The Arts

• Bumbershoot (bumbershoot.org) is an annual music and arts festival that takes place each Labor Day weekend in Seattle featuring concerts, dance, theater and other live performances. Past acts have included Bob Dylan, Sheryl Crow and The Black Eyed Peas. If festivals aren't your thing, visit the Seattle Art Museum (seattleartmuseum.org) and explore its collection of fine paintings, sculptures and decorative art, including the outdoor Olympic Sculpture Park, or take in a show at Teatro ZinZanni (dreams.zinzanni.org), a gourmet dinner theater with circus, vaudeville and comedy performances.
  
  

Sports

• Take in a Major League Baseball game if the Seattle Mariners (mariners.org) are playing a home game on Labor Day weekend, or head out on your own sporty adventure. Try sea kayaking with a guided tour from a company like Evergreen Escapes (evergreenescapes.com), Agua Verde Cafe & Paddle Club (aguaverde.com) or Alki Kayak (kayakalki.com), or rent a kayak and go out on your own to explore Seattle's waters. For a land-based excursion, rent bikes and cycle around the Cheshiahud Lake Union Loop to take in views of the lake.
  
  

Wineries

• Washington's wine country in Woodlinville, about a half-hour away from downtown Seattle, features both large and family-operated wineries. Rent a car and spend a day traveling from winery to winery and tasting the Pacific Northwest's fine reds and whites. Chateau Ste. Michelle (ste-michelle.com), Woodhouse Wine Estates (thewoodhousewineestates.com) and Columbia Winery (columbiawinery.com) offer tastings, tours and special events, including a summer concert series at Chateau Ste. Michelle that runs through mid-September.
  
  

Islands

• For a Labor Day island escape just a 35-minute ferry ride away from Seattle, Bainbridge Island offers waterside parks and gardens, quaint shops and cafés. While on Bainbridge Island, take in the views of Seattle's skyline. An hour-long ferry trip or a 30- to 45-minute flight from Anacortes (a 90-minute drive from Seattle) takes you to the San Juan Islands. Come face-to-face with killer whales on a whale-watching tour, visit the Whale Museum (whalemuseum.org) or stroll through the historic town of Friday Harbor and take in its charming architecture, boutiques and restaurants.