This Beautiful City In Washington Is the Pacific Northwest’s Best Kept Secret
You know that candy spot the place a visit feels polished and easy however nonetheless outdoorsy and spontaneous?
That was Bellevue.
I anticipated “nice.” I didn’t anticipate to spend mornings zipping by means of new-growth timber, afternoons cruising previous waterfront mansions on a whisper-quiet boat, and evenings hopping between skyline views and comfy neighborhood patios with out ever feeling careworn or rushed.
But that is precisely how our lengthy weekend went down and why I feel Bellevue is the most “have-it-all” metropolis break in the Pacific Northwest proper now.
Why Bellevue Works (Even If You’re “Not A City Person”)
Bellevue has major-city power! World-class eating, slick inns, and glossy purchasing await, nevertheless it additionally enables you to vanish into parks, lakes, and leafy trails in minutes.
One second you’re grabbing a latte; the subsequent you’re biking subsequent to a blueberry farm or kayaking a quiet slough with turtles popping up subsequent to your paddle.
It’s clear, it’s straightforward, and summer time right here is ideal.
We based mostly ourselves at The Bellevue Collection, a trio of properties (Bellevue Square, Lincoln Square, and Bellevue Place) related by skybridges.
Let me translate… film theaters, VR arenas, eating places, and each of our inns had been a weather-proof stroll aside. No logistics math, no Ubers for brief hops. Just wander.
@traveloffpath The Bellevue Collection Is THE Place To Stay when visiting Bellevue!
Where We Stayed: W Bellevue vs. The Westin
We break up the keep to match vibes, however by no means even needed to cross a avenue due to the skybridge connections!
We cherished each stays, however should you’re questioning which one you want extra here’s what we thought:
- W Bellevue — Young, buzzy power with enjoyable public areas. We arrived early, dropped our baggage, and actually went upstairs to catch a film whereas the room completed—then walked again through skybridge to examine in. If you want a trendy scene with an amazing bar program, that is your transfer.
- The Westin Bellevue — Still central, however calmer and enterprise/family-friendly. Big home windows, cozy beds, a straightforward house base steps from parks and Old Bellevue’s restaurant patios. Both inns connect with the identical skybridge community, so you may roam the Collection with out stepping exterior.
@traveloffpath Amazing stays in Bellevue! . #WBellevue #WestinBellevue #Bellevue #BellevueWA #DowntownBellevue ♬ Roomtour – Deoone
The Adrenaline Morning I Didn’t See Coming
We kicked day two off with Bellevue Adventures’ Zipline Tour—seven strains and two suspension bridges strung by means of a maple and Douglas-fir cover.
Guides stored it playful (assume foolish challenges like launching backward or eyes-closed), however the course is legit: as much as 80 toes up and zippers so long as 458 toes.
It’s a blast, beginner-friendly, and solely about 10 minutes from downtown.
Pro tip: Book an early slot on a transparent day: cooler temps, softer mild, and also you’re again in time for lunch.
@traveloffpath Amazing morning out with Bellevue Adventures! @Visit_Bellevue ♬ Riptide – Vance Joy
The Lunch That Won Our Whole Trip
I don’t say this evenly: Rascals Public House served our favourite meal in Bellevue.
We met the house owners (immediately likable, clearly proud), heard the backstory behind the Rascal Burger, and crushed a plate of Mac & Cheese Croquettes that ought to include a warning label for being so good.
If you want beer, order the home Rascals Lager – Scuttlebutt, and don’t skip the Mixed Berry Margarita.
Rascal’s was form of consolation meals with soul that makes you wish to return the subsequent day. And the subsequent. And the subsequent…
We want we may have eaten right here once more, however we would already deliberate out the remainder of our meals for the journey! When we make our means again to Bellevue, you’d higher imagine this can be the first place we go for a chunk!
Peak “City-In-Nature” Moment: Kayaking The Slough
Grabbing a double kayak from Best Kayak Rentals at Enatai Beach Park, we paddled into the slough and promptly misplaced observe of time (and our rental window… oops). Turtles, herons, and a stage of calm I didn’t anticipate inside metropolis limits.
It’s the best method to really feel such as you escaped with out going wherever. Rentals are walk-up; present hours are posted here.
Pro tip: Set a timer so that you don’t pay the “I was having too much fun” payment. We acquired so into it, we ended up being about 2 hours late turning our kayak again in! 🫣
@traveloffpath If you’re in Bellevue it’s important to get on the water!
Drinks, Desserts & A Skyline Brunch You’ll Brag About
- Ascend Prime Steak & Sushi (Thirty first ground) — Bellevue’s most photogenic brunch. We sat in the clouds with Lake Washington and Seattle in the distance; the Chicken & Waffles and Avocado Cristino had been standouts. If you’re celebrating something, that is the place you do it. Reserve forward.
- Seastar Restaurant & Raw Bar — Dinner was stable, however dessert is the transfer. Order the Passion Fruit Panna Cotta and the Crème Brûlée, and thank me later. Both are staples on the menu for a purpose.
- 520 Bar & Grill (Old Bellevue) — Our favourite patio hangout. Easy stroll through Bellevue Downtown Park (which actually feels a little bit European on summer time evenings). Friendly locals, nice “we live here and never want to leave” power.
- Paddy Coyne’s Irish Pub — Classic fish & chips + a Guinness. Low-key, central, and a brief skybridge stroll from the inns.
@traveloffpath Brunch on high of the world at Ascend! #bellevue #ascendsteakandsushi ♬ Put Your Head On My Shoulder – Paul Anka
Our Unexpected Obsession: Free E-Bikes For Hotel Guests
Staying at participating downtown hotels?
You could possibly borrow complimentary e-bikes with the metropolis’s BikeHop program. We used them to attach parks, the Bellevue Botanical Garden, Kelsey Creek Park, and Larsen Lake Blueberry Farm (sure, you may U-pick in season).
The bikes are cozy, have pedal-assist as much as 20 mph, and include locks and helmets, making it painless to weave nature stops into your metropolis day.
What we cherished most: selecting sun-warm blueberries, then having a picnic in one other park minutes later. That “city-to-nature” flip is Bellevue in a nutshell.
@traveloffpath Bellevue’s BikeHop program was one among our sudden obsessions on our current go to to the Pacific Northwest’s Best-Kept Secret! (Bellevue) #bellevue ♬ Glide – NEIKED & Portugal. The Man
A Step Back In Time
One of the most sudden highlights of our journey was stumbling into Omega Photo, a neighborhood movie digicam retailer that immediately gave us all the nostalgic vibes. Some buddies of ours all the time journey with a movie digicam, and we cherished the thought of bringing one alongside to seize our journey in a extra intentional means.
Instead of heading into Seattle to hunt one down (the place our buddies acquired theirs), we found Omega Photo was just a few minutes from our lodge. Even higher? We grabbed a free experience utilizing the Bellevue Bellhop program (sure, you may really get free rides round city, undoubtedly make the most of that!).
When we walked in, we actually had no clue what we had been searching for, however the proprietor was superior. He patiently walked us by means of totally different choices, confirmed us some actually cool vintage cameras, and helped us select the good point-and-shoot for our journey.
We ended up hanging on the market for about an hour simply chatting. Everyone working there was so pleasant and enthusiastic about pictures. Walking out with that little movie digicam felt like the greatest form of memento, and we will’t wait to see how the pictures end up as soon as the roll is developed.
If you’ve ever considered going again to the good ol’ days and capturing your journey on movie, Omega Photo is 100% price the cease.
Techy Fun Break: VR Game Night
Across from the theater inside Lincoln Square, MIRRA is a social VR area with immersive, game-show–type play, 8K panoramic screens, shareable bites, and handcrafted cocktails.
It’s a fusion of a bar night time and a digital playground.
We had been only a group of two… and we crushed it, beating out greater teams with nimble-squad technique and perhaps a little bit newbie’s luck 🤘. The employees was so cheery and on level, they made us really feel like champs even earlier than we received.
@traveloffpath Fantastic night time out in Bellevue at MIRRA!
Day Trip That’s Worth It: Seattle’s New Waterfront
Our final morning, we traded brunch-view selfies for one thing sudden: a guided history hike led by Global Family Travels by means of the Coal Creek Trails, the place the forest hides the remnants of a coal‑mining city.
This 3.5‑mile “Trail Through Time” uncovered previous mine shaft entrances, logging and mining artifacts, and interpretive indicators that deliver Bellevue’s Nineteenth-century industrial roots vividly to life.
As we hiked, our information spoke of rail strains and firm cities all beneath a cover of towering Douglas-firs and mild hen songs.
After our morning hike, we continued to Seattle’s new Waterfront Park.
The transformation is big: new connections from Pike Place Market all the way down to the water through Overlook Walk and a rising promenade with piers, playgrounds, and views for days.
If you’ve got been to Seattle earlier than this new addition, you already know what a ache it was to get all the way down to the waterfront. Well, now it’s lastly straightforward (and lovely) to entry the waterfront.
Lunch tip: Ivar’s on the water for traditional chowder and tales from the of us who helped make the new waterfront occur.
@traveloffpath What an effective way to spend our final day in Bellevue! A guided historical past hike and a tour of the new Seattle waterfront with Global Family Travels!
♬ Sweet Disposition (a moment, a love) – Lost Frequencies & The Temper Trap
The Perfect Farewell: Silent Cruising On Lake Washington
We capped our journey with Bellevue Lake Cruises on a Duffy electrical boat gliding previous shoreline estates (together with a sure tech icon’s place), sipping wine, and absorbing that final golden hour.
Electric means peaceable music and dialog with out engine roar, and also you get a very totally different really feel for the metropolis from the water.
This was the good method to finish our journey, with chill conversations about all our experiences and excellent climate out on the water.
@traveloffpath The good ship off from Bellevue with Bellevue Lake Cruises! #bellevue ♬ son original – Electro Anthology
Practical Bits (So Your Trip Feels As Easy As Ours)
- Base your self at The Bellevue Collection. The skybridges imply weather-proof entry to inns, eating, theaters, bars, and MIRRA, plus fast walks to Downtown Park and Old Bellevue.
- Borrow a BikeHop e-bike in case your lodge participates; it’s the most enjoyable method to join parks and neighborhoods.
- Zip in the morning, paddle in the afternoon. Book Bellevue Adventures early, then hit Best Kayak Rentals at Enatai or Meydenbauer later when the mild will get fairly.
- Don’t skip dessert at Seastar or brunch views at Ascend. Reserve forward for weekends.
- Alaska Lounge at SEA: If you’re flying house late, day passes are bought when capability permits. Go to the North Satellite lounge for the large home windows—on clear days, you may see Mt. Rainier.
Bottom Line
Bellevue shocked us. It’s polished with out being pretentious, outdoorsy with out the logistics, and genuinely pleasant. We left with blueberry fingers, new VR bragging rights, and a plan to come back again for extra lake time.
If you need a straightforward win for a getaway or “city break that still feels like vacation,” put Bellevue at the high of your record!
And for a recap on the high issues to do and different necessities, use ‘The Bellevue Balance‘ device under:
Polished & Playful
Rascals Public House
The journey’s greatest meal. Comfort-food-with-soul, from the signature burger to Mac & Cheese Croquettes. A must-visit.
Skyline Views & Patios
Brunch in the clouds at Ascend, unbelievable desserts at Seastar, or a relaxed patio vibe at 520 Bar & Grill.
Omega Photo
A nostalgic journey to a neighborhood movie digicam retailer. The pleasant house owners will show you how to discover a classic digicam to seize your journey in a novel means.
MIRRA Social VR
A high-energy VR area that looks like a recreation present blended with a bar night time. Perfect for a enjoyable, techy break.
Bellevue Bellhop
A free experience service round downtown. Use it to hop between eating places, parks, and outlets effortlessly.
Outdoors & Spontaneous
Zipline Tour
Seven ziplines by means of a Douglas-fir cover simply 10 minutes from downtown. An adrenaline morning that is beginner-friendly.
Kayaking The Slough
Rent a kayak at Enatai Beach Park and paddle a peaceable waterway. See turtles, herons, and discover a shocking stage of calm inside metropolis limits.
Free E-Bikes
Many downtown inns supply complimentary e-bikes through the BikeHop program. The greatest method to join parks, farms, and gardens.
Blueberry Farm & Gardens
Use the e-bikes to go to the Bellevue Botanical Garden (free!) and the Larsen Lake Blueberry Farm for U-pick berries in season.
Seattle Waterfront Day Trip
Hop over to Seattle to hike the Coal Creek path and discover the reworked Waterfront Park with its new piers and promenades.
Plan Your Effortless Trip
Where to Stay
W Bellevue: Young, buzzy power with fashionable public areas.
The Westin: Calmer, family-friendly, and a basic house base. Both are related by weatherproof skybridges to eating and purchasing.
Pro Tip: Base at Bellevue Collection
The skybridge community connects inns, eating places, theaters, and extra. No want for Ubers for brief hops—simply wander.
Flying Home?
If flying Alaska, take a look at the North Satellite lounge at SEA for large home windows and potential views of Mt. Rainier.
For Celebrations
Book brunch at Ascend Prime Steak & Sushi. The Thirty first-floor view of Lake Washington and Seattle is the place you go for particular events.
**Travel Off Path was a visitor of Visit Bellevue, who helped with the creation of this itinerary by internet hosting a few of our lodging and points of interest. Our opinions, suggestions, and options stay our personal.**
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