Guidebook for Seattle
Food Scene
Starbucks
606 NW Richmond Beach RdClosest Starbucks to the house...right down the hill!
Not to miss. In the oldest section of Ballard: cute, cobblestoned streets, blocks of fresh produce, flowers, crafts, and more. So fun.
220 locals recommend
Ballard Sunday Farmers Market
5345 Ballard Ave NWNot to miss. In the oldest section of Ballard: cute, cobblestoned streets, blocks of fresh produce, flowers, crafts, and more. So fun.
This place has a line out the door every day, for good reason. Known for their biscuit sandwiches, it's worth waiting in line at least once! We recommend the "Spanish Fly." Yum!
51 locals recommend
Biscuit & Bean
5905 15th Avenue NorthwestThis place has a line out the door every day, for good reason. Known for their biscuit sandwiches, it's worth waiting in line at least once! We recommend the "Spanish Fly." Yum!
One of the best Thai places in the city. Also good for carry-out orders. We eat here all the time. They are fast and friendly. We love the fresh rolls, the curry and the pad thai.
33 locals recommend
Thai Siam Restaurant
8305 15th Ave NWOne of the best Thai places in the city. Also good for carry-out orders. We eat here all the time. They are fast and friendly. We love the fresh rolls, the curry and the pad thai.
Our favorite local Italian restaurant. Authentic and always delicious. Small and intimate.
9 locals recommend
Pasta Bella Italian Restaurant
5909 15th Ave NWOur favorite local Italian restaurant. Authentic and always delicious. Small and intimate.
Super popular Mexican restaurant. Lots of true, authentic homemade Mexican items.
31 locals recommend
el camion
5314 15th Avenue NorthwestSuper popular Mexican restaurant. Lots of true, authentic homemade Mexican items.
Always good, always fast and always popular. Can't go wrong here. They have great opens for gluten and dairy free diets. Delicious build your own salads.
104 locals recommend
MOD Pizza
6010 15th Ave NWAlways good, always fast and always popular. Can't go wrong here. They have great opens for gluten and dairy free diets. Delicious build your own salads.
Staple & Fancy
4739 Ballard Ave NWItalian spot with 4 course tasting menu.
The Other Coast Cafe
5315 Ballard Ave NWStacked sandwiches and bustling vibe
La Carta De Oaxaca
5431 Ballard Ave NWSO GOOD
Family-friendly food with wood-fired pizzas and rotating regional monthly menus.
34 locals recommend
The Hi-Life
5425 Russell Ave NWFamily-friendly food with wood-fired pizzas and rotating regional monthly menus.
La Isla
2320 NW Market StPuerto Rican food. Try the empanaditas.
Sam's Sushi Bar & Grill
5506 22nd Ave NWFamily-friendly sushi
Paseo
6226 Seaview Avenue NorthwestCuban sandwiches near Golden Gardens Beach. Does not accept credit cards.
Un Bien
7302.5 15th Ave NWLegendary Cuban sandwiches
Legendary french pastries. The chocolate croissants are outstanding when eaten warm out of the bakery oven. Get there early on weekends as there will be a line!
155 locals recommend
Cafe Besalu
5909 24th Ave NWLegendary french pastries. The chocolate croissants are outstanding when eaten warm out of the bakery oven. Get there early on weekends as there will be a line!
Tasty Danish pastries as well as full service cake decorating. A popular neighbor bakery hang-out. We go here often. The "twists" are delicious!
60 locals recommend
Larsen's Bakery
8000 24th Ave NWTasty Danish pastries as well as full service cake decorating. A popular neighbor bakery hang-out. We go here often. The "twists" are delicious!
Toast Ballard
5615 24th Ave NWThey serve tasty and unusual varieties of toast
Moshi Moshi Sushi
5324 Ballard Ave NWGreat happy hour menu!
It's our favorite non-fancy vegetarian restaurant in Seattle. Only open for breakfast, lunch and brunch. Always delicious.
18 locals recommend
Silence Heart Nest Vegetarian Restaurant
3508 Fremont Pl NIt's our favorite non-fancy vegetarian restaurant in Seattle. Only open for breakfast, lunch and brunch. Always delicious.
AMAZING nursery with exceptional gift selection. On-site cafe with light finding options (soup, sandwiches, pastries). There's a koi pond which keeps kids entertained.
13 locals recommend
Swansons Nursery
9701 15th Ave NWAMAZING nursery with exceptional gift selection. On-site cafe with light finding options (soup, sandwiches, pastries). There's a koi pond which keeps kids entertained.
Everything Else
This is very close by and is a huge, beautiful golden sand beach with playground, concessions, bonfires on the beach at night, bathhouse..just a great area.
728 locals recommend
Golden Gardens Park
8498 Seaview Pl NWThis is very close by and is a huge, beautiful golden sand beach with playground, concessions, bonfires on the beach at night, bathhouse..just a great area.
The trailhead just 1 minute from our back yard takes you to this park and beach, which is gorgeous and provides amazing walks, berry-picking and entertainment (the natural way!)
251 locals recommend
Carkeek Park
950 NW Carkeek Park RdThe trailhead just 1 minute from our back yard takes you to this park and beach, which is gorgeous and provides amazing walks, berry-picking and entertainment (the natural way!)
Terrific park and playground great for picnics, frisbee or soccer, and fun with kids (there's a zipline!)
23 locals recommend
Salmon Bay Park
2001 NW Canoe PlTerrific park and playground great for picnics, frisbee or soccer, and fun with kids (there's a zipline!)
Just a few minutes' drive away. Fremont is funky and original and a ton of fun. A must-do.
251 locals recommend
Fremont
Just a few minutes' drive away. Fremont is funky and original and a ton of fun. A must-do.
A locally famous sculpture: you must visit the troll under the bridge yourself and see why we all love it! Don't forget your camera!
583 locals recommend
Fremont Troll
Troll Avenue NorthA locally famous sculpture: you must visit the troll under the bridge yourself and see why we all love it! Don't forget your camera!
You can spend a lot of time here: huge fountain for summer fun, Pacific Northwest Ballet, Science Center, Monorail, Space Needle, playhouses, Children's Museum, and amusement park.
362 locals recommend
Seattle Center
305 Harrison StYou can spend a lot of time here: huge fountain for summer fun, Pacific Northwest Ballet, Science Center, Monorail, Space Needle, playhouses, Children's Museum, and amusement park.
Wonderful street full of unique shops, truly fabulous restaurants, neighborhood movie theater, tea houses, pubs, coffee houses (of course!) and people-watching.
Northwest Market Street
Northwest Market StreetWonderful street full of unique shops, truly fabulous restaurants, neighborhood movie theater, tea houses, pubs, coffee houses (of course!) and people-watching.
This is northern Seattle's hub. Fantastic, swimmable lake encircled by bike and running paths. Summer wading pool, paddle boat rentals. Tennis courts, ball fields...it's all here. Great fun.
148 locals recommend
Green Lake Park
7201 East Green Lake Dr NThis is northern Seattle's hub. Fantastic, swimmable lake encircled by bike and running paths. Summer wading pool, paddle boat rentals. Tennis courts, ball fields...it's all here. Great fun.
One of several Lake Washington beach parks. This one is especially pretty and family-friendly. Terrific summer swimming and picnicking.
14 locals recommend
Matthews Beach
One of several Lake Washington beach parks. This one is especially pretty and family-friendly. Terrific summer swimming and picnicking.
Neighborhood movie theater overhauled and brought to a high level. Terrific first-run films and cozy atmosphere = great place to see a movie!
96 locals recommend
Majestic Bay Theatres
2044 NW Market StNeighborhood movie theater overhauled and brought to a high level. Terrific first-run films and cozy atmosphere = great place to see a movie!
Huge, gorgeous natural park with running & hiking trails, water views/bluffs, forests, meadows, and a long, very serene Puget Sound beach. You can easily spend an entire day here.
756 locals recommend
Discovery Park
3801 Discovery Park BlvdHuge, gorgeous natural park with running & hiking trails, water views/bluffs, forests, meadows, and a long, very serene Puget Sound beach. You can easily spend an entire day here.
Great outdoor swimming pool. Slide and the works. Your kids will love it.
9 locals recommend
Lowery C. "Pop" Mounger Pool
2535 32nd Ave WGreat outdoor swimming pool. Slide and the works. Your kids will love it.
Downtown Seattle
The heart of downtown. About 20 minutes by car from the house.
Ballard attraction which includes locks for ship transit as well as a salmon ladder!
774 locals recommend
Ballard (Hiram M. Chittenden) Locks
3015 NW 54th StBallard attraction which includes locks for ship transit as well as a salmon ladder!
Parks & Nature
It's sandy and expansive and gives the most wonderful Puget Sound beach experience. In the Summer there is a concession stand, and year-round there is a local favorite, Little Coney's, which is a classic burgers/ice cream/hotdog place. Excellent beach for sunset strolls!
728 locals recommend
Golden Gardens Park
8498 Seaview Pl NWIt's sandy and expansive and gives the most wonderful Puget Sound beach experience. In the Summer there is a concession stand, and year-round there is a local favorite, Little Coney's, which is a classic burgers/ice cream/hotdog place. Excellent beach for sunset strolls!
You can see a mini Statue of Liberty, walk the path along the water, visit a great bakery and visit a light house.
865 locals recommend
Alki Beach
You can see a mini Statue of Liberty, walk the path along the water, visit a great bakery and visit a light house.
Sunset Hill Park
7531 34th Ave NWDrinks & Nightlife
Great little bars along this street as well as some really terrific restaurants (and more.) Basically, a really good area to look around and then come back again at night!
50 locals recommend
Ballard Avenue Northwest
Ballard Avenue NorthwestGreat little bars along this street as well as some really terrific restaurants (and more.) Basically, a really good area to look around and then come back again at night!
Capitol Hill
Getting Around
Enterprise Rent-A-Car
331 NW 85th StClosest car rental agency to the house.
Shopping
Iconic Seattle bookstore. Author readings and good selection. Used to be located in Pioneer Square but moved north and east. Worth visiting, especially on a rainy day!
243 locals recommend
The Elliott Bay Book Company
1521 10th AveIconic Seattle bookstore. Author readings and good selection. Used to be located in Pioneer Square but moved north and east. Worth visiting, especially on a rainy day!
Phinney Avenue is worth a walk: it's on the east edge of Ballard and has everything from interesting boutiques and small restaurants to an art gallery. Recommend starting at 80th and Greenwood and walking south. Diva's Coffee is right at that corner and is a great place to grab a cup of Joe before you start walking.
18 locals recommend
Phinney Ridge
Phinney Avenue is worth a walk: it's on the east edge of Ballard and has everything from interesting boutiques and small restaurants to an art gallery. Recommend starting at 80th and Greenwood and walking south. Diva's Coffee is right at that corner and is a great place to grab a cup of Joe before you start walking.
Pacific Place
600 Pine StWestlake Center
Pine StreetNorthgate Mall
401 NE Northgate WaySightseeing
Many of the skyline photos you see of Seattle were taken from Kerry Park. Great view. After snapping photos, worth walking west on Highland Drive to continue the scenery-fest and enjoy the old, beautiful homes along this street.
881 locals recommend
Kerry Park
211 W Highland DrMany of the skyline photos you see of Seattle were taken from Kerry Park. Great view. After snapping photos, worth walking west on Highland Drive to continue the scenery-fest and enjoy the old, beautiful homes along this street.
There's a lot to see here. Check out the "secret" waterfall, the Underground Tour, Doc Maynard's, a bevvy of bars and clubs, many design stores, etc. Just a few blocks from Alaskan Way and the Seattle waterfront: easy to take both in on the same jaunt.
270 locals recommend
Pioneer Square
There's a lot to see here. Check out the "secret" waterfall, the Underground Tour, Doc Maynard's, a bevvy of bars and clubs, many design stores, etc. Just a few blocks from Alaskan Way and the Seattle waterfront: easy to take both in on the same jaunt.
This is a 22' waterfall you'd never know is even there, down in Pioneer Square. Some tables and chairs and plants. Unexpected and pretty spot.
25 locals recommend
Waterfall Garden Park
219 2nd Ave SThis is a 22' waterfall you'd never know is even there, down in Pioneer Square. Some tables and chairs and plants. Unexpected and pretty spot.