Things To Do
LYNWOOD Center
At the heart of Lynwood Center is this theater where we've enjoyed movies out. It was also the only movie theater on the island as Evan was growing up. Check out the surrounding shops, bars and restaurants all of which are steps from the wedding location.
Fort Ward Park
This park has both a long, flat, paved pathway that connects you to a neighborhood road where you can walk all the way to the end of South Beach (a fun walk if you like looking at homes and getting some beautiful water views). We have enjoyed walking here with the Wrights and off of one of these beaches a 12 year-old Evan made his first Scuba dive. You can also take the upper trails where you can find some interesting old military bunkers and walk through the woods.
HALLS HILL LOOKOUT AND LABYRINTH
This is a sweet little spot for reflection and also a beautiful installation.
Pia the Island Troll
You can look up information on Pia beforehand, but we think it's better just to meet her with as little information as possible. She is walking distance from those staying at Marshall Suites.
Bainbridge Island Farmers’ Market
In the morning before the wedding this small farmers market will be open from 10am-2pm. You can find beautiful flowers, delectable fruits and veggies from local farms, jams and many other delicacies.
Winslow Way
Walk down Winslow Way - Downtown Bainbridge is called Winslow and is a fun little town that you can easily walk around. Pop into some of the local restaurants, grab a coffee or a meal and people watch as locals and tourists buzz around the town. Be sure to check out Eagle Harbor Books, Proper Fish, and Blackbird Bakery if exploring the town!
Blackbird Bakery
One of our go-to's when on the island. Adam suggests the Downtowner or their quiches, Evan suggests the toast: homemade oatmeal bread served with fresh berry jam and butter. They have an assortment of other baked goodies including gluten-free muffins and tasty coffee. Located in the center of town with many outdoor tables in the blocked off street next door, this makes for a relaxing morning spot to watch the town come to life.
Streamliner Diner
If you are looking for a heartier breakfast then look no further. Streamliner has been around since Evan's childhood and is a local downtown favorite that fills quickly in the morning (they don’t take reservations so come early or be willing to wait for a table to open up). They have a cookbook that Adam modifies to make a gluten free version of their Buttermilk Waffles. Other favorites include their omelettes and Potatoes Deluxe.
Bloedel Reserve
Lush gardens and grounds encompass this north island end 150 acre estate. Enjoy walking around different types of gardens, walk around the pond and visit the Japanese tea house and gardens all on the property. We've enjoyed wandering here with our folks on special occasions. Advance tickets are required for entry (adult ticket costs ~$20).
Grand Forest West
A mystical forest full of large trees and a favorite walk for just the two of us. The park has multiple loop trails and the possibility to connect over to Battle Point Park or to the Upper Grand Forest.
DOWNTOWN SEATTLE - PIKE PLACE MARKET
Popular with both tourists and locals. We love to take folks here and our favorite vendors include: Beecher's Cheese, Rachel's Ginger Beer, Piroshki Piroshki, DeLaurenti, free fruit samples from the sellers and fresh seafood at pretty much any fish vendor. Additional notable mentions: Left Bank Books where a 16 year-old Evan stumbled across The Teenage Liberation Handbook, setting him on a path that ultimately led to Adam. The shops underneath the market (great comic store), and the new overlook and walkway down to the waterfront and Aquarium.
CAPITOL HILL Neighborhood
Capitol Hill has historically been Seattle's gayborhood and was Adam's first neighborhood when he moved out west early on in our relationship. This is one of the more hip areas of Seattle with great restaurants, shops and nightlife. There's incredible coffee (Espresso Vivace, Victrola), an awesome bookstore (Elliot Bay Books), fun parks (Volunteer Park), fantastic food (Momiji, Mamnoon) and more.
CHIHULY GARDEN AND GLASS
This beautiful art exhibit features many of Dale Chihuly’s memorable glass sculptures. The exhibit has both an indoor and an outdoor area, both of which are spectacular. You can buy bundle tickets with the Space Needle if you plan to visit both. Also this is part of Seattle Center, the site of the 1962 World's Fair, which includes MoPop (the Museum of Popular Culture), the Pacific Science Center, the International Fountain, and one super awesome play structure if you have little ones.
Ballard Locks
The Ballard locks are a short, fun walk and have a salmon viewing space (although it may be early in the season to see salmon in May). The locks are an engineering marvel and a treat for most kids and young people as well as the rest of us. We've gone through the locks by boat together and enjoy visiting it on foot.
THE SAN JUAN ISLANDS
The San Juan Islands are an archipelago between Seattle and British Columbia. If you are thinking of staying for at least a few days, you should definitely consider making the trip. We proposed to each other on Lopez Island and have come back to the other islands many times. Orcas Island is particularly special to us. The San Juan Islands are a ways to get to, so we only recommend visiting if you are planning on coming out to the Seattle area for a week or more.
NATIONAL PARKS
The Seattle region is surrounded by three breathtaking national parks. North Cascades is an approx. 2.5 hour drive from downtown Seattle. There are pale blue lakes (Diablo), mountaineering (Mt. Baker), and plenty of camping and hiking for both novices and pros. Olympic National Park is where we took our first backpacking trip together. This magical place has it all: mountain hikes (Hurricane Ridge), crystal clear lakes (Lake Crescent), huge beaches with rock formations and tide pools (Rialto and La Push) as well as a rainforest (the Hall of Mosses). Rounding out the three is Mount Rainier to the south - our local, active, snow-capped volcano makes for a great day or overnight trip.
