Private Seattle: Capitol Hill Pride Walk

Welcome to Capitol Hill, the vibrant epicenter of Seattle's LGBTQIA+ community. Known for its legendary counterculture movement, iconic music venues, plentiful bars and coffee shops, Capitol Hill is the perfect place to celebrate all things love, diversity and pride. Start your walking tour with a stroll through the heart of Capitol Hill, Cal Anderson Park. Named after Washington's first openly gay state legislator, this widely-used green space was the site of some of Seattle's first pride marches and continues hosting community events today. Along the park's north edge, you'll follow the AIDS Memorial Pathway, a public art installation designed to bring remembrance and reflection to those lost during the AIDS epidemic. Enjoy sculptures and stories by artists of different backgrounds speaking out against AIDS-related discrimination. As you travel around Capitol Hill, notice the various rainbow-painted street crossings, a nod to the neighborhood's queer history and its commitment to present-day inclusivity. Pass by several iconic music venues that have hosted plenty of queer and drag performers over the past several decades. Make a pit stop at Elliot Bay Books, a beloved local bookstore with longstanding ties to the LGBTQIA+ community that proudly boasts an extensive selection of queer literature and authors year-round. If you're starting to work up an appetite, how about stopping for a snack at Cupcake Royale, a Capitol Hill business that has been championing LGBTQIA+ rights for over 20 years. Cupcakes and progressive change? Doesn't get better than that. Throughout your tour, you'll visit several other LGBTQIA+-owned businesses—like a cozy coffee shop and an iconic diner—and enjoy a nibble of a special pride-themed donut. Capitol Hill is full of lively gay-owned businesses to support once your tour is over, so be sure to ask your guide for their favorite spots and other must-sees in Seattle.