Big Four Ice Caves

We've been on a lot of hikes in Seattle - none as otherworldly as the Big Four Ice Caves. Situated just a two hour drive north of the city, in the Cascade Range, sits Big Four Mountain. A mountain that has a steep, black face on the north side, shading its base year-round which allows a beautiful and slightly terrifying natural phenomenon to occur - ice caves. That's right - big ole caves made of ice. 

Our pictures won't do this area justice, but we will try our best to describe the beauty to help them along. When you arrive at the hike, you will park and head up the trailhead. You'll find a pleasant, well maintained trail that is good for most skill-levels. Over the next mile you'll walk through the woods, over streams, and up small inclines. At the end of the short hike you'll be rewarded with your first views of the caves. From the end of the main trailhead they look small, dwarfed by the mountain. As you get closer you realize their size - these are the lowest elevation glaciers in the lower 49 states. They are massive and awe inspiring.

See photos as evidence. Amazinngggggggg, amiright?!

The caves are only visible late July through early October, so before you head out we recommend checking trip reports on WTA.org. We also have to mention that these caves are not structurally sound - if conditions aren't right they can collapse and due to their size this is something you do not want to be in there for - enter at your own risk and please please exercise caution while you explore this area. 

Beyond seeing the caves, this hike offers truly stunning scenery to take in as well. In the summer months the ice at the top of the mountain melts and creates a crazy amount of waterfalls - we counted 20 the last time we were there. Watching the water gush down the mountain and flow into streams at your feet is something you don't get to experience everyday. Add the beautiful trees (visit in late September, early October and you can see the bright yellows and reds of the leaves changing) and it really does seem to have it all in terms of PNW beauty. 

Note: Even in the summer months it's chilly here - wear layers and pack a rain jacket. If you need help deciding what to wear you can check out how Macklemore dressed when he visited (it's the snowing bit in the beginning).

Head up to check them out and let us know what you think! 

Seattle Wholesale Grower's Market

Ah flowers...is there anything more cheerful and wonderful than flowers? They are the best for sprucing up your room and attitude. We all know that Pike Place Market has the most beautiful and affordable flower bouquets around. However, there is also a lesser known, secret spot in South Seattle where you can get your flower fix in case you want to avoid downtown. If you head to the Georgetown neighborhood, in a brick warehouse that you enter through a loading dock, you'll find the very special Seattle Wholesale Grower's Market. 

The Grower's market is a co-op of flower farmers that run this member-owned market year round. The growers come from all over the PNW (Washington, Oregon, and even Alaska!) to sell seasonal, beautiful flowers along with plants and foliage. The types of flowers the market caries ranges depending on the month and season. For late September/early October, we found amazing dahlias, bright yellow sunflowers, and a range of pumpkins (not your standard pumpkins either but pumpkins in all shapes, sizes, and colors). There was also a temperature controlled room filled with tiny cactus, air plants, orchids, succulents and, our favorite, lavender. Check the website to see what flowers are showing up at the market during the month you want to visit. 

The market is actually geared toward professional floral buyers and, in fact, you can't even get in most of the time unless you have a buyer's pass. However! Every Friday for 2 hours (10am - noon), it's open to the public and you can shop and buy all the flowers you want. We give you full permission to skip work and head down there. Let us know if you need us to write your boss a note. 

Looking for other things to do in the Georgetown neighborhood while you're down there? Check out our neighborhood guide! 

Dahlias!

Seattle Gem: Unexpected Productions

Tucked away in Post Alley, covered in chewing gum, is a quirky, cool theater that is home to the oldest improv group in Seattle. Most of you are probably aware of the tourist attraction that is Pike Place Market, and you’ve probably visited The Gum Wall, but this little gem is a bit hidden in plain sight and is definitely worth knowing about. We are pleased to present to you the hilarious and talented people of Unexpected Productions.

Unexpected Productions is an improv theater that has called the historic Market Theater home for 20 years. There are 54 improv artists that make up the company. You’ve probably heard of Joel McHale from the NBC sitcom Community - yep, he got his start right here in Seattle with Unexpected Productions. And did you know that this theater is actually responsible for the creation of the gum wall? Patrons of the theater weren't allowed to chew gum in the theater, so they would stick the gum to the outside wall of the theater to get rid of it. Little did they know it would become the institution it is today.

Unexpected Productions puts on 10 different shows a week (you can read about the different shows here) and tickets are fairly inexpensive for a fun, entertaining night out (around $10-$20). If you haven’t spent some time at Pike Place Market after dark, we highly recommend it. The bars and entertainment are top notch here and the atmosphere once it quiets down is very cool. The theater even has a tiny bar where you can grab a drink pre or post show (we recommend pre-show because that just makes the jokes funnier).

It is incredible to watch as they create stories on the spot, with a level and intelligence and skill that will have your cheeks hurting. The actors take recommendations from the audience, which they then use to create hilarious, personalized stories. Obviously no two shows are the same! Depending on how much you love the show you can also take improv classes to increase your odds of being the one up on stage someday, even if you don’t want to perform, improv is proven to help people with their creativity, public speaking, and problem solving skills.

10 Hidden Gems in the Green Lake Neighborhood

We had the pleasure of connecting with Sarah Lemmon who runs the Seattle Greenlaker, a great blog that shares all the neighborhood news of Green Lake. Since she is so familiar with the area, we asked her if she would write a follow-up to our Green Lake Neighborhood Guide, and she agreed! Keep reading to discover 10 hidden gems in Greenlake! 

Meet Sarah from the Seattle Greenlaker! 

For being one of the most popular parks in Seattle, Green Lake and its neighborhood still has several hidden gems that might surprise you. Hi, I’m Sarah from Seattle Greenlaker, and I’m excited to show you some of my favorite things about Green Lake, a place I call home and frequently blog about.

Earlier this summer you probably read the Rain or Shine Guide to Green Lake, which showcases some of the best things to do, eat, and experience around Green Lake. Here’s 10 Green Lake gems you might not know about:

You can do yoga in the middle of Green Lake

Yoga on the lake! Photo courtesy of SUP Yoga Seattle.

Throughout the summer months, SUP Yoga Seattle takes a small group of yogis of various levels and skills out onto the lake with only a paddle board, a tiny anchor, and their own courage. Often the yoga practice takes place on the north side of the lake and after dropping anchor (no seriously, tiny anchors hold the boards in place) the instructor talks you through your yoga practice. Yes, people do fall in occasionally. Yes, your board wobbles. But standing on a board in the middle of the lake gives your mind and body a renewed sense of concentrating just on your practice. Classes often start in May and finish for the season the end of September. Sign up for the classes online and meet at the Green Lake Boat House. 

Seattle’s only honky tonk bar is in Green Lake

Across the street from Green Lake Village, home to PCC Natural markets and some of the newest development in Green Lake is Little Red Hen, Seattle’s live country music honky tonk bar.

Free country dance lessons, courtesy of Mary Ann, occur three nights a week (Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday at 8 p.m. if you are interested). Check their calendar for a complete line up of live country music, karaoke, and more.

Internationally renowned table tennis champions play here, and you can too

Green Lake breeds champions of this sport (And it truly is a sport, by the way). Green Lake has sent players across the world to compete in the International championship games. Several times a week, the Green Lake Community Center gym is transformed into a 16 table arena of the “pings and pongs" of back and forth play. Home to Green Lake Table Tennis Club but welcome to newbies, participants drive from all over the state - yes as far as Port Orchard.

Insider tip: Don’t call it ping pong. Just trust us, they don’t like that. But go check this club out. You will have an immediate respect for the sport of table tennis.

Take a pottery class at the Green Lake Community Center

Green Lake Community Center offers pottery classes for all ages from parent and tot classes, teens or adult pottery wheel throwing and more. Classes change seasonally and range in price. For more information, go to the Green Lake Community Center’s website and search for their seasonal brochure of classes.

Find Green Lake’s hidden dog park

Woodland Park Off Leash. Photo by Scott Frostad

It’s likely no surprise that Green Lake is super dog-friendly. But did you know there is also an off leash dog park across the street from Green lake Park? The Woodland Park Off Leash area is a great place for running around with your dog. The one acre park has trails and is tucked between the Lower Woodland Tennis Courts and picnic shelters.

Check out the cutest dogs in Seattle as they parade around Green Lake every Halloween

Corgi Hawloween! Photo by Mike Lemmon

While we are talking about dogs, there is one dog event you can’t miss, the annual Corgi Howloween. Every year the corgis march around Green Lake adorned in costumes from ninjas to hot dogs. You can hear the pitter pat (or shuffle shuffle) of the short legged canines as they use their little legs to march around the 2.8 miles of Green Lake path.

Insider tip: the best time to see the dogs is right before they take off for the march at the Green lake Small Craft Center amphitheater/bleachers. The owners often line them up and then they take off around the lake. But they are corgis not Greyhounds, so you can easily snap photos or ogle over their cuteness as they trot on by.

Catch Green Lake all aglow - but only three times a year

Because Green Lake Park Trail is not illuminated at night the crowds tend to dissipate at night. That is, except for three nights a year when honestly, you should be part of those crowds! So mark your calendar now for these special events: Pathway of Lights in December, Hiroshima to Hope in August, and Luminata in September.

Green Lake Pathway of Lights

Green Lake Pathway of Lights is one of my favorite times of year. Hundreds of luminaries are placed around the 2.8 mile Green Lake path along with carolers, apple cider, and hot cocoa stations and festive cheer. It’s also part of a huge canned food drive that every year receives loads of food for the homeless.

Lanterns on the lake at Hiroshima to Hope. Photo by Martha Brice.

Hiroshima to Hope honors victims from Hiroshima and nuclear attacks. During the night among music and talks, nearly 2,000 paper lanterns are decorated and one by one lit and set into Green Lake to cast an honorary and mesmerizing glow. An incredibly powerful event that takes place August 6 every year.

Luminata celebrates the last day of summer and coming fall and is always celebrated on the September solstice. The first time we heard this event we had just moved to our house and heard a crazy, but joyous, cacophony of tubas and a mix of instruments coming from the park. We ran over to discover that it was also accompanied by lights and elaborate costumes. The Fremont Arts Council runs this every year.

Eat at Green Lake’s hidden taco truck

This may fall under the category of “you just have to trust us.” There’s a taco truck in Green Lake that has a cult following, but its in a hidden location. If you blink, you will miss it. It’s parked on the north side of the lake off of Aurora on the far end of the Shell station parking lot. Maybe not a huge selling point but El Naranjo has cheap and wonderful tacos, burritos, tortas, and my favorite the sopitos (an open faced taco made with asoft sopito corn shell with meat, cheese, lettuce and avocado inside). You can dine at one of the picnic tables, or do what we do and take it to the park or the wading pool in the summer months. 

Green Lake Loves Gyros (But Here’s The Best One)

You will find there are at least a dozen gyro places in a 2 mile radius around Green Lake. What gives, what's the best one? Our favorite has been in Green Lake since 2010. Mykonos Greek Grill has the tastiest and messiest gyros in town. And if you are extra hungry order their lemon soup. Their phone number is permanently in our phone for takeout orders. (Tell Siri to add their number immediately to your contacts (206) 523-8929).

Find the best dessert at JoDee’s Desserts 

One of the tastiest dessert spots in Green Lake caters to just about any diet. That’s right, JoDee’s Desserts can accommodate vegan, diabetic, gluten free, dairy free - you name it. My cheesecake hating husband says the chocolate cheesecake is one of the tastiest desserts he’d had in a long time - bonus points that you’d never know it’s vegan.

Thanks for letting me share my tips with you. To keep up to date on all things Green Lake be sure to check out Seattle Greenlaker.