Things to Do

Whether you’re sticking close by the venue or looking to get out and explore more, there’s plenty to do. Here are just a few of our recommendations.

Woodinville

Located about 20 miles northeast of Seattle in the scenic Sammamish River Valley, Woodinville is known as a premier spot for Washington’s wine scene, featuring over 130 tasting rooms plus breweries & distilleries nestled within a charming, suburban locale.

Our favE wineries and breweries:

  • DeLille Cellars

  • Chateau Ste Michelle (where we got engaged!)

  • Mark Ryan Winery

  • Fidelitas Tasting Room

  • Black Raven Brewery

  • Woodinville Whiskey Co.

Our favE restaurants:

  • Von’s 100 Spirits Woodinville – excellent cocktails and house-made sourdough pasta

  • Hollywood Tavern Woodinville – top-tier tavern food and locally made whiskey

  • The Restaurant at DeLille – upscale cuisine in a laid-back atmosphere, connected to DeLille Cellars

  • Ma’ono – Hawaiian-style fried chicken sandwiches, good for a quick bite

  • Rusty Pelican – uplifted diner-style brunch fare

  • Ballard Pizza Company – thin crust pies in a casual family-friendly setting

Walking/Biking paths:

  • Eastrail – a regional trail that runs from Woodinville south through Bellevue toward Renton. The trail also connects Redmond and Woodinville through the Redmond Central Connector. More here.

  • Sammamish River Trail – connects Redmond to Woodinville and continues through to Bothell, where it links with other regional trails (like the Burke-Gilman trail) that continue toward the city of Seattle. More here.

  • Paradise Valley Conservation Area - a forested, wetland-rich nature preserve within 10 minute drive of Woodinville offering family-friendly paths.

Redmond

Located 15 miles east of Seattle, Redmond represents both a tech-forward hub and an outdoor way of life. With extensive green spaces and trails, Redmond boasts itself as the “biking capital” of Washington.

Our favE Restaurants & Bites

  • Rubenstein Bagels - for a coffee and a tasty bagel sandwich

  • Top Pot Doughnuts – for a morning treat from a Seattle-area local donut chain

  • Matcha Magic - unique matcha drinks and fresh acai bowls

  • Tavolata Redmond – modern & classy Italian fare

  • Tipsy Cow Redmond - casual spot for tasty local burgers and shakes

Parks & Walking/biking paths

  • Redmond Watershed Preserve - a natural open space and trail system, perfect for mountain biking and hiking.

  • Marymoor Park - features many paved, easy walking paths near the river.

  • Sammamish River Trail – one end starts at Redmond’s Marymoor Park, going up to through Woodinville and then Bothell where it then links with other regional trails that continue toward Seattle. More here.

  • Redmond Central Connector - from Downtown Redmond, this offshoot of the larger Eastrail allows for travel north towards Woodinville. More here.

Seattle

Known as the Emerald City, Seattle is a major Pacific Northwest seaport. It’s famous for its unique neighborhoods, tech industry, connection to arts and music, and love for coffee.

Iconic SITES:

  • Pike Place Market – a bustling waterfront market known for local vendors, fresh seafood, and famous fish throwing.

  • Bill Speidel’s Underground Tour – a guided tour that shares stories of Seattle’s surprising early history.

  • Space Needle — iconic part of Seattle’s skyline. We recommend skipping the official tour and instead snap some pics from below! We also love the Garden and Glass exhibit located right nearby.

  • Washington Park Arboretum - jointly managed by University of Washington and City of Seattle, this greenspace features a curated collection of woody plants, scenic walking path, and Japanese Garden.

art and culture:

  • Chihuly Garden and Glass – a vibrant exhibit of Dale Chihuly’s glass art in indoor galleries and outdoor garden space. Nearby the Space Needle.

  • Museum of Pop Culture – an interactive museum celebrating music, film, sci-fi, and gaming.

  • Seattle Art Museum (SAM) – if you love paintings and fine art like us, this is a must!

explore city neighborhoods:

  • Ballard – a laid-back, maritime neighborhood known for breweries, great restaurants, and the Ballard Locks and waterfront.

  • Fremont – a quirky, artsy neighborhood full of unusual public art, indie shops, and a fun offbeat vibe (also home of the famous Fremont Troll).

on the water:

  • Rent a boat – including a hot tub boat out of Lake Union.

  • Take the water taxi to West Seattle’s Alki Beach (10-15 min ride). Walk along the beach and eat at the Hawaiian joint Marination just off the taxi dock. Then just hitch a ride back on the water taxi to downtown Seattle when you’re done!

  • Take a daytrip to Bainbridge Island (see Island Adventures below)

Food & Drink:

  • Neb Seattle – cozy & hip Italian restaurant offering wood-fired dishes, handmade pasta, and negroni flights.

  • Willmott’s Ghost - Roman-inspired cuisine & pizza in a modern setting with natural light & vintage-inspired pastel decor.

  • Chan Seattle - modern, upscale Korean cuisine. Great for happy hour bites.

  • Lola - serving Greek-influenced Pacific Northwest cuisine in a lively, welcoming atmosphere.

Coffee!

Skip the Starbucks (founded in Seattle, yes) and instead try something even more local like:

  • Olympia Coffee Roasters

  • Monorail Espresso

  • and plenty of other quaint and quirky coffee shops!

Island adventures

Washington boasts several islands off its coast, perfect for just a daytrip or for a longer, idyllic getaway.

A few Islands OF note:

  • Bainbridge Island – a scenic daytrip destination with walkable boutiques, restaurants, and wineries — an easy ~30-minute ferry ride out of downtown Seattle.

  • Whidbey Island – a relaxed island featuring quaint towns, historical sites, and Deception Pass State Park at its northernmost tip.

  • The San Juan Islands – a farther, nature-filled archipelago popular for whale watching, sea kayaking, and charming island towns.

NATURAL WONDERS

Washington is abundant with natural treasures. There’s much more than we could ever hope to list here, so we’ll highlight just a few!


Note that unless otherwise stated, the following involve at least a medium level of physical activity. Bring water and properly prepare whenever hiking.

Less than a 2 hour drive:

  • Snoqualmie Falls (easy / accessible) - An impressive and iconic sight. At the 270 ft falls —which you can easily drive up and see— you will find a gift shop, observation deck, and the nearby Salish Lodge. Take the short walking path for an alternate view!

  • Rattlesnake Ledge – moderately challenging 4-mile roundtrip hike near North Bend, featuring a steady forested climb to expansive rocky vistas overlooking Rattlesnake Lake and the Cascade mountains.

  • Cougar Mountain Regional Park – just a short drive from the city of Bellevue (a sister city to Seattle), this expansive park is filled with native wildlife and remnants of Washington’s cultural and natural history. The park features old growth forests, streams & wetlands, and many trails. One of our favorites is the Shangri La Trail, which you can start from the Harvey Manning Trailhead.

  • Wallace Falls Trail – 5.6-mile round-trip hike near the mountain town of Gold Bar, which follows the Wallace river through lush mossy forest to a stunning, multi-tiered waterfall at the finish.

2-3+ hr drive:

You could easily spend more than a day in any of the following areas. However, you can get a taste of them within just a day if you plan on just a single area or trail to explore.

  • Mount Rainier National Park – Over 236,000 acres of wilderness around Washington’s highest peak. The park is renowned for mountain views, wildflower meadows, picturesque lake, and ancient forests. We recommend the main Skyline trail, which will take about 4-5 hours to complete (difficulty = medium to medium-hard). If you’re not down for a long hike, there’s still enough to explore from the car and/or easy enough walking access from the parking areas. Research any special entrance requirements ahead of your visit.

  • Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest – a huge area spanning 1.7 million acres along the Washington Cascades —extending as far north as the US-Canada border— known for alpine forests, snowy trails, and many pristine lakes. Note, we’re not as familiar with this area, so we recommend doing more research if you’re interested.

  • Olympic National Park – Located on Washington's Olympic Peninsula, the park is renowned for its incredible biodiversity, protecting three distinct ecosystems: glacier-capped mountains, ancient temperate rainforests, and over 70 miles of wild Pacific coastline. It is considered "three parks in one," offering the chance to explore rugged alpine peaks, lush moss-draped valleys like the Hoh Rainforest, and picturesque, driftwood-strewn beaches.

Venture Farther

If you’re keen to explore even more of the greater Pacific Northwest region, there’s no shortage of places to go.

From the rugged Oregon coast, to the nearby Canadian hub of Vancouver, BC, you can get to any of these within about a 3 hour drive from Seattle.

Still not sure?

Need more advice on where to go?

Feel free to send us an email at our wedding email address, jenajeremywedding@gmail.com, or send us a text. It may take us up to a week to get back to you, but we’re happy to try and answer any travel-related inquiries you may have as you plan your trip.