Ashley & Amanda
Things To Do and See
Salt & Straw
The first time Amanda visited Vancouver, WA with Ashley she took her to 3 ice cream shops in the area, Salt & Straw being one of them. They've got great ice cream. We recommend the Sea Salt with Caramel Ribbons or Almond Brittle with Salted Ganache. You can check out their Cap Hill location or Ballard, both popular spots of ours.
Fogón Cocina Mexicana
One night, on Ashley's birthday, we were wandering around downtown trying to get back to campus. It was a dark and rainy night. We ended up getting off the bus in Capitol Hill a few blocks down from Fogon. We had amazing food that night and for the next year tried to remember the name of that amazing Mexican place. Now we're sharing it with you. They have great margaritas and their appetizer is a wonderful tostada.
Starbucks Reserve Roastery
Since Ashley worked for Starbucks, their stores are a big part of our lives. The Reserve Roastery is a must do for any coffee lover. You can watch them roast the beans and prepare concoctions you won't find in your local Starbucks.
Woodland Park Zoo
We love the zoo. We go here at least once a year because we love the animals. Our friend Carson the red panda is fun to watch. We also love the manned wolves and snow leopard. The zoo is otterly adorable.
Seattle Meowtropolitan
Before we got Chicken and Waffle we would go to the Cat Cafe for our two favorite things: Coffee and Animals. It's the first cat cafe in Seattle and as far as we know the largest. If you're in the market for a new furry friend, many of the cats are adoptable.
Green Lake Park
One of the most visited parks in Seattle. Amanda used to have weekend cross country practice here. It's only a short bus ride away from UW, so we would go to the neighborhood often. In the summer we like to go for walks around the lake. Even as it gets chilly, we'll grab Starbucks and begin the 3 mile trek. Head here for a walk or a picnic. It's a wonderful location.
University of Washington - Rainier Vista
The place where we met. Rainier Vista at UW has the best view of Mount Rainier in the city. If the fountain is on, it's even better. While you're on campus, you can check out the quad which has an amazing cherry blossom bloom every March. Just northwest of the quad, you'll find Paccar and Dempsey hall, home to the business school where we got our degrees.
Dutch Bros Coffee
Ashley has found memories of frequenting this coffee chain in high school. One of the many places Ashley introduced to Amanda. We still make sure to stop on our way to Vancouver or back. Ashley recommends the Iced Annihilator (macadamia) and Amanda recommends the Iced Caramalizer (caramel and chocolate milk).
Rattlesnake Ledge Trailhead
One of the best hikes in the area for those who don't hike often. At the top, there's a wonderful view of Rattlesnake lake below. And despite the name, you're not likely to find any snakes here.
Alki Beach
A wonderful glimpse of Puget Sound. It's located in the West Seattle neighborhood. You get a view of downtown with the water in the foreground. We would recommend Duke's for lunch, especially if you like seafood.
Mercurys Coffee Co.
We recently found Mercury after moving to Bellevue and it is awesome. They have quite a few in the area. Highly recommend if you're in the area and need a morning pick me up.
Ballard Sunday Farmers Market
One of the good farmers markets we have here. This past Thanksgiving, Ashley wanted to do Bon Appetit's perfect Thanksgiving. The only place she could find the german butterball potatoes was here. They've got great hot food options and wonderful products for purchase.
Ballard (Hiram M. Chittenden) Locks
Come see how boats pass from Puget Sound to Lake Washington. The Ballard Locks is an interesting place to stop by. If you've every wondered how they minimize mixing the fresh water lakes and the salty sound, here's the chance. They've also got a fish ladder and botanical gardens.