Our favorite restaurants
Fantastic northern Italian neighborhood restaurant. Rivals the best Italian cafe's in Chicago and NYC.
33 locals recommend
Cafe Lago
2305 24th Ave EFantastic northern Italian neighborhood restaurant. Rivals the best Italian cafe's in Chicago and NYC.
Cactus Madison Park
4220 E Madison StFun Mexican in a village setting near Lake Washington.
Great margaritas and Mexican food on the water. Less than a mile walk. They also have paddle board and kayak rentals.
20 locals recommend
Agua Verde Cafe
1303 NE Boat StGreat margaritas and Mexican food on the water. Less than a mile walk. They also have paddle board and kayak rentals.
Our favorite Coffee Shops
These are just a few of our favorite shops.
Just down the street from our house in the Montlake neighborhood. Good coffee and pastries and a great place to socialize or get some work done.
78 locals recommend
Fuel Coffee
1705 N 45th StJust down the street from our house in the Montlake neighborhood. Good coffee and pastries and a great place to socialize or get some work done.
This is not your normal Starbucks. It is a way over the top coffee experience.
425 locals recommend
Starbucks Reserve Roastery
1124 Pike StThis is not your normal Starbucks. It is a way over the top coffee experience.
Vivace's, where latte art was invented, has a sidewalk bar and a larger shop within a couple of blocks of each other on Broadway. The best coffee and people watching spot in the city.
6 locals recommend
Espresso Vivace
532 Broadway East Vivace's, where latte art was invented, has a sidewalk bar and a larger shop within a couple of blocks of each other on Broadway. The best coffee and people watching spot in the city.
Oxbow
2307 24th Avenue EastBest bakery in town with good coffee also. A short four block walk away.
Our favorite Brew pubs
Coolest brewpub around and great selection of beers made on site. They have a rotation of food trucks.
110 locals recommend
Stoup Brewing
1108 NW 52nd StCoolest brewpub around and great selection of beers made on site. They have a rotation of food trucks.
Reuben's Brews
5010 14th Ave NWThe best beers in town in my husbands estimation.
Good beers in a casual setting. A bit off the beaten path though.
8 locals recommend
Counterbalance Brewing Company
503B S Michigan StGood beers in a casual setting. A bit off the beaten path though.
Citizen Six
945 Elliott Ave WSpecializes in Ciders and also serves tasty Korean food.
Our favorite walks and hikes
Great place to go for a walk from our house. Azalea Way is spectacular in the spring. Note: This picture is of the Ventoux coffee shop not the Arboretum but doesn't let me edit it.
313 locals recommend
Washington Park Arboretum UW Botanic Gardens
2300 Arboretum Dr EGreat place to go for a walk from our house. Azalea Way is spectacular in the spring. Note: This picture is of the Ventoux coffee shop not the Arboretum but doesn't let me edit it.
Another great hike from our place. You just go north on Montlake Blvd and once you cross the Montlake bridge you go hard right along the cut. Then just follow the shoreline past the UW boat rentals and behind the stadiums and crew facilities. Just after passing the track go right over a foot bridge and you can loop through the whole Union Bay nature preserve.
14 locals recommend
Union Bay Natural Area
3501 NE 41st StAnother great hike from our place. You just go north on Montlake Blvd and once you cross the Montlake bridge you go hard right along the cut. Then just follow the shoreline past the UW boat rentals and behind the stadiums and crew facilities. Just after passing the track go right over a foot bridge and you can loop through the whole Union Bay nature preserve.
Close in, easy hike with great up close views of two splendid waterfalls. Recommended over the much larger (and touristy) Snoqualmie Falls.
49 locals recommend
Twin Falls Trailhead
Southeast 159th StreetClose in, easy hike with great up close views of two splendid waterfalls. Recommended over the much larger (and touristy) Snoqualmie Falls.
Our favorite spot is Tipsoo Lake and the Naches Peak loop hike. The Paradise visitors center is also good but also overrun by tourists. If you go there the hike up to Panorama point is a strenuous one but worth it.
606 locals recommend
Mount Rainier National Park
Our favorite spot is Tipsoo Lake and the Naches Peak loop hike. The Paradise visitors center is also good but also overrun by tourists. If you go there the hike up to Panorama point is a strenuous one but worth it.
Sightseeing
See the salmon making their way up the fish ladder and boats being lowered to sea level.
65 locals recommend
Ballard Locks Fish Ladder
2930 W Commodore WaySee the salmon making their way up the fish ladder and boats being lowered to sea level.
Chihuly Garden and Glass
305 Harrison StMust see glass spectacle.