Things to Do in Seattle: Artist Atlas feat. Tinsley

If you’re looking for the best things to do in Seattle, we recommend asking a local musician. You can take our word for it, because we’re a bit of an authority ourselves. Mackie was founded in Seattle in 1989 (the same year as Nirvana’s first album!) and we’re based here to this day. Seattle is one of the great American cities, with countless attractions: natural beauty, vibrant culture, fascinating history, a world-famous music scene and local seafood. 

 

But if you’re looking to find something beyond the tourist spots, that’s where the musicians come in. Nothing against Pike Place Market (which you should probably check it out at least once) but Seattle has much more to offer for the creative people who live and work here. We even found you a local musician: Tinsley, one of our favorite Seattle singer-songwriters.

 

Tinsley played a beautiful show for us at our latest edition of Mackie’s Sunset Sessions performance series. We caught up with her afterward and asked about her favorite spots in Seattle. We learned about her favorite music venue, bar, late night food, etc. We didn’t ask her favorite Seattle gear company, but we’ll just hope it’s us.

 

Learn more about a local musician’s favorite things to do in Seattle below.

 

Seattle’s music scene is legendary, and rightly so. We’re best known for grunge and alt rock, changing the sound of American music with bands like Nirvana, Soundgarden, Pearl Jam and many, many more. But a creative hub like Seattle has a huge mix of artists from every genre. You’ll get a taste of that diverse mix at Tinsley’s favorite Seattle music venue, Neumos. 

 

Like many of Seattle's best music venues, Neumos is located in Capitol Hill (or “Cap Hill”), the nightlife center of Seattle. The area has been around a long time, with some cool old buildings dating from the area’s early history. We see Tinsley’s point—Neumos is perhaps the best venue of them all, with a great stage and sound system, three bars, a mezzanine and balcony. The artists range from major touring acts to local favorites, plus plenty of dance nights and DJ sets.

 

Be sure to take time to explore Cap Hill, too. It’s really a special place. If you can time your trip for July, check out the Capitol Hill Block Party festival.

 

There are tons of bars in Seattle. We at Mackie certainly have our favorites. We agree with Tinsley’s choice, Percy's & Co. Like a lot of Seattle’s best bars, Percy’s & Co is located in Ballard, a neighborhood of Seattle that has a long history for drinkers. Before prohibition, Ballard was home to more bars than any town west of the Mississippi. That reputation didn’t change during Prohibition—they were just a little more subtle about it. In fact, Percy’s & Co is inside a building that was once a front: Percy’s Men’s Furnishings, disguising a secret bar in back.

 

These days it’s no secret that Percy’s & Co serves high-quality cocktails that they infuse in-house. The vintage space has a really cool, laid-back, vintage vibe. There are comfy booths, plenty of space, and the decor has some hints at Seattle’s mariner culture. And while you’re in Ballard, be sure to check out Ballard Brewery District, home to tons of local breweries.

 

Look, there are other late night food spots in Seattle. Many of them are good. But when it comes to the best late night food in Seattle, Tinsley’s answer is the answer. Dick’s Drive-in is a beloved local gem, with about 10 locations around town. The burgers are fresh and tasty, the fries are made with Washington potatoes, and the shakes match the old-school vibe perfectly. Most of the locations are still drive-ins, just like the name suggests.

 

And most importantly, Dick’s open until 2 a.m. every single night. If you’re hungry after a show at Neumos or a night of drinking at Percy’s & Co, hit the nearest Dick’s and chow down with the locals. Frankly, your trip to Seattle would be incomplete without it.

 

For the best free thing to do in Seattle, Tinsley recommends taking a walk around Green Lake, one of the most beloved parks in the area. Seattle’s natural beauty is a huge part of what makes our city so special. There’s tons of water, trees and wildlife—and that’s all on display when you walk around the 2.8-mile trail at Green Lake. It’s super popular with locals, partly because it’s located right in the middle of a neighborhood. You get the peace of a nature preserve without having to take a long car trip out of town (the traffic can be rough, we must admit).

 

If you’re more of a water person than a walker, Green Lake is also open to both swimming and boating. There are two lifeguarded swimming areas on the east and west sides, each near local landmarks—the Green Lake Community Center and Seattle Public Theatre, respectively. There are also multiple access points for boats in the park. You’ll find that’s often the case in Seattle, where boats and seaplanes are a common part of life for the locals.

 

For the best sunset spot in Seattle, Tinsley recommended another public park, Golden Gardens. Unlike Green Lake, Golden Gardens is located on the iconic Puget Sound facing westward, perfect for watching the sun go down. On a clear day (we do have clear days in Seattle) the park will likely be scattered with locals enjoying the view of the Olympic Mountains. There's also plenty of nature throughout the park, including beaches, wetlands and a short trail.

 

As a bonus, there are lots of amenities in Golden Gardens. You can reserve beach volleyball courts to play with friends while the sun goes down. While dogs are not allowed on the beach, there’s a separate off-leash area where they can run around freely. There’s a covered area in case it rains (okay, we do have lots of rain, too) and a restroom and plenty of parking. Golden Gardens is near Ballard, so it’s a perfect spot to end a day of activity.

 

We’re biased, but we think Seattle is one of the best places to visit in the entire country. Hopefully, with the help of Tinsley, you can see why we love it so much. It was a blast to host an edition of Sunset Sessions in our own hometown following recent ones in Australia and Spain. Even after visiting such exciting places, it’s good to be home. 

 

Of course, we’ll be back on the road again soon enough—and thanks to Mackie’s battery-powered gear, great sound will always accompany us.