Bobbie Nickel

Seattle is a wonderful city to visit without a car. I know because I have one, and most days, I decide to leave it at home – especially on the days I’m traveling all over town. The city’s ample and far-reaching transportation options make it easy to explore, even if you wind up in a neighborhood you weren’t expecting to. You don’t have to budget time or money for parking. Kids 18 and under ride our transit systems for free.

330 feet from the Seattle Convention Center – Arch Just southeast of the Arch building sits a brutalist jungle called Freeway Park, a series of concrete plazas full of evergreen plants that spill over I-5 and around several buildings. Exit through Arch’s third level en route to other downtown adventures, and you may pass street musicians, book carts, and fire pits.

The Seattle Convention Center’s Summit building feels a bit like an open world game in and of itself, especially with its enormous windows and endless climb. (Don’t worry, there are escalators.) When you’re ready to venture outside, check out the all-ages street party the Seattle Convention Center is hosting on Ninth Avenue between Pike and Pine Streets. There will be music, food trucks, and a beer garden from 10 AM-7 PM on the Friday-Sunday of PAX West, and from 10 AM-4 PM on Monday.