Seattle Unplugged

Turn off your cellphone notifications and try some of these analog activities that can help you enjoy simply being present in the moment.

A spacious, well-lit bookstore with wooden floors and beams, filled with shelves and tables displaying a variety of books. Blue pendant lights hang from the ceiling, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere.

Elliott Bay Bookstore

CURL UP WITH A BOOK

Pick up some immersive reading material at one of our many independent bookstores, such as stalwart Elliott Bay Book Company in Capitol Hill. Then enjoy your purchases in the store’s inviting café, Little Oddfellows, which serves up tasty lunch fare and baked goods—it’s an outpost of Oddfellows Café and Bar, next door. Or reserve a seat for the Silent Reading Party, held roughly once a month at Hotel Sorrento. Here you can cozy up with a cocktail for a couple of hours to read in companionship, while a pianist plays mellow melodies. Check out the delightful new bistro for book lovers in Ballard, Ink Drinker! It’s a wonderful space where patrons bring their books and Kindles to enjoy stimulating discussions over delicious cocktails. Don’t forget to visit their website for information on designated quiet reading hours—perfect for those moments when you just want to dive into a good book!

A person uses a torch to shape a piece of molten glass at Seattle Glassblowing Studio, with tools and equipment visible on the workbench nearby.

Seattle Glassblowing Studio photo credit Megan Swann Photography

GET CRAFTY

Get behind a pottery wheel at a Saltstone Ceramics workshop. Or try figure doodling, making a plant out of beads, gouache painting, and much more at The Works in Fremont. No time for class? Take one of their DIY craft kits home with you and keep the analog vibe going. Seattle Glassblowing Studio offers hands-on workshops where you can experience the joy of crafting your own ornaments, paperweights, or bowls with expert guidance—an ideal opportunity for beginners to explore their artistic side.

A cozy, warmly lit bar with wooden walls and shelves. People are chatting and enjoying drinks; some stand at the bar while a couple sits at a high table. Two bartenders work behind the counter.

Shibuya HiFi Vinyl Bar photo credit Justin M Kim

TUNE IN TO THE BEAT

DJs at Ballard’s Shibuya Hi-Fi Vinyl Bar curate tunes from a vast record collection, immersing you with gorgeous sound while you sip craft cocktails. There are different high-fidelity sound systems in three inviting spaces: the lounge, the bar, and the cozy Hi-Fi Room.

A cyclist rides across the blue Fremont Bridge in Seattle on a sunny day. A green sign indicates directions to Fremont and the Burke-Gilman Trail for bicyclists. Trees and buildings are visible in the background.

Burke Gilman Trail photo credit Rachael Jones

RENT A BIKE

Recycled Cycles in the University District is a fantastic source for non-electric (keeping it fully old-school) bikes, which you can maneuver along the glorious 20-mile Burke-Gilman Trail. It’s just a couple of miles east to Burke-Gilman Brewing Company, which has local guest beers on tap as well as its own brews.

A modern, stylish restaurant interior with wooden floors, patterned tables, cushioned chairs, and a bar area in the background. Soft lighting and a railing overlook the space below.

Hot Stove Society photo credit Global Yodel Photo

TAKE A COOKING CLASS

Hot Stove Society, at downtown’s Hotel Ändra, offers demos and tastings as well as hands-on options. Learn to make French pastries, bao, paella, and more. And in Pike Place Market, culinary classes are offered by Atrium Kitchen and Diane’s Market Kitchen.

This article was orginally written for Visit Seattle's Official Visitors' Guide

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Seattle Unplugged: Best Analog Activities for a Digital Detox