Guidebook for Seattle
Essentials
This is a great neighborhood grocery store with plenty of ready-to-eat and picnic items in the deli. Also a good selection of wine and beer. It's also the closest place to get cash back if making a purchase with a debit card.
148 residents recomanen
Ken's Market
2400 6th Ave WThis is a great neighborhood grocery store with plenty of ready-to-eat and picnic items in the deli. Also a good selection of wine and beer. It's also the closest place to get cash back if making a purchase with a debit card.
This is a local pharmacy chain that also has lots of convenience items.
173 residents recomanen
Bartell Drugs
6401 12th Ave NEThis is a local pharmacy chain that also has lots of convenience items.
Not open on weekends, but the place to buy stamps.
45 residents recomanen
United States Postal Service
8306 Greenwood Ave NNot open on weekends, but the place to buy stamps.
Shopping
This is a large regional chain with groceries, pharmacy, clothing, seasonal, gardening, and other miscellaneous items - pretty much everything you might need - and they're open 7 am - 11 pm.
278 residents recomanen
Fred Meyer
915 NW 45th StThis is a large regional chain with groceries, pharmacy, clothing, seasonal, gardening, and other miscellaneous items - pretty much everything you might need - and they're open 7 am - 11 pm.
This is one of the THE best toy stores in the region. If you're here with kids, I strongly recommend stopping in for some vacation diversions.
15 residents recomanen
Snapdoodle Toys & Games
120 N 85th StThis is one of the THE best toy stores in the region. If you're here with kids, I strongly recommend stopping in for some vacation diversions.
This fanciful storefront supports a fabulous kids literacy and creative writing center, the Bureau of Fearless Ideas (formerly 826 Seattle).
Greenwood Space Travel Supply Co
8414 Greenwood Ave NThis fanciful storefront supports a fabulous kids literacy and creative writing center, the Bureau of Fearless Ideas (formerly 826 Seattle).
Need an infusion of new reading for your trip? Want to catch a local music performance in an intimate venue? Check out the Couth Buzzard.
17 residents recomanen
Couth Buzzard Books Espresso Buono Cafe
8310 Greenwood Ave NNeed an infusion of new reading for your trip? Want to catch a local music performance in an intimate venue? Check out the Couth Buzzard.
This is a great local book store, so stop in and find something for any age to enjoy during your trip!
15 residents recomanen
Phinney Books
7405 Greenwood Ave NThis is a great local book store, so stop in and find something for any age to enjoy during your trip!
This year-round market features both food and crafts.
220 residents recomanen
Ballard Sunday Farmers Market
5345 Ballard Ave NWThis year-round market features both food and crafts.
Arts & Culture
This is a great rainy day spot with kids or to pore over local papers when you need a break from touring around.
18 residents recomanen
Greenwood Branch - The Seattle Public Library
8016 Greenwood Ave NThis is a great rainy day spot with kids or to pore over local papers when you need a break from touring around.
The SFS puts on weekly contra dances on Friday night and Saturday concerts except during the summer months. Check out their website for details: http://www.seafolklore.org
Seattle Folklore Society
6532 Phinney Avenue NorthThe SFS puts on weekly contra dances on Friday night and Saturday concerts except during the summer months. Check out their website for details: http://www.seafolklore.org
This former school houses a wealth of community programs, an art gallery, and numerous fun events. Check out www.phinneycenter.org to see what's happening during your visit.
8 residents recomanen
Phinney Neighborhood Association
6532 Phinney Ave NThis former school houses a wealth of community programs, an art gallery, and numerous fun events. Check out www.phinneycenter.org to see what's happening during your visit.
Check out this tiny venue right up the street - it's like going to an intimate house concert. Check them out: http://www.emptysea.com/concert-series/concertswhatshow/
Empty Sea Studios
6042 Elder RoadCheck out this tiny venue right up the street - it's like going to an intimate house concert. Check them out: http://www.emptysea.com/concert-series/concertswhatshow/
This local theater is a perfect 1-mile stroll (mostly flat) away. Check out what's playing: http://taproottheatre.org
27 residents recomanen
Taproot Theatre Company
212 N 85th StThis local theater is a perfect 1-mile stroll (mostly flat) away. Check out what's playing: http://taproottheatre.org
Seattle Public Theater occupies a former bathhouse on the shores of Green Lake. Give yourself 30 minutes before the show and you can easily walk there, but you can also find parking unless it's a crazy-beautiful summer evening. There is a regular MainStage season, but families may especially want to check out one of the youth program performances, which are by donation only. They're great!
22 residents recomanen
Seattle Public Theater
7312 West Green Lake Dr NSeattle Public Theater occupies a former bathhouse on the shores of Green Lake. Give yourself 30 minutes before the show and you can easily walk there, but you can also find parking unless it's a crazy-beautiful summer evening. There is a regular MainStage season, but families may especially want to check out one of the youth program performances, which are by donation only. They're great!
Entertainment & Activities
One of the best zoos in the country is a short walk from our house. It's not just for families, either. Great destination regardless of the weather.
625 residents recomanen
Woodland Park Zoo
5500 Phinney Ave NOne of the best zoos in the country is a short walk from our house. It's not just for families, either. Great destination regardless of the weather.
Rent a kayak and paddle out to explore Lake Union - views of downtown, houseboats, seaplanes, and more! Plus great Mexican food before or after your outing.
168 residents recomanen
Agua Verde Paddle Club
1307 NE Boat StRent a kayak and paddle out to explore Lake Union - views of downtown, houseboats, seaplanes, and more! Plus great Mexican food before or after your outing.
Food Scene
From June through September, this is THE place to be on Friday from 3-7 pm. Lots of local produce and other edibles, plus a selection of food trucks ready to provide dinner to suit every member of your group, including those who prefer ice cream, popsicles, or gourmet chocolate truffles. This is also a great place to pick up some local honey, hazelnuts, jam or other treat to take back home. Plus, there is usually live entertainment from 4-6 each week!
16 residents recomanen
Phinney Farmers Market
6761 Phinney Ave NFrom June through September, this is THE place to be on Friday from 3-7 pm. Lots of local produce and other edibles, plus a selection of food trucks ready to provide dinner to suit every member of your group, including those who prefer ice cream, popsicles, or gourmet chocolate truffles. This is also a great place to pick up some local honey, hazelnuts, jam or other treat to take back home. Plus, there is usually live entertainment from 4-6 each week!
Parks & Nature
If you have an hour and a reasonable amount of energy, just walk over the ridge and down and around the lake (2.8 miles all the way around). Yes, there is a big hill on the way back up. Spend most of the day if you want to linger at one of the swimming beaches, rent a paddle boat, or watch a crew race or the annual milk carton derby. There are several restaurants and cafes spaced around the perimeter if you need fortification during your outing.
148 residents recomanen
Parc del llac verd
7201 East Green Lake Dr NIf you have an hour and a reasonable amount of energy, just walk over the ridge and down and around the lake (2.8 miles all the way around). Yes, there is a big hill on the way back up. Spend most of the day if you want to linger at one of the swimming beaches, rent a paddle boat, or watch a crew race or the annual milk carton derby. There are several restaurants and cafes spaced around the perimeter if you need fortification during your outing.
The locks have many attractions - a fascinating engineering feat, boats traffic of all kinds, a superb botanical garden, nesting great blue herons, and a fish ladder where you may be lucky enough to see migrating salmon. This a must-see stop for everyone, but especially for families. It opens at dawn and closes at dusk, so is a great place for a picnic. There is an interesting visitor center and summer concert series on Sunday afternoons. This was our go-to place when the kids woke up early and needed to get out of the house!
774 residents recomanen
Escluses de Ballard (Hiram M. Chittenden)
3015 NW 54th StThe locks have many attractions - a fascinating engineering feat, boats traffic of all kinds, a superb botanical garden, nesting great blue herons, and a fish ladder where you may be lucky enough to see migrating salmon. This a must-see stop for everyone, but especially for families. It opens at dawn and closes at dusk, so is a great place for a picnic. There is an interesting visitor center and summer concert series on Sunday afternoons. This was our go-to place when the kids woke up early and needed to get out of the house!
Yes, there is a beach just a 10-minute drive from our house. It's not an ocean beach, but has it's own Puget Sound beauty. Enjoy a sunset or late evening beach volleyball game or go early in the morning to dig in the sand and watch for sea lions. There is a nice play ground, field for kite-flying, restrooms, and concession stand. This is a popular picnic spot on summer weekends, so you may not be able to park close by.
728 residents recomanen
Golden Gardens Park
8498 Seaview Pl NWYes, there is a beach just a 10-minute drive from our house. It's not an ocean beach, but has it's own Puget Sound beauty. Enjoy a sunset or late evening beach volleyball game or go early in the morning to dig in the sand and watch for sea lions. There is a nice play ground, field for kite-flying, restrooms, and concession stand. This is a popular picnic spot on summer weekends, so you may not be able to park close by.
Want an in-town hike? Check out Discovery Park. There is a large network of trails up on the bluff, down through the woods, and along the beach. Be sure to give yourself enough time!
756 residents recomanen
Parc Discovery
3801 Discovery Park BlvdWant an in-town hike? Check out Discovery Park. There is a large network of trails up on the bluff, down through the woods, and along the beach. Be sure to give yourself enough time!
Don't miss this iconic Seattle park with great views of Lake Union and downtown. Check out the old industrial landscape, hike to the top of kite hill, and be open to whatever wonders you may find there.
860 residents recomanen
Gas Works Park
2101 N Northlake WayDon't miss this iconic Seattle park with great views of Lake Union and downtown. Check out the old industrial landscape, hike to the top of kite hill, and be open to whatever wonders you may find there.
Sightseeing
Don't miss the troll! If you don't know what it is, don't worry - just go.
583 residents recomanen
Troll de Fremont
Troll Avenue NorthDon't miss the troll! If you don't know what it is, don't worry - just go.