Things to do in Seattle

So you're coming to Seattle.  Welcome!  Seattle is a great place to visit, especially in the summer. Here are a few of our favorite places in and around Seattle that you might like to visit while you’re in town.

FOOD:

Portage Bay Cafe is a great breakfast, brunch (including a berry bar) and lunch spot that specializes in local and organic cuisine. It is just down the street from the Watertown Hotel and is in the same building as the University Inn. 

4130 Roosevelt Way NE (There are 2 other branches in the Ballard and Lake Union neighborhoods.)

Via Tribunali Pizza serves delicious and authentic wood-fired pizza and accompanying starters and salads. This restaurant is great for a simple and tasty dinner or for happy hour. There are locations in Seattle in the Fremont, Capitol Hill, Queen Anne and Georgetown neighborhoods. Of these, Fremont is closest to the Zoo: 4306 Fremont Ave N.   

Ray’s Boathouse and Café is the place to go for lovely views of the Olympics and fresh seafood. Located next to the outlet of the Seattle ship canal, the café is casual and includes a deck with views of the Olympics across Puget Sound.  Ray’s Boathouse, downstairs, is more formal and pricey, but well worth it if you are in the mood for delicious seafood. 6049 Seaview Ave NW

Tamarind Tree is a popular spot for fresh and interesting Vietnamese food including unusual cocktails like lychee martinis. This is one of our favorite restaurants in the International District. It’s a casual restaurant, but reservations are recommended on Friday and Saturday nights. 1036 South Jackson Street

Theo Chocolate Factory Tour. Theo chocolate is not only delicious, it’s also organic and Fair Trade Certified. The factory tours include information about the history, ecology and politics of chocolate as well as plentiful samples. *Call to make a tour reservation; they fill early, sometimes several weeks in advance.* There’s also a daily walk-in tour at 2:30.  If you can’t get a spot on a tour, at the very least try the samples in the shop. 3400 Phinney Ave North

PARKS:

Hiram M. Chittenden (Ballard) Locks separate the fresh waters of Lake Washington and Lake Union from Puget Sound. Ships of all shapes and sizes pass through the locks, as do spawning salmon, which you can observe from the underwater fish ladder viewing room. 3015 54^th St. NW

Discovery Park  With forests, fields, beaches, and a lighthouse, “Disco” has it all.  For exercise, you can walk or run the 3-mile loop trail and its offshoots. For a shorter excursion with great views, park at the South Parking Lot and walk about a quarter mile on the loop trail (clockwise!) to a scenic bluff overlooking Puget Sound and the Olympic Mountains.  Visitor Center and Main Parking Lot: 3801 W Government Way

Olympic Sculpture Park is the best designed piece of waterfront in downtown Seattle.  There's walking and biking paths, fantastic views of the Olympic Mountains and Puget Sound, and some great art too.  2901 Western Avenue

Golden Gardens Beach is an idyllic little Puget Sound beach located at the base of a steep, wooded hillside.  Go there to sit in the sun, play in the sand, and watch kite surfers and paddle boarders. If you’re hungry stop at Ray’s (see above) on your way to or from Golden Gardens. 8498 Seaview Place NW

OTHER DIVERSIONS:

Seattle Underground Tour (608 First Avenue)

Seattle Public Library, Central Branch  (1000 Fourth Avenue)

Outside of Seattle:

The Future of Flight – Boeing Factory Tour  (8415 Paine Field Blvd, Mukilteo WA)