. From late March to early April, cherry blossoms take over UW’s campus. Come mid-April, you can visit the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival. Between late June to early August, visit lavender fields in Sequim or sunflower fields in Olympia’s.

If you can’t make a trip to the flowers, the local botanical gardens Washington Park Arboretum and Seattle Japanese Garden are beautiful any time of year. If it’s raining, head to the indoor Volunteer Park Conservatory in Capitol Hill for a tropical plant oasis.

Book a romantic getaway

Woman overlooking valley on a balcony of a romantic Airbnb in Washington State

If you have a few days to spare, you can and should treat yourselves to romantic getaways in the Pacific Northwest. Here are a few guides I’ve written so you can get the most out of your trip:

How to plan an anniversary date

If you need help planning the perfect anniversary date, look no further! Here are some tips that have helped me over the years. If you have any tips to share on planning the perfect anniversary, leave them as a comment down below so I can add them to the list!

Think back to how you first met

Where did you two have your first date? Was it in a particular coffee shop, or maybe a museum? Pick a sentimental place you two haven’t visited in a while to rekindle your old flame.

Look for photo ops

It never hurts to have a quick photo session to commemorate your next year together, whether it means picking a viewpoint to catch the sunset or taking a trip to the Original Selfie Museum for some fridge-worthy photos.

Stray away from home

It’s easy to get stuck going to the same restaurants in your neighborhood, so try to pick a place that’s in an area you don’t go to often. Who knows, you may discover your new favorite restaurant!