Seattle
For our family and friends from out of town, we hope that our guide helps you enjoy the city as locals. Visit Seattle is also a great resource!
Kirkland
A quiet waterfront neighborhood on the east side of Lake Washington with a pedestrian friendly district around Moss Bay.
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Marina Park
Take a walk along the docks and enjoy the view of Lake Washington
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Cafe Hagen
Scandinavian cafe and bakery with lunch and breakfast options
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Duffy Electric Boats
Hourly boat rentals on Lake Washington
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LizzyKate Tea
Paradise for loose leaf tea lovers
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Moss Bay Hall
Smash burgers and brews with ample space and a nice patio
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Caffe Ladro
Coffee and frozen matcha
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COMO
Waterfront modern Italian dining
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Bottle & Bull
Snazzy dinner and cocktails
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Isarn
Delicious Thai food
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Cactus
Casual southwestern
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Molly Moon's
Local small batch ice cream
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Cross Kirkland Corridor
Walking and biking trail
Bellevue
The intersection of lakeside residences and a booming urban business district. Bellevue is a walkable, medium-paced neighborhood on the east side of Lake Washington. This is where Sydney used to live.
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Meydenbauer Bay Park
Walking paths and beach park on Lake Washington
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"Best Kayak Rentals"
Kayaks, SUPs, and canoes at Meydenbauer Bay
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Bellevue Park
Lovely circular park and duck pond in the heart of Bellevue
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Medina Beach Park
View of Mt Ranier on clear days
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Mercato Stellina
Elevated pizza located in the building where Sydney used to live
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Third Culture Coffee
Grab something to sip for your stroll around the park
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Nana's Green Tea
Matcha roll cakes, sesame soft serve, and of course tea
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Monsoon
Vietnamese fusion on Main St
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Cantinetta
Cozy Italian
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Farine Bakery & Cafe
Brunch and baked goods
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Din Tai Fung
Dumplings, dumplings, dumplings
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Knitters Studio
For yarn lovers
Ballard
Ballard is nestled between Lake Union and the Puget Sound with a charming dining and shopping distract along Ballard Ave NW.
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Ballard Locks
Watch salmon swim up the ladder and boats rise through the locks
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Golden Gardens Beach Park
Puget Sound with views of the
Olympic Mountains on a clear day -
Ballard Sunday Market
Produce, flowers, food, and fun Sundays 9:00 am-2:00 pm
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Sabine
Great atmosphere,
good brunch -
Gracia Cocina Mexicana
Delicious tacos and
Daniel’s favorite chips -
San Fermo
Farm to table Italian—
one of our favorites -
Stoneburner
Seasonal PNW dinner & cocktails
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Homage
Good beans, nice matcha
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Miro Tea
Loose leaf and specialty tea lattes
Downtown
If you’re looking for the Seattle classics like Pike Place Market and the Space Needle, don’t skip downtown.
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Pike Place Market
Check out our market recommendations
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Argosy Cruises
See the city from the water on a scenic Puget Sound cruise
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Olympic Sculpture Park
Collection of sculptures on
Seattle’s waterfront -
Space Needle
Yes, the view is indeed
breathtaking on a clear day -
Museum of Pop Culture
Recommended for fans of sci-fi movie props and Frank Gehry
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Chihuly Garden & Glass
Located with the Space Needle
and MoPOP -
Seattle Art Museum
The largest art museum in the PNW
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Occidental & Pioneer Square
Seattle’s oldest historic neighborhood
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Seattle Central Library
Recommended for architecture and library nerds (like Sydney)
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Mirabelle
A French patisserie and cafe
in the heart of Seattle -
General Porpoise
Small batch filled doughnuts
near Pioneer Square -
Moore Coffee
The place to go if you’re looking for cute latte art
Queen Anne & Magnolia
Upper Queen Anne offers views of the city below. Enjoy a pastry from Moonrise and grab a new book at Queen Anne Book Company. If you want the best view of the Puget Sound, head to Discovery Park in Magnolia.
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Discovery Park
Park at the south lot, explore the bluffs, hike down to the light house
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Kerry Park
Iconic view of the Seattle skyline
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Moonrise Bakery
Delicious croissants and pastries. Go early for the best selection.
Fremont &
Lake Union
A quirky neighborhood with a troll, statue of Lenin, decommissioned gasification plant turned park, and plenty of Lake Union waterfront.
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Gas Works Park
Decommissioned gasification plant turned park on Lake Union
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Westward
Waterfront fine dining
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Gas Works Brewing
Brews with a lake view
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Saint Bread
Pastries, fusion bites, and cheeseburgers
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Agua Verde Cafe
Casual waterfront Baja eats
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Paddle Club
Kayak rentals and tours on Lake Union
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Fremont Brewing
Urban beer garden
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Fremont Troll
Strange things are happening
under the bridge
Montlake &
Capitol Hill
Capitol Hill isn’t just grunge and nightlife—the north side is where you’ll find Volunteer Park and the Asian Art Museum. If you want a taste of the forest without leaving the city, visit the Arboretum in Montlake.
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Washington Park Arboretum
A beautiful place to stroll.
We love the stone bridge. -
Volunteer Park Cafe
Known for their breakfast sandwich and baked goods
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Volunteer Park
Home to the Black (Hole) Sun and Asian Art Museum
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Cafe Lago
Tuscan inspired Italian
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Fuel Coffee & Books
Read and sip, a short walk from the Arboretum
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Elliot Bay Book Company
Independent book store in Capitol Hill
Woodinville
Seattle’s mini wine country with over 100 tasting rooms.
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Chateau Ste Michelle
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DeLille Cellars & Restaurant
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JM Cellars
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Novelty Hill-Januik Winery
Enjoy a wine tasting where the wedding will be
Hiking, Biking, & Sights Near Seattle
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Burke-Gilman Bike Trail
Trail connects Golden Gardens, Gas Works Park, University of Washington, Lake Union, and Lake Washington.
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Sammamish River Bike Trail
Trail through Lake Sammamish Park, Marymoor Park, and Woodinville. Connects to Burke-Gilman and Kirkland Cross.
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Snoqualmie Falls
A popular destination. Pop culture fans will recognize it from Twin Peaks. Try the lower falls parking lot.
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Rattlesnake Ledge
Start at Rattlesnake Lake and hike to a the view point. It’s popular—go early to beat the crowds.
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Franklin Falls
An easy going hike through the woods to a lovely waterfall. The end of the hike can be a little tricky.
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Whale Watching
There are several whale watching tours that you can book from Seattle or Edmonds (45 min drive)
Pacific Northwest Recommendations
Venture beyond Seattle and turn it into a long weekend. We’d be happy to provide more specific recommendations if you’re considering adding any of these destinations to your trip!
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North Cascades
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Olympic National Park
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Mt Rainier National Park
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San Juan Islands
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Portland
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Columbia River Valley Gorge
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Cannon Beach