This is a continuation of my post from last year, where I shared a list of experiences around the Seattle area. I put a lot of thought into my outdoor goals list, but I also love experiences closer to home, where I don’t have to break a sweat. Most of my planning habits started when I lived in NYC, trying to squeeze out as much out of a day as possible. That practice helped me learn about and better appreciate the city I grew up in. I’ve taken the same approach to Seattle. These plans are arranged by season, but many of them can be done any time of year.
Winter
Museum of Flight - On the first Thursday of each month, the Museum of Flight is open late and has free admission. Going there made me feel like a child again and brought back the same fascination and awe I had when I was first learning about space and air travel. Aviation is a core part of Seattle’s recent history and the museum holds an impressive set of exhibits. Unlike other free days at museums, it never feels crowded given the enormous space for spreading out. A great dinner afterward is at Rainier Restaurant and BBQ, which was rightfully given a shout out by the late Anthony Bourdain. It’s best to go with friends to sample the vast menu.
Glasshouse Studio - Highly recommended for its exquisite glass-blowing displays, this Pioneer Square shop offers a mesmerizing glimpse into the artistry of glass-making. Each piece is crafted in the open, with a furnace that not only shapes the glass but also warms the shop, which I imagine provides a cozy respite from the chilly, damp streets outside. For those inclined, there's a tip jar for the employees. The shop's location is ideal for wandering: within a two-block radius there are more than a dozen art galleries and the historical Klondike Gold Rush Museum. It’s a perfect starting point for an afternoon stroll. Consider an early dinner at the nearby Taylor Shellfish Oyster Bar. I love their Chukanut Drive location whenever I’m in the area.
Good Luck Bread - This is a project of Corrie Strandjord, a self-taught baker who has a small operation of selling frozen pizza which Kenji López-Alt described as “the best I’ve ever had.” They do delivery for a fee but it’s possible to do a pre-order pickup from SoDo on Saturdays only. They were profiled in the Seattle Times if you’re interested to learn more. The pickup location isn’t far from Deep Sea Sugar and Salt, a cake slice shop that sells some of the more interesting, creative, and seasonal desserts that I’d like to try.
McCaw Hall - My in-laws asked me why Leah and I don’t go to the theater more often. Cost is the primary reason, but so is a reluctance to put the effort into dressing up. As I’ve gotten older I’ve started to appreciate the arts a little bit more. I also am aware I should keep an open mind. Maybe this year I’ll check out the Pacific Northwest Ballet, the Seattle Opera, or the propaganda-laden Shen Yun at McCaw Hall.
Woodworking course - Growing up in the city, I didn’t have much of an opportunity to work with my hands. The last time I built something was probably out of LEGOs when I was a kid. There are two woodworking studios in Seattle that seem like a great crash course in crafting something functional and beautiful. Ebanista in Georgetown, Pratt in Central, and Ballard Woodworks all look great and their courses fill up quickly.
Cinemark Reserve Lincoln Square - The only theater in Seattle I like is the Landmark Crest Cinema, given how simple and nostalgic it is. I noticed there’s a theater on the opposite end of the spectrum in Bellevue with reclining, heated seats and a 21+ only rule. Kids usually aren’t an issue in theaters for me but for some that’s a bonus. The Cinemark Reserve Lincoln Square also serves food but I don’t see the point in ordering food at a movie theater when there are plenty of restaurants nearby, like Xiao Chi Jie which has what Kenji called “gold standard” sheng jian bao.
Spring
Spice Bridge Global Food Hall - Spice Bridge is a food incubator in Tukwila that helps women of color and immigrants start and grow a restaurant business. They provide a kitchen, menu consultation, and more to eight vendors that rotate through depending on the day of the week. I made sure to come here with some friends so we could all try a little bit of everything, from Congolese beef stew to Cambodian desserts. Afterward, I’d want to walk it off at the nearly century-old Kubota Garden situated on a hilly 20 acres a short drive away.
Chihuly Glass and Space Needle - I used to be smug about not having visited a lot of the iconic tourist sites when growing up in New York City, but before I left for Seattle I did make a visit to many of them. I’m glad I have those memories. My biggest frustration with tourist attractions, whether at home or when I travel, is the crowds and the cost. I’ll see whether I can manage that by visiting on a weekday. I also might have seen a discounted entry for sale at Costco to both.
Beacon Food Forest - BFF is a volunteer-driven project in urban agriculture situated on seven acres in the city, making it one of the largest public food forests in the country. The design focuses on plants that provide food (e.g., fruit and nut trees, berry shrubs, vegetable gardens, and herb patches), all available for the public to freely harvest. The forest is layered, utilizing the concept of a forest's natural layers: a canopy of tall trees, an under-story of smaller trees and shrubs, a layer of herbs, and a ground cover of edible plants. They’re open for volunteers between 10am-2pm on the third Saturday of every month. After getting my hands dirty, I’d likely visit the Fou Lee Market & Deli nearby for their pre-made snacks like the lumpia and strips of bbq beef. It was mentioned as a favorite in an interview with Musang’s chef/owner Melissa Miranda.
Dunn Gardens - About 100 years ago, Arthur Dunn acquired 10 acres of undeveloped rural land in Broadview. The property was gently sloping, had views of the sound, and areas of dense woods and opens spaces. He asked the Olmstead Brothers to landscape what would be the family’s summer home. The gardens almost feel like a secret, maybe because of the location in North Seattle, right next to a gated community, or the $10 entrance fee for non-members. It’s open for visitation between 10am-4pm, so I’d likely visit on a weekday when I need to get some shopping done at Town & Country, which my friend Jason insists is one of the best supermarkets around. I’d likely visit Indo Cafe on the way back for an early dinner on some Indonesian dishes that I’ve been craving for years.
China Harbor - I spent most of my life living on the border of NYC’s Chinatown, so dim sum was a regular part of my experience dining with friends on weekend mornings in cavernous dining halls trying out an assortment of small bites. I don’t think Leah’s had the same experience so I’d like to change that. Kenji recommended China Harbor several times and I imagine it’d be fun to watch seaplanes take off on Lake Union while eating. There’s also a new head chef as of a few years ago that has apparently elevated the menu. I’m generally skeptical of waterfront restaurants for having subpar kitchens but this looks promising on a rainy day for a large group brunch.
Port Townsend - I’ve biked through Port Townsend and was surprised at how cute it was. There’s an impressive set of restaurants and it looked like a fun place to walk around. Realistically, I don’t see ourselves coming all the way out here instead of being in the mountains on a good-weather day. I think the next time we’re mountain biking at Port Gamble, I’ll make a detour north to visit.
Summer
Seattle Aquarium - I haven’t bene to an aquarium since I was in the first grade, probably because of the admission cost and my (very slight) discomfort with the idea of caging wild animals. I’ll have to get over this mindset when if I ever have a kid, because I know how meaningful that trip was to me as a child. The Seattle Aquarium is completing an expansion this summer and it may be fun to play tourist for a day by looking at some marine life and then walking along the waterfront. It’s also an excuse to get a slice at my favorite local pizzeria nearby, Post Alley Pizza. If I’m lucky, I could snag a free ticket to the aquarium with my library card.
Swimply - When the next heat wave inevitably hits the city, and especially if my landlord fails to install the air conditioner that was promised, I’d consider renting out a private pool on Swimply which is like an Airbnb for private pools. If I can get enough friends together, it could end up being reasonable and a fun way to work remotely on a weekday.
Woodland Rose Garden - I haven’t spent much time in Woodland Park despite living relatively close to it. I’d like to change that this summer by first checking out the rose garden, which is at its most picturesque between May and July. To tap even more into the summer vibe, I’d want to grab lunch at Bongos which has a Caribbean-themed menu of sandwiches and plates that I’m on a mission to work through.
Wildbites food festival - At almost $100 a ticket, it seems like an obnoxious use of money for what is basically small bites of food at a handful of restaurants. However, I went to a few of these in NYC and fondly remember having a blast even though I was younger and had far less money to spend on eating out. It’s so much more engaging and memorable than sitting down at a restaurant while food comes to you. This event also gives you access to most of the zoo’s exhibits and the chefs are all at restaurants I had on my list anyway. We had tickets to go last year but weren’t able to because of a family emergency, and they generously refunded me the day before the event. Hopefully I can make it this year!
Fall
Backyard Bakery - Bonnie Lyons and Dan Mikosz are two pastry chef friends with a lifetime of professional experience. They run Backyard Bakery, which looks like a farmer’s market stand on Saturdays (9am-1pm) with their baked goods. I was thinking of grabbing a few and heading to the Kingfisher Natural Area on Thornton Creek, a rare slice of unmanicured nature in the city.
Georgetown Steam Plant - This old steam plant is a well-preserved piece of Seattle history open for tours on the second Saturday of each month between 10am-2pm. It was built in 1906 to power the city’s electric streetcars, but the plant only operated for a decade before hydropower replaced it as a more economical source of energy. There are a set of passionate volunteers who provide free tours at 11am and 1pm and can probably help me understand how it all works. I’d probably want to stop by Loretta’s Northwesterner for the dive bar’s burger that everyone says is one of the best in the city.
Issaquah Salmon Hatchery - This hatchery based 15 miles east of Seattle along the I90 corridor raises chinook, coho, and kokanee salmon and is open to the public all year round from dawn til dusk. I find salmon fascinating and love the important role it plays in the region. During the fall, you can view adult salmon spawning in Issaquah Creek, the fish ladder, and hatchery holding ponds. Drop-in tours are available on on the weekends between September until mid-November. If he’s still around, maybe I’ll check out Jakob the Troll nearby followed by a lunch at either Laz’s Tacos or Xochi Tacos.
Seattle Hmong New Year - The Hmong people are an indigenous group in East and Southeast Asia, many of whom were resettled in the US after the Vietnam War as refugees. There is a very small fraction of Hmong people in the US so I only heard about them after watching the movie Gran Torino a decade ago. I was excited to see there was a celebration of the Hmong New Year in Seattle Center as well as an assortment of food available (thanks again, Kenji). I then realized this was part of a larger series of events called Festál where Seattle Center hosts 24 free festivals ranging from Tibet Fest, Brasilfest, CroatiaFest, French Fest, and more throughout the year. In addition to the food, there’s music, dance, and lots of exhibits to put a spotlight on the cultural diversity of the city.
I made this list to nudge myself to plan out some of my daydreams so I’d actually do them instead of sitting at home on a rainy day or on long summer days when I’m out of ideas on what I could be doing. I hope this gives you some ideas and inspiration. If you don’t already love Seattle, I’m sure you will if you try some of these!