Falling in love with the San Juan Islands

Falling in love with the San Juan Islands

Description:

The San Juan Islands are geologically distinct from the rest of the region and its climate is drier and sunnier so a* a result the landscape looks like little chunks of Northern California slipping out of the deep blue channels and sparkling bays. The southwest sides of the Islands are much hotter and drier than the north ea*t slopes and a* you pa** through the Islands on the ferry you can snap some pretty fabulous pictures. The Islands are popular during the summer but if you plan ahead you'll barely notice. The biggest hurdle is the ferry so you'll want to plan to stay in Seattle the day you arrive and get up with the sun to beat the traffic.

Day Note:

Depending on when you arrive you'll probably have time to get lunch at Matt's in the Market or Maxemilien. If you're able to get a table at Matt's definitely try the special of the day since the chefs are some of the best in Seattle. All the ingredients are purcha*ed fresh that morning from the Market and their unique fusion of Northwest ingredients with cuisines from Europe will be sure to make your day. You may want to stop by Delaurenti for some gourmet...read more

  • Pike Place Market

    Pike Place Market - Seattle
    • Contact:

    • 206/682-7453
    • visit website
    • Location:

    • 85 Pike Street
    • Between Pike and Pine sts. at First Ave
    • Seattle,WA98121
    • Map

    • user rating

    Description:

    Nine acres of fresh produce, seafood, coffee, donuts, crafts, unique restaurants and friendly vendors, all set against a backdrop of the Puget Sound - that's Pike Place Market, widely recognized as one of the oldest and best farmer's markets in the country. If you only have one day in Seattle, head downtown to get a real taste of the city in every sense. From fresh cheese curds at Beecher's to chowder at Pike Place Chowder, from necklaces and bags to hand-stitched leather journals and hats, from accordions to pianos to hula-hooping guitarists - there's something for your eyes, ears, and nose everywhere you look at the market.

  • Matt's in the Market

    Matt's in the Market - Seattle
    • Contact:

    • 206/467-7909
    • visit website
    • Location:

    • 94 Pike St
    • Corner Market Building
    • Seattle,WA98101
    • Map

    • user rating

    Description:

    This casual gourmet restaurant has the best location of any restaurant in Pike Place Market. Located on the third floor of the Corner Market Building, Matt's faces the big neon clock that is the quintessential symbol of the market. Until 2007, Matt's was a tiny cubbyhole of a place, but an expansion has given it enough tables that you can actually get in to eat here on short notice. The menu changes regularly, with an emphasis on fresh ingredients from the market stalls that are only steps away. There's also a good selection of reasonably priced wines. The food reveals whatever influences and styles happen to appeal to the chef at that moment -- perhaps Moroccan, perhaps Southern. However, if the menu happens to list anything with smoked catfish, try it.

  • Seattle Chamber Players

    Seattle Chamber Players - Seattle
    • Contact:

    • +1 206 286 5052
    • visit website
    • Location:

    • 200 University St
    • (Benaroya Recital Hall)
    • Seattle,WA98111
    • Map

    Description:

    This little ensemble, excellent in spite of or because of frequently rotating list of players and guests, performs programs full of life and imagination. Selections range from 18th century through contemporary pieces. This season's performances include the music of Ukranian composer Valentin Silvestrov and a symposium on contemporary Jewish music. If you think classical music should rattle you as much as it soothes you, then this may be the group for you. Performaces are often accompanied by educational discussions and lectures. See their website for further details.

  • The Triple Door

    The Triple Door - Seattle
    • Contact:

    • 206 838 4333
    • visit website
    • Location:

    • 216 Union Street
    • Seattle,WA98101
    • Map

    • user rating

    Description:

    Popular music for adults? What a concept! This swanky nightclub is a total novelty in the Seattle club world. It isn't geared toward the 20-something crowd. The music is diverse -- from jazz to world beat, to flamenco, to Maria Muldaur, the Tubes, and Ottmar Liebert. You'll find the club in the basement below the ever-popular Wild Ginger restaurant, across the street from Benaroya Hall.

  • Seattle Symphony

    Seattle Symphony - Seattle
    • Contact:

    • 206 215 4747
    • visit website
    • Location:

    • 200 University Street
    • Seattle,WA98101
    • Map

    Description:

    This orchestra has a loyal following. Concerts include music by classical masters such as Beethoven, Mozart and Sibelius as well as by contemporary composers. Many performances include an optional one-hour pre-show lecture. The symphony's season runs September through July. Performances take place at Benaroya Hall, which occupies an entire city block and seats 2,500 people. In addition, the 540-seat Illsley Ball Nordstrom Recital Hall provides performance space for smaller ensembles and solo artists. Call or check the website for schedule and ticket information.

  • Chez Shea

    Chez Shea - Seattle
    • Contact:

    • 206/467-9990
    • visit website
    • Location:

    • 94 Pike St., Suite 34
    • Corner Market Building
    • Seattle,WA98101
    • Map

    reserve with OpenTable
    • user rating

    Description:

    Quiet, dark, and intimate, Chez Shea has long been one of Seattle's top restaurants, and with only a dozen candlelit tables and views across Puget Sound to the Olympic Mountains, it's an ideal setting for romance. The menu changes with the season, with ingredients coming primarily from the market below. The eight-course tasting menu is the best way to go. On a recent spring evening, dinner started with oysters on the half shell, followed by a Serrano ham, gruyere, and leek tart. Next came a Washington asparagus bisque with sorrel and roasted-tomato oil, followed by seared foie gras with rhubarb compote and balsamic-pomegranate reduction. Next came halibut with red-pepper puree and Kobe-style beef tournedos with morel mushrooms. Dinner then finished up with a cheese course and espresso pot de crème. Other restaurants may be as fine, but none has an atmosphere quite so romantic.

  • Il Bistro

    Il Bistro - Seattle
    • Contact:

    • 206/682-3049
    • visit website
    • Location:

    • 93-A Pike St. and First Ave
    • At First Ave
    • Seattle,WA98101
    • Map

    reserve with OpenTable
    • user rating

    Description:

    What with the fishmongers and crowds of tourists, Pike Place Market might not seem like the place for a romantic candlelit dinner, but romantic dinners are what Il Bistro is all about. This basement trattoria takes Italian cooking very seriously, and in so doing also puts the Northwest's bountiful ingredients to good use. The menu includes such mouthwatering starters as calamari sautéed with fresh basil, garlic, vinegar, and tomatoes. Hundreds of loyal fans insist that Il Bistro's rack of lamb with wine sauce is the best in Seattle, and I'd have to agree. The pasta here can also be a true delight. You'll find Il Bistro tucked away down the cobblestone alley beside the market information kiosk.

  • Alexis Hotel

    Alexis Hotel - Seattle
    • Contact:

    • (206) 624-4844
    • visit website
    • Location:

    • 1007 First Ave
    • At Madison St
    • Seattle,WA98104
    • Map

    check rates
    • user rating

    Description:

    "The art of living" - that's the motto of the Alexis, a hotel dedicated to arts of all sorts, with artwork and a classic, European decor adorning the lobby and the rooms. Many of the rooms are suites, including fireplace suites that feature whirlpool baths. For lovers of literature, the Author's Suite has autographed copies of several books, and the Library Bistro downstairs offers local cuisine in a cozy, library-like atmosphere.

    The Alexis Hotel is ideally situated just south of the Pike Place Market and within a few blocks of the Seattle Art Museum, the Waterfront, and Pioneer Square, as well as high-end shopping in Westlake Center.







Day Note:

To get to the San Juan Islands drive for an hour and a half north on I 5 to Anacortes where you catch a ferry to the San Juan Islands. During the summer months the ferry line can be long so be sure to arrive at lea*t 45 minutes before the ferry is scheduled to depart. Or, if you want to save time and you're looking for a truly unforgettable experience, you can fly there by sea plane on Kenmore Air but be sure to figure out your ground transportation once...read more

  • Washington State Ferry

    Washington State Ferry - Seattle
    • Contact:

    • +1 206 464 6400 / +1 206 515 3400
    • visit website
    • Location:

    • 2901 3rd Avenue
    • (mailing address)
    • Seattle,WA98121
    • Map

    • user rating

    Our Local Expert Says:

    So enjoyable you won't want to reach your destination!

    Description:

    The country's largest ferry system would have to be in a city surrounded by water. With twenty terminals, eight routes and over 15 million passengers a year, Washington State Ferries are both practical and fun. If you're considering hopping over to Bainbridge, Bremerton, Mercer or any of Seattle's interesting islands, a peaceful ferry ride is a far cry from sitting on a bridge in traffic.

  • Kenmore Air Seaplanes

    Kenmore Air Seaplanes - Seattle
    • Contact:

    • +1 425 486 1257 / +1 800 543 9595 (Toll Free)
    • visit website
    • Location:

    • 6321 Northeast 175th Street
    • Kenmore,WA98028
    • Map

    Description:

    Seaplanes are a fun alternative to the area's excellent ferry system. This establishment is one of the largest seaplane travel companies in the area. Fly to any of three locations in the San Juan Islands in about an hour. Trips are scheduled three times daily. The company also flies to Victoria, BC. Day trips and overnight packages are available. Call or check the Web site for up-to-date prices and schedule.

Day Note:

Be sure to allow plenty of time to get back to Seattle because the ferry lines can be so long that you may not catch the first boat. Thankfully there is a nice little cafe close to the ferry dock where you can get a cup of tea or a small snack. Don't worry about leaving your car, just be sure to be back before they start to load the next boat. The views from the ferry ride are spectacular so be sure to take your camera. The islands slip out of the Straights...read more

  • Kenmore Air Seaplanes

    Kenmore Air Seaplanes - Seattle
    • Contact:

    • +1 425 486 1257 / +1 800 543 9595 (Toll Free)
    • visit website
    • Location:

    • 6321 Northeast 175th Street
    • Kenmore,WA98028
    • Map

    Description:

    Seaplanes are a fun alternative to the area's excellent ferry system. This establishment is one of the largest seaplane travel companies in the area. Fly to any of three locations in the San Juan Islands in about an hour. Trips are scheduled three times daily. The company also flies to Victoria, BC. Day trips and overnight packages are available. Call or check the Web site for up-to-date prices and schedule.

  • Washington State Ferry

    Washington State Ferry - Seattle
    • Contact:

    • +1 206 464 6400 / +1 206 515 3400
    • visit website
    • Location:

    • 2901 3rd Avenue
    • (mailing address)
    • Seattle,WA98121
    • Map

    • user rating

    Our Local Expert Says:

    So enjoyable you won't want to reach your destination!

    Description:

    The country's largest ferry system would have to be in a city surrounded by water. With twenty terminals, eight routes and over 15 million passengers a year, Washington State Ferries are both practical and fun. If you're considering hopping over to Bainbridge, Bremerton, Mercer or any of Seattle's interesting islands, a peaceful ferry ride is a far cry from sitting on a bridge in traffic.

  • Matt's in the Market

    Matt's in the Market - Seattle
    • Contact:

    • 206/467-7909
    • visit website
    • Location:

    • 94 Pike St
    • Corner Market Building
    • Seattle,WA98101
    • Map

    • user rating

    Description:

    This casual gourmet restaurant has the best location of any restaurant in Pike Place Market. Located on the third floor of the Corner Market Building, Matt's faces the big neon clock that is the quintessential symbol of the market. Until 2007, Matt's was a tiny cubbyhole of a place, but an expansion has given it enough tables that you can actually get in to eat here on short notice. The menu changes regularly, with an emphasis on fresh ingredients from the market stalls that are only steps away. There's also a good selection of reasonably priced wines. The food reveals whatever influences and styles happen to appeal to the chef at that moment -- perhaps Moroccan, perhaps Southern. However, if the menu happens to list anything with smoked catfish, try it.

  • Il Bistro

    Il Bistro - Seattle
    • Contact:

    • 206/682-3049
    • visit website
    • Location:

    • 93-A Pike St. and First Ave
    • At First Ave
    • Seattle,WA98101
    • Map

    reserve with OpenTable
    • user rating

    Description:

    What with the fishmongers and crowds of tourists, Pike Place Market might not seem like the place for a romantic candlelit dinner, but romantic dinners are what Il Bistro is all about. This basement trattoria takes Italian cooking very seriously, and in so doing also puts the Northwest's bountiful ingredients to good use. The menu includes such mouthwatering starters as calamari sautéed with fresh basil, garlic, vinegar, and tomatoes. Hundreds of loyal fans insist that Il Bistro's rack of lamb with wine sauce is the best in Seattle, and I'd have to agree. The pasta here can also be a true delight. You'll find Il Bistro tucked away down the cobblestone alley beside the market information kiosk.

  • Pike Place Market

    Pike Place Market - Seattle
    • Contact:

    • 206/682-7453
    • visit website
    • Location:

    • 85 Pike Street
    • Between Pike and Pine sts. at First Ave
    • Seattle,WA98121
    • Map

    • user rating

    Description:

    Nine acres of fresh produce, seafood, coffee, donuts, crafts, unique restaurants and friendly vendors, all set against a backdrop of the Puget Sound - that's Pike Place Market, widely recognized as one of the oldest and best farmer's markets in the country. If you only have one day in Seattle, head downtown to get a real taste of the city in every sense. From fresh cheese curds at Beecher's to chowder at Pike Place Chowder, from necklaces and bags to hand-stitched leather journals and hats, from accordions to pianos to hula-hooping guitarists - there's something for your eyes, ears, and nose everywhere you look at the market.

  • Seattle Opera

    Seattle Opera - Seattle
    • Contact:

    • 206 389 7676 / 800 426 1619
    • visit website
    • Location:

    • 1020 John St
    • Opera House/Seattle Center
    • Seattle,WA98109
    • Map

    Description:

    The Opera House at Seattle Center houses an innovative opera company. The season of four or five full-scale productions includes a grand-scale summer production. Director Speight Jenkins has created a first-class company of talented performers. Expect Wagner's Ring Cycle, the company's claim to fame, now and then. Opened in 1927, the Opera House has good acoustics and seats more than 3,000. It is also home to the Pacific Northwest Ballet.

  • Intiman Theatre

    Intiman Theatre - Seattle
    • Contact:

    • 206 269 1901 /206 269 1900 (Box Office)
    • visit website
    • Location:

    • 201 Mercer Street
    • Seattle Center
    • Seattle,WA98109
    • Map

    Description:

    Founded in Kirkland in 1972, this company outgrew two venues before finding its home in 1987 at Seattle Center. Notable shows include Into the Whirlwind, nationally recognized in 1990; the Kentucky Cycle, a Pulitzer Prize winner in 1992; and Three Tall Women, a Pulitzer Prize winner in 1995. The small, highly raked theater has good views of the stage from all seats. All seats cost the same, but ticket prices vary by show and time. The season runs March to December.

  • Alexis Hotel

    Alexis Hotel - Seattle
    • Contact:

    • (206) 624-4844
    • visit website
    • Location:

    • 1007 First Ave
    • At Madison St
    • Seattle,WA98104
    • Map

    check rates
    • user rating

    Description:

    "The art of living" - that's the motto of the Alexis, a hotel dedicated to arts of all sorts, with artwork and a classic, European decor adorning the lobby and the rooms. Many of the rooms are suites, including fireplace suites that feature whirlpool baths. For lovers of literature, the Author's Suite has autographed copies of several books, and the Library Bistro downstairs offers local cuisine in a cozy, library-like atmosphere.

    The Alexis Hotel is ideally situated just south of the Pike Place Market and within a few blocks of the Seattle Art Museum, the Waterfront, and Pioneer Square, as well as high-end shopping in Westlake Center.







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