By Hope Onstad
Even though summer has been going on for a while now, I wanted to suggest some fun things to do around Seattle for the remaining time we have off of school! Whether it’s your first summer in Seattle, or you’ve lived here your whole life, the city has endless opportunities to explore. Summer is my absolute favorite time of the year, and as someone who has spent their entire life in Seattle, I know quite a bit about fun Seattle summer activities.
Without further ado, here are my favorite local places to go and activities to do in the summer!

• Beaches: Magnolia boat launch (right next to Elliot Bay Marina) and Magnuson are my favorites, but they aren’t your traditional sandy beaches. Most beaches in Washington are rocky or grassy which I personally prefer because I hate getting sand stuck all over my feet. But if you’d rather go to a sandy beach, Golden Gardens and Alki are the best ones in my opinion (although they tend to be much more crowded than any rocky beach)
• Farmer’s Markets: Almost every Seattle neighborhood has a weekly farmers market in the summertime. My personal favorites are Phinney, Magnolia and Fremont! All the neighborhoods are so fun to just walk around as well! The Fremont Market is year-round and is soooo fun and I really suggest you go to it at least once in your life, even if not in the summertime. Make sure to Google the market you want to attend to make sure you go on the right day. Here is a link to Seattle farmers market schedules.
• Seattle Center: Holds a plethora of events and is just a beautiful place to hang out in. Even if you don’t have any money to spend, you can hang out by the fountain, read in the grass, climb the giant play structure and much more! Plus, every Sunday this summer Seattle Center is hosting outdoor movie nights – perfect for a free summer activity! If you do plan to spend money, you can go to the science center (my personal favorite), the Chihully glass museum, or get lunch at the armory!
• Blackberry season is here! If you love picking berries or making baked goods, I would totally recommend going blackberry picking this summer. The bushes are littered almost everywhere in Seattle, especially in public parks and beaches!
• Ballard locks: Another beautiful place to have a picnic, walk around, or play an outdoor game such as frisbee. The locks has two main places, the locks themselves and then the grassy parks leading up to them. The Ballard Locks is a waterway system that connects the Puget Sound to the Ship Canal. When it’s Salmon season, the locks has salmon ladders that help the salmon migrate and lay their eggs. During the summer months, the salmon come through the ladders and the locks has areas to go watch them! It’s super cool to see them all swim, and it’s kind of like a free version of the aquarium! Sea lions, seals and otters also love to make their appearances in these waters. However, if you are afraid of heights, I would not recommend the locks themselves because the bridges to get across the waters are very high up! But you can still enjoy the water views from the safety of the grassy areas.

If you like birdwatching, this is also a great place to visit because many great blue herons make their nests in the lock’s trees.

• Discovery Park: Discovery Park is so beautiful with tons of trails to explore. There are all kinds of trails for various hiking abilities. The loop trail is a perfect, hour long hike with amazing views and beautiful wildlife. It’s a wonderful place to go when you need a break from the city. And if you’re looking for blackberries, they are everywhere here!

I hope you try one of these activities this summer, and if not, summer in Seattle will always come again!

By Olivia Merrick 
              As someone who is moving out of Washington after graduating, I’ve already begun to make a list of all of the things in Seattle that I want to revisit before I’m off to my next adventure. Although some things on my list are large and ambitious in scope—going in a hot tub boat in Elliott Bay, for example—something I want to do before I leave Seattle is enjoy all of my favorite coffees in Capitol Hill one last time.
            Between living in Seattle for four years and being a college student, I feel like a uniquely qualified expert to speak to the Capitol Hill coffee scene. Now, this isn’t going to be your typical list of top coffee shops; this is a list of my favorite specific orders. I lovingly refer to them as my “go-tos,” and if you’re looking to try something new, we might share a new order sometime in the future!

1. Anchorhead’s Blackberry Caramel Latte
   1. I know what you’re thinking; this sounds like an absurd combination. I thought the exact same thing until my mom ordered it and let me have a sip. From that moment on, I was hooked. The combination of the tart blackberry perfectly cuts through the sugary sweetness of the caramel syrup, and that balance somehow allows the taste of espresso to still shine as a final note. I personally prefer this latte hot, but if you aren’t a hot coffee kind of person, it’s still solid iced!
2. URL’s Walk to Work
   1. At risk of sounding like a gatekeeper, URL has been my local coffee shop since I moved to Seattle. I’ve been a regular since my freshman year—to the point that they knew my order without me even having to say it—so I’m well-versed with their menu. The Walk to Work is an iced latte topped with homemade sweet cream and is heavenly treat for anyone who loves an iced latte. If you’re interested in pivoting away from a flavored latte and into more classic coffee orders, the Walk to Work is the perfect bridge drink. The frothy sweet cream cuts the bitterness of the coffee beans, making it a bit sweeter than a typical iced latte. I speak from personal experience here; it’s the perfect latte for a walk in the warmer Seattle weather!
3. Overcast Coffee Company’s Cappuccino
   1. Now, I was not a cappuccino girlie until I studied abroad in Italy. However, when I’m looking for a comforting, espresso-forward drink, a cappuccino is my go-to. I have really high standards for cappuccinos in particular—I did become a convert in their country of origin, after all—but I adore Overcast’s cappuccino. Personally, I order my cappuccinos with almond milk for a slight nutty bite alongside the espresso. Overcast has an outstanding roast that really shines on its own and amplified by the warm froth of the almond milk, there’s no coffee in this city that feels more like a warm hug on a cold day than their cappuccino!

 
These are just three of my favorite coffees to enjoy in Capitol Hill, but truly, you can’t go wrong with a Seattle coffee!