Visit SPU

Visit Seattle

Nicknamed The Emerald City, Seattle is a popular tourist destination, with great restaurants and places to see. Here are a few suggestions from Admissions staff to get you started exploring SPU’s neighborhood highlights.

Good Eats!

Anthony's Homeport (Shilshole)
6135 Seaview NW. Phone: 206-783-0780. Waterfront dining with a superb selection of fresh fish and seafood. Reservations recommended. Prices $10–$19.

Chinook's at Salmon Bay (Magnolia)
1900 W. Nickerson (Fishermen's Terminal) Phone: 206-283-HOOK, or 206-283-4665. Serves a variety of fresh Northwest seafood. Reservations recommended. Prices $7–$25.

Dick's Drive-In (Lower Queen Anne)
500 Queen Anne Ave N. Phone: 206-285-5155. Dick's is a traditional SPU late-night hangout, complete with great burgers, fries, and hand-dipped milkshakes. Prices: A full meal can cost under $8.

Jamba Juice (Queen Anne)
2131 Queen Anne Ave N. Phone; 206-378-5884. Famous for smoothies and juices made from fresh fruits and vegetables. Also offers low-fat breads and high energy snacks. Prices: Smoothies average $3.50.

Starbucks (Queen Anne)
2135 Queen Anne Ave N. Phone: 206-301-9477. World-famous Starbucks is the place to go for lattes, espresso, and pastries. Prices: Start at about $3.

Zeek's Pizza (Queen Anne)
41 Dravus St. Phone: 206-285-6046. Gourmet pizza in both usual, unlikely, and tasty combinations! One of Seattle's best pizza stops. Prices from $10-$20.

Dilettante Chocolates (Pike Place Market)
1603 First Ave. Phone: 206-728-9144. Wonderful (rich!) chocolate desserts and ice creams, as well as sandwiches and soups. Prices $4–$6.

Simply Desserts (Fremont)
3421 Fremont Ave. N. Phone: 206-633-2671. Great desserts and baked goods in the heart of Fremont. Prices $4–$6.

Time to Explore!

Queen Anne Hill
Explore beautiful Queen Anne, the neighborhood in which SPU is situated. This residential area offers parks, outdoor cafes and restaurants, and breathtaking views of the Seattle skyline and waterfront.

Chittenden Locks (Ballard)
A passage for boats and ships moving between Puget Sound and Lake Union, the locks are also a great picnic spot with gardens and a fish ladder that salmon use to leap upstream. Directions: From SPU, go west on Nickerson, following the signs across the Ballard Bridge. After the bridge, take a left onto Market Street and follow it through Ballard to the locks. For another treat and great water and Olympic Mountain views, continue on this road to Shilshole Bay Marina and Golden Gardens Park. Bus # 17 will also take you there.

Downtown Seattle
Seattle is a lively city with lots of things to do and see, including the waterfront, small specialty stores, large department stores, restaurants, and theatres. Directions: The easiest and least expensive way to go downtown is by bus. Catch the #17 on Nickerson or the #13 at Third Avenue West across from the Student Union Building (SUB). Schedules are at the SUB information desk. If you drive, go east on Nickerson, turn right onto Dexter, and follow Dexter downtown.

Gas Works Park
Still with the mechanical works of an old gas refinery, this park has unique city and Lake Washington views. A great spot to fly kites. Directions: Travel east on Nickerson, turning left across the Fremont Bridge. Go right just before the intersection (34th Street). At the next light, turn right onto Stone Way. Gas Works is on the right. It's walking distance from SPU.

Pike Place Market
This historic market offers a colorful mixture of fresh fruit, fish, and vegetable stands. You'll also find restaurants, small shops, street musicians, artists, and other vendors. Directions: Follow directions to downtown Seattle; the entrance to the market is on First Avenue and Pike Street. Look for the pig sculpture.

My World

He’s loud. He’s proud. He’s orange. Meet Houston Lui and his troupe, the Orange Men! After you learn about Houston, go ahead and meet other interesting SPU students at the My World Gallery.