By : Lauren Rodych-Eberle

When people ask, “Where do you live?” [during the hockey season], I say Seattle. However, while our first year in Seattle had us renting right downtown with a Seattle mailing address, year two and three took us to Bellevue. While Bellevue may not be a destination you plan your trip for, I feel like these travel guides are as much for me to look back on, skim through, and revisit ideas of things to do with the kids, and places to eat, as much as they are for you. Plus, there’s people out there moving to Bellevue, visiting Bellevue, or wanting the same thing as me – to come up with new ideas to be a tourist in their own home, right? So, here we go…enjoy!!

Check Out Other Washington Travel Guides:

Activities

Outdoor with Playgrounds/Trails/Beaches

Check out these posts as well: Family-Friendly Hikes in Washington and Family-Friendly Nature Walks (near Seattle)

  • Downtown Park [and Inspiration Playground] – this is a fan favourite! Stroll the park, play on the playground, or just pop in while you’re feasting downtown!
  • Hidden Valley Sports Park – another favourite playground here with lots of green space to run and play sports
  • Robinswood Park – love this spot for trails, as well as picnic and playground space
  • Killarney Glen Park – all the trees surrounding this are pure magic
  • Medina Park (Medina) – this park has a nice little loop, and a fun playground
  • Juanita Beach Park (Kirkland) – this is so close to Bellevue, that it’s worthy of mentioning – play in the water, on the beach, at the very cool park, or walk the boardwalk – another fan favourite!
  • Meydenbauer Bay Park – beautiful sandy space!! Tricky parking, but not bad if you go during the day during the week
  • Bellevue Botanical Gardens – this one is worthy of visiting every season, and especially for taking in the Christmas magic, but I’ll get into that in Seasonal down below
  • Coal Creek – hike to a waterfall – need I say more? Okay, I will…take note there are no washrooms at the trailhead, so pack your toddler toilets!
  • Bellevue Nature Trails – Bellevue has so many little trails everywhere you look, and it’s so nice to feel like you can get a piece of nature where ever you are!
  • Mercer Slough Nature Park – a wetland right in Bellevue – beautiful for walking or biking, or taking in some birding!
  • Crossroads Park – this park has a splash playground, picnic areas, and so much space, but it’s also worth mentioning, because it’s right by Crossroads mall that has a sweet little secondhand book store worth visiting

Outdoor with Animals

  • Kelsey Creek Farm – check out the animals or hike the trails – this is a super cute destination
  • Sammamish Animal Sanctuary – while not right in Bellevue, a close stop, and your kids will love to see the rescued animals

Indoor

Seasonal

Now to the Food…

Cafes

  • Woods Coffee – this is the coffee shop I dream about and miss when we are gone
  • Mercurys Coffee Co. – so busy, and so big – expect to stand in line forever, but also, they have countless options [plus, some mini drive-thrus]
  • Third Culture Coffee – a great local spot, plus they have a unique spin on a delicious ‘Golden Milk Latte,’ which I love! Grab something to go and head over to Downtown Park, or stay and enjoy their cozy vibe

Breakfast

  • Queen Bee Cafe – a not-for-profit, and absolutely delicious cafe!
  • Gilbert’s on Main – the kind of place you go if you want hangover food; the portion sizes are insanity

[Quick] Lunch

  • Duke’s Seafood – best clam chowder you will find in Seattle and otherwise, hands down!
  • Zeeks Pizza – our favourite Bellevue pizza
  • Beach House (Kirkland) – I’m going to get to lots more Kirkland restaurants in a Kirkland post, but this again is so close to Bellevue, and is a cute little lunch spot right on the water
  • homegrown (Kirkland) – okay, a lot of my favourite lunch spots are apparently in Kirkland, but enjoy a homegrown sandwich!

Dinner

  • Ascend Prime – go for the steak and sushi, stay for the views!
  • STK – yes, it’s a steakhouse, but get the mini burgers
  • Joey – my Canadians are not new to Joey restaurants, but they have a little bit of everything, and it’s delicious
  • Seastar – if you’re in a seafood mood
  • Carmine’s – delicious Italian
  • Cantinetta – next Italian option, after Carmine’s
  • Como (Kirkland) – not in Bellevue, but again, close-close-close by, and it’s beautiful on the water, with fantastic pasta and pizza and more!
  • Bis on Main – American restaurant

Dessert

Well, that’s a wrap! Have fun exploring Bellevue!

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