Best macarons in the city, hands down! This adorable and delicious bakery is an outpost of its famed original in West Seattle, but just as good. Tip: go early in the morning for the freshest and most diverse selection of breads, pastries, and sweets like these beautiful macarons. My favorites: pistachio, hazelnut, and salted caramel! #Delicious #Colorful HIdden in the middle of Seattle's downtown commercial core is a secret oasis (shh!). Take the elevator from the lobby of the Russell Investments Center to the 17th floor to enjoy a beautifully serene meditation garden, complete with fireplace, lunch seating, and an impressive view of Seattle's waterfront, the Puget Sound, and the Olympic Mountains. A short walk south of Madrona Beach is a spot affectionately known to Seattle locals as the Grab a grassy seat at the top of the hill at Gas Works Park for one of the best views of Seattle. Perfect for July 4th fireworks viewing, sailboat spotting, or picnicking and cloud gazing. One of the most architecturally beautiful libraries in the world, the Seattle Central Library commands attention through its masterful use of space and light. Fun escalators and elevators, and beautiful views at every angle. #architecture Magical at night when it is brightly lit! Buy and print your tickets online to avoid the long lines... #desktop #seattle #BestOf5 30 minute buzz around Seattle in a lil helicopter. Waved to our house and favorite landmarks. Great birthday present with my 7 year old boy. #BestOf5 Gorgeous old trees here. Costs $6 to get in, but you'll stroll for hours and enjoy every minute. Bonus: giant carp! #treetrove Still pretty and colorful in Seattle! (In Japanese garden anyway ;) Get on at Pier 52. Pay $7 and enjoy the 35 minute ride to rural paradise. Call ahead and reserve a spot for entrance into the Bloedel Reserve public garden (http://www.bloedelreserve.org) Trover, meet TROVE. This dining destination is fairly new but already establishing itself as a popular classic on Capitol Hill. The building technically houses four separate areas: a sit-down Korean BBQ restaurant, a cocktail bar, a noodle counter, and a frozen parfait window. The BBQ restaurant and bar are nice but pricey ($50pp). The noodle counter is a great alternative: open bar seating along a window that looks out across the city and is opened up in summer months, generous portions, quick order time, and affordable prices. This filling and delicious Chow Fun with lemongrass sausage was a steal for $12. To finish out the night, head to the parfait window and try a huge layered frozen custard parfait in a take-home mason jar (I had Coffee Toffee Crunch - yum!). A great place for trovers of all price points. I love Seattle. :) A true treasure trove. Big market full of vintage signs, machinery, eye candy. Good source of unique gifts, browsing, and random purchases you'll have trouble explaining to your wife. Overpriced and overrated are two words that most Seattlites use to describe Sky City, the rotating restaurant at the top of the Space Needle. While I agree for the most part, I will say this: if you must go to the Space Needle, go to Sky City at lunch. The elevator ride to the top is free (normally upwards of $10pp), you get steeply discounted valet parking, and there's only a $25 minimum per person at the restaurant. Best value for getting the breathtaking views (which are much better from the restaurant). Plus, you get a pretty good meal and cheap parking! One of Seattle's best-kept secrets. Adorable cupcake shop in the heart of the poppin Pike/Pine corridor. They also have a full espresso menu and ice cream counter with cupcake flavors and tons of toppings! If you're like me and not a huge fan of messy huge cupcakes, try some of the babycakes instead! Seattle Art Glass Museum - amazing glass sculptures, twisted, bent, twirled glass in all shapes, sizes and colors, an architectures dream. Ivars at the waterfront. Great local experience, where you can feed a seagull out of your hand, watch the sunset over the bay, and of course eat the best fish and chips in the Northwest! Another view of Seattle Japanese Garden...so pretty and peaceful (on a weekday ;). Best matcha green tea latte I've had, and the owl wasn't bad either ;) Haven't been to the newly renovated waterfront since it re-opened. It's a popular tourist spot for out of towners. Sometimes they host free music events with really good local artists- not your typical top-40 or edm stuff. Pro-tip: avoid the restaurants/eateries on the pier or in this area. They are overpriced and oftentimes the food isn't very good. Look on Yelp before you go. Duck Dodge sailboat race. Mount Rainier in the background. It is the tallest mountain in the Pacific Northwest, just a little over 14,000 feet. If you have time, I recommend going to Paradise (about a 3 hour drive from Seattle) where you can go hiking. There is still snow around late June although they clear the roads and passable without snow chains. Also stop by Reflection Lake on the way down to get a great view of the mountain up close. Don't even act like you don't want to go on the Monorail. Sure it's like 3 or 4 bucks for a two minute ride. But at least you can say that you rode the legendary Seattle monorail. The latest exhibit at the SAM blows minds! One of the exhibits in the Pacific Science Center is the 4,000 square foot Tropical Butterfly House. Come here to get warmed up and see the incredible butterflies imported from around the world, as well as beautiful, tropical plants. The Pacific Science Center not only has a ton of fun and educational science exhibits, but also includes an IMAX theater and planetarium. http://www.pacificsciencecenter.org Seattle can have some pretty crazy weather! I was out for a morning run and the rain was coming down in buckets. However, up pops the sun on the horizon. What a wonderful morning! #lifeatexpedia #merch A Cyclist taking a break to snap few photos of the Sunset and the Space Needle - Volunteer Park #goldenhour I said #TroverDetour I was on my way downtown to pick my sister up from work, when I realized I'd left unnecessarily early. I also realized how beautiful the sky was, as I made my way south towards the Montlake Bridge. I crossed the bridge and instead of proceeding to the on-ramp onto 520 west, I took the first right onto Hamlin Street, which lead me down to the water, the Seattle Yacht Club, and the West Montlake Park which marks the west end of the Montlake Cut. My spur-of-the-moment detour, which was inspired by realizing I was on my way to being ridiculously early to my destination, led to this gorgeous sight. As an avid Instagrammer, I have experimented with my fair share of filters and editing tricks, but the views I saw tonight I found were brilliant enough on their own. Thanks to my detour, I've now another great spot I can add to my list of favorite spots to watch the sunset in my hometown :) Fisherman's Restaurant & Bar is an awesome and somewhat hidden destination on Seattle's Pier 57. Insider tip: when you see all the people waiting in line for the Crab Pot, keep walking. Fisherman's fish was super fresh, outdoor seating was perfect, and the views were breathtaking. Who's ready for Fall?! #colorful #nature #autumn #fallseason In the summer months, request a table on the intimate back patio of Oddfellows for a truly unique and romantic experience. Extra tip: bottles of wine are half off on Sundays! This is the cutest little breakfast spot right near Pike Place Market. They serve savory and sweet waffles as well as sandwiches and coffee. The coffee always comes decorated with a different animals, including elephants, lions and mickey mouse! It is most definitely recommended and a perfect treat before wandering through the market. #delicious Head to Gasworks to enjoy cool industrial buildings contrasted with rolling green hills and lake views. A great picnicking spot on a sunny day, be sure to bring a blanket since the geese keep the grass This is a street about 5 minutes away from Queen Anne Ave. The Ave is full of cute shops, boutiques, and fine dining and is quite characteristic of this suburban borough of Seattle. It's quite easy to get Downtown from QA too. Buses run there very frequently--it usually takes 20-40mins depending on the state of traffic and which part of Downtown you are headed to. Did I mention that QA streets look gorgeous in the Fall? Iconic Seattle - EMP and the Space Needle. The Space Needle was built in 1962 as part of the World's Fair. At that time it was the tallest structure west of the Mississippi River at 605 ft (184 m) high. It's built to withstand 200 mph winds (89 m/s) and 9.1 magnitude earthquakes. There is an observation deck at the top, as well as a rotating restaurant. Part cafe, part specialty foods grocery, and part floral workshop, the London Plane is a bright and beautiful spot to grab a bite or a treat while in Pioneer Square. Insider tip: call ahead for reservations if you plan to dine in. Beautiful fall colors. If I had to sum up Seattle in a word, vibrant. It is as if everything here has big bright colors. Everywhere there is color and of all sorts. It really makes walking around an experience; no where else have I seen so much varied bright beautiful color. First time to get up-close and personal with Seattle's wheel in the sky! And she's perty! Ahhhh... That moment when all you've imagined in a meditation becomes reality💙 If you're visiting Seattle and love the serene, then the Seattle Japanese garden is a must see for you. There is parking and an admission day pass is $6 for adults. Stunning views of Puget Sound and the Olympic Mountains can be enjoyed along this art-filled waterfront park, an extension of the Seattle Art Museum. Great for jogging, cycling, strolling and picnicking. When you visit, you must begin your meal with the house-made chips and the caramelized onion and #bacon dip. It is not optional. A sunset overlooking The Great Wheel. Recovered from the Gladiators' Barracks in Pompeii, these bronze shin guards could just as well have come from the set of the latest Mad Max movie. They are covered in scenes celebrating the gods Bacchus and Hercules, while at the bottom a stork fights a snake to protect her chicks?!? Featured in the recent Pompeii Exhibit. Piano in the park! This is just one of 20 pianos that have taken up summer residence in parks in and around Seattle. All are unique art pieces and people are encouraged to pause and play a piece or two (for as long as 30 minutes). Supposedly hidden, this wasn't at all hard to find. #TroveOn - Serious Pie, which is seriously delish btw's, becomes Serious Biscuit in the AM. And is also quite tasty. This is the fennel sausage w/extra cheesy goodness. Def $$, but it's a good splurge on a Saturday. We visited this park overlooking Seattle during a beautiful full moon. Great place! The coolest library! Can easily spend a day here. #seattle #library #weekendgetaway #stunningstructures Come get some awesome coffee and ambiance at Zeitgeist!!! One of the best places to fly a kite in Seattle is at Gasworks Park. From Kite Hill, of course. On this day there was wind aplenty and the kids got the kite up just by tossing it into the air. The name really says it all about this place as their food is clearly made with love. The rolls, including this beautiful and ridiculously delicious mango roll, and any of their nigiri sushi specials cannot be beat. Folklife Festival is held at the Seattle Center grounds on Memorial Day weekend. A great place for people watching, listening to music and sampling different food trucks. #Architecture #Bestof5 Head to Alki Kayak for a guided sunset tour into Elliott Bay, a lovely spot to snag sun-splashed views of the Olympic Mountains & the Seattle skyline while the resident sea lions serenade you with their cacophonous honks & barks from their perch on the mooring buoys. If their siren song pulls you in, be sure to give them a wide berth (~100 yards). Very cool When in Seattle, stay here. Close to the Pike Place mkt, shopping and many great downtown eateries. Warm. comfortable setting with a classically northwest feel, and they treat you like royalty. She is alluring, blindingly white, 46-feet tall and named “Echo”. Her surreal, Easter-islandish countenance towers over bikers, joggers, walkers and gawkers day after day. In the sunlight she shines like an arcane satellite beaming light back up into outer space. Take time to gaze up at her from below and then walk onto Pier 70, where you can look back across the water and admire her more fully from a distance. Located on the waterfront area of Olympic Sculpture Park in Belltown. (Artist: Jaume Plensa) Free! • http://seattleartmuseum.org/echo • #EchoSculpture #OlympicSculpturePark #Seattle #art #localgem Night time View from Dr. Jose Rizal Park #flowers #pikepplacemarket #seattle #washington #market #colorful This mosaic floor, meticulously crafted from thousands of tiny white and black stones, is indicative of the luxurious life lived by Pompeii's elite class. This particular floor was found in a villa near Pompeii. Featured in the recent Pompeii Exhibit. Caught up with Weirdo creating something new outside Trover HQ. He and Joe Nix have worked with the owner of this building to curate rotating pieces at this location. Thanks to them! The famously disgusting gum wall in Seattle, WA The quinoa salad is sprinkled with feta and topped with a perfect sunny-side-up egg. (Plus bonus roasted squash, when it's in season.) This might have been the highlight of my visit to the Space Needle. We went up to the top of the needle and visited the EMP, but I loved the Garden of Glass!! So beautiful! A photographer's dream inside this place! Obviously, go when the flowers are in bloom. ;) Very cool new building in the South Lake Union area of Seattle under brilliant skies. UW Medicine built this as a research facility to study multiple sclerosis, kidney disease, malaria and lupus among other things. #architecture Mini chirashi sushi during Happy Hour The infamous salmon A piece of the Statue of Liberty comes to Gasworks Park for 4th of July!! The Teddy Bear Suite is a must-see at Christmas for little kids or anyone who likes Teddy bears! Beautifully decorated suite at the Fairmont Olympic Hotel, with a bed full of Teddy bears and a gorgeous, giant Christmas tree in the lobby. alley near market..wall on Left, known as Chirashi Bowl! One of the exhibits in the Pacific Science Center is the 4,000 square foot Tropical Butterfly House. Come here to get warmed up and see the incredible butterflies imported from around the world, as well as beautiful, tropical plants. The Pacific Science Center not only has a ton of fun and educational science exhibits, but also includes an IMAX theater and planetarium. http://www.pacificsciencecenter.org One of my favorite #hometown hangs is the Center for Wooden Boats! This great little organization offers free Sunday sails on their fleet of historic boats, including the cute little steamboat Puffin! Toot toot! Sign ups start around 10am if you are looking for a cruise around Lake Union. CWB also offers boat rentals including kayaks, canoes & pedal boats, as well as a great view of the lake. Try your hand at the knot tying exhibits or check out what they're building in the shop. Underground Tour Teres Major - first time for this tender beef shoulder cut. Lovely seasoned and quite flavorful. Highly recommended. This is one of the better appies in Seattle: a little gem they like to call caviar pie (really!). Fried chicken spring rolls, poutine, branzino, sautéed mustard greens with pancetta, and so much more. Great spot off Post Alley in the Market, with great and very inventive food. One of the better restaurants down there. Really good spot. Chihuly sculpture garden never disappoints! Plan to spend about an hour. The kids will like it too. Spring salad with poached egg, baby greens, asparagus and green goddess dressing. Oh, and pancetta. This cozy little cafe is THE pre-theater top-up. Tucked into central Queen Anne, just steps from the Rep, the Ballet, Teatro Zinzani and more, you'll routinely see actors, directors and crew fueling up (and get to overhear industry gossip and griping). And the noms are damn good too. Luxe cocktails your speed? Come to Damn the Weather. Fifteen-foot ceilings, exposed brick and an urban happy hour crowd elevate your inebriation experience. This is Super chill new high-end coffee spot in Pioneer Square. Nice airy interior with lots of tables. Quiet and good place to chat. Spot-on celebratory Ferris 57 cocktail honoring the opening of the Seattle Great Wheel on Pier 57. Awesome sidewalk art. You won't even notice it until you're actually walking across... and then it will blow your mind. #troverdetour RIDICULOUS caramel apples! I controlled myself and did not indulge but next time I will! #SweetSpot If Pinterest were a place, it would be Bar Sajor. The ambiance alone in this cozy and rustic space, just a touch industrial, is worth a visit alone. Though luckily for us the food is also quite lovely. From the fresh made ginger ale, to the open face tartines on homemade sourdough or rye, or the fresh caught trout, it's all divine. This elaborate bronze helmet - decorated with scenes from the Trojan War - was recovered from the Gladiators' Barracks in Pompeii. You have to imagine that only the top gladiators would have been allowed to wear something so valuable. Featured in the recent Pompeii Exhibit. Get your Don Draper on at this beautifully designed space from the creators of Mamnoon. Sweeping views from 100 feet above Lake Union. What could be better than 'Coffee of the Week'? A local coffee shop that becomes the center of this community without boasting as such. Kids and pets welcome. I <3 the name - named after their darling little boy. Coffee: A+ Awesome view of fog over the puget sound creeping into downtown Seattle! I took this picture from the Space Needle. The giant Puget Sound octopus is the biggest in the world. They can reach up to 20 feet across at full size. And, like all octopodes, they are extremely clever. Meet the Aquarium's resident octopod up close in his open-topped tank. Beware: he might try to come say hi! He has tried to escape before! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BIGG3m-8ZMQ Amazing view of the Space Needle through the ceiling of the conservatory at the Chihuily Garden and Glass Museum. This incredible hand-blown glass flower sculpture hangs suspended from the ceiling. #seattle #washington #chihuily #glass At the flower market stall in Pike Place. #BestOf5 I love this new view from the ferry terminal! The ferris wheel (@pier57wheel official, @seaferriswheel unofficial) opened on June 29th! It's about $13 per adult and $8.50 per child (12 & younger) and (apparently) you can buy tickets online. An afternoon on an Argosy cruise is the best way to get a stellar view of the waterfront. Always blown away by the beauty of this city. #colorful The gum wall. Thousands and thousands have left something behind here. Discussing and incredible at the same time. Thanks to @Sarah copeland for pointing this out. The Pink Elephant This large floor-standing wooden safe was wrapped in iron and bronze and decorated with an image of Diana, the goddess of hunting, for added protection. It would have been kept in the home's atrium as a show of wealth. Featured in the recent Pompeii Exhibit. Cheering on the Mariners at Safeco Field is a great way to spend a sunny spring or summer day. They rarely win, but always fun to watch. Plus the craft brews and Tom Douglas ballpark food always helps. A hand-blown glass globe reflecting the Space Needle in the garden of the Chihuily Glass Museum. The garden is interspersed with glass balls, neon tubes and other glass objects, all color coordinated and placed in harmony with the plants. #seattle #washington #chihuily #glass
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