A Perfect Saturday in Ballard

a scenic run, coffee, shopping, food & drink -- explore some highlights of the best corner of Seattle

Years ago, we stopped traveling on holiday weekends. Memorial Day, Labor Day, MLK Day, etc — those long weekends with federal holidays when school is out and work is closed, we stay put. It seems that everyone else is traveling then so prices are higher and crowds are larger and for us, the extra day isn’t worth the cost.

And also, since everyone else is traveling then, we’ve noticed our neighborhood and practically the whole city reliably empty on these weekends, making our favorite local haunts quiet and lovely.

We love to travel. But we also love where we live! And on these weekends, especially, when things are a little quieter, it’s the perfect nudge to have a true staycation in our own city.

If you aren’t traveling this Memorial Day weekend, perhaps you need some plans? Or maybe you’re not local and have a trip to Seattle on the books? In either case, I leave you with one version of a perfect Saturday in my neighborhood.

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Saturday in Ballard

Our day starts and ends in Sunset Hill (where I live!) and you can do the whole day on foot, though parking is relatively easy in many areas of Ballard if you’re visiting from elsewhere in the city.

Marina Run: 8:00am

The best way for me to start the day is by moving my body and breathing in salt air. Start near Caffe Fiore for my favorite ~4 mile loop. Cross 32nd Street and head straight down the flight of stairs toward the Puget Sound and Golden Gardens below. Once you hit the beach, turn left and run south along Shilshole Bay Marina, stopping to visit with the sea lions around the halfway point.

Cross the street at the end of the marina and continue on the Burke Gilman Trail. At the crosswalk, veer left to begin the slow climb back up the hill. Take a left on 34th to continue north on the gradual ascent. Pause at Sunset Hill Park for a view of the marina below and then continue, ultimately finishing back at Fiore.

Coffee at Caffe Fiore: 9:00am

Refuel after the run with coffee and a pastry treat. Relax in the adirondack chairs out front or slowly meander back to your place.

Stretch, hydrate, shower — get ready for the rest of the day. Especially if the weather is nice, I recommend leaving the car at home, so keep the comfy shoes on.

Lunch at Portage Bay Cafe: 12:00pm

Walk down the hill into lower Ballard where Portage Bay awaits. Plenty of tables inside and out but a reservation can help on a busy day. Sweet or savory, you cannot go wrong here and it’s very family-friendly, in case you have the kids in tow.

Shopping on Ballard Ave: 1:30 - 3:30pm

Perhaps you ate a lot of lunch (I always do at Portage Bay) and could use a little stroll. Head east along the Burke Gilman toward central Ballard. In less than a block, you’ll pass the Nordic Museum and the Thomas Dambo troll - worth a pause and a photo. Continue on your way until you reach Ballard Avenue.

Once you arrive, peruse the shops. There’s something for everyone with thrift stores, artist boutiques, and outdoor stores. Some of my favorites are:

Lucca: lovely and quirky homegoods and greeting cards

Lucky Vintage: incredibly curated

Venue: part art gallery, part boutique featuring rotating artists

Woodland Mod: homegoods store with such a satisfying clean-lines vibe

Ballard Consignment: deceptively huge with an eclectic assortment of furniture

A pause at Sabine: 4:00pm

Recover from your shopping at this delightfully bright cafe offering coffee, snacks, and cocktails all day. My favorite type of spots make it possible for everyone to choose their own adventure — someone can have a coffee while you sip a glass of wine. You can share a savory appetizer or get your own pastries. There’s tons of seating here — inside and out — so rest those gams and do some people-watching.

Drinks and dinner at Bakers: 6:00pm

When you’re ready, start the meander back up toward Sunset Hill. From Ballard Ave, walk west along Market Street back toward the Nordic Museum and Portage Bay. Continue past the Ballard Locks (worth a detour here, if you have time and energy!) before turning right to head north on 32nd Avenue.

Bakers is at the corner of 32nd and 65th, on a cute little busting corner. It’s small, with a lively bar and charming back patio, but takes no reservations and is 21+, so leave the kids at home. If you have to wait, sip a cocktail under the parklet outside or pop next door to Molly’s Bottle Shop for a glass of wine.

When you are seated, enjoy the extensive cocktail and drink list and locally sourced menu of small plates. Baker’s is iconic for a reason!

After dinner, slowly meander up the rest of the way up the hill, back toward Caffe Fiore, where our day began.

What did you think? What would you add if you had more than one day?

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Hi! I’m Liz. Thanks for being here and reading my journals on the journey. If you’re new, learn a bit more about me and this space here and consider subscribing to my weeklyish posts.

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