Ballard

Explore

Get acquainted with Ballard’s deep cultural roots at the sleekly contemporary National Nordic Museum (2655 NW Market St), which celebrates 12,000 years of Nordic culture in the Pacific Northwest and Scandinavia. Then stroll along nearby Ballard Locks (3015 NW 54th St), watching salmon swimming upstream on the fish ladder and visiting the seven acres of ornamental trees and plants at Carl S. English Jr. Botanical Garden. Out along pristine Shilshole Bay, picturesque Golden Gardens Park (8498 Seaview Pl NW) is laced with forest trails and fronted by a beautiful beach.

Eat and Drink

Start the morning with a fluffy gourmet breakfast sandwich and a toasted-cardamom latte at Biscuit & Bean (5404 Leary Ave NW). Pizza fans adore the creative wood-fired pies at Delancey (1415 NW 70th St), and seafood lovers flock to Ray’s Boathouse (6049 Seaview Ave NW) to take in panoramic views of Puget Sound and the Olympic Mountains. Dine on the covered sidewalk area or in the colorful dining room at Situ Tacos (5239 Ballard Ave NW), which fills its tortillas with deliciously unusual ingredients like Lebanese-style browned-butter beef and broiled harissa cauliflower. CrackleMi Vietnamese Grill (5605 22nd Ave NW) is a hip hangout for noodle bowls and bánh mì sandwiches, and Katsu Burger (2034 NW 56th St) earns raves for its Japanese take on burgers, using toppings like tonkatsu sauce and wasabi mayo. San Fermo (5341 Ballard Ave NW) serves up traditional regional Italian food using locally sourced ingredients. Ballard is awash in amazing craft beer—noteworthy taprooms include farmhouse ale-focused Fair Isle Brewing (936 NW 49th St) and Great Notion Brewing (5101 14th Ave NW). And for inventive cocktails, belly up to the bar at trendy Hazlewood (2311 NW Market St) or intimate Ocho (2325 NW Market St).

Shop

Distinctive retailers thrive in Ballard. Search for vintage fashion at Lucky Dry Goods (5424 Ballard Ave NW). Annie’s Art and Frame (2212 NW Market St) carries beautiful cards and souvenirs, Standard Goods (5317 Ballard Ave NW) is a must for whimsical gifts and fashionable apparel, and Woodland Mod (5330 Ballard Ave NW) stocks thoughtfully curated body products and lifestyle goods. Don’t miss the Ballard Farmers Market (5345 Ballard Ave NW) on Sundays—you’ll find a bounty of nourishing nibbles and gorgeous gifts.