Things To Do
Pike Place Market
You want to explore Seattle... Pike Place Market is a must! Here are our favorite spots: Ghost Alley Espresso or Anchorhead Coffee for coffee (the OG Starbucks is in Pike Place, but you will get better coffee and a shorter line here) Maiz for tacos (best tortillas ever) Market Grill for blackened salmon sandwiches Beecher’s for cheese (Flagship Cheddar is to die for) Rachel’s Ginger Beer for ginger beer (try the blood orange) Of course the fish throwers! The gum wall is gross…but something to remember?
Chihuly Garden & Glass
You want to explore Seattle... We aren't really museum lovers, but Chihuly Garden & Glass is an exception. It's home to the handblown glass artwork of Dave Chihuly. The bright colors and impressive gardens are a feast for the eyes, and it only takes about an hour to tour the entire thing. Worth the trip! While you're there, check out the neighboring Experience Music Project (EMP!).
Ballard Breweries
You want to explore Seattle... Ballard (our neighborhood) is Seattle's brewery district. There are tens of breweries within walking distance, so it's fun to hop around. Our favorites are: Cloudburst on Shilshole Bale Breaker & Yonder Cider (we took engagement photos here!) Stoup
Golden Gardens Beach
You want to explore Seattle... Golden Gardens is a beach on the Puget Sound in the northwest corner of Ballard (right in our backyard)! We love to go here for long walks along the beach...and bonfires and sunset. Oh, and if you're crazy like Taylor, you can cold plunge in the Pacific here.
Kerry Park
You want to explore Seattle... Kerry Park in Queen Anne boasts an iconic view of both the Space Needle and Mt. Rainier on a clear day. It's perfect for sunset!
Discovery Park
You want to explore Seattle... Discovery Park is less a park and more a labyrinthine forest with a beach and a lighthouse. There are tons of trails for easy to moderate hikes and great views of the Sound and Rainier. We took our engagement photos here!
West Seattle
You want to explore Seattle... West Seattle feels like it's not in Seattle because you can take a water taxi there. It's a nice, 30-minute boat ride. Once you get there, eat at Marination Ma Kai, walk/bike along Alki Beach, rent kayaks, and enjoy views of the Seattle city skyline.
Hiking
You're looking for a fun day trip... We love hiking around Seattle. Our favorites less than 2 hours away (all moderate difficulty) are: Rattlesnake Ledge (can be crowded on the weekends because it's so close) Snow Lake Heather Lake (our first hike together - see pic!) Oyster Dome (be sure to stop at Taylor Shellfish Farms or one of the restaurants on Chuckanut Drive like The Oyster Bar or Chuckanut Manor Seafood & Grill) Talapus and Ollie Lakes Twin Falls Fragrance Lake
Bellingham
You're looking for a fun day trip... Bellingham is ~90 minutes from Seattle. It's a small city and a beer lover's paradise. Our favorite breweries are Aslan, Twin Sisters, and Otherlands. It's also a fun overnight if you stay in one of the hotels downtown!
Bainbridge Island
You're looking for a fun day trip... Bainbridge Island is a 30 minute ferry ride from Seattle. The ferry ride itself offers great views of the city skyline. Here are our recommendations: grab a sandwich at Cafe Hitchcock, get coffee at Pegasus and enjoy the marina view, do a wine tasting at Eleven and/or Bainbridge Winery, and take a walk in Fay Bainbridge Park.
Snoqualmie Falls
You want an overnight somewhere before/after the wedding... Similar to Woodinville, Snoqualmie Falls is only ~30 minutes from Seattle, but it also makes a great overnight thanks to Salish Lodge & Spa. The Falls themselves are beautiful (if you've seen Twin Peaks, you've seen them)! You can do a short hike around the area. Salish Lodge has a great restaurant if you want to grab a drink/bite. Be sure to order their famous breakfast and Honey from Heaven experience - they have an apiary on property!
Woodinville
You want an overnight somewhere before/after the wedding... Woodinville (Seattle's Napa, but smaller) is only 30 minutes from downtown Seattle so could easily be a day trip, but if you want to extend your stay, Willows Lodge is wonderful. There are over 100 wineries in Woodinville. Our favorites are Novelty-Hill Januik, Matthews, and Efeste. Chateau Ste. Michelle is also iconic and hosts a summer concert series on its lawn.
Whidbey Island
You want an overnight somewhere before/after the wedding... Whidbey Island is our favorite weekend getaway! It's accessible via the ferry in Mukilteo (~35 minutes from Seattle), or you can drive north to Deception Pass for a scenic 2-hour drive. We love staying at the Captain Whidbey Inn. Fun activities include hiking Ebey's Landing, drinking wine at the Spoiled Dog Winery, exploring the town of Langley, and eating Penn Cove oysters.
Mount Rainier National Park
You want an overnight somewhere before/after the wedding... Rainier is just far enough where it could be an overnight, but it's also a doable day trip (~2 hours). We recommending driving up to "Paradise" or hiking (Tolmie Peak, Spray Park, and Summit Lake are our favorite trails).
Willamette Valley
You want a 2-3 day detour before/after the wedding.... Willamette Valley with a stopover in Portland is a must. Portland is just under 3 hours from Seattle, and its wine region (known for Pinot Noir) called the Willamette Valley is ~1 hour from Portland. In Portland, we love Multnomah Falls and Little Beast Brewing Beer Garden (and too many amazing food spots to name)! In Willamette Valley, our favorite wineries are Utopia and Argyle.
North Cascades National Park
You want a 2-3 day detour before/after the wedding... The North Cascades region is massive, so depending on where you're going, your destination is 2-4 hours aways from Seattle. We love Diablo Lake, Leavenworth (a Bavarian-styled village), Winthrop (an old Western town), and hiking in the area.
San Juan Islands
You want a 2-3 day detour before/after the wedding... Accessible via ferry (from Anacortes, ~90 minutes from Seattle) or sea plane if you're feeling fancy. You can island hop via ferry. Orcas Island is our favorite! Outlook Inn is a great hotel in the town of Eastsound. We love (in no particular order) hiking in Moran State Park, kayaking in Doe Bay, pizza from Hogstone's, shucking oysters at Buck Bay Shellfish Farm, and pastries from Brown Bear Baking. San Juan Island (specifically the town of Friday Harbor) is slightly more bustling than Orcas Island. San Juan Island Brewing Company is a favorite. Roche Harbor is also beautiful.
Lake Chelan
You want a 2-3 day detour before/after the wedding... Lake Chelan is a gorgeous lake in eastern Washington (~3 hours from Seattle). There are tons of wineries in the area - Silver Bell Winery is our favorite!
Olympic National Park
You want a 2-3 day detour before/after the wedding... Olympic National Park is massive - you could spend 2 days there or 2 weeks! The easternmost point is ~3 hours from Seattle. We love Hurricane Ridge, Lake Crescent, Sol Duc Falls, and the Hoh Rain Forest. For accommodations, Lake Crescent Lodge in the park is beautiful, but hard to get into. Alternatively, Sequim is a nice town outside the park with a lot of B&Bs.