How to enjoy an awesome Seattle summer (before it’s gone)

There’s plenty of sunny summer days left to enjoy beautiful Seattle—a city normally covered in clouds and rain. Whether it’s an afternoon of idyll or watching the sun set, the pick of rooftop and outside bars showcasing stunning views of the Puget Sound and the Olympic Mountains is yours as are numerous other thrilling summer activities happening around town.

Also: 7 awesome dive-in movie theaters

Rooftop bar, Nest, at the Thompson Hotel | Photo courtesy of the Thompson Hotel

Roofs with a view

Seattle’s sparkling new addition to its downtown skyline, the Thompson Hotel, is home to the Nest, a rooftop bar and outdoor living room. Enjoy handcrafted cocktails, shareable plates, views of the Olympic Mountains and Elliott Bay. No worries if after dark it gets a bit nippy, there’s a fire pit to get you warm.

Scenic Six Seven Restaurant at the Edgewater, a hotel on the waterfront, offers panoramic views of the mountains and serves up Pacific Northwest cuisine as well as features some of the most sought after and “can’t find everywhere else” wines from Oregon, Northern California and Washington. Your toughest choice will be deciding whether to dine inside or out.

For double fun go for Frolik, located smack dab in the center of downtown Seattle on the fifth floor terrace of the Motif Hotel. Not only will you find good eats, but a summer concert series as well.

Rooftop romance is the order of the day at Italian-American restaurant and cabaret the Pink Doorand French restaurant Maximilian, both in the historic Pike Place Market.

Take in the views from the Edgewater Hotel | Photo courtesy of the Edgewater Hotel

Brewmance

However, if you want to drink, but not necessarily chill, cider lovers should check out Beveridge Place Pub, Capitol Cider and The Woods Tasting Room. Brew pub fans are similarly covered at places like Optimism Brewing, Cloudburst Brewing and Old Stove Brewing Co. or wind your way through Seattle’s neighborhoods on the Road Dog Seattle Brewery Tour.

The great outdoors

Fun in the sun in Seattle isn’t just about brew pub hopping and rooftop follies. Less than 10 miles from the city’s hub are plentiful trails, be it the Discovery Park Loop, Washington Park Arboretum or Lincoln Park. Biking is big in these parts including solo outings or with the help of a tour guide.

With water everywhere, take your pick of kayaking, yachting, sailing or paddle boarding. To explore a bit beyond the city, get on the ferry to Bainbridge Island. It’s a 35 minute ride with to-die-for views of the Seattle skyline. Once there, enjoy the galleries, cafes, and shop in historic Winslow.

A fork in the road

Maybe you haven’t left town yet and already you’re missing the awesome grub including smoked salmon, fresh seafood grilled on cedar planks, wild mushrooms, kale, and potatoes that are readily found on plates there. The good news is, you won’t have to just rely on your memories of those fab Pacific Northwest meals, you can also take home the skills to impress your friends. There are new chef-guided tasting tours of Pike Place Market and hands-on cooking classes featured by Eat Seattle. The two-hour chef-guided tasting tour of the town’s famous Pike Place Market highlights Pacific Northwest culture. Meet artisan vendors and get the scoop on where the chefs shop for the best goods. Meanwhile, the 3 ½ hour farm-to-table cooking class and produce tour from Eat Seattle concludes in the Atrium Kitchen where chefs share secrets for menu prep and cooking techniques.

Explore Pike Place Market | Flickr CC: Michael Righi

When to go

Timing is everything so plan your trip wisely. The Capitol Hill Block Party shuts down six blocks of one of Seattle’s coolest neighborhoods, July 22-24. The music and arts festival is headlined by Odesza this year. Labor Day weekend marks the 46^th year of the legendary music festival Bumbershoot that features more than 2,500 regional, national and international performers. This year the roster boasts Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, Death Cab for Cutie, KYGO, G-Eazy, Fetty Wap and blast from the past Billy Idol. Not only is the music rocking, there’s comedy,dance performances, theatreand more.

Sleepy in Seattle

As for where to stay, there are luxury digs like the Fairmount Olympic Hotel and The Edgewater – A Noble House Hotel and also budget-friendlier options including the Hotel Deca and Ace Hotel.

Tagged: Hotels