Itinerary
- The tour starts at a small mom & pop brewery specializing in lagers. Drink Local!
- The Lake Washington Ship Canal Fish Ladder: People young and old delight in watching salmon swim upriver from the Ballard Locks fish ladder observation room. There’s a chance to spot salmon migrating year-round, but there’s no doubt the best time to visit is between July and late September.
- Hiram M. Chittenden Locks: Built in 1911, the Ballard Locks pass boats between sea level and the higher elevation fresh waters of Lake Union and Lake Washington.
- Carl S. English Botanical Garden: 7 waterfront acres with curated gardens & rare plants containing more than 500 species and 1,500 varieties of plants from around the world.
Locals visit these gardens especially for the fan palms, oaks, Mexican pines, rhododendrons, and a fine display of roses. - National Nordic Museum: Entry into the museum is not part of the tour's activities, however, there is still much to do and see. Keep your eyes peeled for the 14 foot tall troll statue made from recycled materials outside the museum's entrance. We will enter the museum to enjoy a Scandinavian inspired treat from the museum's cafe.
- Freya is a small scale, Danish-American owned bakery operating out of Pike Place Market. Their second location is inside the National Nordic Museum. Here guests will enjoy a small Scandinavian inspired snack included in the tour.
- Marvin's Garden: Built at the site of the old Ballard City Hall, this park marks the start of the Ballard Ave Historical District: one of the best areas in the city for bars, restaurants and shopping. A phenomenal farmers market operates here on Sundays.
Sadly, no relation to the Marvin Gardens from Monopoly. - Inspired by old Viking mead halls, this local tavern keeps Ballard rooted in its tradition. Guests will have their choice of beer or mead to accompany salmon skewers.
- After the bakery and mead hall skewers, guests get their fill on Seattle's best fried chicken. Can you handle the heat?
- Fair Isle Brewing: The tour ends with dessert from the restaurant operating inside one of Seattle's premier breweries. Fair Isle specializes in rustic ales such as saisons and farmhouse ales. Their food offerings match the adventurous nature of their beers.
Includes
- All Fees and Taxes
- The tour visits 1 cafe and 2 restaurants in the Ballard neighborhood. Our final stop includes dessert.
- Included in the tour are beers from a local brewery and your choice of beer or mead from a Nordic tavern
Details
Why do salmon swim upriver? Do bridge trolls make good security guards? Does that scruffy man drinking a craft beer work on the shipyard, or in tech?
Welcome to life in Seattle. For 3.5 epic hours, we pack in the greatest joys of the Northwest on foot!
This tour pays visit to 2 breweries (under 21 allowed), 2 restaurants and 1 cafe inside the National Nordic Museum, all within walking distance from natural wonders, engineering marvels and a city's proud history.
Food and Drink are included.
Watch Salmon swim upriver to their ancestral spawning grounds with your own eyes!
Raise the bridges (and the boats!) as they have for over 100 years.
Cheers (Skal!) your new friends and eat fish off a stick like the Viking you always knew you were.
Ballard is a short distance from downtown, accessible in 25 min by bus, <15 min by car, or 30 min by scooter/bike share.
The tour includes a total of 2.75 miles of walking on mostly flat ground, but there is plenty of time in-between for rest.
Welcome to life in Seattle. For 3.5 epic hours, we pack in the greatest joys of the Northwest on foot!
This tour pays visit to 2 breweries (under 21 allowed), 2 restaurants and 1 cafe inside the National Nordic Museum, all within walking distance from natural wonders, engineering marvels and a city's proud history.
Food and Drink are included.
Watch Salmon swim upriver to their ancestral spawning grounds with your own eyes!
Raise the bridges (and the boats!) as they have for over 100 years.
Cheers (Skal!) your new friends and eat fish off a stick like the Viking you always knew you were.
Ballard is a short distance from downtown, accessible in 25 min by bus, <15 min by car, or 30 min by scooter/bike share.
The tour includes a total of 2.75 miles of walking on mostly flat ground, but there is plenty of time in-between for rest.
Know Before You Go
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
- All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
