Michelle & Taylor
Things To Do
Pike Place Market + Gum Wall
Pike Place Market + Gum Wall: a classic. Seattle’s oldest public market, with fish tossing, buskers, and tons of crafters selling random stuff. It’s famous, and crowded. While you’re there, don’t miss the Market’s grossest corner, the (in)famous Gum Wall. The market also has a few great restaurants: Matt’s at the Market Café Campagne The Pink Door
Chihuly Garden and Glass
Chihuly Museum: love him or hate him, Dale Chihuly’s blown-glass art is world famous, and his Museum is reportedly well worth visiting. A museum dedicated to one guy’s glass art? Turns out most people really like it. I haven’t been.
Space Needle
Space Needle: visit the literal icon of Seattle! Built for the 1962 World’s Fair, the Needle still holds a place in our hearts all these years later. You can get great, free views of the Needle from Kerry Park (below), and from the Seattle Center grounds. But the view of Seattle from the top of the Space Needle is hard to beat.
Underground Tour
Seattle Underground Tour: a campy tour of early Seattle history, with tales of rum-running, prostitution, and municipal sewer system woes, and exploring a lot of stuff that looks like creepy basements.
Kerry Park
Kerry Park: this hilltop park has one of the best views of downtown Seattle (and the Space Needle). You’ll find Kerry Park in the Queen Anne neighborhood, which is full of dogs, strollers, and beautiful old mansions.
Discovery Park
Discovery Park: one of Seattle’s largest and “wildest” parks, if you are looking for forested walks and sea views without a long drive, Discovery Park is a good bet.
Seattle Public Library-Central Library
Central Library Downtown: famously beautiful, or infamously ugly, our Library shows up in architecture books and magazines. It’s free, and not far from the rest of the downtown stuff.
The Spheres
The Amazon Spheres: locally known as Jeff (Bezos’) Big Balls, these are the newest addition to “Seattle’s Controversial Architecture”.
Seattle Waterfront / Ferris Wheel
Seattle Waterfront / Ferris Wheel: the downtown waterfront is one part commercial piers, and one part touristy. The views - especially at sunset - the Aquarium, and our ferris wheel are the big draws.
Fremont Troll
Fremont Troll: if you happen to be in the Fremont neighborhood, don’t miss the chance to drive by the Fremont Troll, one of Seattle’s weirder landmarks. Maybe don’t make a special trip for it, though. ;)
T-Mobile Park
Mariners Game (July 19 - July 28): there are home games in Seattle each of these nights, and Mariner’s games during Seattle’s long, Summer nights are one of the great joys of the city. The newly-renamed T-Mobile Field is famous for its unusual stadium food, so while you are there be sure to try some Taiwanese dumplings, or toasted crickets.
Starbucks Original in Pike Place Market
Starbucks Original in Pike Place Market: this is where it all started. For years, the place to visit was the original Starbucks, in Pike Place Market. And if you are visiting the Market, you should at least walk past, marvel at how different it looks from the clean, corporate stores elsewhere, and pity the folks that are waiting in a 3 hour line in order to get the same latte that they get at every other Starbucks. I live in Seattle. I worked one block from the market for three years. I have passed the original Starbucks hundreds of times, but have never been in.
Starbucks Reserve Roastery
Starbucks Roastery on Capitol Hill: On the other hand, Starbucks has a brand new, crazy flagship roastery up on Capitol Hill. Seattleites like to be snobby about their coffee, but everyone reluctantly agrees that this place is kinda amazing.
Ride the Ducks of Seattle
Ride the Ducks: tours featuring these WW2-era, open-air, amphibious vehicles are a fun way to see a bunch of the city, and learn some local history. The guides are required to be funny, and usually are.
Gas Works Park
Gasworks Park: one of Seattle’s coolest parks. It’s got great views of both Seattle and Lake Union, and the park itself is built around the remains of Seattle’s original steam-heat plant. It’s also where Michelle and I spent many of the formative times of our relationship, hooping during the day, and spinning fire at night. right on the shore of Lake Union, Gasworks offers unbeatable views of the Seattle skyline, and the rusting ruins of the old steam production plant are interesting and beautiful in their own right.
Kayak Lake Union
Kayak Lake Union: Lake Union is a beautiful place to rent kayaks and paddle around. It’s not pristine nature - instead you are surrounded by an incredible density and variety of interesting things to look at: expensive waterfront restaurants, shipyards, luxury yachts, seaplanes, and tons of houseboats - including the one from Sleepless in Seattle - all within a 1 - 2 hour wander.
Smith Tower
Smith Tower: completed in 1914, it was the tallest building on the West Coast until the Space Needle was built in 1962. Seriously. Now it’s got a Prohibition Speakeasy-themed bar on the observation level, which has beautiful views of Seattle, and the Puget Sound. A spectacular spot for sunset. There’s a cover charge to get in.
Axe Thowing
Axe Throwing: why just look like a lumberjack when you could drink alcohol, and heave axes through the air? Check out Timber & Blade, in the lively Capitol Hill neighborhood.
The Pink Door
The Pink Door: this “hidden” restaurant has been around forever, lurking behind a nondescript facade in Pike Place Market’s Post Alley. The food is good, but what you are really there for are the live performances, which range from jazz and aerial acrobatics, to burlesque and cabaret.
Puzzle Break - Room Escape Game
Puzzle Break: might be the 2nd oldest “escape the room” game in the US. If these are your thing, then you can honor the founding of the trend. Probably too difficult for children.
Seattle Pinball Museum
Pinball Museum: just like the name says. I’ve never been, but I guess if you like pinball, this is your mecca.
Seattle Art Museum
Seattle Art Museum (SAM): Seattle’s best art museum. And a good thing, too, given that they got the name.
Museum of Pop Culture
Museum of Pop Culture (MoPop): a multi-colored amoeba of a museum. From music to movies, Jimi Hendrix to Harry Potter, the exhibits cover all forms of pop culture.
The Museum of Flight
Museum of Flight: Seattle is where Boeing started, and their museum on the history of aviation and space travel is a good one, though it’s not in the same league as the National Air & Space Museum, or the national museums for the Air Force and Navy.
Museum of History & Industry (MOHAI)
Museum of History and Industry (MOHAI): Seattle is a boom town. From its start in logging, to the Yukon gold rush, through wartime shipbuilding and aerospace, and finally to the tech boom of Microsoft and Amazon. Seattle is a town that is always reinventing itself, and MOHAI is the best place to learn all about it.
Ballard (Hiram M. Chittenden) Locks
The Ballard Locks: Seattle is bordered by the salt-water Puget Sound on the west, and the fresh-water Lake Washington on the east. Lake Washington is 20 feet higher than the Puget Sound, but boat traffic can go back and forth between the two, by way of the Ballard Locks, built in 1917. Surprisingly cool, and won’t take all day.
Pacific Science Center
Pacific Science Center: great for kids, and still fun as an adult.
Green Lake Park
Green Lake: a small lake with a very popular 2.8 mile trail running all the way around, set in the heart of a cute neighborhood.
Volunteer Park
Volunteer Park: smaller, but lovely, in the Capitol Hill neighborhood, Volunteer park surrounds a picturesque reservoir, and is home to a botanical garden and a cool, historic tower that offers fun views.
Seward Park
Seward Park: Green Lake is a park with a 2.8 mile trail that surrounds a lake. Seward Park is a park with a 2.6 perimeter trail surrounded on almost all sides by a lake. Both are beautiful, but Seward Park is a little less busy.
Arboretum Drive East
Arboretum / Japanese Garden: exploring the Arboretum you’ll follow trails through the forest, boardwalks through wetlands, and bridge-hop from one tiny island to another on the edge of Lake Washington. There’s a surprising amount of wildlife - Michelle and I made friends with a beaver on one winter walk. The Japanese Garden (paid entry) in the center is small, but exquisitely landscaped.
Kubota Garden
Kubota Gardens: the larger and less touristy cousin to the Japanese Garden in the Arboretum, Kubota Gardens is free, much quieter, and what it loses in detail, it makes up for with expansive tranquility. Michelle and I dragged my dad out there at 6am on a frosty November morning to film a hoop video.
The Quad - University of Washington
UW Campus: not exactly a park, but during the summer many people treat it that way. The UW Campus is a wonderful mix of beautiful landscape, and great, historic architecture. With some 1960s/70s tragedies thrown in for contrast. Michelle and I filmed our very first hoop video together in the Quad, beneath the cherry blossoms.
Golden Gardens Park
Golden Gardens: one of Seattle’s best sandy / tidepool / shoreline beach parks, during the summer it is also packed to the gills with families holding barbecues.
Winery Tours (Chateau Ste. Michelle and Columbia Winery)
Winery Tours: the little town of Woodinville is right nearby, and happens to be Seattle’s winery hotspot. The Chateau Ste. Michelle and Columbia Winery are the grand dames of the valley, but there are literally dozens of smaller wineries all over the place.
Teatro ZinZanni
Teatro Zinzanni: a colorful and spectacular blend of circus, comedy, dinner, and cabaret that Michelle and Taylor both love. The food is good, and the show is always a great time. Tickets are not cheap, but it’s a great way to spend a very Seattle evening. Plus, you already brought fancy clothes for the wedding! ;)
Willows Lodge
Willows Lodge: if a relaxing time in scenic Woodinville sounds more appealing than the bustle of Seattle, or the busy suburbs, then Willows Lodge - a beautiful and very northwestern lodge, resort, and spa - will be happy to accomodate you.
The Barking Frog / The Herbfarm
The Barking Frog / The Herbfarm: Willows Lodge has two restaurants attached. The Barking Frog is a great restaurant, but overshadowed by the other restaurant. The ultra-luxe Herbfarm’s 9-course, $265 per person chef’s dinner is considered one of the top dining experiences in the Seattle area. If you are interested, you should probably book right now.
Ferry Ride to Bainbridge Island
Visit Bainbridge Island, from Downtown Seattle (30m from downtown, inc ferry) Bainbridge Island is a gem, just a 20 minute ferry ride from Downtown Seattle itself. Many people take the trip just for the ferry ride alone, which offers beautiful views of the Seattle skyline. But Bainbridge Island has a cute little main street within easy walking distance of the ferry dock, which makes it a charming - and quick - excursion from the bustle of Seattle. Great for lunch / brunch! Because everything is so close, this is an easy (and cheap) add-on to any tour of Downtown or the waterfront. If you do decide to bring your car, consider a visit to the beautiful Bloedel Reserve.
Vashon Island
Visit Vashon Island, from West Seattle (1h 10m from downtown, inc. ferry) Vashon Island is a bit of a hidden gem - less popular, and less touristy than Bainbridge Island. Vashon is still extremely close, though you will need a car for this one. Vashon has several breweries, wineries, and cideries tucked away in its heavily-wooded interior. One of our favorite cideries - Nashi Orchard - was on the short list for our wedding venue. Fun Fact: Vashon Island was once found to be “the most liberal place in the US”
Whidbey Island
Visit Whidbey Island, from Mukilteo (1h 30m from downtown, inc. ferry) Whidbey Island is beautiful and a great place to experience our rocky, Puget Sound beaches. Langley, an adorable little seaside tourist town, with some good food, and one of Michelle’s favorite clothing boutiques: The Star Store. Fort Casey, a WWI-era coastal fort is a beautiful and unusual park, with great views, and interesting stuff to explore. Michelle thought she would hate it, but she fell in love instead. Fun Fact: Michelle stole a piece of driftwood from Driftwood Beach, next door to the fort, so she is now a felon. Deception Pass is a gorgeous, narrow channel of water between two steep, forested shorelines. The view from the bridge is breathtaking, and Michelle and I saw a pod of orca whales pass about 100 yards from where we were taking selfies on the rocky shore below. It’s a bit of a drive, but worth it if you have the time.
Orcas Island
Visit Orcas Island, from Anacortes (3h 15m from downtown, inc. ferry) This isn’t usually considered a day trip, but since the San Juan Islands are famed for their rugged, northwestern beauty, we wanted to share our favorite: Orcas Island, with lush forests, gorgeous valleys, and the kind of laid-back feel that you can only find on an island three hours and a ferry away from Seattle. Eastsound is the main town, with cute, artsy shops and restaurants. M and I happened to witness their last mayoral election, where a bunny named Tinker narrowly beat out a miniature horse named Ginger. Mt. Constitution - the highest peak in the islands - has a lookout tower right on top that you can drive to, and the views are pretty spectacular.
Snoqualmie Falls
Snoqualmie Falls (40m away) An easy side trip - and one of the most rewarding. The 270’ cascade of Snoqualmie Falls is stunningly beautiful, and its scenic viewpoints are wheelchair accessible, so no hiking necessary.
Northern State Recreation Area
The Ruins of Northern State Hospital + Lunch in Bow-Edison (1h 30m away) Northern State Recreation Area: a beautiful park plus the ridiculously photogenic ruins of an old mental institution. What more could you ask for? Bow, WA: a tiny, adorable hamlet in a very pretty part of the region. The village is only a couple of streets, but it has some very hipster restaurants and boutiques. Michelle and I are in love with Tweets cafe. Get a seat outside, and say hi to the birds that give the place its name.
ParadiseDay Trip to Mt. Rainier’s Wildflowers + Elbe’s Steam Locomotive Tour
Day Trip to Mt. Rainier’s Wildflowers + Elbe’s Steam Locomotive Tour Elbe, WA (1h 30m away): On the way to the mountain, the tiny village of Elbe has an old steam locomotive that follows a route through some extremely scenic views of the area. It departs at 10:30am, and the trip lasts 2 hours, including stops for photos. Close friends of ours have a cabin in the area, and so we’ve stopped for lunch at Scale Burger many times over the years - not so much because it’s great, but because it exists. Paradise, WA (2h 20m away): this is a ranger station / trailhead on the lower slopes of Mt. Rainier, the tallest mountain in the continental US. And it’s pretty! The wildflowers should be in bloom, and there are many family friendly hikes from here.
A bit of Bavaria in the Cascade Mountains (2h 30m away)
A bit of Bavaria in the Cascade Mountains (2h 30m away) Leavenworth is a charming alpine town that decided to adopt a faux-German theme to boost tourism. It worked, and now it’s a popular destination in Summer for the hiking, whitewater rafting, and mountain biking, and especially during the winter, where over-the-top Christmas decor and reliable snow turn it into a winter wonderland.
Lavender Country + Washington Coast (2h 45m away)
Lavender Country + Washington Coast (2h 45m away) Lavender Country: thanks to a surprisingly dry climate, Sequim, WA has become “the lavender capital of North America”. The annual Lavender Festival is the weekend of July 19 - 21, and with everything still in bloom, this is a great opportunity to see a beautiful and unusual part of Washington. Dungeness Spit: while in Sequim, visit the longest spit in the world! A long, weird beach that juts out for miles into the sea. It’s a bit of a walk to get from the parking lot to the beach, but the path to the beach is paved the whole way.
Coal Creek Falls Hike
Coal Creek Falls Issaquah Alps (30 min from Seattle) Very Easy 2.5 miles roundtrip 416 ft gain An easy, close hike with lush greenery on the slopes of Cougar Mountain. And it’s free!
Little Si Hike
Little Si North Bend Area (45 min from Seattle) Easy 5 miles roundtrip 1,200 ft gain A lovely and extremely popular hike up a forested hill, with some great views at the top.
Mt. Si Hike
Mount Si North Bend Area (45 min from Seattle) Moderate 8 miles roundtrip 3,150 ft gain Little Si’s big brother, this is one of the most popular hikes in Washington for a reason: it’s a compact challenge that offers incredible views of the Snoqualmie Valley, Seattle, and the Olympic Mountains beyond.
Wallace Falls Hike
Wallace Falls Cascade Mountains (60m from Seattle) Easy 5.6 miles roundtrip 1,300 ft gain A family-friendly hike through a forested hillside, with a ton of waterfalls the whole way.
Cherry Creek Falls Hike
Cherry Creek Falls Duvall Area (1h 15m from Seattle) Easy 5 miles roundtrip 450 ft gain In an old logging forest outside Duvall (where the wedding is), the highlight of the trail is 25-foot waterfall pouring into a lovely pool. Because the trails are old logging roads, it’s a very smooth and gentle hike. Visit website for directions and parking information.