You found our list of the best company retreat ideas in Seattle, Washington.
Company retreats in Seattle are activities and attractions that make great entertainment and team bonding opportunities during corporate events. Examples include The Great Guac Off, Willows Lodge, and Stone Garden. A business retreat’s importance is improving team cohesion, motivating employees, and improving communication within the organization.
These ideas work as company retreat destinations, group retreat activities, and executive retreat ideas. The experiences are similar to corporate outings in Seattle and Seattle activities for groups.
This article contains:
- corporate retreat ideas for big groups in Seattle
- corporate retreat ideas for small groups in Seattle
- company retreat entertainment ideas in Seattle
- company retreat locations in Seattle
- staff retreat activities in Seattle
- team retreat ideas in Washington
Here we go!
List of company retreat ideas in Seattle
Whenever you decide to have staff retreat activities in Seattle, options are suitable for groups of varying sizes. While some of the events have professional facilitators, you can also visit particular locations and organize your own unique retreat.
1. Gingerbread Wars
Gingerbread Wars invites employees together to collaborate and share holiday cheer. In-person and online versions are options for this event. Before the big day, every participant will get a gingerbread house decorating kit from Wilton. Then, to make the mood festive, your company will gather in a room and participate in a series of holiday-themed games and challenges. The activity culminates in a team gingerbread decorating competition that ends with smashing or eating the masterpieces. You can also throw a Christmas quiz night or organize a contest for the best holiday decorations. The 90-minute-long Gingerbread Wars is a joyous and fun Christmas event.
Learn more about Gingerbread Wars.
2. Bank Heist
Bank Heist is a high-energy social deduction retreat exercise to promote beneficial team-building skills. After a shocking robbery, your team must become super sleuths. Teams must work together to piece together clues and solve the crime. A presenter will direct your group through a series of challenges that reveal the motives and methods of the crime. Your group must work together to stop the perpetrators from getting away for good.
Every team member will have fun working together to find clues, share theories, and apprehend the thief.
Learn more about Bank Heist.
3. The Art of Storytelling
Effective communication greatly improves almost every area of work and life. This professional workshop teaches the art of persuasion and shows speakers how to hook an audience. Your team can expect to get actionable insights from this hands-on how-to activity.
Instructors are industry experts in acting, comedy, writing, and teaching. The facilitator will demonstrate an easy method for crafting convincing stories and will show you how to put it into practice immediately. Your teammates will make substantial progress in only 90 minutes.
Learn more about The Art of Storytelling.
4. High Trek Adventures
You can improve teamwork by participating in the ropes courses at High Trek Adventures. Over two hours, your group of 12 to 15 participants will tackle various obstacles on the ground and in the trees on a ropes course. Groups of three will cooperate to accomplish goals while group members below provide assistance and belay.
You do not have to panic if some participants are scared of heights. This facility has a “low course” team-building workshop, which does not involve climbing. With this plan, your group may have a full day of fun by participating in two exciting team activities.
Learn more about High Trek Adventures.
5. Pike Place Market
Pike Place Market will change your mind about what a “farmer’s market” really is. This location is more than just farmers selling their wares. Instead, the nine acres of retail space is full of bakers, florists, artists, craftspeople, and collectors. Pike Place Market is home to hundreds of sellers selling anything from one-of-a-kind jewelry to collectible comic books and old records.
You may get many items, including playful, sophisticated cheeses and thick, substantial slabs of meat to throw on the grill. Meanwhile, the alleys pay homage to various cuisines. You may go down any number of twisting stairways or down many lanes. The aroma of freshly-baked bread fills the air. The Pike Place Market is great if you seek company retreat locations in Seattle.
Learn more about Pike Place Market.
6. Willows Lodge
A stay at The Willows Lodge might make for a relaxing and enjoyable weekend retreat. Even though it is just 30 minutes from Seattle, this luxurious getaway on the Sammamish River makes you feel like you have escaped the city’s hustle and bustle. In addition, the lodge offers various group activities, such as wine tasting, lawn games, and mountain biking tours along the Burke-Gilman Trail.
You can schedule a lesson at the Aerial Adventure Park, taste wine at neighboring vineyards in a chartered Mercedes sprinter van, and then wind out the day with a painting session at Corks & Canvas. Willows Lodge in Seattle is a fantastic location for team retreat ideas in Washington due to the many possibilities available to guests.
Learn more about Willow Lodge.
7. Field Trip Society
The Field Trip Society provides activities and workshops “for inquisitive adults.” If this concept sounds like your team, then you should host a session with the society during your next company retreat. During the quest, you will pack your hiking gear for a foraging expedition with Langdon Cook to the woods around Tiger Mountain in search of delicious wild plants. You might also take a class with fashion designer Francine Moo-Young and master the indigo dyeing process.
If none of the scheduled field excursions seem to be a good fit for your group, then feel free to customize more fitting exercises. The Field Trip Society can organize a special outing for you and your team, complete with local artists and specialists, whether you want to go on a hike, learn to play the ukulele, or have a dinner party at your retreat location.
Learn more about The Field Trip Society.
8. Edgeworks
Edgeworks is a great indoor rock climbing gym for a more demanding group activity. The two-hour team-building seminars can accommodate up to 12 climbers and come with two guides. If you need more privacy, then the party loft is yours to use as you see fit. If you are making a list of corporate retreat ideas for small groups in Seattle, Stone Gardens would fit. The instructors at the facility will guide you through the rock climbing process and provide the necessary gear.
Learn more about Edgeworks.
9. Woodland Park Zoo
The Woodland Park Zoo is a veritable treasure chest with as many as 3,000 species under one roof. Big, hairy gorillas will hang from branches as brilliantly colorful tropical birds flit from tree to tree. If you are interested in meeting some of the world’s most incredible animals up close, you can request animal tours.
The zoo is more than just a great place to see animals. Your team members can relax in the rose garden. The zoo hosts exciting events throughout the year, from summer wine tasting classes to winter holiday celebrations.
Learn more about Woodland Park Zoo.
10. Seattle Art Museum
The Seattle Art Museum is a consortium of three separate museums across the city. You may choose to visit any of the three museums based on your retreat plans and the activities that interest you. For example, African paintings sit alongside Asian woodblock prints and silkscreens in the museum’s extensive holdings. Native American textiles, totem poles, and woven baskets also get prominent features.
The outside of the institution is equally as entertaining as the inside. You will find a sculpture park outside of one building, while yoga sessions, lectures, and other events take place on the rear lawn of another.
Learn more about Seattle Art Museum.
11. Locurio
Locurio’s escape rooms are some of the best company retreat entertainment ideas in Seattle. You can pick from several team-building games, including two types of escape rooms and two types of outdoor puzzle hunts. You can host the activities right in the comfort of your retreat facility or a rented location.
The Magic in Fremont package is ideal for parties of 12 to 22 individuals and lasts four and a half hours. Both the Vanishing Act escape room and the Mysteries of Noximillian scavenger game are available options.
Learn more about Locurio.
12. Salish Lodge & Spa
The Salish Lodge & Spa in Seattle is an elegant venue for a team-building company retreat. One option is Concoctions with Flair, where a professional bartender will teach a group of up to 40 participants how to mix drinks with flair. You may also do prototyping and product design team building with the Marshmallow Challenge. Salish Lodge also provides Geocaching Expeditions and Guided Snowshoe Trips, making this venue an engaging team retreat option throughout the year. Other activities available include golfing, fishing, and horseback riding.
Learn more about Salish Lodge & Spa.
13. Seattle Aquarium
The Seattle Aquarium is an excellent destination for a team of animal lovers. Moon jellies and wolf eels are two of the fascinating animals you will not find anywhere else. You can throw food to a shark at the aquarium, touch a starfish, or cup your hands around a spiky sea urchin.
The Seattle aquarium holds millions of gallons of water, and every drop contributes to a purpose. Both large, clear tunnels and tank bottoms are accessible for viewing. Mammals and amphibians live in part land and half water settings, and these rails provide a safe place to rest your hands. In addition, you will enjoy watching “dive shows” when divers enter the tanks and interact with the creatures up close.
Learn more about The Seattle Aquarium.
14. The Husky Union Building Esports Arena & Gaming Lounge
If you would rather host your event indoors, the University of Washington’s The HUB Esports Arena & Gaming Lounge is available for bookings. Your group may stay all day in the esports lounge, taking advantage of the accessible gaming computers to compete in the most recent multiplayer league or tournament games. Of course, you will still be on your monitors, but at least you can get out of the office and collaborate or compete with your coworkers in a fresh setting.
Learn more about The Husky Union Building Esports Arena & Gaming Lounge.
15. Washington Park Arboretum
Washington Park Arboretum is one of the greatest retreat locations in Seattle without breaking the bank. The arboretum is open daily from sunrise to sunset, and admission is free. The location is accessible anytime, and it never ceases to be stunning. The trails are brimming with roses, gardenias, magnolias, and azaleas.
Oaks and pines provide shades for the streets. The koi ponds and footbridges of the zen garden are reminiscent of Japan, and the tiny, well-maintained forest might be in New Zealand rather than the Pacific Northwest. Although the spring flowers will not be out yet, there is a well-known “winter garden” where fir trees and other evergreens are blanketed in pristine snow for beautiful photo ops.
Learn more about Washington Park Arboretum.
16. Golden Gardens Park
Golden Gardens Park is a way to get away from the glitzy spots. The park may be a peaceful haven amid a busy holiday, where you can sit on the beach and watch the birds or the sun go down. Some areas of the park are more popular and may become rather busy.
Social media has made the best sites on the footpaths and cliffs famous. To get actual peace and quiet in nature, you should avoid the popular spots and hike into the wood and venture into the muck and ponds. Golden Gardens Park is great if your team needs to relax and rejuvenate.
Learn more about Golden Gardens Park.
17. Seattle HeliTours
For your company retreat, you can choose to experience Seattle in a whole new light with Seattle HeliTours. Instead of sweating it out on the sidewalks or honking at the other drivers while on your retreat, you can soar above the city and get a bird’s eye view.
Three main tours are available, and each follows a set path. Two tours go through the raw natural splendor of Washington State, while one concentrates on the bustling business structures of Seattle. Additionally, you can take an “Instagram tour” of Seattle, which focuses on all the top attractions.
The company offers a wide range of flight times to suit your needs, from 20 minutes to 45 minutes. If you cannot decide, then feel free to book more than one tour.
Learn more about Seattle HeliTours.
18. Theo Chocolate
For chocolate lovers, Theo Chocolate is the afterlife. The aroma is the first clue. If you are walking down the street or driving by with the windows down, then you can follow your nose to the chocolate factory, located in an ancient brick structure with an intense chocolate scent.
After entering, you may choose one of the numerous directions. Next, you can visit the candy store where you can stock up on fudges and truffles to last a lifetime or go on a guided tour of the chocolate-making facilities. Classes, sampling events, and other exciting activities are also available. While your waistline may not be happy, your taste senses certainly will be.
Learn more about Theo Chocolate.
19. Seattle Center
In the heart of Seattle lies the Seattle Center, a cultural and entertainment hotspot. This option is one of the more cliche tourist activities, but it is such a great place to go that visiting it seems like a must for anybody in town. The Seattle Center is most known for the Space Needle, but there are many other exciting activities to partake in while you are there.
The center has botanical gardens, amphitheaters, art galleries, laser domes, and scientific centers. The Seattle Monorail service also stops here, so you can quickly get on and off during your trip. If you time your retreat well, you may attend festivals and other unique events. In Seattle, there is always a yearly festival for your team’s passion, whether it be cuisine, fashion, art, cinema, or music. If you are seeking the top locations for corporate retreat ideas for big groups in Seattle, you should consider going to the Seattle Center.
Learn more about Seattle Center.
20. The Official Bad Art Museum of Art
The Official Bad Art Museum of Art, commonly known as OBAMA, is one of the most unusual attractions in Seattle and one of the greatest for a good chuckle. Every art piece in this museum is eccentric. Some of the art is great technically but completely off-base thematically, while some are plain weird, strange, or incomprehensible.
Most of the artworks on show here defy easy description. After gawking at the outlandish artwork, sit in the café and try some equally bizarre food. The “Wonder Wiener,” a hot dog loaded with bacon, chilis, onions, mayonnaise, and mustard, is a house specialty, but you can also find high-class items on the menu.
Learn more about the Official Bad Art Museum Art.
Conclusion
Seattle, Washington, has a lot to offer if you plan a company retreat. This list only scratches the surface of the team-building possibilities available in the city. Regardless of whether you want to remain in the city or escape to the mountains for the weekend, these activities can bring your team closer. Your group may unwind at these locations and learn more about one another in these seminars.
Next, check out Seattle corporate event ideas and company team building events in Seattle.
Grace He