Drive up to the past – Dick’s Drive-in

Nothing is as ubiquitous to American cuisine as burgers, fries and shakes.   Since the 1940’s, billions of people have dined on this trifecta of goodness.  In Seattle you can get great burgers and shakes all over the city, but there is only one place where they are still serving it up the way they did when they opened in 1954: Dick’s Drive-In.  Dick’s has been a favorite of Seattleites for over 50 years for good reason.  Every item on the menu is handmade everyday: that’s right, the patties are hand-pressed, the fries are fresh-cut, and the shakes are from real ice cream.  This is one of the myriad reasons that people will go out of their way to visit one of the five (soon to be six) Dick’s locations scattered around the city. Another is the seldom changing menu.  Dick’s menu has only changed twice since it was first printed and the prices reflect the simplicity…in fact there isn’t an item on the menu over $2.50!   A trip to Dick’s is like a trip to a different era: handmade, fresh and affordable…the perfect mix for a quick bite to eat. http://www.dicksdrivein.com/

Enjoy the Variety – Carkeek Park

Generally a city park consists of a single defining feature.  There are forested hiking parks, beachfront parks and even parks primarily consisting of large open fields ideal for frolicking.  Carkeek Park has it all in its 220 acre expanse: large open fields, endless trails through the forest canopy, a beautiful Pacific Northwest beach and an ocean themed play structure that includes a large salmon with a slide running its length.  At the entrance to the park is the Carkeek Park Environmental Learning Center.  The Center was designed and built with the environment in mind and is the first building in Seattle to achieve the Gold level of the US Green Building Council's LEEDs rating system.  Piper’s Creek, which runs through the park, provides a fantastic natural backdrop to the lower fields but is most alive during the late fall – early winter with chum salmon returning to spawn. Overall, Carkeek Park is a perfect respite from the hustle and bustle of the city. http://www.seattle.gov/parks/environment/Carkeek.htm

Play The Game - Card Kingdom

In this digital age the classic board game has slipped somewhat in popularity, which is unfortunate as there is a multitude of fantastic card and board games available now with more being released every month.  From gaming staples such as Settlers of Catan and Magic the Gathering to new classics including like the incredibly fun, zombie inspired Last Night on Earth or the RPG on a board, Runescape, the spectrum of games out there is varied and growing.   In Seattle there are a few places to find these gems but none better than Card Kingdom and with their recent move and expansion, they are the ideal location to try your hand at creating your own civilization or delving deep into a dungeon.  The new location is open and spacious, with plenty of gaming tables available to try a game from their library.  The expansion also allowed them to add a larger tournament area in the back, gaming tables for miniatures, and Café Mox, their new place to grab a drink and a bite to eat.  The staff, as always, are incredibly helpful and knowledgeable with game suggestions at the ready based on your inquiries.  The only downside of a visit to Card Kingdom is trying to figure out which game to play first. 

Card Kingdom  5105 Leary Ave. NW, Seattle, WA 98107