Your First Time in Seattle

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Seattle is well known as a city of coffeeholics, and Starbucks is the main reason. This company has coffeehouses all over town (and all over the world), but this was once the only Starbucks. Although you won't find any tables or chairs here, Starbucks fans shouldn't miss an opportunity to get their coffee at the source.

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Located in Ballard, the Nordic Heritage Museum features art and artifacts from Scandinavian immigrants. The "Dream of America" exhibit on the first floor tells a story through dioramas that begin in 19th century Scandinavia and move through the Atlantic crossing, Ellis Island, New York, Midwest expansion and eventual arrival into the Pacific Northwest. Two galleries are featured on the second floor and focus on the logging and fishing industries, along with folk costumes, tools and furniture.

The third floor houses a gallery for each of the five Nordic countries: Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden. Each July, this museum hosts the Tivoli/Viking Days festival, where visitors can chow down on Nordic foods. The Gordon Ekvall Tracie Music Library is also located at the museum; a research archive for those interested in traditional Nordic music and dance, it is home to hundreds of records, audio tapes, CDs, films, slides, photos, texts and other valuable out-of-print information.

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Like all cities near rivers, lakes, and oceans, Seattle has ferries specifically for classy dinner cruises on its own Puget Sound. Argosy's Fine Dining Cruises serve gourmet meals to passengers with Elliot Bay providing the ambiance. Other cruises offered by Argosy include a trip trough the Ballard Locks and the "Rocket Speedboat Ride," a 70-foot boat that races you along the water at 35 knots.

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Looking for a Cali beach town vibe in the Pacific Northwest? The Alki Beach isn't just a hotspot for getting some sun and surf, it gives visitor's a chance to explore the historic Alki Point, where the first settlers began what would become the city of Seattle. Alki beach is a great place for all of your favorite beach activities – swimming, sunning, biking, volleyball, grilling – and there are dozens of shops, cafes and restaurants to explore after you've soaked in enough sun. Be sure to check out the Alki Lighthouse and the miniature Statue of Liberty while you're there.

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Located inside the Experience Music Project, this is another pet project of Seattle's own billionaire nerd Paul Allen. Just as in EMP, this museum is packed with pop-culture icons, in this case from the world of science fiction. With displays of actual props and costumes from such historic sci-fi films and TV shows as Star Trek, Star Wars, Alien, Dr. Who, and Terminator, this place is an absolute must for devoted fans of one of literature's least-respected yet best-loved genres. The museum spends a lot of time chronicling the history of science fiction, including displays of 1930s and 1940s pulp fiction magazines. Other displays focus on the fans themselves (and the conventions they stage), as well as the connections to science. But, for most visitors, it's the movie props that are the real draw. From robots to jet packs to space suits and ray guns, it's all here.

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This sublime park contains seemingly endless hikes and trails around the mountain. You can come back dozens of times and still find much to explore. If you're a practiced rock or mountain climber, this park has unbeatable climbs. Longmire Museum and the Jackson, Ohanapecosh and Sunrise visitor centers have varying summer and winter hours. Park admission is $10 for vehicles, $5 for individuals entering by foot, bicycle, motorcycle or bus. The park honors Golden Access, Golden Age, Mount Rainier Annual and National Parks passes.

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Board a chartered boat from Pier 55/56 downtown for a narrated tour across Elliott Bay to Blake Island. Enjoy a welcoming cup of fresh-steamed clams in broth. Enter the cedar Long House and watch your prix fixe salmon dinner cooked in the Northwest Native American traditional manner, on stakes around a firepit. Eat banquet-style in the darkened dining room while enjoying "Dance on the Wind," a show representing cultural beliefs of Northwest Coastal Indians. Adult fare is USD69, senior citizens fare is $62 and children (between 5-12)fare is $25. Departure times vary by season.

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This downtown location is the hub for all of the Seattle Public Library branches, and it circulates more than a million books annually. It has a large computer area and a 200-seat auditorium where literary programs, workshops and events for kids are held (all free of charge). Other services include an area to assist deaf, deaf-blind and hard-of-hearing patrons, a genealogy desk for those researching family history, and a writer's room to encourage new writers. Visit the Web site for service information and branch locations.

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If you're as crazy about lavender as I am, be sure to stop in at this large store in the City Centre shopping complex. You'll find all manner of lavender products from lotions to teas, and all in beautiful packages. This shop is affiliated with a lavender farm on San Juan island.

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There is something oddly fascinating about locks. No, not the locks on doors -- the locks that raise and lower boats. Locks don't provide panoramic views and aren't nearly as dramatic as waterfalls, but for some strange reason, a lot of people are intrigued by the concept of two side-by-side bodies of water on two different levels. Consequently, the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks, in the Ballard neighborhood, are among the most popular attractions in the city. These locks, operated by the Army Corps of Engineers, consist of a small lock and a large lock. The latter accommodates barges, commercial fishing vessels, and the like, while the small lock stays busy shuttling small private boats (including sea kayaks) between the saltwater of Puget Sound and the freshwater of the Lake Washington Ship Canal, which connects to both Lake Union and Lake Washington. It's a slow process locking boats back and forth, but the onlookers don't seem to mind, and people onshore and those on the boats often strike up conversations.

When the gates of the lock are closed, it's possible to continue to the far side of the ship canal to the fish ladders and fish-viewing windows that provide opportunities for salmon viewing during the summer months. The chance to see salmon in a fish ladder is as much of a draw as the locks themselves, and in the past the fish runs have also attracted hungry sea lions that at times become salmon-swallowing pests.

Also here at the locks, you can stroll the grounds of the Carl S. English Jr. Botanical Gardens, a park filled with rare and unusual shrubs and trees. March through November, there are free tours of the grounds Monday through Friday at 1 and 3pm, Saturday and Sunday at 11am and 1 and 3pm.

The locks are located a 10- to 15-minute drive north of downtown. Follow Elliott Avenue north along the waterfront from downtown Seattle; after crossing the Ballard Bridge, drive west on Northwest Market Street.

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Many foodies actually plan their vacations to Seattle primarily to visit The Herbfarm.  Located in semi-rural Woodinville, the restauran's nine-course dinner takes at least four hours and includes five Pacific Northwest wines.  The chefs warmly explain the courses to the guests and gladly create alternative entrees for those with special dietary needs.   A tour of the restaurant's herb and vegetable garden is offered before the seating. A variety of dietary needs can be accomodated without hassle or compromise; for example, the non-alchohlic selections are creations to themselves with fresh botanical beverages rivalring the standard wine selections.

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Although the prices here are almost as out of line as those at the Space Needle, and the service is unpredictable, this restaurant has the waterfront view in Seattle, and the food is usually pretty good. Because Salty's is on the northeast side of the Alki Peninsula, it faces downtown Seattle on the far side of Elliott Bay. Come at sunset for dinner and watch the setting sun sparkle off skyscraper windows as the lights of the city begin to twinkle. On sunny summer days, lunch on one of the two decks is a sublimely Seattle experience. Don't be discouraged by the ugly industrial/port area you drive through to get here; Salty's marks the start of Alki Beach, the closest Seattle comes to a Southern California beach scene. Watch for the giant rusted salmon sculptures swimming amid rebar kelp beds and the remains of an old bridge (hey, Seattle even recycles when it comes to art).

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Not to be confused with its more casual sibling, Cafe Campagne, this upscale restaurant serves award-winning Southern French cuisine. The dimly lit dining room overlooks Pike Place Market, and the outdoor courtyard surrounds a fountain, making for a dishes include Poireaux Vinaigrettes, Noisette and Carpaccio De Bar. Dinners are a great way to sample a range of gourmet foods.

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One of the historically frustrating things about the Seattle dining scene is the lack of Cajun and Creole food restaurants, perhaps second only to the lack of Mexican joints. The opening of Toulouse Petit delightfully addresses that. The restaurant's tall windows and intimate interior are modeled after the famous restaurants in New Orleans, but enough about the exquisite decorating. 

Toulouse Petit is truly about the rich, amazing food. Breakfast at Toulouse Petit is modeled after the traditional New Orleans-style brunch, with classic dishes like Eggs Sardou and Eggs Hussarde as well as other Eggs Benedict preparations and classic French-style omelets prominently featured.  The lunch menu focuses on classic New Orleans fare, such as Fried Oyster, Fried Gulf Shrimp and Blackened Redfish Po' Boys, Fried Chicken Gumbo and Spicy Jambalaya.  Dinnertime brings some hearty N'awlins fare inckluding Oysters Rockerfeller and Crawfish Etoufee.  Mimosas, Brandy Milk Punch, Creole Bloody Mary, Ramos Gin Fizz and other New Orleans-derived cocktails are offered.  The best cocktail, hands down, is the Hurricane.

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For those looking for delicious food and spectacular visual entertainment, choose Teatro ZinZanni rather than the lackluster Space Needle restaurant. Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} This unique dinner theatre offers a three-hour variety show full of quality circus arts, comedy and cabaret accompanied with a five-course dinner created by popular Northwest chef Tom Douglas. Each course is themed with the show plot, which changes every three months.  Presented in the round, the show unfolds above and alongside the diners. Menu selections are exquisite yet accessible, and include entrees such as the mushroom strata with artisan cheese in savory custard.   The show and menu change every three months, but there is always improv comedy, vaudeville revue, music, dance, circus arts and sensuality.  Some of the entertainers have worked with Cirque du Soleil.  Although there is no nudity in the shows some of the humor is adult-themed, so this show might not be appropriate for families with young children.

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This giant club has been around under various names and management since the early days of grunge. There are two separate bar areas, a large stage and a decent sound system. With Wednesday drink specials, frequent all-ages shows and a great variety of local bands, this is the place to go when you're in the mood to rock. During all-ages shows, the stage bar area is closed, and lines can get a bit slow at the main bar.

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This British-style bar holds its ground among the many Irish pubs in the area. The decor is traditional with dark wood paneling and a large, impressive bar. The outside terrace is a great place to dine and drink under the stars on warm nights. Entertainment includes pool and darts. Draft beer options include many British imports like Double Diamond and Bass. Guinness is also available for those with a taste for the Irish. Regional microbrews can be purchased in bottles. For dinner, there is traditional British fare including shepherd's pie and kidney pie.

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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.

Our Local Expert Says:

Some of the finest provincial French cuisine in Seattle, simple restrained elegance, prime location, professionally French staff.

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Located above Pike Place Market, this cozy and very popular country-style French bistro, sibling of upscale Campagne, serves traditional French fare. Sit at a small wooden table by the large windows that overlook busy Post Alley or at the counter. For breakfast, try the Baked Eggs with Tomato and Chevre. For lunch, the Slow-Cooked Leg of Duck is an excellent choice. And for dinner, try the Pan-Seared Monkfish or Braised Lamb Shank.

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Up the road from Seattle about 40 minutes from downtown you will find this dairy farm, owned by Nestle since 1985. It is now a regional training center for the company, but it has retained much of its old dairy charm. Surrounded by rolling, green hills, the dairy offers free tours, and it is a perfect place to take the kids for an outing that is educational and fun at the same time.

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On the Snoqualmie Falls and Seattle Winery Tour you will see and taste wines at both the Chateau Ste. Michelle and Columbia wineries. This sightseeing excursion will lead you deep into the rolling Cascade foothills past lush horse ranches and flower farms, to popular Hollywood locations for such famous productions as Twin Peaks, Northern Exposure, and The Vanishing. Scenic single lane rural roads lead you up to the peaceful shadow of Mount Si through the Snoqualmie River Valley to the edge of the breathtaking 270 foot Snoqualmie Falls.

Coasting over both floating bridges on Lake Washington, you'll take a picturesque ride past the University of Washington, through quaint rural farm lands, lush forests, and charming east side towns. When the schedule permits the day is capped off with a visit to an authentic Swiss chocolate factory!

• Picnic lunch from the award winning Lowell-Hunt Cafe (available to purchase)
• Visit the divine Boehm's Swiss Chocolate Factory
• Stroll through the 40 foot flowering rhododendrons of The Arboretum
• Wander the beautiful Snoqualmie flower farms and horse ranches
• See the Sleepless in Seattle floating homes of Lake Union
• Take a short hike to the base of the Snoqualmie Falls

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Located on beautiful Vashon Island Seabreeze Farm is home to pigs, chickens, cows, goats and a few people who make fantastic artesian cheeses and wines. Stop by for some duck eggs and while the collect them you can taste their delicious Vache de Vashon (cow) and Apline (goat) cheeses with wine pairings. Their farming practices are entirely sustainable with their ducks waddling around fertilizing and foraging and their chickens pecking around for seeds and bugs. Their adorable pigs, cows and goats wander around happily grazing in last year's pasture preparing the soil for another crop rotation. This farm is beyond organic. Seabreeze meats, dairy, eggs, cheeses, wines and prepared foods such as pâtés & meat broths are available daily 6:00 am – 9:00 pm from the on-site, self-service Farm stand at 10730 SW 116th St. on Vashon Island and also at several farmer's markets, check the website for details.

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This is one of the most celebrated events in Washington State. Located at the Puyallup Fairgrounds, the fair attracts more than 1.25 million people per year. Kids and adults participate in judged events and exhibits ranging from farm animals to crafts to food. There are rides for young and old, and all the fair food you can eat. Nightly concert headliners in the past have included acts like Chicago, Kenny Rogers and Alabama.