Our guidebook to Ballard
Sightseeing
One of the city's most iconic beach, just minutes away by car. Bring a picnic or grab some food at the beach house or a dog or burger at Little Coney.
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Golden Gardens Park
8498 Seaview Pl NWOne of the city's most iconic beach, just minutes away by car. Bring a picnic or grab some food at the beach house or a dog or burger at Little Coney.
Dangerous catch: The fisherman's terminal is open for business and a delightful place to walk around. Look at the large Alaskan fishing boats up close from the various docks, order fish and chips from one of the restaurants, or shop for delectables inside the fish shop. Just a short drive over the Ballard bridge.
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Fishermen's Terminal
3919 18th Ave WDangerous catch: The fisherman's terminal is open for business and a delightful place to walk around. Look at the large Alaskan fishing boats up close from the various docks, order fish and chips from one of the restaurants, or shop for delectables inside the fish shop. Just a short drive over the Ballard bridge.
The Burke Gilman—great trail network to bike, run or walk on. Close ride to Fremont, Gas Works Park and University of Washington. All good places to spend some time. Accessible by foot or by using the electric rent-a-bikes or scooters you’ll see all around. Different companies have different bikes—yellow, green and orange. Lime bike is our favorite.
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Burke Gilman Trail
Burke-Gilman TrailThe Burke Gilman—great trail network to bike, run or walk on. Close ride to Fremont, Gas Works Park and University of Washington. All good places to spend some time. Accessible by foot or by using the electric rent-a-bikes or scooters you’ll see all around. Different companies have different bikes—yellow, green and orange. Lime bike is our favorite.
Carkeek Park--A short drive away, this park has trails along a creek where you can watch salmon spawing when it's in season, or trails with a bit more elevation. Nice playground for kids with a view of the Sound and the Olympic Mountains. Cross the pedestrian bridge over the train tracks and you'll find a lovely beach. Check out local tide times for low tides. If it's especially low, the tide pools are wonderful places to see different sea creatures.
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Carkeek Park
950 NW Carkeek Park RdCarkeek Park--A short drive away, this park has trails along a creek where you can watch salmon spawing when it's in season, or trails with a bit more elevation. Nice playground for kids with a view of the Sound and the Olympic Mountains. Cross the pedestrian bridge over the train tracks and you'll find a lovely beach. Check out local tide times for low tides. If it's especially low, the tide pools are wonderful places to see different sea creatures.
Sunset Hill park-- Nice walk from our place. Sunset Hill Park is a gorgeous greenspace with views of the Olympic mountains, Shilshole Bay and the marina. Walk west on 77th street outside our place for 15 minutes until you reach the park. Good spot for a picnic or just to read a book.
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Sunset Hill Park
7531 34th Ave NWSunset Hill park-- Nice walk from our place. Sunset Hill Park is a gorgeous greenspace with views of the Olympic mountains, Shilshole Bay and the marina. Walk west on 77th street outside our place for 15 minutes until you reach the park. Good spot for a picnic or just to read a book.
A really great option for nearby hiking can be found in Discovery Park. Technically not in Ballard, just just across the Ballard Bridge in Magnolia. Great place to picnic or also just hang out on the bluff near the old historic naval buildings. We like to park at the South Parking lot. Hike past the naval buildings and take in the views of the Olympics. Continue west along the bluff. Contine into the forest and you’ll find a trail that leads down to the beach and lighthouse. It’s a steep hike back up but well worth the effort.
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Discovery Park
3801 Discovery Park BlvdA really great option for nearby hiking can be found in Discovery Park. Technically not in Ballard, just just across the Ballard Bridge in Magnolia. Great place to picnic or also just hang out on the bluff near the old historic naval buildings. We like to park at the South Parking lot. Hike past the naval buildings and take in the views of the Olympics. Continue west along the bluff. Contine into the forest and you’ll find a trail that leads down to the beach and lighthouse. It’s a steep hike back up but well worth the effort.
The Ballard Locks and gardens—very cool to see the boats go in and out and up and down inside these 2 massive boat locks. Also, across the foot bridge is the salmon ladder and very interesting to watch when they are spawning. Very kid friendly.
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Ballard (Hiram M. Chittenden) Sluizen
3015 NW 54th StThe Ballard Locks and gardens—very cool to see the boats go in and out and up and down inside these 2 massive boat locks. Also, across the foot bridge is the salmon ladder and very interesting to watch when they are spawning. Very kid friendly.
Every Sunday--one of the best in town. Located downtown Ballard. 25 minute walk...If you drive, be sure to park a few blocks away because it gets very crowded. Lots of great food! If you're looking for more craft and shopping, the nearby Fremont Sunday market can't be beat and also has great food carts and options.
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Ballard Sunday Farmers Market
5345 Ballard Ave NWEvery Sunday--one of the best in town. Located downtown Ballard. 25 minute walk...If you drive, be sure to park a few blocks away because it gets very crowded. Lots of great food! If you're looking for more craft and shopping, the nearby Fremont Sunday market can't be beat and also has great food carts and options.
Food scene
This is hands down, our favorite splurge place nearby. Wonderful chef-driven oyster and seafood place. Get your name on the waiting list and go have a drink next door. No reservations and very popular.
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The Walrus and the Carpenter
4743 Ballard Ave NWThis is hands down, our favorite splurge place nearby. Wonderful chef-driven oyster and seafood place. Get your name on the waiting list and go have a drink next door. No reservations and very popular.
Un Bien serves some of the best Cuban sandwiches around. Very messy, but SO good. They also have a great sautéed onion sandwich for a vegetarian option.
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Un Bien
7302.5 15th Ave NWUn Bien serves some of the best Cuban sandwiches around. Very messy, but SO good. They also have a great sautéed onion sandwich for a vegetarian option.
Ray’s Boathouse is nearby and has one of the best views around. The restaurant downstairs is more fancy. Eat upstairs in the cafe and try to snag a patio seat.
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Ray's Cafe
6049 Seaview Ave NWRay’s Boathouse is nearby and has one of the best views around. The restaurant downstairs is more fancy. Eat upstairs in the cafe and try to snag a patio seat.
This is the place to grab a cup of coffee nearby. Just a couple of blocks away. Their plentiful pastry options are a hit with kids.
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Larsen's Bakery
8000 24th Ave NWThis is the place to grab a cup of coffee nearby. Just a couple of blocks away. Their plentiful pastry options are a hit with kids.
But if you want a bakery with out of this world pastries, drive a couple minutes down to Cafe Besalu.
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Cafe Besalu
5909 24th Ave NWBut if you want a bakery with out of this world pastries, drive a couple minutes down to Cafe Besalu.
Cafe Munir is one of the highest rated restaurants in Seattle. Lebanese food, and just a few blocks away. Sunday they serve a very popular chef's choice dinner. They post their menu on Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/pg/Cafe-Munir-117120638400154/posts/?ref=page_internal
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Cafe Munir
2408 NW 80th StCafe Munir is one of the highest rated restaurants in Seattle. Lebanese food, and just a few blocks away. Sunday they serve a very popular chef's choice dinner. They post their menu on Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/pg/Cafe-Munir-117120638400154/posts/?ref=page_internal
Their fried chicken sandwich will be one of the best you ever eat. Get the gochujang one
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Watson's Counter
6420 15th Ave NWTheir fried chicken sandwich will be one of the best you ever eat. Get the gochujang one
“Land of a thousand beers.” Started as a small corner shop, turned to beer wonderland. TONS of cans and bottles to go, 40 plus draft beers to drink there or in growlers to go. Ice cream for kids. Almost always has one of the better food trucks parked out front. Outdoor seating.
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Chuck's Hop Shop & Kegs To Go
656 NW 85th St“Land of a thousand beers.” Started as a small corner shop, turned to beer wonderland. TONS of cans and bottles to go, 40 plus draft beers to drink there or in growlers to go. Ice cream for kids. Almost always has one of the better food trucks parked out front. Outdoor seating.
Great corner store just a few blocks away. Fantastic wine and beer selection, plus taps and a small patio for enjoying a pint. Rotating food trucks are usually parked right outside.
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Saleh's
2401 NW 80th StGreat corner store just a few blocks away. Fantastic wine and beer selection, plus taps and a small patio for enjoying a pint. Rotating food trucks are usually parked right outside.
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Secret Beaches
https://www.theurbanist.org/2021/06/15/the-top-10-street-ends-of-ballard-and-fremont/?fbclid=IwAR1i4_YwY7WQY2vqoKBDxcn1E8ZPBuYNKtK5cyjg81Slch51yf50Wzz-IwU
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Quick view of Mt Rainier
If it’s clear, there’s a view of Mt. Rainier across the street from our place near the community center. Head toward the basketball court and you’ll see it.
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Hiking outside of the city
There are tons of great hikes in the area. The resource we use the most is the Washington Trails Association webpage for latest trail reports and ideas for new places to go. https://www.wta.org
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Ballard brewery districts
Ballard has one of the best brewery districts in the world. Within just a few blocks, you can hit multiple award winning breweries. Outdoor seating, lots of food trucks nearby. Check out the map here:
http://www.visitballard.com/craftbrews/