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PLANET EARTH — What would you get if you moved the Twin Cities to the BWCA? Seattle. The city has a unique feel: the blue ocean, white mountains, and green trees are matched with a funky city and some industrial color. It is grit and grace.
Visitors often take ferries to Bainbridge, San Juan, and Victoria. Overlooked, but with its own everyday charm, consider visiting Bremerton instead. On the $8 ferry ride over, look for the cul-de-sacs of the Puget Sound: Useless Bay, Mutiny Bay, Oak Bay, Dyes Inlet, Lynch Cove, Poverty Bay, Port Orchard, Rich Passage.
Next to the ferry is the Harborside Fountain Park — your kids will love playing in the shallow water with intermittent water-volcano bursts. The Puget Sound Navy Museum is free and has interesting historical pictures and facts and some great hands-on exhibits for children.
Nearby is the Bremerton Bar & Grill, but better to walk two blocks to the Horse and Cow. A submarine fleet pub and grill, see the memorabilia including a 20-foot yellow submarine, gorge on fish tacos, or eat a delicious burger so juicy it splashed on my glasses when I took my first bite.
Back in Seattle, rent a bike from the Pronto bike-sharing service (now offering $2 helmets for rental). Ride north on Alaskan Way until you reach the Olympic Sculpture Park. Admire the Space Needle from the distance and then cruise up and down the Elliott Bay Trail. This is the best place to enjoy the beauty of the Puget Sound in the city without hearing cars.
Get lunch in Fremont at Jai Thai. Wave at Dave Page the cobbler, climb on the Fremont troll under the bridge and take a selfie at the statue of Lenin. The best dessert is a slice of cake from Simply Desserts. Then drive west along the Lake Washington Ship Canal to the Ballard Locks and Fish Ladder. After watching boats pass from the sound towards Lake Union, check out the underwater viewing area to watch salmon making the same journey.
Spend a hipster evening in the Pike/Pine neighborhood in Capitol Hill. The Elliott Bay Book Company is the Tattered Cover or Powell's of Seattle, with similar offerings, wood floors, high-timbered ceilings, and leather chairs. For dinner, Lost Lake Cafe has steaks, shakes, and pancakes. If you want a killer French bistro, Cafe Presse is your place.
Make sure to bring comfortable walking shoes. People consider San Francisco a hilly city, but Seattle is even more so. Signs giving directions often include the elevation change, like "156 stairs to downtown." It's worth the climb.
Brigham Wilson is getting an MBA at MIT Sloan. Email him at brighamtree@gmail.com.
