What’s Worth Checking Out In Seattle?
January 9th, 2008 @ 1:34 pm by Mrs. Milkshake
via professor batty at flickr.
I read about “The Fremont Troll” in a random book I flipped through at Costco the other day and thought it would be a fun place to take photos. And I think photoshop textures could do a lot with this fellow-for-a-backdrop.
Mr. Milkshake complains that he can never whisk me away to some special spot in or around the city, because frankly, neither of us knows anything about Seattle (not to mention we live with the uppities on the “Eastside”). That, and the traffic is so terrible that we never dare venture past Bellevue on our days off (which is ridiculous considering that we work as far away as White Center, Magnolia, and Auburn for our day jobs…)
Once we stumbled upon a beach west of Ballard that I never knew existed when we decided The Locks were too busy to visit:
Our knowledge of the city is surprisingly limited.
photo via kptice at flickr.
Back to the troll. He’s actually quite large! I saw pictures on flickr of people hanging off the underside of his finger. I haven’t been, but I believe it’s on Troll Ave North, somewhere near Aurora?
So Seattlites - where are some great local spots that are worth checking out? Anyone live north or east of seattle? I want to know about those places too! I’m not necessarily looking for tourist spots, but great places to go…
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22 Responses to “What’s Worth Checking Out In Seattle?”
Check out Greenlake in North Seattle, West Seattle (Alki Beach), Deception Pass up north, the San Juan Islands, drive east to Leavenworth and/or Wenatchee.
Personally, I’m a sucker for my neighborhood - Kirkland on Lake WA. The waterfront is breathtaking, and worth a trip on its own. But there are also cute shops and great restaurants (try Hector’s for a romantic, moody place, or Third Floor Fish Cafe for views of the lake.) Although it gets busy during the summer, it’s very quiet the rest of the year. See you around! 
Post ally has some amazing little places, shops and restaurants. Like the Pink Door. The food ia amazing and there is a patio you can sit on in the summer time. You can hop down to the market from there too. Richmond Beach is also a fun place to visit, dircectly west of Shoreline. West Seattle is great too… you can stroll Alki beach and there is a wonderful pizza place on the beach. I love Queen Anne too. Right at the top of the hill is The 5 Spot a WONDERFUL restaurant. Also if you are up for some exploring there are tons of little parks and look outs all over the hill. Also, lower Capital Hill has some great coffee shops on Pike and Pine. Pick a neighborhood and do some exploring on a saturday afternoon. Seattle is a tresure trove of neat places and great people. I love it!
As an uppity eastsider (I live in Bellevue too), I love the Eastside. The Bellevue Botantical Gardens are some place lot of people get pictures. I also like downtown Issaquah and downtown Redmond. It would fun to get engagment pics in downtown Bellevue.
I love the Troll under the Fremont Bridge. I’m planning on us exploring different parts of Seattle each month. Like being tourists in our own town!
Ballard is alo a great place. Good food, cute little shops!
We live in Capitol Hill and I just moved out here in June, so I’m still getting to know the area too. Fremont (where the troll is) also has lots of other cute sculptures when you wander around. Broadway in Capitol Hill has cute shops and there is great pizza at Hot Mama’s on Pike, I think? We love going to Pike Place Market when it isn’t too crowded. If you’re looking to venture a little further out, Snoqualmie is fun in the winter for tubing/skiing/snow shoeing. In the summer, we went hiking at the Ice Caves. Alki beach is nice too, when the weather is better. If you’re in Bellevue, just take 90 across the bridge and traffic shouldn’t be too bad at all - and totally worth the trip.
The exact location of the troll is underneath the Aurora (Hwy 99) overpass (bridge) in Fremont. It’s hard to miss once you know where it is. Ask someone if you’re confused. There are lots of quirky Seattle icons in Fremont. Check out a few more at http://www.arfarfarf.com/fremont/.
If you’ve never spent a lot of time in West Seattle (you mention White Center, so maybe you have…), it’s definitely worth a lazy Saturday or Sunday morning. California St has lots of cute stores and cafes, including the absolute best pastries in the world at Bakery Nouveau (http://www.bakerynouveau.com/). Alki beach is also quite fun on a sunny day and offers great views of downtown Seattle (http://www.seattle.gov/parks/park_detail.asp?ID=445).
I’m partial to my own neighborhood: Capitol Hill, specifically 15th Ave E. In that neighborhood, in a single morning you can check out all of the cute little shops and bars and restaurants along 15th Ave East, continue walking north to Volunteer Park (http://www.seattle.gov/parks/park_detail.asp?ID=399), visit the cemetary next door where Bruce and Brandon Lee are buried, walk across the street to the viewpoint and enjoy views of UW and Lake Washington,(http://www.seattle.gov/parks/park_detail.asp?ID=362), and take the trail system below the viewpoint that leads into Interlaken Park (http://www.seattle.gov/parks/park_detail.asp?ID=3023), loop all the way through Interlaken (joining the paved road called Interlaken near the end, past the Hebrew School) back to E Galer, which will lead you back to 15th Ave E (a big loop).
Near Capitol Hill is also the Arboretum (http://depts.washington.edu/wpa/), which is my absolute favorite park in Seattle, offering loads of solitude and fresh air. If you ever want to see what the kids of Seattle do on a sunny summer weekend, check out the Madison Park Beach (http://www.seattle.gov/parks/park_detail.asp?ID=369). I’ve never seen so many tattoos and white skin in my life! 
If you want nightlife, Capitol Hill is also where it’s at. You can see good live music and one of several venues any night of the week. Yes, there are annoying scenesters everywhere, but there’s no lack of action or entertainment.
I could go on and on about things to do in Seattle. It’s a great city with amazing parks and tons of character. You really must leave the dark side (that’s what my husband and I call it; he works on the dark side) despite the traffic and hassle, and check out what the city has to offer.
REI! Just kidding– though I used to spend a lot of time there when I lived in Seattle. I agree with most everyone above:
- Capitol Hill: great little restaurants and shops
- Madison Park: views of the lake and nice place to stroll on the weekends
- Ballard: you have to check out the Locks, especially when it’s salmon season!
- Pike Place: Le Panier, a French bakery, has the best macaroons I’ve tasted outside of France
- One of my favorite things to do was discover the bike trails (which are also suitable for walking/jogging) along Alki Beach, Ballard Bridge, even I-90!
- Pioneer Square: Elliott Bay Books, one of the best book stores in the country
- Wallingford: Trophy Cupcakes… ’nuff said!
Linda has the right idea! We live in the Seattle area, but didn’t really know much about the city except for the waterfront. So my guy and I took a day off (ala Ferris Bueller) and just walked around at everything. It was great, and we got to see parts of the city we pass up when we’re just “driving though”
Pike Place Market, Columbia Tower, Magic Mouse Toystore, and Jazz Alley to name the ones I can remember at the moment.
Kerry Park on Queen Anne hill has the most amazing view of Seattle. It is very romantic also very popular for postcards and wedding portraits.
West Seattle is fun. Alki beach is great for a stroll in the summertime. Have an amazing brunch at Saltys and check out the shops and statues along the beach. Also an AMAZING view of the City.
Day Trips:
San Juan Island
Orcas Island
Leavenworth
Port Townsend
Have you been to Snoqualmie Falls yet?
Oh one more… if you ever get a chance to go, check out a concert at the Gorge. We usually stay in Wenatchee when we go. It’s so amazing… the views and sound!
I’ve lived in the “northend” (lynnwood) most of my life. a couple great day trips are as follows:
Edmonds, the waterfront has a few parks on the beach, the town has cute shops, it’s a great spot to have lunch, play then have dinner.
LaConner (we actually had our wedding night there in a REALLY cute bed and breakfast) it’s a coastal town, sorta. way cute, tons of little shops and restaurants, and ANTIQUES!
San Juan Island (great ferry ride and views to die for!) as well as cute shops, etc.
Leavenworth - we just went this weekend- winter wonderland!
around here, during the week: Snoqualimie falls, remlinger farm (out in carnation) downtown Kirkland, Uwajimaya in Bellevue,
Downtown: I work under Pike Place, wait a while til you visit, it’s the off season and there’s not a ton. pretty quiet, I’d say early May when the Peonies show up. fantastic!
Seattle Art Museum
Underground tour- sounds hokey but pretty dang cool to learn the history of Seattle
Ballard Locks, you HAVE to go, it’s amazing during salmon season
Seattle Waterfront- kitchy shops, great fish and chips,
ALSO! The argosy tours and the ride the duck tours are a BLAST! sounds cheesy but we had so much fun on the ride the ducks tour, I’d do it again.
I don’t know if you’re a crafty bee but it you are I highly suggest the Ben Franklin store in Redmond and Monroe, it’s worth the trip.
Have fun! there’s SO much to do around here!
madison park is fun
you are on the eastside, do you go to kirkland, I love cactus restaurant (also have locations in mad. park and alki) …wish I still lived closer
The mac and jacks brewery tour is fun and I love their beer! Also it’s close to woodinville so you could also hit up redhook.
renting a canoe or row boat (when it gets nicer out) down by husky stadium and then paddling through the arboretum is fun, pack a picnic and wine to up the romance factor.
oh my gosh. that is a really scary troll!
I know you didn’t mention south and west, but please don’t rule out visiting the other side of the Sound. Hop on a ferry to Bainbridge Island or Bremerton and explore the Olympic Peninsula.
And I have to put in a plug for Gig Harbor (where I live), just across the new Narrows Bridge. Fun old fishing village with a to-die-for view of Mt. Rainier, shops and restaurants (try the Tides Tavern on the water).
Have fun!
wow! thanks for all the thoughtful input. i feel like we did more exploratory things of seattle before we moved here - back then we went to alki beach, and capitol hill. we both do a lot of traveling to almost every city from lake stevens to auburn to west seattle and EVERYWHERE in between and we always come home saying - oooh we should go hang check out the stuff near UW, or ooh i really need to take you to magnolia etc)
to the two kirkland gals - i actually live in kirkland! and i LOVE hectors, and i love….one of the mexican places….(there’s two beside each other…i like the one more to the east - it’s got some good chipotle chimichanga or something!)
If you ever feel like coming down to Tacoma, they’re really sprucing things up, but at the top of the list are the Tacoma Art Museum, History Museum, Union Station and the Museum of Glass (really fun!). Across the street is the Harmon, a good ol’ restaurant and brewery. There’s the Pt. Defiance Zoo and Aquarium and beautiful surrounding Pt. Defiance Park. There are a few great restaurants and a fun walk along Ruston Way.
Day Trips:
Leavenworth
Crystal Mountain or Snoqualmie Pass (snow!)
You have to know about the Tulalip Premium Outlets? They are on the way down from Vancouver to Seattle and they usually have pretty good stuff (although I always wonder how much of a deal anything actually is).
Your supposed to just be told to “go see the troll” and then be completely shocked at it’s size. So many people think it’s a man or a statue–hell no, that thing’s great!
I love Gasworks Park, which makes a small cameo in Sleepless in Seattle–really fun for pictures.
OH side note: Ten Things I Hate About You was filmed in Tacoma, and they plugged in the Seattle skyline and scenes shot in Seattle to make it look like they’d been in Seattle.
I blogged about it a while back:
http://tinyurl.com/344rr2
Yay for Seattle talk! I live in Renton and dbf lives in Auburn so I know what you mean! I 2nd the vote for the Museum of Glass in Tacoma - it’s really cool! There are also places in Seattle and Renton that you can blow your own glass (they teach you how) - that’s a fun date night with just you guys or some friends. (Uptown Glassworks is the one I’m thinking of: http://www.uptownglassworks.com/index.asp)
take bill speidel’s underground tour in pioneer square! it’s hilarious and super interesting… did you know seattle was rebuilt one floor higher than originally?
i was going to say the underground tour too. and, i love pike place/post alley - i could spend all day there. . . also, seattle=great breakfast, so try lowell’s at the market or dish between fremont and ballard
Yay for Uptown Glassworks! My boyfriend’s dad owned it for years until recently - it’s a great place…definitely check it out!
Mrs. Milkshake, Seattle/Vancouver, BC
Age and Occupation: 23, Pharmacist
Fiance's Age and Occupation: 25, Pharmacist
Engagement Date: May 2007
Wedding Date: August 2008
Blogging Since: December 6, 2007
Venue: Victorian Mansion
About Me: Despite the fact that I’ve invested many long years of my life studying the sciences in college, I’m glad to be out of there and I would never do it again! I’m super artsy at heart - I run an indie craft site, I grew up shooting and developing my own film, doing jazz and ballet, and the whole gamut of art classes. I’ve been called a Jane of all Trades… but I was also told many years ago not to make my passion my career because it’d suck the fun out of it. Hence my choice of day job. We live in Seattle but are having our wedding in Canada to be fair to all our family and friends.
I used to live in Seattle until about 2 1/2 years ago. However, I still frequent it due to close friends and family.
North of Seattle has some great islands like Whidbey. Check out the ENTIRE island, and check out old forts like Fort Casey or the beautiful bridges and beaches at Deception Pass in Oak Harbor.
Head up to Anacortes and check out whales in Orcas Island.
There are also some great shops and places to drive around in Edmonds, WA or head out NorthEast to Index/Gold Bar on the 2 and visit Wallace Falls for a good day hike and beautiful falls at the end.