Seattle Recommendations
Oct. 2nd, 2018 05:59 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
queenluaFolks ask me "what to do" in Seattle frequently enough, and I love telling people about my city enough, that I realized I could write a dang tourbook entry at this point.
So here's the tourbook entry. I mean, if you know me and you're in Seattle, give me a shout, of course! Buuuut if I'm not there to play tour guide, pick one of these neighborhoods and go forth:
Ballard
* Have the best brunch in the city at the Portage Bay Cafe location here. Then walk to the Ballard Locks (<5min away) and check out some boats moseying between the Puget Sound and Lake Washington.
* There's a great climbing gym here. Perhaps you'd like to try rock climbing?
* Drive a bit south and you can hit Discovery Park, my favorite park in the city. Hiking down to the lighthouse takes you across vast fields, through a dense forest, past some wetlands, and yields some breathtaking ocean views. It makes for a good long afternoon activity.
* Or, if you're feeling more sedentary, just amble toward Card Kingdom / Cafe Mox, a literal mecca if you're an M:tG type (the chandeliers are made out of Magic cards!!!), and a cozy spot if you're into board games of any sort. Browse their huge selection, or rent any of dozens of board games for free, and play while you grab some nachos and/or beer.
* Just wandering around the Market-and-24th-ish area is great fun; there's a notable concentration of quirky/hipster shops, some excellent tea, and the area's Sunday farmer's market is my favorite in the city.
Fremont
* The famous Fremont Troll is here. The less-famous but honestly more-charmingly-strange Vladimir Lenin statue is also here. People like to dress him up for the holidays.
* Add-a-Ball is an excellent barcade in easy walking distance of the aforementioned statues. Seattle actually has a ton of barcades, but this one's probably my favorite for its laid-back not-trying-to-impress vibe. There's a Killer Queen machine here, absolutely worth checking out if you've never played before. And make sure to check out the upstairs, where they've hidden a Baby Pac-Man machine.
* The Barrel Thief is probably my favorite place to have a moderately-to-very-fancy drink with good friends. They have top-shelf scotch but also a menu of cheap wines and such. It's got good ambiance, but is still quiet enough to have good conversations with your compatriots. (The bartenders are pretty great if you're flying solo and want to be chatty.) (Oh, there's one bartender who makes his own chocolate port—ask if they've got it, it's excellent when it's available.)
* There is a piece of the Berlin Wall here?? It just appeared one day. I don't really know the story. But it's at the intersection of 34th and Troll if you're interested. It's super tall.
* On a sunny day, eating a deliciously-greasy-amazing Caribbean sandwich at Paseo and then strolling to Gas Works Park (featuring an actual abandoned gasification plant, which you can like, climb on I guess, when no one is watching) is a good time.
U District-ish
* Thai Tom is very very good and very very hole-in-the-wall. There is always a line but it moves fast. Bonus: it's right in the heart of the U District, so you can wander around to all the quirky used video game stores, psychic consultants, etc nearby.
* If you're not in a hole-in-the-wall mood, Mioposto has my personal favorite brunch in the city (the bacon-and-egg breakfast pizza is to die for), and in general serves some of the best pizza I've ever had. Try ordering one of their quirky special pizzas—you'll always say "I have no idea how those ingredients work together," and once you try a bite you'll achieve Enlightenment.
* And then there's Union Bay Natural Area, a stunningly gorgeous nature area across the lake from University of Washington's football stadium. I go there for the birds, of course, and there's ample opportunities to view ducks, herons, and other feathered friends year-round, but even a bird hater should enjoy the pleasant 1.5 mile loop trail.
* Foodies generally want to hit up Din Thai Fung. Those dumplings are very good, but note that it'll be a wait, and the surrounding shopping complex is basically Yuppiedom To The Max, but I like browsing the overpriced jewelery at TWIST
* Scarecrow Video: for all your analog/physical media/VHS/DVD (!!!) needs
Capitol Hill
* Kizuki Ramen is some of the best ramen I've had stateside. Go for the extra garlic broth.
* Chill out afterwards at Rachel's Ginger Beer, featuring a huge assortment of delicious locally-made ginger beers, which you can (optionally) make into Moscow mules if you're feeling boozy. It's well-lit and quiet enough to have good conversations with whoever you've brought along.
* This neighborhood has a metric ton of excellent bookstores. Twice Sold Tales, which features a cast of kitties you can cuddle with while you browse, and Eliot Bay Books, which has a massive selection and frequent events, are both particular standouts.
Georgetown
* This neighborhood's pretty far south of the city, but if you manage to get there, it's a fun & funky neighborhood to wander around. I've been there to e.g. look at a fantasy art show, then chilled in a nearby biker bar for a while, before buying some junk at the Trailer Park Mall and stumbling into a cool glassblowing demonstration. Try an adventure of your own!
Classical Touristy Stuff That Is Pretty Good Even Though It's Touristy
* Pike Place market. (Once you're done browsing all the wares, I like to duck into The Alibi Room for post-adventuring pizza.)
* Seattle Underground tour. Check out the literal seedy underground of Seattle and vaguely hope that the really big one doesn't strike while you're deeply underground.
* Chihuly Garden & Glass. Fabulous art, and if you go at the right time, you can get live glassblowing demos.
* Woodland Park Zoo. Our zoo is great. The penguins are especially adorable.
So here's the tourbook entry. I mean, if you know me and you're in Seattle, give me a shout, of course! Buuuut if I'm not there to play tour guide, pick one of these neighborhoods and go forth:
Ballard
* Have the best brunch in the city at the Portage Bay Cafe location here. Then walk to the Ballard Locks (<5min away) and check out some boats moseying between the Puget Sound and Lake Washington.
* There's a great climbing gym here. Perhaps you'd like to try rock climbing?
* Drive a bit south and you can hit Discovery Park, my favorite park in the city. Hiking down to the lighthouse takes you across vast fields, through a dense forest, past some wetlands, and yields some breathtaking ocean views. It makes for a good long afternoon activity.
* Or, if you're feeling more sedentary, just amble toward Card Kingdom / Cafe Mox, a literal mecca if you're an M:tG type (the chandeliers are made out of Magic cards!!!), and a cozy spot if you're into board games of any sort. Browse their huge selection, or rent any of dozens of board games for free, and play while you grab some nachos and/or beer.
* Just wandering around the Market-and-24th-ish area is great fun; there's a notable concentration of quirky/hipster shops, some excellent tea, and the area's Sunday farmer's market is my favorite in the city.
Fremont
* The famous Fremont Troll is here. The less-famous but honestly more-charmingly-strange Vladimir Lenin statue is also here. People like to dress him up for the holidays.
* Add-a-Ball is an excellent barcade in easy walking distance of the aforementioned statues. Seattle actually has a ton of barcades, but this one's probably my favorite for its laid-back not-trying-to-impress vibe. There's a Killer Queen machine here, absolutely worth checking out if you've never played before. And make sure to check out the upstairs, where they've hidden a Baby Pac-Man machine.
* The Barrel Thief is probably my favorite place to have a moderately-to-very-fancy drink with good friends. They have top-shelf scotch but also a menu of cheap wines and such. It's got good ambiance, but is still quiet enough to have good conversations with your compatriots. (The bartenders are pretty great if you're flying solo and want to be chatty.) (Oh, there's one bartender who makes his own chocolate port—ask if they've got it, it's excellent when it's available.)
* There is a piece of the Berlin Wall here?? It just appeared one day. I don't really know the story. But it's at the intersection of 34th and Troll if you're interested. It's super tall.
* On a sunny day, eating a deliciously-greasy-amazing Caribbean sandwich at Paseo and then strolling to Gas Works Park (featuring an actual abandoned gasification plant, which you can like, climb on I guess, when no one is watching) is a good time.
U District-ish
* Thai Tom is very very good and very very hole-in-the-wall. There is always a line but it moves fast. Bonus: it's right in the heart of the U District, so you can wander around to all the quirky used video game stores, psychic consultants, etc nearby.
* If you're not in a hole-in-the-wall mood, Mioposto has my personal favorite brunch in the city (the bacon-and-egg breakfast pizza is to die for), and in general serves some of the best pizza I've ever had. Try ordering one of their quirky special pizzas—you'll always say "I have no idea how those ingredients work together," and once you try a bite you'll achieve Enlightenment.
* And then there's Union Bay Natural Area, a stunningly gorgeous nature area across the lake from University of Washington's football stadium. I go there for the birds, of course, and there's ample opportunities to view ducks, herons, and other feathered friends year-round, but even a bird hater should enjoy the pleasant 1.5 mile loop trail.
* Foodies generally want to hit up Din Thai Fung. Those dumplings are very good, but note that it'll be a wait, and the surrounding shopping complex is basically Yuppiedom To The Max, but I like browsing the overpriced jewelery at TWIST
* Scarecrow Video: for all your analog/physical media/VHS/DVD (!!!) needs
Capitol Hill
* Kizuki Ramen is some of the best ramen I've had stateside. Go for the extra garlic broth.
* Chill out afterwards at Rachel's Ginger Beer, featuring a huge assortment of delicious locally-made ginger beers, which you can (optionally) make into Moscow mules if you're feeling boozy. It's well-lit and quiet enough to have good conversations with whoever you've brought along.
* This neighborhood has a metric ton of excellent bookstores. Twice Sold Tales, which features a cast of kitties you can cuddle with while you browse, and Eliot Bay Books, which has a massive selection and frequent events, are both particular standouts.
Georgetown
* This neighborhood's pretty far south of the city, but if you manage to get there, it's a fun & funky neighborhood to wander around. I've been there to e.g. look at a fantasy art show, then chilled in a nearby biker bar for a while, before buying some junk at the Trailer Park Mall and stumbling into a cool glassblowing demonstration. Try an adventure of your own!
Classical Touristy Stuff That Is Pretty Good Even Though It's Touristy
* Pike Place market. (Once you're done browsing all the wares, I like to duck into The Alibi Room for post-adventuring pizza.)
* Seattle Underground tour. Check out the literal seedy underground of Seattle and vaguely hope that the really big one doesn't strike while you're deeply underground.
* Chihuly Garden & Glass. Fabulous art, and if you go at the right time, you can get live glassblowing demos.
* Woodland Park Zoo. Our zoo is great. The penguins are especially adorable.
