SEATTLE PARKS

Seattle has incredible public parks all over the city that exhibit the glory of the PNW. One of the best parts of summertime is swimming in the lakes. Bring a swimsuit!

  • One of the best places to see big old mossy cedars and ferns within the city is Ravenna Park (our backyard park!). Discovery Park also offers great forest walks in addition to its beaches. Further south, Seward Park is one of the most stunning parks in the city.

  • Gas Works Park is a great place for a picnic with views of the Space Needle and downtown. Olympic Sculpture Park is near downtown and offers great views of the Olympic mountains and fun ferry watching.

  • Discovery Park is home to the iconic lighthouse and has great options for hiking in the city. Golden Gardens and Carkeek Park are also great options if you want to be right on the beach without a long walk.

  • Magnuson Park and Green Lake, are our go-to spots in North Seattle for freshwater swimming. If you want to head further south, Seward Park also has great swimming and big trees!

FOOD & DRINK

We love eating and we love drinking. Here’s some of our favorite spots around the city.

  • For incredible pastries and one of the best breakfast sandwiches we’ve ever had (get the fried egg sandwich on melonpan), go to Saint Bread, right next to where Zoe works at UW! Prepare for long lines on weekend mornings.

    For delicious coffee, check out our neighborhood spot, Seven.

    Top Pot Doughnuts is a Seattle mainstay with outposts all over the city.

  • Get a cheap, greasy and delicious cheeseburger, fries, and a shake at the Seattle Classic: Dick’s!

    Incredible Chinese food in the UDistrict: Little Duck

    Yummy Pho: Mekong Village

    Famous and delicious hand-pulled noodles in the UDistrict: Xi'an Noodles

    Tonkotsu Ramen in UVillage: Hokkaido Ramen

  • Otis’ favorite breweries/bottle shops:

    • Fair Isle

    • Machine House

    • Lowercase

    • Bottlewerks

    Into amaro? Check out Barnacle in Ballard!

    Our favorite dive bar: Duchess Tavern!

Staying longer to see more of the area/renting a car? Here’s some of our favorite hikes and trips in the region.

VENTURING FURTHER OUT

  • If you’re hoping to visit one of the nearby national parks (North Cascades, Mount Rainier, or Olympic), Washington Trails Association is an incredible resource to sift through hikes and find a trail that fits your needs.

    For a tried and true list, below are some of Zoe’s favorite hikes in the Cascades:

    Tiger/Cougar Mountain (~30-45 minute drive from Seattle): Cable Line trail for a brutal workout, Margaret’s Way for a forest stroll

    North Bend (~1 hour drive from Seattle): Mount Si for a challenging summit, or Little Si for a more chill vista. If you’re not renting a car, you can still get here for only $3 using the King County trailhead bus!

    Mountain Loop Highway (~2 hour drive from Seattle) has incredible big hikes with rewarding views of the Cascades. Mount Dickerman, Gothic Basin

  • Taking a ferry is a great way to see more of the Puget Sound region and is a fun Washington activity in and of itself! The Bainbridge Island ferry leaves right from downtown Seattle. Exploring the island, grabbing lunch, and leisurely taking the ferry back would make a great day trip.

  • One of our favorite day trips from Seattle is to drive north up to Chuckanut Drive Scenic Byway (~90 minutes from Seattle), just south of Bellingham, and get fresh oysters at the Taylor Shellfish Farms right on the water. Oyster Dome is a great hike just across the street with great views of the Sound and the San Juan Islands on a clear day.