I recently spent a long weekend in Seattle catching up with friends, enjoying the fall foliage, walking the waterfront, and reminiscing about our time living in the Pacific Northwest.

Despite having lived there for seven years, each time I return I find new places to visit and things to do. That was true of this trip as well – finally seeing the skyline and sunset from Kerry Park, walking the Elliot Bay trail, exploring the updated Nordic Museum and Center for Wooden Boats, and more.

While we were still living in Seattle and I was frequently blogging about all of our experiences, one of my friends asked me if I had a city guide she could share with friends and family when they visited. I drew up a list, linked to my blog posts about each experience, and then promptly forgot about.

I pulled it up ahead of my recent trip to see if there were experiences I wanted to revisit and realized I should host it here as an enduring roundup. I don’t know why it never occurred to me to do that before – better late than never!

Here are some things to do in and around Seattle as well as ideas for nearby day trips and weekend getaways. Certainly not comprehensive, but I’ve personally done all of these and would recommend them. Hopefully it’s a helpful start for future trip planning!

Seattle Neighborhoods

(Alphabetical order)

Ballard

• Ballard Farmer’s Market – held on Sundays, good for kids
• Bastille Cafe and Bar – amazing brunch, gets busy
• Chittenden Locks and Fish Ladder – history of the locks and how they revolutionized the area, opportunity to see salmon runs in season; Bonus: during the summer on Sunday afternoon’s there are free outdoor concerts
• The Fat Hen – cute local breakfast eatery, make a reservation
• Nordic Heritage Museum – great museum on the people who emigrated to Ballard from the Nordic countries; we went to the old museum and I visited the new location this trip – really beautiful space
• San Fermo – amazing Italian cuisine, tiny space so definitely make reservations ahead
• Senor Moose – great Mexican food, fun boutique shops nearby
• Tractor Tavern – fun and intimate concert space
• Walrus and the Carpenter – amazing oysters and raw bar

Belltown

• Elliot Bay trail – relaxing waterfront trail through several parks with wonderful views over the Sound
• Olympic Sculpture Park – nice park with interesting sculptures and great views of Puget Sound
• Rubenstein’s Bagels – my very favorite bagel shop in Seattle, do not miss the herb and garlic cream cheese!
• Serious Pie – Tom Douglas staple for great pizza

Capitol Hill

• Elliot Bay Book Company – amazing local bookstore featuring lots of local authors and topics
• Hello, Robin – amazing ice cream sandwiches with made from scratch cookies and local Molly Moo’s ice cream!, good for kids. Alternatively, stop in Molly Moon’s or Salt n Straw for ice cream
• Starbucks Roastery – ask for one of the self-guided brochures and get one of the coffee flights, the store is neat too
• Stateside – really great Asian fusion food
• Volunteer Park and Conservatory – lovely park, conservatory is great if you’re into flowers, don’t miss the Water Tower, which is fun and free, climb to the top for panels of local history and views of the Sound, Cascades, etc.

Downtown

• Benaroya Hall – check schedule for Seattle Symphony and chorale concerts
• Columbia Tower – we prefer this observation deck to the Space Needle, you can also see the Space Needle from this deck
• Cortina – great Italian food
• Paramount Theater – check schedule for larger off-Broadway productions
• Pike Place Market – iconic Seattle stop, wander about yourself or take a guided tour, don’t miss the original Starbucks, Beecher’s, Biscuit Bitch, Fran’s Chocolates, the gum wall, and the walk down to the waterfront
• Waterfront and piers – the new waterfront promenade is wonderful with local vegetation, parks, shops, museums and eateries; don’t miss the Seattle Aquarium and chowder + fish and chips at Ivar’s

Fremont

• Fremont Brewery – one of our favorite local breweries with a great outdoor patio in summer
• Fremont Troll – iconic statue under the bridge!
• Fremont Sunday market – more flea market than produce market but lots of interesting stuff
• Mischief Distillery – really great assortment of rye whiskey
• Dumpling Tzar – delicious Russian dumplings and pel meni
• Walking tour – if you start by the Stalin statue or the rocketship, you can read the panels of info and grab a walking map that takes you around to all the weird statues around Fremont

Georgetown

• Kubota Japanese Garden – pretty and relaxing garden
• Oxbow Park – park is small, stop for the gigantic hat and boots statues
• Deep Sea Sugar & Salt Bakery – incredible bakery with inventive flavors like earl gray cake

Green Lake/Roosevelt

• Green Lake Park – great paved trail around the lake
• Retreat – yummy brunch, lunch and dinner

International District/Chinatown

• We enjoyed walking around, seeing the gate, the dragons on the street lights, murals, etc.
• Seattle Pinball Museum – fun way to spend a couple hours and play some pinball!
• Tamarind Tree – amazing Asian food
• Uwajimaya Asian grocery/market – usually packed, fresh seafood, stop at Beard Papa’s for a Japanese cream puff!
• Wing Luke Museum – great museum focused on Seattle’s Asian history, tour the building next door

Lower Queen Anne

• Cafe Zingaro – great local coffee shop
• Coba – really good Vietnamese food
• Kerry Park – hike up for amazing views of the Seattle skyline and Puget Sound
• Racha – solid Thai food
• SIFF Uptown – local theater, check schedule for different film festivals
• Toulouse Petite – Creole food, amazing beignets

Magnolia

• Discovery Park – check for special events

Mercer Island

• Luther Burbank Park – great summer spot for grilling, swimming, etc.

Pioneer Square

• Klondike Goldrush National Historic Park – small but informative museum about Seattle’s role in outfitting explorers during the Klondike Goldrush
• Smith Tower Experience – general store, museum, old-school elevator ride, 360 degree outdoor observatory, bar/small plates
• Underground Tour – cheesy but interesting history of Seattle and tour of the underground!
• UPS Waterfall Garden – quick stop, Secret Garden-esque

Ravenna

• Sites and Eat/Drink – highlights of the following
  • Cowen Park
  • Frank’s Oyster House and Champagne Parlor
  • Ravenna Park

Seattle Center

• Armory – food court of local options, including Mod Pizza; you can also purchase Seattle Kraken gear from the team shop
• Chihuly Garden and Glass – excellent museum full of his iconic and colorful glass sculptures
• Monorail – iconic Seattle experience, runs between Westlake Center and Seattle Center
• MoPop – great music museum changing special exhibits
• Space Needle and International Fountain – recently redone with a skywalk, we haven’t done it yet

South Lake Union

• Center for Wooden Boats – brand new center with history about the center, go early Sunday morning and sign up for a free first-come, first-served boat ride on one of a variety of boats
• Mbar – rooftop patio overlooking Lake Union
• South Lake Union Trolley – runs between Westlake Center and South Lake Union

University ‘U’ District

• Agua Verde Café and Paddle Club – great Mexican food on the water, rent kayaks/canoes and explore the Arboretum or lakes
• Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture – great museum with a local on indigenous culture
• Suzzallo and Allen libraries – on the University of Washington campus, geogeous old stone structures

West Seattle

• Alkai Beach – the only real sand beach in Seattle, hot summer spot
• Hamilton Viewpoint Park – great views of the Seattle skyline
• Marination – awesome food and drinks with a patio on the water looking back at the Seattle skyline

North of Seattle

Chuckanut Drive (+ Bellingham and Fairhaven)

• Bellingham/Fairhaven – lots of local breweries and eateries, Fairhaven is adorable with brick buildings, streets and boutique shops; don’t miss:
  • Aslan Brewery
  • Avenue Bread for sandwiches, salads and quinoa bowls
  • Marina Park
  • Summer concerts on the green
  • Village Books and Paper Dreams
• Bow/Edison – we always stop in Bread Farm and some of the other shops
• Chuckanut Manor – great good and views, a little pricey
• Larabee State Park – nice hiking trails and views of the water
• Oyster Bar – awesome view but a little nicer/pricey
• Taylor Shellfish – we always stop for fresh oysters, which you can eat on site

Camano Island

• Cama Beach State Park – great stop with center for wooden boats, museum, trails, etc.
• English Boom Country Park – informational plaques and nice trails
• Freedom Park – good starting place, stop in the tourist office

Everett

• Boeing Tour/Future of Flight – great tour of Boeing’s factory, interesting even if you’re not into aviation
• Waterfront Farmer’s Market – Sundays 11 a.m.-4 p.m. – good for kids
• Scuttlebutt Brewery – beer is solid, definitely get the jalapeño bottlecaps
• The Irishmen – if you’re into Irish food, we love this place; they occasionally have live music

La Conner

• Shops, water-side restaurants – good for kids
• La Conner Seafood and Prime Rib House – nice patio on the water and good food

Mount Vernon

• Empire Ale House – good beer and food
• Skagit River Brewery – good beer and food
• Skagit Valley Tulip Festival – visit the gardens and drive among the fields

Mukilteo / Harbor Point

• Diamond Knot Brewery – good beer, good bar appetizers, short walk from the water
• Ivar’s – solid clam chowder and fish and chips
• Lighthouse Park – just as the name implies, right on the water
• Picnic Point Park – we like taking people for sunset and sea glass hunting
• Thai Waterside – really great Thai food in a cute old house

San Juan Islands

• Orcas Island – highlights of the following
  • Brown Bear Bakery
  • Deer Harbor Inn
  • Girl Meets Dirt
  • Island Hoppin’ Brewery
  • Moran State Park and Mount Constitution
  • Olga Cafe to eat the ‘scalibut’ sandwich
  • Orcas Island Pottery
  • Orcas Island Winery
  • White Horse Pub
• San Juan Island – highlights of the following
  • The Bait Shop
  • Bioluminescent Kayaking
  • Cask and Schooner
  • Lime Kiln Point State Park
  • Roche Harbor
  • San Juan Brewing Company
  • San Juan Cellars
  • San Juan Island Cheese
  • San Juan Vineyards

Whidbey Island

• Deception Pass State Park – love hiking here, views from the bridge, etc.
• Fort Ebey State Park – WWII disappearing guns, lighthouse, views over the Sound
• Wineries – Comforts of Whidbey, Holmes Harbor Cellars, Spoiled Dog
• Whidbey Island Distillery – they have some unusual things, like berry liqueurs
• Langley – Double Bluff Brewery, Seawall park

East of Seattle

Redmond

• Marymoor Park – great outdoor concert venue

Snoqualmie/Issaquah

• Sites – highlights of the following
  • Boehm’s Chocolates
  • Centennial Log Pavilion
  • Northwest Railway Museum
  • Snoqualmie Falls

Wallace Falls

• Wallace Falls – decent hike out to the falls, pretty area in the foothills

Woodinville

• Chateau Ste. Michelle – solid wine, free tours daily, awesome summer concert series
• Woodinville Whiskey Company – Brian likes their rye, I like their bourbon maple syrup
• Woodinville Wineries – there are so many tasting rooms and tasty restaurants!

West of Seattle

Bainbridge Island

• Japanese American Exclusion Memorial – really well done memorial with information about the Bainbridge Island residents who were sent to Japanese internment camps in the U.S. during WWII
• Mora Iced Creamery – amazing sorbets

Bremerton

• Hi Lo Café – best breakfast ever
• Mosquito Fleet – ferry over to Port Orchard
• Saboteur Bakery – great coffee and pastries
• USS Turner Joy – self-guided tour of the Naval destroyer

Poulsbo

• Sluys Bakery – amazing bakery, usually a line
• Waterfront Park – lovely harbor surrounded by shops and restaurants

Port Orchard

• Elandan Gardens – lovely gardens full of bonsai trees; the owner’s lifework

Port Townsend

• Breweries – great summer spots with fun patios and live music
• Finn River Cidery – chill cidery with great patio, cornhole, etc.
• Fort Worden State Park – filming location for ‘An Officer and a Gentleman,’ lots of information and large grounds
• Point Wilson Lighthouse – standard lighthouse on Admiralty Bay, nearby trails

Vashon and Maury Islands

• Sites – highlights of the following
  • Fence of Doors
  • Hardware Store Restaurant
  • Point Robinson Lighthouse and Keeper’s Quarters

South of Seattle

Gig Harbor

• Harbor Taproom – waterfront deck, local beer
• Heritage Distilling Company – interesting tastings and cocktails
• Tides Tavern – amazing dill pickle pizza!

Mountains and National Parks

• Mount Rainier National Park – recommend entering via Sunrise, driving through the park and exiting via Paradise; endless hiking trails, snowshoe trails, etc.
• Mount St. Helen National Volcanic Park – worth an entire day to spend time in the visitor center and museum as well as hiking

Tacoma

• Sites – highlights of the following
  • Brown & Haley Factory Store – where Almond Roca was invented/is manufactured!
  • Chihuly Bridge of Glass
  • Museum of Glass
  • Old Town Walking Tour
  • Point Defiance Park
  • Tacoma Narrows Bridge
• Place to Eat/Drink – highlights of the following
  • Crown Bar
  • Engine House No. 9
  • Hello, Cupcake

Vancouver (Washington)

• Sites – highlights of the following
  • Fort Vancouver
  • Land Bridge
  • Waterfront Park and Trail
• Places to Eat/Drink – highlights of the following
  • Grocery Cocktail and Social
  • Nom Nom Restaurant and Grill
  • Syrup Trap
  • Trap Door Brewing

Weekend Getaway

Astoria/Long Beach

• Sites – highlights of the following
  • Cape Disappointment State Park
  • Lewis and Clark Museum
  • North Head Lighthouse
• Peter Iredale Shipwreck and other ideas further down the Oregon Coast

Chelan

• Chelan Wineries – lots of great wineries and eateries, magical in the winter snow

Grand Coulee

• Grand Coulee Dam
• Columbia River Dam Tour

Leavenworth/Plain

• Leavenworth – really cool German-themed village with tons of shops and good places to eat
• Plain – TINY but there’s a cool general store and winery worth visiting

Okanogan Valley

• Sites – highlights of the following
  • McLaughlin Canyon 
  • Old Oroville Depot Museum
    • Similkameen Trail

Olympic Peninsula

• Cape Flattery – northwesternmost point in the continental U.S.
• La Push Beaches – variety of rocky and sandy beaches along the Pacific, great wildlife
• Lower Olympic Peninsula – Tokeland, Lake Quinault, Westport, Aberdeen
• Olympic National Park – Hurricane Ridge/Marymere Falls, Hoh Rainforest
• Ruby Beach – vast rocky and sandy beach along the Pacific

Palouse Falls

• Palouse Falls State Park – known as Washington’s waterfall

Spokane

• Sites – highlights of the following
  • Huntington Park
  • Riverfront Park
  • Self-guided tour of landmarks
  • Skyride
  • Spokane falls
• Eat/Drink – highlights of the following
  • Bruttles
  • O’Doherty’s Irish Grille
  • Gilded Unicorn
  • Hogwash Whiskey Den
  • Relish Walking Tour
  • Sante
  • Soulful Soups and Spirits
  • Steam Plant Kitchen and Brewery

Quincy

• Cave B – great wines, lovely place to stay, great hiking trails along the gorge
• Ginko Petrified Forest – good interpretive center, nice trails
• Wild Horses Monument – fun to see as you cross the Columbia Gorge, better to climb up to it

Walla Walla

• Walla Walla Wineries – don’t miss dinner at Passatempo Taverna. Amazing.

Winthrop/Twisp

• North Cascades National Park – we LOVE driving the North Cascades Pass!
• Newhalem – old bunks from the electrical plant, you can go in the plant, hike the forest loop trail or hike up to the waterfall
• Diablo Lake – drive over the dam, which is pretty impressive
• Winthrop – fun shops and restaurants
  • Copper Glance has great food and cocktails
  • Methow Valley Ciderhouse has live music and is within walking distance of downtown
  • The Old Schoolhouse Brewery is fun
• Twisp
  • Twisp Bakery – amazing cinnamon twisps
  • Smoke Jumper Base – had never heard of this prior to living in Washington; free tours by the smoke jumpers

Yakima/Toppenish

• Balebreaker Brewery – loved this brewery, great break from the wineries
• Wineries in:
  • Prosser
  • Rattlesnake Hills
  • Vintner’s Village
• Toppenish Railway Museum – if you’re into trains/history