Looking for a place to stay in Seattle… that comes with an easy-to-book tour?
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You can find Airbnbs in Seattle that are easy to bundle with unique experiences. Seattle specializes in quirky, homegrown interests—from mushroom foraging to distilling honey mead to handcrafting candles to bonsai trees. (That’s just the tip of the iceberg, my friends.)
In short, if you show up in Seattle and think you’ve got the perfect itinerary, think again. The city’s list of Airbnb experiences is pretty unmatched, giving you the chance to work with your hands and learn a new skill in a city where people love to nerd out with their niche interests.
Here’s what to book when you’re heading to Seattle. (If you want to look for Airbnbs, too, check out one of my older pieces on Airbnbs in Seattle or A-Frames just outside the city.)
Interesting Airbnb experiences to book with your stay in Seattle
Experience Glass Project
Learn the basics of hand-blowing and hand-crafting glass objects. By the end of the experience, you’ll have created two or three little glass works of art to take home with you.
Print your own risograph
Learn how to print your own risograph (and what risographs are) in this hands-on, artsy workshop. As you work with colorful imagery to recreate an image of the Space Needle, you’ll also be creating a souvenir for your time in Seattle.
Stained glass workshop with artists
Learn how to create and put together works of art using stained and colored pieces of glass at FEELartistic Studio in Everett. You’ll also learn how to use foiling copper and basic soldering techniques to fix your stained glass works into place.
Create your own handcrafted candles
Learn how to create mini works of art using natural waxes, then perfect your candle designs. When it’s done, you’ll leave with a non-toxic and (hopefully) beautiful work of art—and the knowledge to keep making your own at home.
Bonsai garden tour and workshop
Explore Bonsaiko Garden with a bonsai master who was recently featured as a designer for the ‘Afterglow’ garden at the Northwest Flower Garden Festival. The experience starts out with a tour of the bonsai collection, then the chance to learn about how trees are slowly and intentionally shaped.
Sample local mead honey wine
Did you know that some people are still brewing honey wine, aka mead? You’ll get to sample a massive flight of meads that were created from local and tropical honeys alike at Mr. B’s Meadery in Fairmont.
Make a 3D print
Get an up-close look at a 3D printer to learn how this unique technology works, and how it’s being used today. You’ll have the chance to make your very own creation as you learn how to create a small object from inception to completion.
Mad Scientist Mocktail & Cocktail Lab
Don’t just learn the basics of mixology—get a scientific overview and a mad scientist feel for how different ingredients interact. After some bubbling and fizzing, you’ll have delicious cocktails (or mocktails) to sip on.
Intro to mushroom foraging
Get an urban intro to mushroom foraging with this experience. The course teaches you the basics of how to identify, harvest, and prepare various mushrooms for consumption. You’ll have an expert at your side as you put your knowledge to the test out in the wild.
Sample herbal teas at a steampunk tea house
Do you love sampling herbal teas with a unique, steampunk-like ambiance? Those are two pretty niche interests, which would make this experience pretty unforgettable for anyone who likes Earl Grey and Victorian-era gadgets. You’re in store for great ambiance and even better teas.
Checkmate & Chill
Join the University District’s most happening chess club. You can sip on a beer and grab a bite to eat while you learn the ropes of basic strategies and chess philosophy from a passionate player.
Step behind the DJ booth at Screwdriver Bar
Take a closer look at how famous rock’n roll CJs do their thing. This experience gives you access to the DJ setup at Screwdriver Bar, a legendary spot where you can feel Seattle’s musical soul. Whether or not you like rock’n roll, you’ll enjoy the musical vibes.
Track urban beavers
Join forces with a wildlife specialist in Seattle to check out the creeks where wild beavers roam. You’ll get to learn why they’re a keystone species, how to identify signs of beaver activity, and how their preservation also helps support endangered salmon runs.
Make medicine sourced from Pike Place
Who knew that Pike Place could be a zone for modern apothecaries? This experience shows you how to forage at the markets, then craft your own handmade apothecaries. When it’s all said and done, you’ll have some homegrown knowledge and five products to take with you.
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