Seattle's Outdoor Staircases

It's no secret we like to eat. And sometimes blog posts require that we eat 5 donuts in one morning (it's for research, people!). So, it's probably smart if we occasionally try to get outside and move our bodies so we can tackle more donut shops in the afternoon. Of course, we want something that is going to pack a serious punch in the shortest amount of time. Enter stair climbing. It's one of the fastest ways to burn fat, tone your legs, scream curse words, and not be able to get out of bed the next morning. Outdoor staircases in and around the city are numerous. In fact, there is an entire website dedicated to finding these hidden leg burners. Today, we are here to tell you about our 3 favorites. They get you to different parts of the city and are pretty to boot! If you are going to do a workout from hell, you might as well get some scenery, amiright?

Thistle Street Stairs

Location: 8261 Northrop Pl SW, Seattle, WA 98136

This long stair case is located in West Seattle right next to Lincoln Park, which is sort of perfect because Lincoln Park is a beloved and large park located right on the Puget Sound (and home to Colman Pool). It's worth the trek to West Seattle to visit the park and you can tackle this stair climb as part of your outdoor adventure day. The stairs start at Fauntleroy Ave. right by the park and the ascend 367 steps towards SW Thistle Street. They start off fairly gradual with long steps, but eventually steepen before reaching the top. Take a deep breathe, and get moving! You got this.

Howe Street Stairs

Location: 810 E Howe St, Seattle, WA 98102

The very long Howe Street Stairs

Howe Street Stairs and Blaine Street stairs are located right next to each other and run parallel from Lakeview Blvd E. all the way up to E. Howe Street and E. Blaine Street. There are 388 steps making them the longest, continuous staircase in Seattle. They are relatively popular, so you will have to share the steps with others looking to get in a workout, but the steps are wide and there is plenty of room. The steps run alongside houses with beautiful backyards and lush vegetation making them a beautiful place to get your steps in. If you haven't passed out from running up and down Howe Street stairs, we recommend walking the short distance to Blaine Street and doing it all over again.

Beautiful backyards along Howe Street Stairs

Wilcox Wall

Location: 8th Ave. West at West Lee St.

The Wilcox Wall

The Wilcox Wall is a lovely retaining wall located in Queen Anne with stairs built into it. While the number of stairs in the wall are actually relatively small, this one makes the list because it can be combined with the Lee Street Stairs located not too far away and, if you are really ambitious, can also be combined with the Galer Street Stairs for one long, epic workout. It also offers sweeping views of the Sound! We recommend starting at Olympic Way W. and W. Lee Street, running up the Lee Street Stairs, up the Wilcox Wall then following W. Lee St. all the way to Queen Anne Ave. N. where you can finally hit the final 36 steps that brings you to the top of Galer St. Here is a map for reference.

The best part about this run is that it ends right at Queen Anne's 5 Spot, so you can get a lovely brunch (and mimosa) after you are done. You deserve it.

Lee Street Stairs

The view from the top of the Wilcox Wall

What are your favorite outdoor staircases? We would love to know!

Seattle Brewery Tour: Georgetown

Georgetown: Seattle's oldest neighborhood and a hot bed of amazing breweries. The rent is cheaper down south and there is more space to brew, which makes this location great for a brewery tour (they are kind of spread out, so you'll want a DD or to plan on a couple Uber/Lyft rides). Grab some friends and head down!

Two Beers Brewing 

With the philosophy, "Life’s a little more honest after two beers," this brewery takes the prize for our personal favorite in Georgetown. Two Beers has been on the scene since 2007 and because of the size of their operation, they have been able to build a pretty amazing taproom compared to other craft breweries. The taproom, named The Woods, has pool, darts, shuffleboard, and a local food truck, Bread and Circuses, has set up shop permanently serving great, greasy food to patrons. They have all their beers on tap along with all the offerings of their sister company, Seattle Cider Co. Plus, dogs are allowed and they have a patio (winning)! There isn't a whole lot they don't offer for someone looking for a cozy place to have a great beer or hang out with friends. 

Our favorite brews: Wonderland Trail IPA and when it's in season their Day Hike Summer Session Ale hits the spot!

Georgetown Brewing

Georgetown Brewing is only a tasting room, so that makes it a different kind of stop on on a brewery tour. Don't get us wrong though, there is a certain appeal to being able to get free beer, even if they are only 2 oz. tasters! Their location is in a large warehouse that also serves as their brewing operation. Walk up the ramp and through the large sliding doors. You can head over to the far end of the counter, show your I.D., and sample up to seven of their beers, without ever taking out your credit card! If you have a growler you can fill it with your favorite pour, but don't expect to be able to catch a buzz or drink a pint at the location. 

Note: On the weekends they are only open until 4:00 PM, so plan accordingly. 

Our favorite brews: Mannys, duh! This is the beer of Seattle and has so many memories attached to it. 

Lowercase Brewing

Lowercase Brewing is located just south of the main drag in Georgetown making it a great spot to stop after exploring the neighborhood. They just opened last year and have a pretty great taproom, equipped with games, a patio, and a comfy couch section for large groups. We are big fans of their beer and their commitment to the community. They also allow dogs and children at their taproom and also serve up their delicious lemonade for any underage guests, which makes it a great spot for families. And to make this brewery even better they hand out free popcorn to help soak up some of the alcohol so that's nice!

Our favorite brews: Their iPA and Honey Wheat win by a landslide, but definitely check out their seasonal tap for rotating goodies.

Machine House Brewery

This spot wins on the list for vibe. Machine House Brewery is located in a portion of the old Rainier Brewery from way back in the day and has giant windows that let in tons of light and a big open taproom that is great for sharing a pint with friends. They brew english-style ales and serve them up in their taproom from rad, old traditional hand pumps. You'll probably notice your beer isn't quite as cold as some others, but don't worry that is traditional as well. Go with it, they know what they are doing here. 

Our favorite brews: Their Golden Ale is good for any occasion, light and refreshing. A great seasonal is their Double IPA, at 9.4% it packs a serious punch and tons of flavor! 

Counterbalance Brewing Company

Counterbalance: The quirkiest of the Georgetown breweries. Their balancing, one legged duck will greet you as you come up the ramp into the industry building that houses their brewing operation. Unfortunately, it isn't a real-life mascot, but it still lends to a pretty fun backdrop to your drinking. Pull up a seat at the bar and get a sampler to experience the wide variety of beers they have on tap. The staff is welcoming and there are games to enjoy. They also let you bring in food from outside places, so we recommend grabbing a pizza to-go from Stellar Pizza beforehand. We really enjoy this spot and hope you will too!

Our favorite brews: The Abigail Blonde Ale is our favorite, but they have some great stouts and IPA's on rotation usually as well! 

FYI: A new spot, Jellyfish Brewing, is set to open sometime this year. Keep an eye out! 

Insider's Guide to the Free Samples of Pike Place Market

The market is full of free samples from the local makers. Finding them can be tricky, but these are top notch products, so it's worth it. We are talkin' that Walter White level stuff, the best of the best. They know if you get a little taste you won't be able to stop from coming back for more.

We've compiled a comprehensive list of the spots that offer free samples. We just ask that you spend at least a little money when you visit (these are small business owners after all)!

Ellenos Greek Yogurt - Yogurt (usually lemon curd and marionberry)

The best free sample in the entire market. We know you're thinking, "Yogurt? What's the big deal?" Well, go get yourself a free sample and you'll be singing a different tune. We are completely hooked and always have Ellenos on hand for granola in the morning or a sweet snack in the afternoon. 

Britt's Pickles - A Variety of Pickles

Britt's has educated us on the power that is natural fermentation. Apparently the pickles you buy at the store are processed in a way to remove all the awesome vitamins and enzymes in the vegetable. Britt's doesn't stand for that crap. Head over and sample some of their options and taste for yourself! 

Beecher's Cheese - Cheese Curds

Beecher's not only has a huge window display where you can watch them make their cheese, but they also always have fresh cheese samples out. Most commonly found is their flagship cheddar, which is almost as good as their No Woman No Cry. 

Pike Place Fish - Smoked Salmon

Watch them toss some fish, oogle the beautiful displays of crab and salmon, strike up a conversation with a monger about the sustainable nature of their business, and then grab a taste of their smoked salmon. It's great with bagels and cream cheese in the mornings, but good enough to eat completely plain.

Market Spice - Cinnamon Orange Tea

Market Spice is right next to Pike Place Fish and offers free Dixi Cups of their famous Cinnamon Orange Tea! We love to sip a sample as we peruse all the beautiful loose tea offerings and see what various tea products we need to add to our growing collection. 

Sosio's Produce - Fresh produce

If you wander down the main arcade odds are you'll notice a bright produce stand on the west side. This is Sosio's and they have amazing fresh produce and always offer up samples. From pears and apples to the occasional exotic options, we never turn down the slices of fruit and a smile from the employees. 

Simply the Best - Apple Chips

A healthy snack option once you start to feel a little weighted down from all your other samples is a bag of dried fruit from Simply the Best. This wonderful stand is piled high with varieties of dried fruit like pineapple, bananas, and mango. You can usually get a few apples to sample if they aren't busy with other customers. 

Mick's - Pepper Jelly

You might not think of jelly as a big draw, but Mick's friendly staff and unique recipes keeps locals coming back for more. We love their famous pepper jelly, which you can pair with crackers and cream cheese for a yummy snack. 

Pappardelle's Pasta - Chocolate Pasta and various olive oils

Alright, we aren't going to lie, we don't really hit this place up for samples of the pasta... the chocolate pasta isn't thatttt great. It's uncooked and kinda dry, but this stand has been peddling that pasta for a longggg time, so we see it as something you have to check off your list, even if it's just once. The real joy comes from their olive oil stand. Stab some bread, spin the wheel, and get yourself as many of those flavors as possible! Yum.

Chukar Cherries - Chocolate Covered Cherries

This Seattle institution is a great stop for people with a sweet tooth! They take local Washington cherries and other berries and cover them in delicious chocolate. The combinations are almost endless between all the different types of chocolate and fruit. Our favorite are the white chocolate covered blueberries and the milk chocolate truffle cherries! 

La Buona Tavola - Truffle oil

This little shop in on the main street (same as Beecher's) and is always good for some delicious and rich truffle product samples. They always have their olive oils with bread to sample and sometimes if you are lucky you can catch them on a day when they have some of their potato soup with truffle oil on top! 

What are your favorite samples in Pike Place Market? We would love to hear!

White Center: Seattle's Mexican Food Mecca

White Center is the home of Seattle's most authentic (and cheap) Mexican food. If you are a lover of food from our southern neighbor then you MUST plan a visit for lunch/dinner and bring a big appetite. Oh, and cash, don't forget cash either. 

All the best food is sold to-go, so follow along and we will get you everything you need for a great, big, Mexican meal and a picnic table to eat it at (or you could take it home, but we doubt you'll want to wait).

Tamales at Carniceria El Paisano 

Your first stop needs to be this little grocery store/butcher shop. It's next door to another Mexican food place and at first glance it might look like you're in the wrong place since it's a grocery store, but trust us, you're not! Head to the register in the back and you'll see a large silver pot. The goodies are inside!

They offer three kinds of tamales, rajas (cheese and jalapeño), and two pork options, mild and spicy. Our favorites are the rajas and spicy pork. They also have fresh salsa and pan leche, along with tons of other great sundries. Feel free to stock up! 

Roasted Corn @ Roasted Corn Stand

Alright, now walk half a block down to the Roasted Corn Stand. This is going to be the highlight of your trip. This roasted corn is amazing. Seriously. They serve it a variety of ways, but obviously if you want to keep with your dinner theme you should get the Mexican (#2). They basically take your corn, cover it in mayo, and then douse it in cojita cheese and chili powder. Mmmmm! You can get it on the cob or cut off into a cup if you prefer the clean way of eating it (the messy corn on the cob is so much more fun though). This place only accepts cash, so plan accordingly -- each cob runs $3. 

Tacos @ Taqueria La Fondita

Alright, now for your final stop. Walk about 10 feet to your right and order your main course. The taco plates from this little taco truck are to die for. We can't recommend anything other than the carnitas. They are so juicy and flavorful you'll be begging for their recipe. How do they make the pork taste so tender and delicious?! We don't know, but we're hooked, that's for sure. Obviously you should top off this amazing meal with a sugary Jarritos (why not at this point, right?). 

And now you have your full meal.

There are several picnic tables under an enclosure for customers to hang out and enjoy their food right next to Taqueria La Fondita. Spread out your goods and chow down!