**This article was updated in June 2022.**
I have always been a rebel. If the crowd is going one way, I’m likely to go the opposite direction. That is unless I’m looking for a good place to eat. I will rarely go into a café if the place is empty. When it comes to food, you can bet that if you queue up to that long line, you won’t come away disappointed.
But I digress…
When exploring new destinations, I prefer to go where the crowds are thin to none. You get the full experience and enjoyment of the places without having to “share” it when a lot of people. Call me selfish. To that end, I enjoy visiting unique and unusual places. Unique experiences in Washington State, to be exact.
What are some weird things to do in Seattle? Or unique things to do in Washington State, for that matter? What are the best kept secrets in Washington State that no one knows about? The metropolitan area of Seattle has a legion of unusual attractions. But since this is one tiny post, I have to pare it down some. Here are my favorites, and a good guide to “getting off the beaten path” when in the area. These are also some of the best Washington State vacation spots.
Be sure to check out the end of this post for a handy map on all of the location I’ll talk about, courtesy of the awesome folks at Wanderlog!
Unusual Things to do In Seattle
Ye Olde Curiosity Shop
Set on Pier 54 overlooking Seattle’s beautiful Elliott Bay, this iconic novelty gift shop has been open since 1899. Along with the usual Seattle souvenir t-shirts and shot glasses, there are honest to gosh peculiarities scattered throughout. Among them; real-life shrunken heads and two perfectly-preserved mummies standing upright and encased in glass. Of course, they have names. They are Sylvester and Sylvia.
Belfry Oddities NOTE: This gem is permanently CLOSED 🙁
If you like your oddities a little less touristy, come to Belfry. Don’t worry, those animal heads are ethically sourced (no cruel hunters or poachers here). There is an impressive display of human and animal bones, jarred specimens, and other natural history items. Throw some jewelry, antique curio and plants into the mix, and you have an interesting hour or two of browsing.
Seattle Metaphysical Library
Located in an unmarked room in the basement of a secure apartment building, at times it may be a bit of a challenge to get in. Once inside, you will be rewarded with over 13,000 titles ranging from UFO’s, parapsychology, and magick (yes, I spelled that correctly). Know before you go: every single one of their books is listed on the website.
Scarecrow Video
Still got that rusty yet trusty VCR? Does it still actually work? If yes, then head to the world’s largest independent video rental store. It’s got over 100,000 titles lining its many shelves. Whoa. With that many movies, you are sure to find something extremely rare and/or unique within these walls. Don’t worry about this establishment going out of business anytime soon. It is currently running as a non-profit, with plenty of fan and film buffs around to keep its doors open.
Meowtropolitan Cat Cafe
Feline lovers unite! Cats and coffee rule here, and to keep your purr-fect coffee companion happy and calm, only 10 people are allowed at time. So make your reservations! You first order your coffee from a cat-themed menu, then go into the cat lounge and make a new friend or two. There is a rotating parade of about a dozen cats hosted by Regional Animal Services of King County, so if you make a forever-friend and live in the area, any of them are up for adoption.
Unusual Things to do Around Washington State
Twede’s Cafe, North Bend, WA
OK, Twin Peaks fans – now’s your chance! You may have heard that the infamous diner that appeared in Twin Peaks and the accompanying film ‘Fire Walk With Me’ by the great David Lynch suffered a couple of arsonists, and when rebuilt, looked nothing like the original interior. But fear not. With the resurrected show, the makers of the film sunk a bunch of money into the diner for filming, and it is now back to its original glory. Come reminisce with other TP fans.
Barron Ghost Town, Barron, WA
This one of the secret places in Washington State. It is a little out of the way – 4 ½ hours northeast of Seattle, to be exact. But if you are a fan of ghost towns, this is the most intact ghost town in the Pacific Northwest. A bona fide relic of the gold days. Come take a gander at both intact and collapsed wooden structures, mechanical remnants, and mining shafts that you can actually explore.
Take a Real Gondola Ride, Gig Harbor, WA
A real-life gondolier will take you around the harbor, with a small appetizer thrown in. Pricing is split into two tiers. $85 for two people for an hour. $115 for 90 minutes. A few bucks more for extra people, up to six. Thinking of springing the ‘big question’ with your loved one? I can’t think of anything else more romantic than asking someone to marry me while riding a gondola. And $85, it’s well worth the money. That is, as long as the other person says ‘Yes!’
Hobbit House
This is for the fans of ‘Lord of the Rings’ who may not be able to make the pilgrimage to New Zealand. Located in Port Orchard WA, the Hobbit House is a piece of Middle Earth right here in the Pacific Northwest. The owners of the greenhouse built this hobbit house themselves, and it is open for the public to visit during greenhouse business hours.
Point Roberts, WA
How many places in the world exist where you have to travel to another country to get to it? The town of Point Roberts has the unique distinction of being on the south end of the Canadian Tsawwassen peninsula, but underneath the 49th parallel. What this means is that Point Roberts is actually part of the U.S. But in order to drive there you have to cross the Canadian border from Washington. Now that’s weird.
