Sample Seattle's Fine-Dining Experience

Seattle has a diverse dining scene that sets it apart from other cities. You'll find an abundance of seafood restaurants since it's a coastal town, but you'll also find several restaurants that draw on cuisine from Mexico, Latin America, France, and Italy. Here are five great Seattle restaurants you’ll want to check out on your visit.

Ray’s Boathouse

Image via Flickr by moohaha

Ray’s Boathouse features seafood from the Pacific Northwest waters. It's been hailed as one of the country’s best seafood restaurants, and with its postcard view of the Olympic Mountains rising over Puget Sound, it’s also one of the most romantic. The chefs handpick fresh, local seafood and prepare it in simple, delicate recipes. Combine that with the restaurant's 700+ wine list selections, and you have the makings of a perfect Seattle evening.

The Pink Door

When you walk into the Pink Door, you’ll find a delightful mix of Italian-American cuisine, flowing conversation, live entertainment, and a respite from the ordinary world. Trapeze artists fly over guests’ heads as they dine on family recipes crafted from fine ingredients, including Pacific Northwest salmon, organic extra virgin olive oil direct from Sicily, and Leporati prosciutto from Parma. You can also dine on the patio and take in the beautiful view of Elliott Bay. Stay at the nearby Warwick Seattle Hotel and enjoy a delicious Italian meal anytime during your vacation.

Café Campagne

Located at the Pike Place Market, Café Campagne offers an exceptional dining experience, as well as comfortable ambiance and service. Regional French cooking and beverages are served for lunch and dinner, and they're perfect for leisure, business, or special occasions. The café also serves a summer breakfast during the week and brunch on the weekends. Choose from delicious options like escargot, steak frites, roasted chicken, and lamb burgers. Finish with a delectable dessert like creme brulee, chocolate cognac mousse, or sorbet.

The Grill From Ipanema

If you’re looking for a grill with a twist, try the Grill From Ipanema. Located in Seattle's Belltown neighborhood, the restaurant is all about Rodizio, a Brazilian style of enjoying dinner surrounded by friends and family. A wide variety of grilled meats are offered and slowly roasted in specially designed charcoal grills.  Choose from New York strip, flank steak, spicy sausage, or pork chops. Pasta and seafood meals are available for those who don’t eat meat, and there are plenty of salads and soups, too. Be sure to start with the Brazilian tapas and wash it all down with a delicious Brazilian-style mixed drink.

Poquitos

Enjoy authentic Mexican cuisine at Poquitos, where meals are made with local meats and produce, as well as unique items directly sourced from Mexico. Special features include handmade tortillas pressed from fresh masa, made-to-order guacamole from fresh avocados, and dishes inspired by Mexico City's cuisine. If you love Mexican food, you have to add Poquitos to your Lesser Known Seattle Attractions list.

These five restaurants will give you a unique blend of Seattle's fabulous cuisine. Try one or all of them on your next trip to Seattle.

6 Lesser Known Seattle Attractions

Seattle, Washington, is home to several attractions that most travelers are familiar with: the Space Needle, Puget Sound, and the original Starbucks. But there's more to Seattle than these iconic features. Be sure to check out the following six lesser-known attractions during your next stay.

Take a Peek Beneath the Streets

Have you ever wondered what lies beneath a city? Take a guided tour through three sections of the historic underground passageways in Pioneer Square on a Beneath the Streets tour. Led by an experienced guide, you’ll see sections of tunnels the public has never seen.

Camp Out at Blake Island State Park

Image via Flickr by WorldIslandInfo.com

Seattle is a huge coastal town. Why not take advantage of it and camp out on the beach? Blake Island State Park offers 475 marine acres for camping along a five-mile shoreline with spectacular views of the Olympic Mountains and Seattle Skyline. You’ll need to take a tour or private boat to get to the island. Once you’re there, set up camp right along the shoreline, and get ready to see some spectacular mammals, birds, fish, and sea life.

Brush up on Local History at Burke Museum

If you love history, you’ll love learning about Seattle’s unique past at the Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture. The museum houses Washington State collections of natural and cultural heritage, promotes lifelong learning, and encourages respect, responsibility, and reflection. Throughout the year the museum sponsors several fun events for the family. Check the museum’s schedule during your stay to see what events are taking place.

Wine Tastings at Chateau Ste. Michelle

Visit Washington’s oldest and most acclaimed winery, featuring award-winning wines. During your visit you’ll have a tasting session unparalleled to other wineries. Chateau Ste. Michelle Winery is located in Eastern Washington, where there’s a warm and sunny climate perfect for growing world-class wine grapes. Take a tour of the Chateau and its 105 wooded acres, attend a wine and food class, and enjoy a chef dinner.

Enjoy a Whale Watching Cruise

A visit to Seattle is not complete without seeing some of the ocean's most spectacular creatures: whales. A Clipper Vacation Whale Watching cruise takes you around the harbor from downtown Seattle through Deception Pass to Friday Harbor on San Juan Island. You’ll enjoy 2 1/2 hours of whale and sea life watching. You can even stay a night or two at one of the San Juan Island hotels.

Emerald City Trolley

For the best guided tour of Seattle, hop aboard the Emerald City Trolley. Your experienced guide will educate you about Seattle’s famous sites as you visit them. You’ll be connected to several downtown attractions including Pike Place Market, the Space Needle, the Museum of Flight, Pioneer Square, and the Seattle Great Wheel. There’s a second route you can take to see other attractions such as the Ballard Locks and Woodland Park Zoo.

There’s so much more to do in Seattle than drink coffee, visit the Space Needle, and attend a Huskies game. Be sure to check out one or all of these attractions on your next visit.