Must see/do on a 3 day trip to Seattle

Early October is likely going to be still quite beautiful.

Make sure you get in some sort of tour that involves water.  Options include:

1. Ride the Ducks of Seattle
   
2. Argosy Cruises
   
3. Bainbridge Island Ferry
   
4. Agua Verde Paddle Club (kayaks on Lake Union)
   
5. Waterways Cruises
   
6. Charter a private sailboat
7. Kenmore Air Seaplanes that leave from Lake Union.

Lots of restaurants have been recommended in other threads, take a look at those.  However, I did just have the la petite tasting menu at RN74 last week and it was one of the best meals I've ever had. 

If it's your first time in Seattle, I'd recommend checking out either the Space Needle, Columbia Tower Club, or Smith Tower Observation Deck for a great view of the city. Space Needle has a Day & Night ticket that allows you to go up to the observation deck twice in a day & see the differences, that is pretty cool. 

Check out some of the show options in the area for great music. The Crocodile The Triple Door Neumos The Showbox are just a few venues to start with that are small & will give you a more local flavor.

This is just a start, so if you share some details about the types of things you like to do, you'll likely get even more options/recommendations. 

October is definitely hit or miss for weather...but hopefully the Summer will go long for you.  

Wandering around Pike Place Market is obviously a must...if the weather is nice enough you can gather some meats, cheeses, and other snacks and put together a little picnic to eat with a view of the water.  Make sure you head down to Post Alley Sign to see the Seattle Gum Wall (it's right down the stairs from the Market so not out of your way or anything)...it's one of the grossest things to see but also super fun to take photos of. 

For anyone who loves food, I think that the White Moustache Urban Adventure Company food tour is the best way to find restaurants (with a story) that even locals don't know about.  

If you have time and love wine, I think a day/afternoon trip to Woodinville Wine Country is also a must.  There are over 75 wineries there.  Patterson Cellars, Darby Winery Tasting Room, and Cave B are some of my favorites.  

Restaurants that are super delicious are Local 360, Cantinetta, Canlis (Super spendy but worth it with an amazing view.  Reservations required.), The Pink Door, and Daniel's Broiler.

Hope you have a fabulous time!!

Pike Place Market has to be your first stop - it's a Seattle institution. Check out Daily Dozen Donut Co, The Crumpet Shop, the original Starbucks (it'll be packed), and Pike Place Chowder, which has been winning national awards on a pretty regular basis.

Walk along the waterfront and make sure you visit the Seattle Aquarium, which has a great playground for its sea otters. Also, you need to see the Gum Wall. It's weird, but very Seattle.

The Ballard Locks make for a fun visit, and you can stop by Gasworks Park Marina to fly some kites. Did you ever watch 10 Things I Hate About You? That's where Heath Ledger and Julia Stiles checked paint at each other! You can also rent kayaks in that area and tour Lake Union.

For a general tour, visit Ride the Ducks of Seattle. It's a bit goofy, but loads of fun. Also, they're right across the street from the Seattle Center and EMP. If you're at all interested in music, EMP is a must-see. Nearby is the Seattle Shakespeare Company, which puts on some great theater - a couple years back, Laurence Fishburne played a flawless Othello. Pacific Northwest Ballet is only 5 minutes away.

For your one big-ticket item, you need to get dinner the Space Needle restaurant. Literally the best views in the city. Amazing... Completes a rotation every 30 minutes, and the food quite nice.

The Needle a good option for your anniversary dinner, but Canlis Restaurant is the king of fine dining in Seattle - and it has been since 1950. There are a lot of new spots downtown, but this one is a classic.

I could go on for pages. Have fun in my favorite city!

The Seattle Underground Tour in downtown Seattle is a must see!