What to do in Seattle in December?
 

My husband and I will be leaving the relative comfort of sunny, warm-weathered Southern California for cold, damp, Seattle in December. We will be there for 5 nights including New Year's Eve.

I've started my research and am trying figure out what activities we'll be able to do in winter but I'd like some recommendations. For example, will we be able to do a Locks Tour or is that a silly idea in December?

We'll be staying at Inn at the Market and don't intend to rent a car. We're genererally walkers but I'm not sure how well that will work in December.

Thanks in advance for your suggestions.

I can't think of anything really that the weather would stop you from doing. Just dress appropriately.

Pioneer Square Historic District
Pike Place Market
Seattle Public Library
Chinatown/International District
Space Needle/Seattle Center

I'd probably skip the Waterfront and the Locks at that time of year.

You can add something fun, just for the season, like the fake snow show at Pacific Place mall. The Nutcracker or Seattle Men's Chorus Holiday show. Maybe you'd like Teatro Zinzanni - a crazy dinner/theater show?

The Dead Sea Scrolls are also at the Pacific Science Center through January. You'll need to buy tickets in advance. Just google it.

The locks cruise is operated by Argosy. If it is a bad idea to make the cruise, Argosy won't go. Following are two very useful web sites:

For what’s happening in Seattle at specific times:
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/wh/

For likely weather conditions:
http://www.wunderground.com/tripplanner/index.asp

We lived in a home overlooking the locks for several years and never noticed anything that would keep a person from taking the tour from the waterfront through the locks. Sure, there won't be band concerts on Sunday or kids rolling down the hills, but it is a fun trip at any time of year.

Find out who's playing at Jazz Alley and spend an evening there. It's a wonderful venue where every seat is good and the music is first rate.

And, on the same note, I will say, just play it by ear. :-)

Or The Triple Door (another jazz club downtown).

Thanks everyone. I'll check into some of those ideas right away.