Things To Do
Pike Place Market
We've spent quite a few nice afternoons strolling through parts of Pike Place to see the wide range of food, art, and more on display. It can get crowded around lunch time and mid-afternoon.
Old Stove Brewing
Old Stove is a go-to stop for us whenever it's a sunny day and we find ourselves anywhere close to Pike Place Market. It's a wide open space, with a good view of the Puget Sound & the ferries coming and going to the Seattle waterfront. It can get very busy from 3:00pm on, particularly if you're looking for a table outside.
The Nest Rooftop Bar
The Nest may be home to the best view of the Puget Sound & Seattle's surroundings, from an outdoor patio. It's located on the roof of The Thompson hotel. On a sunny day, the views are sublime. A great place to have a cocktail and enjoy the weather. Though drinks (and food) can be pricey.
Bainbridge Island
If you're looking to get out of Seattle for an afternoon (or a day), consider taking the ferry from Seattle to Bainbridge island. The roughly 35 minute boat ride can provide some stunning views of Seattle, Mt. Rainier, Alki Point, and beyond on a sunny day. Tickets are roughly $9 per person, round trip, if you walk onto the ferry. Trying to take a car onboard is more expensive (and can lead to a very long wait). Once there, you can simply stroll from the Bainbridge Island ferry terminal into town. Emily & Scott are particularly fond of Bainbridge Brewing Alehouse, Doc's Marina Grill, and Harbour Public House.
Von's 1000 Spirits
Despite its name (and the very impressive selection behind the bar), Von's is far more than just a place for a drink. They have a scratch kitchen, and the food is delicious. We went there for a lunch on Emily's birthday somewhat recently, and would gladly go back again.
Din Tai Fung
Scott took Emily to Din Tai Fung a few years ago just to have her try the dumplings. She instantly became a fan, and still is to this day. Beyond the various dumplings, everything we've tried on the menu is good. There are two locations in Seattle (Pacific Place in downtown, and one in University Village). Two words of warning: it can get pricey, and reservations (bookable online) are strongly recommended.
Fremont Brewing's Urban Beer Garden
We used to live two blocks from Fremont Brewing, and regularly found ourselves meeting friends there for a beer or two outside. They have a wide selection of beers, but their food options are limited. You can bring outside food in.
Flatstick Pub
If you like to play games while having a beer, Emily & Scott are particularly fond of Flatstick. These pubs are part sports bar, part mini golf house, with different layouts at each place. There are locations in Seattle's South Lake Union & Pioneer Square neighborhoods. You'll typically find Emily & Scott at the latter, especially if it's before a Seattle Mariners game.
Dough Zone
If you're looking for a place to eat in Seattle's Chinatown/International District, this is one of our favorites. We've had a little bit of everything here and have thoroughly enjoyed it. Usually portions (and prices) are smaller, so you end up ordering a few different plates. For what it's worth: this is usually cheaper than Din Tai Fung.
Happy Lamb Hot Pot
A friend exposed us to Mongolian Hot Pot a few years ago, and safe to say we're hooked. It may not be the best meal for a warm summer day, but we couldn't recommend this place more. It's a great place to go, especially with a group, and you can get as adventurous as you choose with food options to cook in either type of broth.
Queen Anne Beerhall
European-style beer hall. Yes, they do offer to pour you the full liter stein as well. Beyond beer, the food is very grill-heavy with a focus on sausages. The inside is very large, with large communal wooden tables.
Elliott's Oyster House
As the name suggests, a great spot if you like oysters. But even if you're looking for something not served in a shell, a very good option for seafood that's along the Seattle waterfront.
Skillet Regrade
Great place to go for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. It's pricier than your typical diner but the portions are usually hearty, and we're big fans of a lot of the menu.
Cruise Around Lake Union
We've done this a few times with friends and family. It's a blast. You can rent an electric boat and cruise around Lake Union for a few hours. It's bring your own food & drinks. You can also rent kayaks to take on the lake as well from nearby businesses.
Johnny Mo's Pizzeria
We're big fans of this pizza place. Solid value, good food, a nice location in the Eastlake neighborhood. Oh, and it's just a few blocks from the venue.
Red Star Taco Bar
We were regulars here when we lived in Fremont. Wide range of taco options. It gets busy from about 4:30pm on.
Lagunitas Tap Room
Local tap room for a good brewery. This is in the Ballard neighborhood. Plenty of other breweries & bars nearby as well.
Stoup Brewing
Another brewery favorite of ours. This one is also in the Ballard neighborhood.
Gas Works Park
A cool park to walk around and through. It sits on the shore of Lake Union, and has a great view of the Seattle skyline. Short walk from the Fremont neighborhood.
Space Needle
The iconic building in Seattle. The Space Needle is a touristy attraction. They somewhat recently renovated the top of level. We went a few years ago and there are some great views on a clear day. It's usually crowded, and a bit pricey (tickets are about $35 per person).
Museum of Pop Culture
The Museum of Pop Culture (MoPop for short) has some pretty cool exhibits. Several iconic parts of music history are fixtures here year round. They rotate other exhibits into other areas of the museum.
Chateau Ste. Michelle Winery
It's arguably the premier winery in the area. Chateau Ste. Michelle is in Woodinville, a roughly 25-30 minute car ride from downtown Seattle. There are a horde of other wineries (as well as breweries & distilleries) in the same area as Chateau.
Golden Gardens Park
Beachfront park north of Seattle's Ballard neighborhood. Great sunset views.
Alki Beach
Popular beach on the West Seattle peninsula. Great views of the sound, and (on clear days) the snow-capped Olympic Mountains to the west. There are some restaurants & shops just off the beach as well. You can get here by car or by the West Seattle Water Taxi. Check the status of the West Seattle Bridge before looking to hop in a car, though. The bridge has been closed for repairs for a while, and the detour is rather lengthy.
Chambers Bay Golf Course
The signature golf course in the area, thanks to hosting the 2015 U.S. Open. It's south & west of Tacoma, a bit of a minor trek from downtown Seattle (roughly 45 minute drive one way, but can be longer due to traffic). Feel free to ask Scott about playing or getting on it. If you don't have the time to play, there's a park with a walking trial that cuts through the course and wraps around the perimeter.
Leavenworth
A Bavarian-styled town that sits at the foot of the Cascade mountain range. We've been to Leavenworth in the winter (before the holidays) and it's a great place to spend a day & maybe a night. Worth noting: it's a roughly 2.5 hour drive one way from downtown Seattle, and you have to go up and over the mountains to get there.
Friday Harbor
A destination for anyone looking to make a true trip out of the weekend. Friday Harbor is the prominent town in the San Juan Islands. For those interested: you can make the roughly 90 minute drive (one way) from downtown Seattle to Anacortes, pay to park at the ferry terminal, and take the roughly 1 hour (one way) boat ride to Friday Harbor. You can also take a sea plane from South Lake Union in Seattle to Friday Harbor (roughly 50 minutes), but it's more expensive to do so. Plenty of kayaking, whale watching, and other outdoor activities on the islands. Or you can just go there to enjoy island life for a day or two. While it can be done in a (very long) day, we'd recommend at least spending a night there. The ferries in the San Juans are often delayed due to fog & vehicle loading issues.