Lifestyle
Best Boutique: Woodland Mod
There is no shortage of independent shops along Ballard Avenue, but Woodland Mod is a must stop for, well, everything. Gorgeously stocked with home wares, cards, books, jewelry, skincare, fragrances, and more, this bright and airy shop focuses on handcrafted products from small-scale vendors in design-forward countries, including Denmark, Iceland, Sweden, Japan, and the United…
Best Sporting Goods/Outdoor Gear Outfitter: Evo
A venture started in the Wallingford garage of former professional skier Bryce Phillips, Evo has grown to be one of the biggest and most successful online snow sports retailers in the world. Coming up on its 25th year, the brand is known locally for its modern flagship store on Stone Way. A retail shop with…
Best Spa: Yuan Spa
Known for its east-meets-west approach to wellness, Yuan Spa blends ancient Asian healing philosophies with modern spa technology, creating a unique relaxation experience tailored to each client’s needs. With two locations, one in Bellevue and one in Kirkland, Yuan offers services ranging from traditional hydrotherapy (clients complete circuits through heated and cooled environments, including pools,…
Best Hotel: Populus Seattle
Pioneer Square has undergone a post-pandemic renaissance, and Populus Seattle, the neighborhood’s freshest new hotel, is leading the way with its rooftop bar and art-forward programming. Part of the Railspur micro-district, the 120-room adaptive reuse project converts the century-old Westland building into an inviting hospitality space that welcomes out-of-town guests and the surrounding community. Populus…
Best Place to Flirt: Pioneer Square Art Walk
Forget swiping on a screen; the best place to catch the eye of someone cute, and maybe even make a move, is at the monthly Pioneer Square Art Walk. Although the art walk is one of, if not the longest-running event of its kind in the country (happening for more than six decades now), it…
Best Beach Town: Edmonds
We might be a little biased, since two Seattle magazine staffers grew up in Edmonds and two of them live there now, but this little city on the sound is absolutely a Northwest gem. Long a sleepy enclave best known for its ferry to Kingston (or as the residence of travel writer Rick Steves), Edmonds…
Best Neighborhood For Holiday Lights: Olympic Manor
When the December dark settles in, there’s nothing more cheer-inducing than bundling up, grabbing a hot chocolate, and going to look at holiday lights. Bright colors, flashing patterns, giant inflatable cartoon characters—decorations seem to get more and more over-the-top each year. This sentiment rings especially true in Olympic Manor, the neighborhood just north of Ballard,…
Best Park: Volunteer Park
An oldie but goodie, Volunteer Park is one of Seattle’s most beloved outdoor spaces. A Seattle Landmark since 2011, the park sits near the north end of Capitol Hill and dates back more than 100 years, boasting a design by John Charles Olmsted, of the famous Olmsted Brothers’ Landscape Architects. (The city commissioned the Massachusetts-based…
Best Instagrammable Spot: Pike Place Market
Naming a winner in this category was as difficult as choosing a favorite child, but since we could only pick one, we went with an icon. Few places exemplify Seattle more than Pike Place Market, where history, food, art, and nature meet in one of the oldest and longest-running public farmers markets in the country….
Best Live Music Venue: Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley
Like many things in Seattle, Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley has its roots in the University District. Owner John Dimitriou took over the lease on a flailing club called Jazz Alley in 1980, and since then, the establishment has earned a reputation as one of the top jazz bars in the country. But that recognition didn’t come…
From the Archives: Talk it Out
In 1967, Pacific Northwest Bell ran full-page ads in the back of Seattle magazine announcing a marvel of modern living: the “Trimline Wall Model” telephone. Some of the copy was breathless—“A phone so compact it fits your life!”—and the photography was a dream in avocado green and sun-washed gold. Part of the Trimline’s magic is…
Surfing the Strait
Winter surfing on Washington’s northern edge means fleeting waves, icy water, and pure joy.
There are people so crazy and determined to surf, they’ll go to great lengths to do it. No matter the time of year or how cold it gets, surfers can be found anywhere there’s a wave. From surfing on rivers to tidal bore waves, wave pools, and even behind wakes created by tanker ships, surfers…
Honoring Native Heritage Across Washington
From Port Townsend’s storytelling trail to Tulalip’s cultural center, these sites invite reflection and honor Indigenous history and living traditions.
Washington State is the Indigenous land of 29 federally recognized Native American tribes, including the Makah, Muckleshoot, and Lummi Nations. In Seattle, we are privileged guests living on the Native land of the Duwamish Tribe. From trails through state parks and landmarks within the city to well-known sites like Snoqualmie Falls (sacred to the Snoqualmie…
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