Things To Do
Ballard Brewery District
With over a dozen breweries and cideries packed into a single walkable mile, Ballard is arguably the best neighborhood in the country to spend an afternoon following your taste buds. Start at Arianna's personal favorite, Yonder, where Bale Breaker beer and Yonder Cider share one of Seattle's largest outdoor beer gardens, then follow the map (and your instincts) to Stoup, Urban Family, Peddler and beyond. Each location usually offering a different delicious food truck option. A full afternoon well spent.
Ballard Farmers Market
Easily one of the best farmers markets on the west coast, right in the heart of Ballard, with farm-fresh produce, flowers, baked goods and local artisans - a lot of them are our dear friends! A perfect Sunday morning before the festivities begin, open year around, every Sunday, 9am to 2pm. We recommend the symbiotic cultures, moon femme collective, the French guys, Seattle pops and Vespucci pizza.
Ballard Locks Fish Ladder
If you're not familiar with the Ballard Locks, this is the opportunity you've been waiting for. Have a picnic in the botanical garden, and watch boats of every shape and size navigate between the freshwater ship canal and the saltwater Puget Sound. It's free, endlessly fascinating, and one of those only-in-Seattle experiences that never gets old. Bonus: It's peak Coho Salmon season in September, and you'll have a great chance at seeing them climb the ladder.
Boats Afloat Show
A floating parade of sailboats, cabin cruisers and yachts right on Lake Union, the same waterway where we'll be saying our vows. Walk the docks for free, and stay for the live music and food.
Burke-Gilman Trail
Seattle's beloved 27-mile trail winds through neighborhoods, along the shores of Lake Union and Lake Washington, and right through the heart of the University District. Grab a Lime bike straight from your phone, clip in and just ride. No car, no agenda, just Seattle at its best.
Chihuly Garden and Glass
Where molten glass becomes something close to magic. Dale Chihuly's breathtaking sculptures spill from the galleries into an outdoor garden right beneath the Space Needle, and it's unlike anything you've seen before. One of Arianna's favorite places to take out of town guests, great for everyone!
Discovery Park
When we first started dating, we'd go for weekly walks a one of Seattle's largest parks, and best kept secrets, spanning 534 acres of wild coastline, towering sea cliffs, ancient forest, open meadows and two miles of protected tidal beaches. Walk the lighthouse loop trail, find a bluff with a view of Puget Sound and the Olympic Mountains, and let yourself get a little lost. There is no better reminder of why we chose to fall in love here.
Golden Gardens Park
Our first date and engagement shoot location, and obviously one of our (and Autumn's!) favorites. A stunning beachfront park at the edge of Ballard with sandy shores, fire pits, and sweeping views of Puget Sound and the Olympic Mountains. Pair it with a deep dish from Sunny Hill for the perfect afternoon picnic. Visiting around sunset? Head to our favorite restaurant in Seattle, Ray's Cafe (upstairs!) for dinner and the best view of all.
Green Lake Park
A lovely 2.8-mile loop around a sparkling urban lake, ringed by green space, food carts, and the kind of easy, unhurried energy that makes Seattle feel like home. Perfect for an early morning walk before the weekend festivities begin. We recommend Retreat for coffee, Layers for lunch, PCC market for picnic supplies.
Pike Place Market
Seattle's original public market has been feeding this city since 1907 and it still delivers: the fish throwers, the flower stalls, the original Starbucks, and more vendors than you could possibly sample in one visit. From there, follow the newly opened Overlook Walk down to the waterfront and into the Seattle Waterfront Marketplace, a year-round indoor market where local artists, artisans and makers sell their work steps from Elliott Bay. Between the two, you could easily lose a very happy afternoon.
University Village
An open-air shopping destination that manages to feel like a genuine neighborhood to wander rather than a mall to rush through. Come for the 120-plus shops, stay for Din Tai Fung's legendary soup dumplings and a stroll through one of the most pleasant outdoor retail experiences in the city. Conveniently just around the corner from our Staypineapple hotel block. We recommend the Green Machine Roll (veggie!) from Bamboo Sushi, the everything bagel from Heyo Bagel - be sure to say hi to our friend Joanne if she's there, and don't miss Mochi Nut.
Ride the Ferry
Seattle is a city built around water, and the best way to feel that is from the deck of a ferry. Head to Mukilteo to cross to Whidbey Island's dramatic bluffs and charming small towns, or take the Port Townsend ferry to one of the Pacific Northwest's most stunning Victorian seaport towns. For the boldest among you, the Victoria Clipper (clippervacations.com) high-speed ferry runs from Pier 69 to Victoria, BC in under three hours, making it the most stylish possible post-wedding international escape. And a little fun fact to close on: the MV Skansonia, the very boat you'll be dancing on, is a retired ferry who spent her working years running passengers between Tacoma and Vashon Island before trading her route for a permanent home on Lake Union. She knows these waters better than anyone. We thought it only fitting to send you off on a few of your own.
