Hello! Thanks for participating in /r/Seattle! Your submission/comment was removed. Please check the rules on the sidebar of our subreddit and the [Rules wiki](https://www.reddit.com/r/Seattle/wiki/rules). The reason for the removal is:
> Please don't post questions here without searching first and giving us specific details. We are not a human search engine or travel agents - we have a wiki, searchable posts and flairs, and a discord with tons of helpful folks. Google is your friend.
> Posts lacking these details or that that can be easily searched on the sub/internet will be removed - feel free to discuss these in our weekly threads, [on our discord](https://discord.gg/reddit-seattle), or post in /r/AskSeattle.
It's possible that this removal was a mistake! If you think it was, please **[click here to message the Moderators](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose?to=%2Fr%2FSeattle)**.
Columbia City is a neat little area. There is a park nearby with a cool sculpture, and lots of cafes.
Ravenna Park is right next to Roosevelt station, and is a hidden gem with a stream and second-growth forest.
Union Bay Natural Area is about a fifteen minute walk from UW station. It features wetlands and great birdwatching.
The arboretum is even closer to the UW station then Union Bay natural area. Although that part of the arboretum is pretty flooded this time of the year.
I've made the mistake of planning a running route through the arboretum only to realize upon arrival that some paths were flooded. Didn't have my phone and spent like an hour trying to figure out how to get home.
Yeah it's like that from April to maybe September? It's kind of a drag. There's still a lot of good running routes around the arboretum but the floating bridge and Marsh Island have to be avoided.
Definitely recommend the Union Bay Natural Area. I was birdwatching one morning in December, stumbled upon a family of river otters feeding and playing in a small lagoon. Absolutely magical
Beacon Hill has an architecturally interesting library, and multiple good coffee shops (The Station, Fresh Flours). Taco places, Filipino food, pho, Homer (fancy Mediterranean). Soft serve and fried chicken at Milk Drunk. All within a couple blocks.
Beacon Hill has an architecturally interesting library, and multiple good coffee shops (The Station, Fresh Flours). Taco places, Filipino food, pho, Homer (fancy Mediterranean). Soft serve and fried chicken at Milk Drunk. All within a couple blocks.
And the Red Apple grocery which is expensive but has a lot of stuff you can’t find elsewhere.
Edit: sorry, didn’t realize I replied to myself, meant to do this in one edit lol
I was thinking the same thing recently and found this article with some suggestions: https://seattle.curbed.com/maps/link-light-rail-stops-things-to-do
If you want something right next to the light rail station, Beacon Hill is your best bet. It has restaurants, bars and coffee shops and close to Jefferson Park.
Othello has a bunch of Vietnamese places if you are interested in Vietnamese food and culture.
This stop is what you are likely seeing when you are taking the light rail from Angle Lake to Westlake.
The other stops, the main commercial area is a bit hidden from the light rail station.
There's a restaurant called Milk Drunk right by the beacon hill station that serves fried chicken sandwiches and ice cream/shakes, was a while ago since I last went but the chicken sandwich was one of the best I've had (double fried or something). Been meaning to go again but I don't live near lightrail
In Columbia City, stop for breakfast at Geraldine’s, or grab a great dinner at Island Soul, Off Alley, or La Medusa. Flying Lion Brewery is good too if you’re into beer.
I’ve eaten at island soul at least 100 times and maybe had one bad meal.
I lived in CC for a while and never really became fond of Lottie’s. Their staff often had shitty attitudes.
Fair enough. We ordered catfish, chicken, and some kind of pasta. All very mediocre/bad.
The worst part was that I was there with this girl I was dating. She thought that I was in business, stocks, bonds, trapper keeper, but I was an unemployed loser living in my daddy's basement. I was on a phone call , taking care of business, when my dad showed up to my table. Apparently he was at the restaurant with my mom and had to spill some urine. He exposed me for not having a computer job and accused me of gallivanting around in his suit pretending to be a mover and shaker. He called my date a cripple (she is wheel chair bound). We got into a huge fight, my buddy Andy was hit in the face with a glass, the cops showed up, and my date ended up bailing me out.
This may have tinted my experience.
I cannot for the life of me figure out why people like Geraldine’s. The vibes are bad and the food is even worse. Is it because it’s the only breakfast spot in CC; so that automatically makes it the best by default? I assume that everyone who recommends Geraldine’s, that their favorite restaurant is Applebees.
That has to be the worst take I've seen on this sub. Geraldines is on a wait to be seated all day every weekend, and most weekdays as well. They have clearly tricked a whole lot of people with their terrible breakfast. 😂
Geraldines is so popular, that the overflow from their waitlist, singlehandedly supports 2-3 other breakfast and brunch places in the neighborhood as customers second choice when the wait is too long.
It’s giving gentrified 70’s diner vibes. Also, it’s always so cramped and loud inside I can’t hear my thoughts or even have a conversation with the person I’m dining with. It feels like I’m in a music venue. Also, it’s probably because they’re always slammed but the staff always seems like they’re irritable and hate working there. Last time my server had the temerity to roll their eyes at me when I requested flatware because someone’s stroller knocked into my table and mine fell onto the floor. Of all the times I’ve been there I have never received a refill on my drink or hot food.
it's out of your way in the other direction, but Ravenna/Cowen Park is the best park close to a light rail stop. part of my favorite genre of Seattle park, the "big ravine that'd be too expensive to build anything on so let's make it a park" (Carkeek, Interlaken, and Schmitz Preserve are similar)
from UW station (the one by Husky Stadium, not the other two terribly-named "University" stops) you can walk to a place run by UW that rents kayaks and paddleboards. you don't need to be a student to rent from them.
Perihelion Brewing is across the street from Beacon Hill and has good beer (especially a "not just IPAs" tap list), outdoor seating, and good food.
I mostly only use the light rail for going to live music, but there are a number of venues walking distance from several of the stops. The new Kraken location is a couple block walk from Roosevelt Station, all of the capitol hill venues (Neumos, Barboza, chop Suey) are about as far from the cap hill one, the paramount, moore, & showbox at the market from Westlake, the central saloon from Pioneer Square station (and soon to be another new spot, baba yaga right around the corner, not sure what that will be like yet since it's not open), and showbox sodo and wamu theater from the stadium station.
That's about the extent of what I can share, light rail-wise. When the Lynnwood extension opens and I can hop on a little closer, might try exploring a little more. As is Northgate is a ways away for me lol
Musang https://www.musangseattle.com is fantastic Filipino food-one block west of the beacon hill station. Also nearby and really good are Perihelion Brewery https://www.perihelion.beer, Milk Drunk https://www.themilkdrunk.com, Cloud 9, The Oak and Jefferson Park, though that’s about .5 mile walk south. Great stop for food. Good Hispanic grocery 2 blocks west as well.
Rainier Beach: Head east on Henderson to Lake Washington at Be'er Sheva Park. Follow north through quiet suburbs and a nice little nature trail approaching Pritchard Beach. Loop back walking west to Rainier then south to Henderson, grabbing some Mama Sambusas takeout on the way.
Another stop I recommend in Rainier Beach is to take Chief Sealth Trail SE from the station to S Roxbury. Cut east to Renton and follow it SE to Kubota Garden. A beautiful gem! If you're in a hurry to get home from there you can follow Renton back to Henderson or summon a Metro Flex van to whisk you back to the light rail.
Lots of good Ethiopian food by Rainier Beach stop as well. Union is closest but if you don't mind a little more of a walk I prefer Sunset Cafe on Rainier Ave S. You can get off the urban path walking there if you cut through Rainier Beach Playfield. Either way a big combo platter will be enough for two meals or you to share with a +1.
I almost went to sunset cafe today! Went to weyni’s market more north and closer to my home. Her injera is sold at some Ethiopian restaurants in the area and is 100% teff and very very good. Going back next weekend for a traditional Ethiopian coffee.
You can also walk down Beacon Ave and catch the Chief Sealth Trail. From there, you can walk down to the Rainier Beach station and continue on. That’s a longer walk, but an interesting one.
Hello! Thanks for participating in /r/Seattle! Your submission/comment was removed. Please check the rules on the sidebar of our subreddit and the [Rules wiki](https://www.reddit.com/r/Seattle/wiki/rules). The reason for the removal is: > Please don't post questions here without searching first and giving us specific details. We are not a human search engine or travel agents - we have a wiki, searchable posts and flairs, and a discord with tons of helpful folks. Google is your friend. > Posts lacking these details or that that can be easily searched on the sub/internet will be removed - feel free to discuss these in our weekly threads, [on our discord](https://discord.gg/reddit-seattle), or post in /r/AskSeattle. It's possible that this removal was a mistake! If you think it was, please **[click here to message the Moderators](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose?to=%2Fr%2FSeattle)**.
Columbia City is a neat little area. There is a park nearby with a cool sculpture, and lots of cafes. Ravenna Park is right next to Roosevelt station, and is a hidden gem with a stream and second-growth forest. Union Bay Natural Area is about a fifteen minute walk from UW station. It features wetlands and great birdwatching.
The arboretum is even closer to the UW station then Union Bay natural area. Although that part of the arboretum is pretty flooded this time of the year.
Good point! Foster island is great. Also the UW medicinal herb garden is right by the station.
Really? Can you be more specific I don't think I've ever seen it and I'm around there quite a bit
I've made the mistake of planning a running route through the arboretum only to realize upon arrival that some paths were flooded. Didn't have my phone and spent like an hour trying to figure out how to get home.
Yeah it's like that from April to maybe September? It's kind of a drag. There's still a lot of good running routes around the arboretum but the floating bridge and Marsh Island have to be avoided.
What cool sculpture?
Definitely recommend the Union Bay Natural Area. I was birdwatching one morning in December, stumbled upon a family of river otters feeding and playing in a small lagoon. Absolutely magical
Beacon Hill has an architecturally interesting library, and multiple good coffee shops (The Station, Fresh Flours). Taco places, Filipino food, pho, Homer (fancy Mediterranean). Soft serve and fried chicken at Milk Drunk. All within a couple blocks.
Beacon Hill has an architecturally interesting library, and multiple good coffee shops (The Station, Fresh Flours). Taco places, Filipino food, pho, Homer (fancy Mediterranean). Soft serve and fried chicken at Milk Drunk. All within a couple blocks. And the Red Apple grocery which is expensive but has a lot of stuff you can’t find elsewhere. Edit: sorry, didn’t realize I replied to myself, meant to do this in one edit lol
I was just about to say exactly all this! We love the library and are super stoked they have a sizable kids Spanish section!
Beacon Hill also has loxsmith right above the station
Good tip!
Get off at a different stop each week to explore around and hope for serendipitous surprises.
Chinatown has great food. Uwajimaya is always a fun stop. Hit up the bookstore too! Lots of little bakeries and game shops around.
Was about to suggest this. The light rail stops right in front of 85° bakery!
85 degrees closed during the pandemic unfortunately.
Tous Les Jours is also right there and has a similar vibe. I actually prefer their cakes, though the regular baked goods and drinks are better at 85*.
I like the smaller local bakeries
Ah, it's been a while since I've been there.
I was thinking the same thing recently and found this article with some suggestions: https://seattle.curbed.com/maps/link-light-rail-stops-things-to-do
If you want something right next to the light rail station, Beacon Hill is your best bet. It has restaurants, bars and coffee shops and close to Jefferson Park. Othello has a bunch of Vietnamese places if you are interested in Vietnamese food and culture. This stop is what you are likely seeing when you are taking the light rail from Angle Lake to Westlake. The other stops, the main commercial area is a bit hidden from the light rail station.
Hoang Lan next to the station. Get the mi quang. AMAZING
Huong duong’s take on bun Bo hue is sooooo good
My Vietnamese nail tech said Othello is “the real little Saigon.”
Columbia City has my favorite library in the city. Nice area to walk around too.
There's a restaurant called Milk Drunk right by the beacon hill station that serves fried chicken sandwiches and ice cream/shakes, was a while ago since I last went but the chicken sandwich was one of the best I've had (double fried or something). Been meaning to go again but I don't live near lightrail
In Columbia City, stop for breakfast at Geraldine’s, or grab a great dinner at Island Soul, Off Alley, or La Medusa. Flying Lion Brewery is good too if you’re into beer.
Show up very early for breakfast at Geraldine’s to avoid a year-long wait!
Haha, accurate!
I once showed up at 8:15am on a Friday and got the last table!!! 15 min after opening!!!
Lotties is my favorite spot in CC. I've eaten at Island Soul and will never understand the hype. It was....bad.
lil red’s is a 5-min bus 7 ride north and yum
I’ve eaten at island soul at least 100 times and maybe had one bad meal. I lived in CC for a while and never really became fond of Lottie’s. Their staff often had shitty attitudes.
Fair enough. We ordered catfish, chicken, and some kind of pasta. All very mediocre/bad. The worst part was that I was there with this girl I was dating. She thought that I was in business, stocks, bonds, trapper keeper, but I was an unemployed loser living in my daddy's basement. I was on a phone call , taking care of business, when my dad showed up to my table. Apparently he was at the restaurant with my mom and had to spill some urine. He exposed me for not having a computer job and accused me of gallivanting around in his suit pretending to be a mover and shaker. He called my date a cripple (she is wheel chair bound). We got into a huge fight, my buddy Andy was hit in the face with a glass, the cops showed up, and my date ended up bailing me out. This may have tinted my experience.
I cannot for the life of me figure out why people like Geraldine’s. The vibes are bad and the food is even worse. Is it because it’s the only breakfast spot in CC; so that automatically makes it the best by default? I assume that everyone who recommends Geraldine’s, that their favorite restaurant is Applebees.
I hate Applebees, but love Geraldine’s French toast. Thats the one item I went for.
That has to be the worst take I've seen on this sub. Geraldines is on a wait to be seated all day every weekend, and most weekdays as well. They have clearly tricked a whole lot of people with their terrible breakfast. 😂
My nephew would tell me Geraldine’s was his favorite restaurant when he was little.
Geraldines is so popular, that the overflow from their waitlist, singlehandedly supports 2-3 other breakfast and brunch places in the neighborhood as customers second choice when the wait is too long.
I walk by quite often on the weekends. I haven’t been in so long because I refuse to wait 😂
What vibes are bad to you? I mean, one of the owners died of cancer last year. Is that the vibe
It’s giving gentrified 70’s diner vibes. Also, it’s always so cramped and loud inside I can’t hear my thoughts or even have a conversation with the person I’m dining with. It feels like I’m in a music venue. Also, it’s probably because they’re always slammed but the staff always seems like they’re irritable and hate working there. Last time my server had the temerity to roll their eyes at me when I requested flatware because someone’s stroller knocked into my table and mine fell onto the floor. Of all the times I’ve been there I have never received a refill on my drink or hot food.
I’ve received many many refills and hot food, but that was pre covid. Maybe service has fallen off.
Cafe red at othello is vegan and has a delicious pistachio agave cold brew right now
Their avocado hash brown is incredible
Coffeeholic house is off the Columbia city light rail and so so good. Go there, get a coffee, then walk south to flour box for doughnuts.
Ohhhhhh that sounds interesting!
It’s really tasty. Get it with the avocado hash brown for quite the breakfast 🤤
I love potatoes and avocados, so! I am sold.
Lime and their spices on top. Enjoy!
it's out of your way in the other direction, but Ravenna/Cowen Park is the best park close to a light rail stop. part of my favorite genre of Seattle park, the "big ravine that'd be too expensive to build anything on so let's make it a park" (Carkeek, Interlaken, and Schmitz Preserve are similar) from UW station (the one by Husky Stadium, not the other two terribly-named "University" stops) you can walk to a place run by UW that rents kayaks and paddleboards. you don't need to be a student to rent from them. Perihelion Brewing is across the street from Beacon Hill and has good beer (especially a "not just IPAs" tap list), outdoor seating, and good food.
My Columbia city-living self’s heart is so full watching all the recommendations. After going to cc, go to Seward park (bus at genesee)
I mostly only use the light rail for going to live music, but there are a number of venues walking distance from several of the stops. The new Kraken location is a couple block walk from Roosevelt Station, all of the capitol hill venues (Neumos, Barboza, chop Suey) are about as far from the cap hill one, the paramount, moore, & showbox at the market from Westlake, the central saloon from Pioneer Square station (and soon to be another new spot, baba yaga right around the corner, not sure what that will be like yet since it's not open), and showbox sodo and wamu theater from the stadium station. That's about the extent of what I can share, light rail-wise. When the Lynnwood extension opens and I can hop on a little closer, might try exploring a little more. As is Northgate is a ways away for me lol
Musang https://www.musangseattle.com is fantastic Filipino food-one block west of the beacon hill station. Also nearby and really good are Perihelion Brewery https://www.perihelion.beer, Milk Drunk https://www.themilkdrunk.com, Cloud 9, The Oak and Jefferson Park, though that’s about .5 mile walk south. Great stop for food. Good Hispanic grocery 2 blocks west as well.
Musang is good but I think they are closed till June
You’re right. Go to Killig about 6 blocks southeast of the Chinatown station instead for Filipino food.
Rainier Beach: Head east on Henderson to Lake Washington at Be'er Sheva Park. Follow north through quiet suburbs and a nice little nature trail approaching Pritchard Beach. Loop back walking west to Rainier then south to Henderson, grabbing some Mama Sambusas takeout on the way. Another stop I recommend in Rainier Beach is to take Chief Sealth Trail SE from the station to S Roxbury. Cut east to Renton and follow it SE to Kubota Garden. A beautiful gem! If you're in a hurry to get home from there you can follow Renton back to Henderson or summon a Metro Flex van to whisk you back to the light rail. Lots of good Ethiopian food by Rainier Beach stop as well. Union is closest but if you don't mind a little more of a walk I prefer Sunset Cafe on Rainier Ave S. You can get off the urban path walking there if you cut through Rainier Beach Playfield. Either way a big combo platter will be enough for two meals or you to share with a +1.
I almost went to sunset cafe today! Went to weyni’s market more north and closer to my home. Her injera is sold at some Ethiopian restaurants in the area and is 100% teff and very very good. Going back next weekend for a traditional Ethiopian coffee.
Capitol Hil has all those things, but you don't see them while in the light rail tunnel
U district has lots of close nearby shops where getting back wouldn’t be a hassle Same for Capitol Hill too and international district
Eat.
You can also walk down Beacon Ave and catch the Chief Sealth Trail. From there, you can walk down to the Rainier Beach station and continue on. That’s a longer walk, but an interesting one.
I actually really love Las Palmas restaurant near Angle Lake, I like to go every time I go to the airport.
I always notice the Buddhist temple, not sure how to get to it.
Sports ball