Visiting Seattle for a Benevon Workshop?
The Pacific Northwest is a fantastic place to visit, especially in the summer months. If you'd like to go exploring, here are some ideas from current and former staff.
Favorite coffee shop?
- Cafe Umbria - Pioneer Square & Ballard Shawna L.
- Cherry Street Coffee - Belltown Latte! Laura B.
- Cafe Ladro - several locations Suzanne S.
- Caffe Vita - several locations Bianca G.
- Victrola Melissa L.
- Cafe Bambino - Phinney Ridge 16oz Triple Americano, best ever! Michelle Z.
- Zoka Coffee Roaster & Tea Company - Greenlake Coffee with all the fixins! Zoë E.
- Stumptown - several locations Drip coffee—black! Laura M.
Hands down best brunch is:
- 14 Carrot Café (Breakfast & Brunch) - Eastlake Maggie W.
- Cafe Flora: Vegetarian & Vegan Restaurant - Madison Michelle Z.
- Etta's (Casual Pacific NW Eatery) - Pike Place Market Dawn G.
- Kona Kitchen - Maple Leaf Bianca G.
- Oddfellows Café & Bar - Downtown Shawna L.
- Portage Bay Café - Ballard, Roosevelt, South Lake Union, & U District Brian M., Laura B., Megan M.
- Roxy's Diner (NY Jewish Style Deli) - Fremont Sally B.
- Salty's on Alki (Waterfront Seafood Grill) - West Seattle Suzanne S.
- St. Clouds (Pacific Northwest comfort foods) - Madrona Zoë E.
Favorite bite-on-the-go restaurant?
- Chaco Canyon Organic Cafe - Greenwood, U District, & West Seattle Suzanne S.
- El Camion (Authentic Mexican) - several locations Melissa L.
- Enat Ethiopian Restaurant - Pinehurst Zoë E.
- Homegrown Sustainable Sandwich Shop - Fremont Michelle Z.
- Marination (Hawaiian-Korean cuisine) - several locations Bianca G.
- Mr D's Greek Delicacies - Pike Place Market Dawn G.
- Paseo Caribbean Restaurant - Fremont Brian M., Megan M. & Dawn G.
- Piroshky Piroshky Bakery - Pike's Place Market Laura M.
- Roro BBQ - Wallingford Laura B.
- Skillet (Street Food) - locations vary Shawna L.
- Three Girls Bakery - Pike Place Market Maggie W.
Best dim sum downtown?
- Din Tai Fung - U District Maggie W.
- Honey Court - International District Bianca G.
- Jade Garden - International District Laura M.
Favorite restaurant?
- Cafe Presse (French Bar-Café) - Capitol Hill Shawna L.
- Joule (Korean-fusion steakhouse) - Fremont Bianca G.
- Sushi Kashiba - Pike Place Market Suzanne S.
- The Pink Door (Italian-American & Cabaret Lounge) - Pike Place Market Zoë E.
- Cactus (Southwest Kitchen & Bar) - Alki Beach in West Seattle Sally B.
- Maneki (Sushi) - International District Laura M.
- Salumi Artisan Cured Meats - Downtown Brian M.
- Samir’s Mediterranean Grill - U District Dawn G.
- Thai Tom - U District (cash only) Michelle Z.
- Skillet (Street Food) - locations vary Melissa L.
Best Vietnamese food in town?
- Green Leaf Vietnamese Restaurant - Downtown Melissa L.
- Long Provincial Vietnamese - Downtown Dawn G.
- Tamarind Tree - International District Laura M.
- Pho Than Brothers - several locations Shawna L.
- Pho Aroma - West Seattle Brian M.
Favorite happy hour?
- Bottle and Bull (Tavern) - Kirkland Sally B.
- Bottlehouse (Tasting Bar & Shoppe) - Madrona Zoë E.
- Elliot's Oyster House has Progressive Oyster Happy Hour - Waterfront Laura M.
- Fogon (Mexican Restaurant & Cantina) - Pike/Pine Melissa L.
- Japonessa (Sushi restaurant with a Latin flare) - Pike Place Market Bianca G.
- Kate's Pub - Wallingford Megan M. & Michelle Z.
- Red Door (Pub) - Fremont Sally B.
- Sazerac Restaurant & Bar - Downtown Brian M.
Best venue to watch a Sounders game if its an away game?
Favorite local brewery?
- Capitol Cider - Pike/Pine Neighborhood Zoë E.
- Georgetown Brewing - Georgetown Brian M.
- Elysian Brewing - Georgetown Laura B.
- Fremont Brewery - Fremont Megan M.
- Lucky Envelope Brewing - Ballard Michelle Z.
- Sazerac Restaurant & Bar - Downtown Laura M.
- Schillings Cider House - Fremont Maggie W.
Favorite winery?
- Bartholomew Winery - Industrial District Brian M.
- Chateau Ste. Michelle Winery - Woodinville Bianca G. & Megan M.
- Novelty Hill Januik - Woodinville Maggie W.
- All the Woodinville Wineries Laura M.
- So many independent wineries, check out Woodinville Wine Country Dawn G.
Favorite place to get your sweet-tooth fix?
- Bakery Nouveau - Capital Hill or West Seattle Melissa L.
- Bluebird Ice Cream - Greenwood Michelle Z.
- Cupcake Royale - several locations including Downtown Michelle Z. & Shawna L.
- Daily Dozen Doughnut Company - Pike Place Market Laura M.
- Ellenos Greek Yogurt - Pike Place Market and Whole Foods Bianca G.
- Essential Bakery - Bellevue, Georgetown, Madison, and Wallingford Zoë E.
- Fainting Goat Gelato - Wallingford and Fremont Dawn G.
- Hot Cakes (Molten Chocolate Cakery) - Capital Hill Sally B.
- Le Painier (French Bakery) - Pike Place Market Shawna L.
- Molly Moon's Ice Cream - Wallingford Brian M. & Megan M. (Vegan Coconut Chunk w/ chocolate sauce!)
- Pie A La Mode Bianca G. (no cupcakes, but several locations, and they deliver pies!)
- Trophy Cupcakes - Bellevue, Downtown, Wallingford, U District Sally B. & Zoë E.
- Yellow Leaf Cupcakes - Belltown Brian M., Megan M, & Suzanne S.
Definitely try __________________ chocolate.
- Dilettante Chocolate - Downtown Dawn G.
- Seattle's Chocolates - various locations Michelle Z.
- Fran's Chocolate - Downtown Laura B., Laura M., Maggie W., Megan M., & Zoë E.
- Theo's Chocolate - Fremont Bianca G., Brian M., Melissa L., Sally B., & Suzanne S.
Best shopping?
- DeLaurenti Specialty Food & Wine - Pike Place Market Shawna L.
- Easy Street Records - West Seattle Dawn G.
- Elliott Bay Book Company Melissa L.
- Fremont has some cute little shops! Zoë E.
- Nordstrom - Downtown Sally B. & Suzanne S.
- Nordstrom Rack - various locations Megan M.
- Seattle Premium Outlets - Tulalip, WA (North) Brian M.
- University Bookstore - U District Shawna L.
- University Village - U District Michelle Z. & Zoë E
- Westlake Center - Downtown Maggie W.
Favorite spa?
- Elements Massage - Greenlake Zoë E.
- Elaia Spa at Hyatt Olive 8 - Downtown Laura M.
- Olympus Spa - Lynnwood or Tacoma Sally B.
Favorite Museum?
- Burke Museum - U District (on UW campus) Shawna L.
- EMP (Experience Music Project) in Queen Anne Dawn G.
- Frye Museum - First Hill Melissa L. & Michelle Z.
- MOHAI (Museum of History and Industry) - South Lake Union Laura M.
- Seattle Art Museum (SAM) - Downtown Brian M., Megan M., Sally B., Suzanne S., and Sharon E.
- Seattle Asian Art Museum Zoë E.
Favorite music venue?
- Keys On Main - Lower Queen Anne Bianca G.
- Nectar Lounge - Fremont Brian M.
- Neptune Theater - U District Megan M.
- Showbox at the Market - Pike Place Market Dawn G., Laura M., & Suzanne S.
- Tractor Tavern - Ballard Michelle Z. & Sally B.
- Triple Door - Downtown Dawn G.
Must see/do tourist attraction?
- Ballard Locks - Ballard Zoë E.
- Chihuly Garden and Glass - Queen Anne Megan M.
- Greenlake - or any of our amazing parks Shawna L.
- Kerry Park (aka Franklin Place) - Queen Anne Bianca G.
- Kubota Garden - Rainier Beach Melissa L.
- Pike Place Market - Downtown Laura B. & Michelle Z.
- Seattle Great Wheel - Waterfront (Downtown) Suzanne S.
- Space Needle - Queen Anne Sally B.
- Take the Underground Tour - Pioneer Square. It's a great way to learn about Seattle's history! Laura M. & Brian M.
- Woodland Park Zoo - Phinney Ridge Dawn G.
Favorite place to people watch?
- Alki Beach -West Seattle Suzanne S.
- Pretty much anywhere on Capitol Hill, just grab a bench and watch it all go by! Shawna L.
- Any of the neighborhood farmers markets Michelle Z.
- Green Lake Park Bianca G.
- Pike Place Market - Downtown Megan M.
- Public transit! Dawn G.
What would you do if you have two free hours in downtown Seattle?
- Get doughnuts at Pike Place Market and walk along the waterfront before going to the Nordstrom Rack Zoë E.
- Explore Pike Place Market and buy a bouquet of flowers Bianca G. & Sally B.
- Walk the waterfront, ride the Great Wheel, and walk up the stairs to Pike Place Market Brian M.
- Wander around Pioneer Square Melissa L.
- Go to the Seattle Aquarium and get fish & chips from Ivar's Pier 54 Fish Bar Dawn G.
- If it's a nice day, I'd wander through the Olympic Sculpture Park at the SAM (Seattle Art Museum) Michelle Z.
- Go on the Underground Tour in Pioneer Square Laura B.
- Buy tea at Market Spice, browse books at Barnes & Noble, and finish up by shopping at Nordstrom Rack Shawna L.
- Go to Pike Place Market, find the perfect bouquet of flowers, and then go to the World Spice Market Megan M.
What's your favorite neighborhood to visit?
- Ballard Bianca G., Maggie W., Megan M., & Michelle Z.
- Capitol Hill Shawna L.
- Fremont Brian M.
- Madrona Zoë E.
- Phinney Ridge Laura M.
- Queen Anne Dawn G.
- West Seattle Laura B. & Sally B.
Favorite view?
- Seattle skyline from Alki Beach - West Seattle Sally B., Laura B., & Suzanne S.
- On the Bainbridge Island ferry when Mount Rainier is out! Michelle Z.
- Denny Blaine Park Zoë E.
- Discovery Park - Magnolia Dawn G.
- Gasworks - Wallingford Maggie W.
- Kerry Park (aka Franklin Place) - Queen Anne Megan M. & Bianca G.
- From the top of Mount Rainier Brian M.
- From the top of the Space Needle Shawna L.
Favorite day trip?
- Anacortes via Deception Pass Melissa L.
- Ride a ferry to Bainbridge Island Shawna L.
- Leavenworth, WA (Central WA) Sally B.
- Mt. Vernon and La Conner area Megan M.
- Olympia - hiking in the Capital State Forest or exploring downtown Olympia Bianca G.
- Hiking in the North Cascades, Johnson Ridge Michelle Z.
- Take a ferry through the San Juan Islands Laura B.
- Drive to Anacortes via Deception Pass and take a ferry through the San Juan Islands Dawn G.
- Take ferry trip across the Sound Brian M.
- Riding bikes to Woodinville and having a beer at Red Hook or wine tasting at Chateau Ste Michelle Laura M.
Favorite outdoor activities?
- Biking at Alki Beach Park Bianca G.
- Birding at Discovery Park Melissa L.
- Hiking at Franklin Falls Maggie W.
- Paddle boarding from east side of Lake Washington - Kirkland Dawn G.
- Camping in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest (Mount Saint Helens) Laura B.
- Walking around & hanging out at Green Lake Zoë E. & Megan M.
- Pedal boating at Greenlake Suzanne S.
- Checking out parks like Volunteer Park Laura M.
- Going on long walks—Seattle is very walkable Shawna L.
- Adventure along Johnson Ridge in the rugged North Cascades for 360 degree mountain views! Michelle Z.
- Get up close & personal with Washington’s tallest, dormant volcanic mountain on the Lakes Trail at Mount Rainier National Park Michelle Z.
- Experience the Pacific Ocean at Point of Arches on Shi Shi Beach Michelle Z.
- Hike Rattlesnake Ledge Brian M.
- On a clear day, hike Mount Rainier from Silver Peak near Snoqualmie Pass Michelle Z.
Favorite thing to do on Bainbridge Island?
- Wine tasting, then the Harbour Public House for fish & chips Megan M.
- Get ice cream at Mora Iced Creamery! Maggie W. & Melissa L.
- Get salt water taffy at Town & Country Market! Michelle Z.
- Go hiking on any of the Bainbridge Island Trails, especially the Manzanita Park Trail System Zoë E.
- Go to Eagle Harbor Books--they have both new and used stores! Shawna L.
- Wine tasting! Sally B.
- Ride bikes onto the ferry and ride around the island Laura M.
- Ride the ferry on the way there! Dawn G.
Favorite weekend get-a-away?
- Camping in the Cascades! Laura M.
- The mountains! Always! North, East, South or West, they're in every direction! Michelle Z.
- Lake Chelan, WA Maggie W.
- Leavenworth, WA (Central WA) Laura B.
- Leavenworth, WA - river tubing! (Central WA) Bianca G.
- Olympic National Park (Olympic Peninsula) Shawna L.
- Drive the Olympic Peninsula Dawn G.
- Portland, OR (South) Megan M.
- Port Angeles, WA (Olympic Peninsula) Suzanne S.
- Port Townsend, WA (Olympic Peninsula) Melissa L.
- San Juan Islands, WA (North WA) Brian M.
- Victoria, B.C. Canada (North) Sally B.
