What to do in Ballard
Shop Till You Drop!
Ballard Reuse: Funky Reused Building materials and items, with a focus on architectural salvage…Just up on Market St. Bop Street Records for the music junkie with heaps and heaps of vinyl! Check out Stores like: Horseshoe, Trove Vintage, Space Oddity, Dutch Bike Co, Re-Soul, second ascent.
Eat Eat Eat!
There is no shortage of delicious eats in Ballard! Some of my favorites are La Isla: Authentic Puerto Rican Cuisine. Senior Moose is a local favorite, with some of the best Mexican food in town! Stop in and have a Top Pot Donut, or try the famous oysters at Walrus and Carpenter.
Farmer’s Market!
Every Sunday Old Ballard Ave closes it’s streets to cars and opens for the local farmer’s market. Do your shopping local and pick up a variety of local goods and organic, fresh local fruits and vegetables! Who doesn’t want to shake hands with the person that grew their food? Check out items such as local fresh seafood, local honey, and more. Pick up a growler of local beer, a fresh pie, some soda, mustard, jam, or ice cream. Not to mention the booths of local artists and craftsmen! This is not to be missed!
The Locks
Here, the fresh waters of Lake Washington and Lake Union drop 22ft into saltwater Puget Sound. 100,000 boats pass through the canal and locks annually. Go when the salmon are spawning and see fish-ladder activity through underwater windows, stroll through the gardens and visit the museum.
Golden Gardens
Have a bonfire and watch the sunset over the Olympic Mountains! The park features two wetlands and a short trail. Enjoy activities from sunbathing to fishing to stand up paddle boarding. The parking can be a struggle during the summer months. Walk down to Un Bien, a colorful shack offering Caribbean sandwiches made with roast pork & served on Macrina bread. Wed-Sat: 11-9, Sun: 11-8