Guidebook for Seattle
Food Scene
Westward is my favorite of the nearby restaurants. Slightly upscale, fantastic waterfront views, excellent outdoor seating, nautical decor. Just a short paddle away (dock space provided for restaurant patrons). Spot it from the water by looking for a fire in their fire-pit.
Excellent oysters. Try the octopus salad.
172 locals recommend
Westward
2501 N Northlake WayWestward is my favorite of the nearby restaurants. Slightly upscale, fantastic waterfront views, excellent outdoor seating, nautical decor. Just a short paddle away (dock space provided for restaurant patrons). Spot it from the water by looking for a fire in their fire-pit.
Excellent oysters. Try the octopus salad.
Upscale Mexican restaurant with a large deck and great views of lake union. Just a short walk from the houseboat, this is a great, easy, option for lunch, dinner, happy hour, etc.
61 locals recommend
Little Water Cantina
2865 Eastlake Ave EUpscale Mexican restaurant with a large deck and great views of lake union. Just a short walk from the houseboat, this is a great, easy, option for lunch, dinner, happy hour, etc.
Just a few steps away, and relatively affordable. Eastlake Bar and Grill (EBAG) was a staple for me when living on the houseboat. The standard American fare is...standard, but the deck is great and the location is highly convenient.
42 locals recommend
Eastlake Bar & Grill
2947 Eastlake Ave EJust a few steps away, and relatively affordable. Eastlake Bar and Grill (EBAG) was a staple for me when living on the houseboat. The standard American fare is...standard, but the deck is great and the location is highly convenient.
Drinks & Nightlife
One of my favorite spots to go out (Freemont/Ballard). They have an awesome outdoor scene with interesting artwork abound. Lawn games (corn hole), fire pit, and frequent live music. Check out their website to see whats going on for any particular week. They are along the Burke Gilman trail, so, one can rent a city-bike nearby (rack at the intersection of Eastlake ave and Allison st) and bike over to Pono.
12 locals recommend
Pono Ranch Restaurant & Bar
4502 Shilshole Ave NWOne of my favorite spots to go out (Freemont/Ballard). They have an awesome outdoor scene with interesting artwork abound. Lawn games (corn hole), fire pit, and frequent live music. Check out their website to see whats going on for any particular week. They are along the Burke Gilman trail, so, one can rent a city-bike nearby (rack at the intersection of Eastlake ave and Allison st) and bike over to Pono.
Great dive bar nearby (Eastlake). They have pool, ping pong, and other games.
45 locals recommend
Zoo Tavern
2301 Eastlake Ave EGreat dive bar nearby (Eastlake). They have pool, ping pong, and other games.
Quintessential 'Capital Hill' nightlife. All of the bars along this 3 block section of Pike / Pine deserve equal callouts. Fantastic late night people watching. Can be a routy crowd depending on the time of evening. Young.
If it is your birthday they will give you a giant, bedazzled, unicorn horn to wear around all night.
Capital hill has a strong gay nightlife scene.
171 locals recommend
Unicorn
1118 E Pike StQuintessential 'Capital Hill' nightlife. All of the bars along this 3 block section of Pike / Pine deserve equal callouts. Fantastic late night people watching. Can be a routy crowd depending on the time of evening. Young.
If it is your birthday they will give you a giant, bedazzled, unicorn horn to wear around all night.
Capital hill has a strong gay nightlife scene.
Essentials
Small market and Deli nearby. Don't be fooled by their size, they tend to surprisingly always have what you are looking for. Beer/wine/essentials/groceries etc...
Great Deli Sandwiches, although, the Deli closes relatively early (4ish?).
17 locals recommend
Hamlin Market & Deli
2729 Eastlake Ave ESmall market and Deli nearby. Don't be fooled by their size, they tend to surprisingly always have what you are looking for. Beer/wine/essentials/groceries etc...
Great Deli Sandwiches, although, the Deli closes relatively early (4ish?).
The closest full-size grocery store. Parking inside the garage can be a mess - street parking nearby will avoid getting caught in a 20 minute inescapable and fruitless line/loop around the small and overcrowded parking garage.
722 locals recommend
Trader Joe's
1700 E Madison StThe closest full-size grocery store. Parking inside the garage can be a mess - street parking nearby will avoid getting caught in a 20 minute inescapable and fruitless line/loop around the small and overcrowded parking garage.
Fantastic Grocery store, but expensive. There are also a few nice (and surprising affordable) restaurants inside the grocery store. I like to frequent their hot bar for a quick meal when on the go.
359 locals recommend
Whole Foods Market
2210 Westlake AveFantastic Grocery store, but expensive. There are also a few nice (and surprising affordable) restaurants inside the grocery store. I like to frequent their hot bar for a quick meal when on the go.
Parks & Nature
Great hiking trail with a stunning alpine lake at the finish. Check conditions at www.wta.org. Check out their map view to find other great hikes in the Seattle Area.
35 locals recommend
Lake Serene Trailhead
Mount Index River RoadGreat hiking trail with a stunning alpine lake at the finish. Check conditions at www.wta.org. Check out their map view to find other great hikes in the Seattle Area.
Wonderful hike, gets popular on the weekends for good reason. Lots more hikes at www.wta.org
Snow Lake Trail
Snow Lake TrailWonderful hike, gets popular on the weekends for good reason. Lots more hikes at www.wta.org
Goldmyer hot spring is a gem. They only allow 20 people per day, so, a reservation must be made in advance - your best bet is to try on a week day. It is quite a long trek out there (very poor road, + 4 mile hike) but worth every minute.
For more information, calendar, access etc. go to:
http://www.goldmyer.org/
Goldmyer Hot Springs Property
Goldmyer Hot Springs TrailGoldmyer hot spring is a gem. They only allow 20 people per day, so, a reservation must be made in advance - your best bet is to try on a week day. It is quite a long trek out there (very poor road, + 4 mile hike) but worth every minute.
For more information, calendar, access etc. go to:
http://www.goldmyer.org/
Sightseeing
Ask me about taking a sailboat cruise in the "freeride" (the red sailboat next to the houseboat). Go for a sunset cruise, bring drinks/snacks, see the 'deadliest catch' boats, learn to sail, go crabbing in the Puget Sound, see the wildlife. Overnight trips to Blake Island or the San Juan Islands can be arranged.
Sailing rates are $100/hour. Max reservation size - 8 guests, minimum 2.5 hours.
58 locals recommend
Lake Union
Ask me about taking a sailboat cruise in the "freeride" (the red sailboat next to the houseboat). Go for a sunset cruise, bring drinks/snacks, see the 'deadliest catch' boats, learn to sail, go crabbing in the Puget Sound, see the wildlife. Overnight trips to Blake Island or the San Juan Islands can be arranged.
Sailing rates are $100/hour. Max reservation size - 8 guests, minimum 2.5 hours.
The San Juan Islands are amazing. You can see orca whales, other whales, tons of seals, walruses, bald eagles and many many more. Go salmon fishing, go kayaking, go sailing.
The "freeride" (red sailboat next to the houseboat) can be chartered, with captain, for multi-day trips to the San Juan Islands.
26 locals recommend
San Juan Island
The San Juan Islands are amazing. You can see orca whales, other whales, tons of seals, walruses, bald eagles and many many more. Go salmon fishing, go kayaking, go sailing.
The "freeride" (red sailboat next to the houseboat) can be chartered, with captain, for multi-day trips to the San Juan Islands.