Things to Do

Whether you’re sticking close to 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 fav wineries and breweries:

  • DeLille Cellars

  • Chateau Ste Michelle (where we got engaged!)

  • Mark Ryan Winery

  • Black Raven Brewery

  • Woodinville Whiskey Co.

Our fav restaurants:

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

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

  • The Restaurant at DeLille – upscale cuisine in a laid-back atmosphere

  • 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 family-friendly setting

Walking/Biking paths:

  • Eastrail – a regional trail that runs from Woodinville south through Bellevue toward Renton, linking into broader trail networks.

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

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

Redmond

Located just 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 fav Restaurants & Bites

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

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

  • Matcha Magic - for unique matcha drinks and fresh acai bowls

  • Tavolata Redmond – for modern & classy Italian fare

  • Tipsy Cow Redmond - 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 Marymoor Park, going up to through Woodinville and then Bothell where it then links with other regional trails that continue toward Seattle.

  • Redmond Central Connector - from Downtown Redmond, the trail travels north-northwest, eventually connecting to the Eastrail, allowing for seamless travel north towards Woodinville.

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 surprising early history.

  • Space Needle — iconic part of Seattle’s skyline. Skip the tour and snap some pics from below!

  • Washington Park Arboretum - jointly managed by University of Washington and City of Seattle, 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 scenic 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). Rent a kayak off the beach, or eat at the Hawaiian joint Marination just off the taxi dock before taking the taxi back to downtown Seattle.

  • 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 & pastel decor.

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

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

Coffee!

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

  • Olympia Coffee Roasters

  • Monorail Espresso

  • and many more!

Island adventures

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

A few Islands OF note:

  • Bainbridge Island – a scenic daytrip destination with walkable boutiques, restaurants, and wineries — an easy ~35-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 two-acre park, gift shop, observation deck, and the Salish Lodge.

  • 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 and wetlands, and many trails. We recommend the Shangri La Trail from the Harvey Manning Trailhead.

  • Wallace Falls Trail – 5.6-mile round-trip hike near 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 these areas. However, you can get a taste of them within a day as well if you plan 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-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 parking areas.

  • 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. 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 pristine, driftwood-strewn beaches.

Venture Farther

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

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

Still not sure?

Need more advice or insight on where to go?

Feel free to send us an email at our wedding email address, jenajeremywedding@gmail.com. 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.