Kaitlin and Shaun's Seattle Checklist
Update - June 2015: The checklist is a little outdated (The Tea Cup is no longer in existence, and street parking in Seattle is now free after 8pm not 6pm), but otherwise is still holds true and contains many of our favorite places. Enjoy!
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Seattle Checklist: A Guide to our Favorite Seattle Spots
Queen Anne
Seattle Pacific University Visit our dear alma mater! SPU has a beautiful campus nestled in North Queen Anne. There's a lovely park along the ship canal that's perfect for quiet afternoon strolls. 3307 3rd Ave W, Seattle, WA, 98119 spu.edu Parking: we recommend parking at the West Ewing Canal Park near the gym on the corner of 3rd Ave and Nickerson. At the intersection, head towards the water and park in the lot there by the lake.Macrina's Bakery This delicious bakery has fresh breads and other goodies. It's located on the top of Queen Anne near where Shaun used to work. Shaun and Kaitlin met here for coffee and pastries just a couple months before they officially started dating, and many times afterwards. 615 West McGraw Street, Seattle, WA (206) 283-5900 macrinabakery.com
5 Spot Restaurant & Kerry Park This classic diner has great breakfasts, lunches, dinners, and late night happy hours. The 5 Spot serves regional Americana food, and they switch up the menu throughout the year to showcase a different regional cuisine. Right down the street (about 5 blocks) is Kerry Park. Although not much more than a few park benches where lovers camp out at sunset, Kerry Park offers one of the most picturesque views of downtown Seattle. The 5 Spot: 1502 Queen Anne Avenue N., Seattle, WA (206) 285-7768 chowfoods.com Kerry Park: 211 W Highland Dr From The 5 Spot, walk down W Galer, left on 2nd Ave, walk 3 blocks till you reach the park. That's it!
Fremont
Theo Chocolate Factory Our first official date. Theo is a organic chocolate factory that makes chocolate through the whole production cycle – “from “bean to bar.” They have free samples and tours daily for $6 per person. Make sure to reserve at least a week in advance! Call ahead to reserve (at least a day, maybe even a week out – it gets filled up quickly!). 3400 Phinney Ave N, Seattle, Washington (206) 632-5100 theochocolate.com
Homegrown Delicious sandwiches – organic, sustainable, & trendy. One of Kaitlin's favorite lunch spots, and Shaun can't complain about the bacon avocado sandwiches. Closes at 4pm, so get there for lunch. 3416 Fremont Avenue North, Seattle, WA (206) 453-5232 eathomegrown.com
Flying Apron Bakery Organic, gluten-free – you name it, and they have it. It's a Seattle bakery at its finest. 3510 Fremont Avenue North, Seattle, WA (206) 442-1115 flyingapron.com
Gas Works Park A must-see park with an unparalleled view of Lake Union and downtown Seattle. The “gas works” were part of an oil refinery that was shut down in the 1970s, and refurbished as the backdrop for a picturesque urban getaway (and the final scene in 10 Things I Hate About You). Grab a kite at the nearby Gas Works Kite Shop and fly it atop Kite Hill, a favorite with the kids. There's also a giant sundial on top of the hill. 2101 N Northlake Way From I-5: Take 45th St. Exit. Go West on NE 45th St. Turn LEFT on Meridian Ave. N. Meridian Ave. N ends at Gas Works Park. Turn RIGHT on N Northlake Way to turn into parking lot (on LEFT).
Read more about our shenanigans in Fremont here.
Read more about our shenanigans in Fremont here.
Downtown Seattle
Note: Downtown street parking can be hard to find, but not impossible. After 8pm, street parking is free; all other times its metered. There are always parking garages nearby for an hourly charge. You can also take the Metro bus.
Seattle Public Library The Seattle Public Library is an architectural marvel - a trapezoidal glass box that takes up nearly a whole city block in downtown Seattle. Each floor of the library has a different color theme. Check out the free architectural tours that run daily. Lovers of books, Shaun and Kaitlin like to hang out at the library, especially when there are free public readings – they've seen T.C. Boyle and Yann Martel speak.
Olympic Sculpture Park Tired of stuffy, boring art galleries? Well so was Seattle; hence its opening of an outdoor museum that is free to the public. Check out the Nurse Log—an ecological monolith encased in an emerald greenhouse. Enjoy the panoramic view of the Olympic mountains and top it all off with a latte at Uptown Espresso down by the waterfront. If you walk south towards the waterfront, you'll find lots of touristy shops and fish n' chip stands. If you walk north from the park, there's lots of green spaces perfect for a picnic. Shaun and Kaitlin love to go biking along there. 2901 Western Avenue, Seattle, WA (206) 654-3100 seattleartmuseum.org
Serious Pie Kaitlin and Shaun can safely say that Serious Pie has the best pizza in Seattle. Delicious pizzas – truly, absolutely, amazingly delicious pizzas. Great beer and wine too. Happy hour pies are half the dough for half the price – plenty to whet your appetite. No reservations needed for happy hour or dinner. Also, be prepared to wait – it can get quite busy and its a cozy spot. A Tom Douglas restaurant. 316 Virginia Street, Seattle, WA (206) 838-7388 · tomdouglas.com
Seattle Aquarium A favorite with kids and out-of-towners. It's located on the waterfront, a few blocks south of Pike's Place Market. Paid parking near the waterfront. 1483 Alaskan Way, Seattle, WA (206) 386-4300 · seattleaquarium.org
Pike' Place Market Kaitlin and Shaun like to eat at Michou, a panini and soup shop near the First Starbucks, or at the French bakery Le Panier. There aren't many places to sit, and the nearby park is often unsafe, so head a few blocks over to the Olympic Sculpture Park for a picnic lunch there. 85 Pike St, Seattle, Washington (206) 682-7453 · pikeplacemarket.org
The Crumpet Shop Right next to Pike's Place Market, this is a fun breakfast spot. Try the Nutella crumpet with honey and cream cheese – its delicious! Kaitlin took Shaun here as a surprise one morning in the first few months of their relationship. 1503 1st Avenue, Seattle, WA 98101 (206) 682-1598 thecrumpetshop.com
University District (“U District”)
Cedar's Restaurant On Brooklyn and 50th This unimposing Indian restaurant serves the best Indian food in Seattle, no doubt about it. The garlic naan bread is flaky and delicious – and huge! – and the warm spiced chai is to die for (plus, they fill up your cup constantly!). Kaitlin and Shaun have enjoyed dining here many times. 4759 Brooklyn Avenue NE, Seattle, WA 98105 (Corner of Brooklyn & 50th St) (206) 527-4000 cedarsseattle.com
The University of Washington It's a beautiful campus all year round, but especially in the spring and fall. Shaun and Kaitlin have walked and biked through here a handful of times. Make sure to admire the Suzzallo Library, Red Square, and Pierce Lane, which blooms with cherry trees every spring. University of Washington, Seattle, WA (entrance at the corner of 17th Ave NE & 45th St) (206) 543-0242 lib.washington.edu
Wallingford
Chocolati Cafe This coffee shop and specialty confectionery serves great coffee and even better chocolates. Kaitlin and Shaun have failed miserably to avoid this sweet shop – ever since Kaitlin moved into the neighborhood, they've ended up there on many of late night occasions when they needed a sweets fix. Kaitlin recommends the chocolate dipped shortbread chocolate chip cookie and a glass of cold milk. Shaun goes for a macchiato and whichever dessert catches his eye. 1716 N 45th St, Seattle, WA (206) 633-7765 · chocolati.com
Irwin's Bakery This quaint little bakery sells local baked goods, homemade quiches, pizzas, sandwiches, and soups. It's great for breakfast or lunch, and on sunny days, its the perfect place to sit and read the morning paper. 2123 North 40th Street, Seattle, WA (corner of 40th Ave and Bagley) (206) 675-1484 · irwinsbakeryseattle.com
Greenlake
Greenlake Park The most popular and well-trodden trail in Seattle, Greenlake is a 5k loop around a pretty lake in the residential neighborhood of Greenlake. It's only a few blocks away from Bethany Community Church, where the wedding ceremony will be held. Popular with joggers, dog-walkers, and families, you can stretch your legs here and get away from the busyness of the city on a brisk walk around the lake, then head to the nearby Pete's Coffee shop afterwards. On the north side of the lake, there's a place to rent paddle boats by the hour – always a ton of fun. Parking: park anywhere along Greenlake Way 7351 E. Green Lake Dr N., Seattle, WA (206) 527-0171 greenlakeboatrentals.net
The Woodland Park Zoo It's always fun to go to the zoo. 601 N. 59th Street, Seattle, WA (206) 548-2500 zoo.org
Ballard
The Hi Life A great restaurant with even better happy hour. The restaurant is built out of an old fire station, so it has huge doors that open out to a nice patio. Kaitlin and Shaun have ventured here a few times for margarita pizzas, salads, beer, and wine. For dessert, you can walk across the street to Cupcake Royal for a delicious Red Velvet cupcake. 5425 Russell Avenue Northwest, Seattle, WA (206) 784-7272 chowfoods.com
Ballard Locks (Hiram M. Chittenden Locks) The Locks never fail to be interesting – giant barges and little tugboats alike wait their turn to go up or downstream from the salty waters of the Puget Sound into freshwater of Lake Union. Watch the locks in action, or check out the salmon fish ladder down below. Kaitlin and Shaun like to bike over to the Locks and have a picnic on the lawn near the fish ladder. 3015 54th st nw, Seattle, WA 98107 (206) 783-7059
Discovery Park Just south of the Ballard Locks is the biggest park in Seattle, Discovery Park. Densely wooded and criss-crossed with walking trails, this park is great for walkers, trail joggers, and light hikers. It's a former military base, so there are boarded up buildings that once served the military community. There eastern bluff overlooks the Puget Sound, and often in the mornings you will see bald eagles soaring overhead. Make sure to follow the signs back to your parking lot – it's easy to get lost inside the park! 3801 W Government Way, Seattle, WA (entrance at the corner of W Government Way & 36th Ave W)
Capitol Hill
The Volunteer Park Conservatory & Asian Art Museum A beautiful park, and the museum is suggested donation only. 1247 15th Avenue East, Seattle, WA (206) 684-4075 volunteerparkconservatory.org
Washington Park Arboretum An absolutely beautiful, grassy refuge in North Capitol Hill where Kaitlin and Shaun have biked to many times. 2300 Arboretum Drive E, Seattle, WA (206) 543-8800 depts.washington.edu
Caffe Vita Shaun's favorite coffee shop in all of Seattle. 1005 East Pike Street, Seattle, WA (206) 709-4440 caffevita.com
Elliot Bay Book Company Kaitlin and Shaun love books, and Elliot Bay is the best bookstore in Seattle. 1521 10th Avenue, Seattle, WA (206) 624-6600 elliottbaybook.com
St Mark's Cathedral A beautiful Episcopal cathedral with Compline service on Sunday nights – free at 8pm, just show up, sit down, listen to the Gregorian chant, and don't talk! This was one of Kaitlin and Shaun's first dates. 1245 10th Avenue East Seattle, WA 98102
Transportation
The easiest way to get around Seattle, especially if you're planning on doing some sightseeing, is to rent a car. Rental cars are plentiful at the Sea-Tac airport. Link Light Rail goes from the airport to downtown Seattle for $3.00 per person per way. Shuttle Express picks up at the airport and drops off anywhere you'd like, for about $35 per person per way. Taxis, Uber, and Lyft are other options. Once you get into the city, you can take the Metro buses around town. Plan ahead using Google Maps, or go to the King County Metro Trip Planner for the bus routes and time schedules. The bus costs $2.50 per person, $2.75 during rush hour (7-9am, 3-6pm). If you ask the bus driver for a “transfer,” you can ride back for free (good for 2 hours).Enjoy your time in Seattle! –Kaitlin & Shaun
