Make a Reservation

Here's your plan for a cozy Italian dinner and fancy cocktails with friends in Fremont. Watch the video 👇

Enjoy a cozy Italian dinner at a festive restaurant, then end the night with fancy cocktails next door.

Dinner & Drinks with Friends in Fremont

Enjoy an elegant dinner at SWeL Restaurant in Fremont with shared entrées like the Pappardelle with shiitake mushrooms and Italian sausage pizza.

Italian Dinner

✅  Before you go: 
• Make Reservations: The restaurant starts getting busy around 6:30. By 7pm, it’s fully booked, so make sure you make your reservations on Google Maps or Resy https://resy.com/cities/sea/swel-restaurant?date=2022-12-01&seats=2
• Closed on Mondays and Sundays

🚶‍♀️/🚗 Transportation:
• 3 minute walk from the bus station
• There’s also street parking nearby

💪 Pro tips:
• My friends and I ordered three entrées to share
• Highly recommend the Pappardelle with shiitake mushrooms (even my friend who’s not a big fan of mushrooms LOVED it!)
• The Italian sausage pizza has the best crust

Meet for dinner at SWeL

After dinner, visit The Barrel Thief for unique cocktails like C’est l’Amour, Cardboard Cowboy, and a non-alcoholic Purple Rain, also offering Scotch Sundays with 50% off.

Nightcap Drinks

✅ Before you go: 
• Closed on Mondays
• We didn’t make reservations but were lucky enough to get a walk-in table
• To make reservations for groups of 2 - 6 people: https://bthief.com/reservations, but call (206) 402-5492 or email reservations@bthief.com if you have a larger party

🚶‍♀️ Transportation:
• 1 minute walk from SWeL to The Barrel Thief. (It’s right next door.)

💪 Pro tips:
• Our favorite was the non-alcoholic drink - Purple Rain. It’s a very refreshing drink with hibiscus, lime, orange, and agave nectar 
• We ordered: C’est l’Amour (alc), cardboard cowboy (alc), and Purple Rain (non-alc).
• Scotch Sundays are back! All Scotch, 50% off, all day!!

Grab a nightcap at The Barrel Thief

if you're looking for a classy dinner with the best bang

for buck look no further. Head to dinner at swell,

an elegant restaurant in the heart of Fremont.

Walking in the atmosphere was buzzing with friday night life.

made the whole environment very festive and got us into our winter spirits.

My friends and I ordered three entrees to share and I highly

recommend their papa deli with shiitake mushrooms and the italian sausage pizza,

And to cap off your lovely evening, head over to the bar next door, The Barrel Thief.

The interior atmosphere was incredibly lively and cozy.

They have plenty of alcoholic and nonalcoholic choices.

We ordered the C’est l’Amour, Cardboard Cowboy and our favorite, the Purple Rain.

So what are you waiting for? I guarantee a swell night.

Here's your plan for diving with sharks up close at Point Defiance Zoo's underwater tank. Watch the video 👇

Get a deep sea experience right in your own backyard! This is the Eye-To-Eye Shark Dive at the Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium in Tacoma! 🤿

SCUBA DIVE WITH SHARKS! 🦈🤿

Dive eye-to-eye with sharks at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium in Tacoma—no scuba experience needed! Safe, thrilling, and unforgettable underwater adventure for small groups.

Shark tank diving

✅ Before you go
• You absolutely need a reservation for this: https://www.pdza.org/discover/shark-dives/ 🦈
• This is for small groups, up to 4 people! 🤿🤿🤿🤿
• YOU DO NOT NEED ANY SCUBA EXPERIENCE TO DO THIS! The instructors give you step-by-step instructions on how to participate! 💧
• It’s not scary… it’s AMAZING! I felt safe the entire time! 🫶
• There are huge metal bars and a diver from the aquarium in the water with you, constantly checking on you. 🦈
• Make sure you arrive early! You need enough time to make your way through the zoo and to the aquarium by the time your booking starts!⏰
• You will absolutely need a change of clothes! We wore sweatpants and a sweatshirt to the zoo (no hoods!). You’re given a dry suit to wear over that, but water seeped through mine, and I was pretty damp by the end. 😩
• The hardest part for me was getting used to the oxygen line. Once it’s time to go, the staff help you get in quickly, so you can enjoy the most amount of time in the water. I ended up popping back up for a moment and taking a few breaths above the surface to get used to breathing through the line before going under. 😮‍💨
• The water isn’t bad at all! If you get cold easily, consider one more layer! 💦
• You’re underwater for about 20 minutes! The entire experience is about an hour, including a briefing before and after! 🐠🐟
• The experience costs about $130 per person! 💰

💪 Pro tips
• Your ticket includes a ticket to the zoo as well! We stayed at the zoo for a few hours after and checked out the other animals! 🐯🐼🐻

Head underwater! 🤿

Get a deep sea experience right in your own backyard.

This is the eye to eye shark dive at the Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium in Tacoma.

You submerge right into a shark tank and get

up close and personal with these incredible creatures.

I had zero scuba experience before doing this.

You're given step by step instructions and information about the

types of sharks and other fish in the tank with you

before you suit up and head under the water.

so you're underwater for about 20 minutes of that.

The sharks will come within inches of the bars if you stay still.

There's a diver from the aquarium in the water with you,

and there are giant bars to keep you separated.

I really recommend it for anyone interested in getting over their fear of jaws.

Here's your plan for tasting Korean rice wines paired with savory comfort food in Woodinville. Watch the video 👇

Explore varieties of Korean rice wines in this tasting room experience, pairing with traditional savory comfort food.

Rice Wine Tasting

Taste authentic Korean rice wines at Rainbrew in Woodinville—sample flights, try savory Korean comfort fare, and explore seasonal brews on weekends only.

✅ Before you go
• Double check which days they open - currently they only open on Fri, Sat and Sun.
• They have plenty of parking spots.
• If you want to book a tour or brewing class, check their website first.

💪 Pro tips
• I recommend ask what’s their current seasonal drop and give it a try.

Head to Rainbrew

They are crafting authentic Korean rice wines, from creamy Makgeolli to bold Takju.

grab a flight to taste their core line up and don't miss their latest seasonal drops.

You can't have rice wine without comfort food.

Try their instant ramen and seafood pancake for the perfect salty-

they also have a cocktail menu all built on a rice wine base.

Take a bottle home or book a tour or brewing class to learn the craft.

Here's your plan for a peaceful riverside hike with forest views and a charming waterfall stop. Watch the video 👇

Do a meandering hike through the quiet woods on the Middle Fork Snoqualmie River Trail. 

River and Woods Hike

Enjoy a peaceful hike along the Middle Fork Snoqualmie River Trail, weaving through lush forests and scenic river spots—choose your adventure distance!

Forest River Hike

✅ Before you go
• Familiarize yourself with the route and recent reviews using WTA or AllTrails (https://www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/middle-fork-snoqualmie-upstream) (https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/washington/middle-fork-snoqualmie-river-trail?sh=ktpvm7&utm_medium=trail_share&utm_source=alltrails_virality)


💪 Pro tips
• The parking lot is large and has bathrooms, so no need to get there super early. 
• Although the hike isn’t up a mountain, the trail does have rolling elevation up and down, so it catches up to you!
• Always remember to leave no trace!  


Hike on the Middle Fork Trail

choose your own adventure hike along a river.

You'll park at the Middle Fork Snoqualmie Trailhead,

where you'll start the hike by crossing this picturesque suspension bridge.

you'll turn left to hike on the Middle Fork Trail.

so you can choose whatever distance suits you.

This trail is absolutely stunning and weaves in and

out of the forest with a few stream crossings.

Make sure to keep your eyes out for slugs!

we found a spot on the river to hang out and enjoy some snacks.

but we kept going another 1.5 miles to see this little waterfall.

This is the perfect hike the next time you need an escape from the city.

Here's your plan for sipping natural wine at a cozy outdoor patio in Fremont. Watch the video 👇

Spend some time sipping natural wine on an outdoor patio tucked away in Fremont. 

Hidden Natural Wine Bar in an Outdoor Garden

Sip natural wine in The Botanicale's charming Fremont patio, enjoy a wine flight, and bring your own snacks for a cozy, relaxed experience.

Wine Tasting

✅ Before you go
• Bring a snack if you want! They allow outside food. 


💪 Pro tip
• I’d highly recommend the wine flight! It’s a great way to try a bunch of different wines you may not normally reach for. 


Enjoy a drink at The Botanicale

Let's go to a cozy natural wine bar tucked away in Fremont.

The Botanicale started as a plant store but has now evolved into the cutest wine bar.

but they also allow outside food and drink,

and the group next to us even brought in a delicious looking charcuterie spread.

I'll definitely be doing that next time I go.

are super friendly and knowledgeable about their wine.

They like to know their growers and currently have met about 80% of them.

About half the wine they pour is local to Seattle and Oregon.