Rose & Jake
Things To Do
Fremont and Gas Works Park
Fremont is where we call home and we love our funky little neighborhood. You can take a short walk on the Burke Gilman trail and stop by Gas Works Park for a fantastic view of Lake Union and the Seattle skyline. There are an endless amount of great restaurants and bars. Some favorites include Dreamland, Fremont Brewing, Pablo y Pablo - the list could go on and on!
Craft Beers in Ballard
We first moved to Ballard and were delighted to find it was home to a small craft brewery district. There are more than a dozen breweries within walking distance so there is something for everyone. Reuben's is a staple to Ballard and one of our absolute favorites. Some other great breweries are Stoup, Urban Family, Lucky Envelope, and Lagunitas (Yes Saunders, I know they're not local to Seattle, but they have a brewery location & tasting room here)
Discovery Park
Discovery Park is one of our favorite places to walk the pups. We've linked our most frequented walking loop - keep your eyes peeled for bald eagles and seals. On a clear day, you can get incredible views of Rainier and the Olympics
Kerry Park
Great little stop to get your Seattle skyline pictures. If you are walking there from downtown Seattle, be ready to walk up some stairs!
Cap Hill Food & Drinks
Cap Hill (Capitol Hill) is a lively neighborhood with a great bar and restaurant scene Some great picks include: Momiji, Unicorn, Elysian Brewery, Ramen Danbo, and Sam's Tavern
Downtown Drinks With a View
There are so many scenic areas in Downtown Seattle to grab a drink and take in the Puget Sound and mountains. A few places we love include the rooftop bars of The Nest, Fog Room, and mbar, and the more casual Old Stove Brewing when we are craving a beer
Mariners Game
Fingers crossed the schedule works out and there is a home Mariner's game when you visit. These games are so much fun and big plus, the tickets are cheap. And hey, even if your team isn't playing, doesn't everyone just go for the hot dogs and beer? No... just me?
Pike Place Market
Of course we have to mention Pike Place Market. Expect for it to be crowded with tourists but here's a couple of places we enjoy: Rachel's ginger beer (pro tip, you can get it spiked), Pike Place Chowder, and don't miss out on the free cheese samples at Beecher's! There are also a whole bunch of great restaurants in the nearby streets if you are hungry
Chihuly Garden and Glass / Space Needle / MoPOP
You can hit up the trifecta of tourist hot spots if you meander to this section of Seattle. Chilhuly is so worth it, the Space Needle has a fun elevator ride with great panoramic views at the top, and MoPOP (Museum of Pop Culture) - okay, we haven't actually visited yet :) But we just threw it on this list since the 3 are so close to each other!
Seattle Chinatown-International District
For those craving great Asian food (or something greasy to help them through a hangover), we love heading to ID (International District). A few of our favorites include: Dough Zone (great soup dumplings), Chengdu Memory (the spiciest hot pot), and Hood Famous Cafe + Bar (scrumptious Filipino ube cheese cake)
Local Ferries
Seattle is connected to so many islands (big and small) by our expansive ferry system. This makes it an easy and cheap way to see more of the state and enjoy some time on the water. We've checked out Bremerton, Bainbridge, and West Seattle from the Seattle port and loved our little day trips. We've linked the first time riders guide for adventurous folks wanting to get out on the water. Bonus: if you are a Grey's Anatomy fan, now is your chance to relive your favorite ferry scenes!
Wine Tasting in Woodinville
Woodinville is one of our favorite nearby spots for the weekend (it's Rose's happy place 😊) - just a short 30-45 minute drive from Seattle. We highly encourage you to book 2 or 3 tastings in advance for a fun afternoon in this mini wine village - though some places will allow walk-ins. Ride share is a great option since so many of the wineries are within walking distance of each other Our favorites include: Fidelitas, Mark Ryan, Long Shadows, and Maryhill. But truly, you cannot go wrong here!
National Parks + Other Hiking
Okay, hiking in national parks needs its own page, so feel free to reach out to us for more detailed recommendations. The national parks here are on a whole different level and one of the things we love most about living in the PNW. There are endless options for those open to driving ~3 hours to Rainier, the Olympics, or the Cascades - but we promise it is so worth it!
Other Things To Do
Portland: 3 hour drive south of Seattle. If Seattle doesn't have enough bars and restaurants for you, Portland will Vancouver: 2 - 2 1/2 hour drive north of Seattle Port Angeles: 2 1/2 hour drive from Seattle. A great port town on the water and jumping off point for anyone wanting to visit Olympic National Park. There is also a ferry that will take you to Victoria/Vancouver Island, British Columbia (bring your passport) Leavenworth: 2 - 2 1/2 hr drive from Seattle. Bavarian style themed town in the mountains. Wine tasting, hiking, lots of bars and restaurants Cannon Beach/Oregon Coast: 4 hour drive from Seattle. This might be aggressive for some, but the Oregon Coast is a stunning and dramatic coastline. If you are able to swing it and love beaches, we absolutely recommend it. Visiting this region of the PNW is a summer tradition for us (plus that's where we got engaged!)