Seattle Area

Seattle is a vibrant city located between the Cascade Mountains and the blue gray waters of Puget Sound. The city is home to amazing restaurants, excellent museums, public parks, and, of course, a coffee shop on every corner.

If you are looking for a few things to do before or after FoodMed, you might be interested in the following:

Walk

The Space Needle, Experience Music Project, Pike Place Market, Seattle Art Museum, and Olympic Sculpture Park are all within walking distance of the Hyatt Olive 8 Hotel. (You can always take a free bus back.) Wear comfortable walking shoes, and plan a day strolling the city’s famous sites.

Take a Tour

Let Evergreen Escapes do the driving in one of their bio-fueled Mercedes vans. They feature trips to Mount Rainier National Park, Olympic National Park, Mount St. Helens, the San Juan Islands, and several local wine tours, and serve local and organic food.

Take the ferry to Bainbridge Island

The best view of the city isn’t actually in the city—it’s on the ferry to nearby Bainbridge Island. A 35-minute ferry ride will have you in the quaint town of Winslow, with great shopping and restaurants. Bainbridge Island is also home to the best sushi in Washington state (see “Eat!” below).

Eat!

Tilth: Tilth features New American cuisine prepared with certified-organic or wild ingredients sourced from local farmers. Executive chef and owner, Maria Hines, is a James Beard Award winner for Best Chef of the Northwest, as well as one of Food & Wine Magazine’s 10 Best New Chefs of 2005. In 2008, the New York Times deemed Tilth one of the best new restaurants in the country. Tilth is located in the Wallingford neighborhood, and best reached by bus, taxi, or car.

TASTE: TASTE is the Seattle Art Museum’s cafeteria, yet gives new meaning to what cafeteria food can be. They source local ingredients, often directly from the farmer. Within walking distance of the Hyatt Olive 8 Hotel.

Pike Place Market (http://www.pikeplacemarket.org/): Graze your way around Pike Place Market’s bakeries, food stalls, fresh produce, and seafood stands. You can also purchase seafood on ice to take home. Within walking distance of the Hyatt Olive 8 Hotel. (Note: There is a free pre-conference walk to Pike Place Market leaving the hotel at 3pm Monday, October 17.)

Shima Sushi: Located on nearby Bainbridge Island, Shima Sushi serves traditional Japanese sushi featuring primarily organic ingredients. Check the website for scheduling, as they close between lunch and dinner. You can walk, bike, or drive on the ferry from the terminal in downtown Seattle.

Portage Bay Café: The 3 Portage Bay Café location feature local and organic breakfast and lunch options in a casual environment.

Chaco Canyon: This vegetarian café located in Seattle’s University District features 90-97% Organic produce year-round. They feature raw, vegan, and gluten-free foods. Best reached by bus, taxi, or car.

Molly Moon’s Homemade Ice Cream Shop: The 4 Seattle locations feature ice cream made with dairy from happy, healthy, hormone-free Western Washington cows. The ice cream features seasonal fruits and herbs in combinations that are both familiar and surprising producing all kinds of flavors from childhood favorites to avant-garde adult-only fare. From Skagit Valley's strawberries to Sequim's lavender and Eastern Washington’s cantaloupes, Molly Moon's is committed to using the best ingredients the Pacific Northwest has to offer, although they sometimes reach a little further south for Northern California fruit like organic Meyer Lemons and Napa Valley's Blood Oranges. They feature classic flavors like Vanilla Bean and Chocolate live alongside the creative and exotic Cardamom, Balsamic Strawberry, Rosemary Meyer Lemon, and even Maple Bacon.

And if it’s raining….
Hey, it happens—especially in Seattle. Try the Seattle Underground Tours, Seattle Art Museum, or sample the wares at The Pike Brewing Company.

If you have a few days, locals recommend:

The Olympic Peninsula
Mount Rainier National Park
The San Juan Islands

For more information on visiting Seattle, visit the Seattle Convention & Visitor Bureau.