things-to-do

The 30 Best Things to Do in Bellevue

A working list of the 30 things we send people to do here — split by mood, not season, so you can grab three and call it a day.

By BellevueExplorer EditorsSaturday, May 16, 20264 min read
The 30 Best Things to Do in Bellevue
A working list of the 30 things we send people to do here — split by mood, not season, so you can grab three and call it a day.
In this guide
  1. 01Outdoors, on water
  2. 02Outdoors, on foot
  3. 03Art & culture
  4. 04Food, low-key
  5. 05Food, big night
  6. 06Shopping & browsing

You don't need a long list to have a great day in Bellevue. You need the right three things in the right order. This is our working file of 30, grouped by mood.

Outdoors, on water

  1. Rent a canoe at the Mercer Slough Environmental Education Center.
  2. Walk the dock at Meydenbauer Beach Park at golden hour.
  3. Bring a book to Newcastle Beach Park on the first warm Sunday.
  4. Hike to the Coal Creek Falls via the Cougar Mountain trailhead.
  5. Walk the I-90 trail across the bridge — it really does feel like flying.

Outdoors, on foot

  1. Loop Downtown Park at dusk.
  2. Hunt for the giant blue heron at Bellevue Botanical Garden.
  3. Walk the forest connector from Wilburton Hill to the Garden.
  4. Hit the Eastrail for a flat 5-mile out-and-back.
  5. Walk Lake-to-Lake from Meydenbauer to Lake Sammamish if you're feeling ambitious.

Art & culture

  1. Catch the next show at the Bellevue Arts Museum.
  2. Time your visit for Bellevue Arts Fair (last weekend of July).
  3. See a touring play at Meydenbauer Center.
  4. Browse Foster/White Gallery for serious Pacific Northwest art.
  5. Bring your camera to Bellwether public sculpture stops.

Food, low-key

  1. Pho lunch in Crossroads.
  2. Espresso at a downtown roaster.
  3. Bagels and a hike — Newcastle Beach edition.
  4. Saturday morning at the Bellevue Farmers Market.
  5. Soft-serve at any Old Bellevue ice cream window.

Food, big night

  1. Crab cakes at Daniel's Broiler.
  2. Omakase at Sushi Kashiba's Bellevue sibling.
  3. Tasting menu at Spinasse when they pop up east-side.
  4. Wine + a window seat at John Howie Steak.
  5. Late-night Hong Kong-style at Facing East in Crossroads.

Shopping & browsing

  1. Walk a full lap of Bellevue Square.
  2. Hunt a hidden gem at Crossroads' international market.
  3. Browse design at The Shops at The Bravern.
  4. Books and slow time at Eagle Harbor's Bellevue pop-ups.
  5. Saturday Old Bellevue stroll — boutiques, bakery, sit.

Need a single afternoon plan? Pair items 1, 17, and 22. Browse more things to do.

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