We love a stop at the original Starbucks, some mac & cheese at Beecher's, and wandering the market stalls. There's also the world's coolest little map store (Metsker Maps) just around the corner on 1st Ave.
The Space Needle gets all of the attention (rightfully so), but for the best view of Seattle and around, the Columbia Tower is hard to beat
The Seattle Mariners happen to open their 2020 season at T-Mobile Park the weekend of our wedding. They play every day from Thursday, March 26th through Wednesday, April 1st
The locks allow boats of all kinds to pass back and forth between Lake Union and the Puget Sound. It's common to see salmon spawning throughout the year as they use the fish ladders to make it upstream. Nearby you'll also find the Lockspot Tavern (made famous by Discovery Channel's "Deadliest Catch"), and the Portage Bay Cafe is a great stop for brunch.
A favorite spot to grab a coffee and go for a walk. It's also just down the road from the Woodland Park Zoo.
A former coal gasification plant that's found a second life as a public park. It's a Seattle icon with great views of the city and Lake Union.
An awesome quick stop for a great view of the Seattle Skyline
Chateau Ste. Michelle Winery is always a great starting point (and has a nice little free tour and tasting too). "The Commons" just up the road is a great little brunch or lunch stop, and there's loads of tasting rooms to tackle from there
Whether you're into airplanes or not, the Boeing factory is pretty incredible (and a great option for a rainy day). Alternatively, the Museum of Flight (www.museumofflight.org) is great as well.
Get outside and explore a bit (just bring a rain coat, and prepare for some mud). Rattlesnake Ridge Trail is great year-round, and Snoqualmie Falls, just down the road, is worth a stop as well. The Washington Trails Association (linked below) has an excellent search engine to point you towards some more great options. Remember to bring some small bills to pay for day-use parking.
We know that most of our international guests are looking forward to some shopping. The Seattle Premium Outlets are a 40 minute drive from Downtown Seattle, or an easy stop off I-5 for those on their way to and from the Canadian border. Alternatively, try the North Bend Premium Outlets (near some great hikes as well), Bellevue Square Mall, Alderwood Mall, or Westlake Center (in Downtown Seattle)
Ski season in the Pacific Northwest generally spreads into mid-April, so there should (hopefully) be some great ski days near wedding time Some of our favorite options: - Crystal Mountain Resort (1 hr, 45 min south of Downtown Seattle - link below) - Stevens Pass Resort (1 hr, 40 min northeast of Downtown Seattle) - Mt Baker Ski Area (2 hr, 45 min north of Downtown Seattle) - Whistler Blackcomb (4 hr, 15 min north of Seattle, 2hr north of Vancouver, BC)
A Bavarian-themed village tucked in the mountains. An awesome little day trip (and you'll likely see some snow). Stevens Pass Resort is on the way, if you're up for some skiing as well
An awesome (long) day trip via the Edmonds-Kingston Ferry, or great option if you've got a few spare days to explore the peninsula. Edmonds (where the ferry departs), is a wonderful little seaside town, and even a ferry trip from Edmonds to Kingston and back is a great way to cruise the Puget Sound (and you sometimes get lucky and see some whales)
For those unfamiliar with the area, Vancouver is roughly a 2 1/2 hour drive straight north via I-5. It always makes for a great day trip, or night or two away. If you've got a little more time (or just love a drive), Whistler is a roughly 4 1/2 hour drive from Seattle