Dan and Liz had their first date here, and it’s where Dan proposed. It’s also a fun little bar and they do a terrific brunch with vegan and gluten-free options.

Closer to the wedding venue is The Oak, which we like a great deal, and also offers a good variety of well-made food.

Dan and Liz stop here most summer Sundays after softball for a patio beer and a snack. The neighborhood is right downhill from Maple Wood Playfield, where the wedding will be, and it’s a great place to kill time.

It more or less lives up to the hype. It’s adorable, near other cool stuff downtown, has food to snack and walk with, sit down restaurants, groceries, jewelry, souvenirs–all the sorts of things you want in a city stroll, plus a terrific view of Elliott Bay and the Olympic Mountains from one side. Liz recommends happy hour at the Athenian, where Black Raven IPA is on draft.

It’s spendy to actually go inside. Don’t if the weather is gray–it’s not worth it. But a selfie with it in the background is mandatory.

If you skip going inside the Space Needle, go here instead. The view is better, the cocktails are cheaper though still spendy, and there are better snacks. Also, it’s a cool old building.

Walk or bike along Elliott Bay and check out views of city, water, boats, and Olympic Mountains in Myrtle Edwards Park. Or, just a few steps uphill from the park, check out sculptures presented by the Seattle Art Museum at the Olympic Sculpture Park. This is a solid rec from the bride, and not just because she’s enchanted by the idea of sitting right down on a Louise Bourgeois sculpture. This PDF has a map and a guide.

Dub-C is a microcosm of Seattle. The hip little central strip and nearby businesses offer food from all around the world, including spectacular tamales and pupusas. There’s also a pro wrestling-themed bar, a barbecue restaurant with pretty good brisket, more than one top-notch taco truck, and a radical ice cream parlor. It’s a little gritty, but it’s a great area for an afternoon of exploring.

The Seattle Art Museum is right there downtown, and is perhaps a little spare but worth a visit. Uphill and to the south is the Frye, a less-hyped gem. This free museum has an interesting collection of paintings, and Liz never fails to stop and admire the fluffy ducks, but the special exhibits are never disappointing. Works by Romare Bearden will be on view until a week after our wedding.

Ballard has been getting trendy lately, but it’s still lovely. The Sunday market is crowded, but worth it. Fremont’s, too, which is nearby. There’s live music, excellent food, and a brewery district.

It’s a pretty city, and there are a lot of walkable neighborhoods. You’ll have no trouble finding something to do! Our street style is stuck in REI-meets-grunge, but our street food is totally respectable. Every Google result for lists of amazing things to do in Seattle has tons of overlap. This one is pretty good, though! I’m especially pleased that they included Add-a-Ball. Pinball rules.