Ballard is an awesome neighborhood of Seattle that we call home! "Old Ballard" along Market St. and Ballard Ave. is brimming with shops and restaurants and is worth a stroll. ## Sights and Sounds ### Ballard Locks <iframe src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m18!1m12!1m3!1d2686.973856237107!2d-122.3993724843774!3d47.66550427918856!2m3!1f0!2f0!3f0!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!3m3!1m2!1s0x549015c20fa9d18d%3A0x835c95df33152f53!2sBallard%20(Hiram%20M.%20Chittenden)%20Locks!5e0!3m2!1sen!2sus!4v1656626432055!5m2!1sen!2sus" width="80%" height="300" style="border:0;" allowfullscreen="" loading="lazy" referrerpolicy="no-referrer-when-downgrade"></iframe> Watch ships pass through these grand locks and rise up over 20 ft. as they migrate from Puget Sound's salt water to the elevated fresh water of Lake Washington and Lake Union. Next to the locks is a beautiful botanical garden to stroll through. The locks have a salmon ladder with a viewing room where you can see salmon swimming upstream on their way to spawn. August should be the peak time to see Chinook cook through. ### Mox Boarding House <iframe src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m18!1m12!1m3!1d2687.002677706407!2d-122.3827219843775!3d47.66494437918858!2m3!1f0!2f0!3f0!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!3m3!1m2!1s0x549015c78c2788ab%3A0xb3cf7bf198776515!2sMox%20Boarding%20House!5e0!3m2!1sen!2sus!4v1656725336006!5m2!1sen!2sus" width="80%" height="300" style="border:0;" allowfullscreen="" loading="lazy" referrerpolicy="no-referrer-when-downgrade"></iframe> A nerd’s delight. Get your board games, D&D books, and Magic cards here. Or try some free game demos while eating at the attached pub. ### Sunday Farmer's Market <iframe src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m18!1m12!1m3!1d42989.36550408971!2d-122.42873447117299!3d47.66819501620297!2m3!1f0!2f0!3f0!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!3m3!1m2!1s0x5490145744a22a99%3A0x79dfc58438cab781!2sBallard%20Farmers%20Market!5e0!3m2!1sen!2sus!4v1656629217159!5m2!1sen!2sus" width="80%" height="300" style="border:0;" allowfullscreen="" loading="lazy" referrerpolicy="no-referrer-when-downgrade"></iframe> Open 9AM - 2PM every Sunday with 100+ vendors. ### National Nordic Museum <iframe src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m18!1m12!1m3!1d2686.8239845788653!2d-122.39469768437743!3d47.668415679188826!2m3!1f0!2f0!3f0!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!3m3!1m2!1s0x549015d9bbc7c075%3A0x32b5c3e7fcc2a79a!2sNational%20Nordic%20Museum!5e0!3m2!1sen!2sus!4v1656725364632!5m2!1sen!2sus" width="80%" height="300" style="border:0;" allowfullscreen="" loading="lazy" referrerpolicy="no-referrer-when-downgrade"></iframe> This museum explores the Nordic culture and heritage common to many immigrants that came to Ballard and the Seattle area ### Golden Gardens Park <iframe src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m18!1m12!1m3!1d10742.49006954701!2d-122.42000005535294!3d47.691750457987695!2m3!1f0!2f0!3f0!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!3m3!1m2!1s0x549016648e6062ef%3A0x5b2c838d4c7f0aca!2sGolden%20Gardens%20Park!5e0!3m2!1sen!2sus!4v1656725381336!5m2!1sen!2sus" width="80%" height="300" style="border:0;" allowfullscreen="" loading="lazy" referrerpolicy="no-referrer-when-downgrade"></iframe> A quick drive but a decently long walk from the rest of the places on this list, Golden Gardens is a lovely beach on the Puget Sound. It is a great place to watch the sunset over the water and the Olympic Mountains. Be warned, it tends to get pretty busy in the summer! Get there super early if you ever want to get a fire pit. ## Food and Drink ### Kangaroo & Kiwi <iframe src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m18!1m12!1m3!1d2686.798662100589!2d-122.38559708436736!3d47.66890757918881!2m3!1f0!2f0!3f0!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!3m3!1m2!1s0x5490143dc2ba4c9b%3A0x6b30cf9a6a202c68!2sKangaroo%20%26%20Kiwi!5e0!3m2!1sen!2sus!4v1656627271727!5m2!1sen!2sus" width="80%" height="300" style="border:0;" allowfullscreen="" loading="lazy" referrerpolicy="no-referrer-when-downgrade"></iframe> No matter how far you go, the ghost of Andrew Carnegie seems to follow. This one-time Carnegie Library is now an Australian themed bar with plenty of good outdoor seating. Nothing fancy, but a great stop for beer. ### Ballard Coffee Works <iframe src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m18!1m12!1m3!1d199.69792092635086!2d-122.38466258590373!3d47.668802199636325!2m3!1f0!2f0!3f0!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!3m3!1m2!1s0x549015c5e06cad21%3A0x23684e4065e5ae10!2sBallard%20Coffee%20Works!5e0!3m2!1sen!2sus!4v1656627383975!5m2!1sen!2sus" width="80%" height="300" style="border:0;" allowfullscreen="" loading="lazy" referrerpolicy="no-referrer-when-downgrade"></iframe> Great local coffee with some outdoor seating. A friend of mine who worked as a barista at a different cafe once said he thought this this was the best coffee in town. I agree! ### 8 oz Burger <iframe src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m18!1m12!1m3!1d1343.4090239369455!2d-122.38912852650198!3d47.66853100257411!2m3!1f0!2f0!3f0!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!3m3!1m2!1s0x549015c43bb61bc3%3A0xe2aa67a3f916a8b3!2s8oz.%20Burger%20%26%20Co!5e0!3m2!1sen!2sus!4v1656628346521!5m2!1sen!2sus" width="80%" height="300" style="border:0;" allowfullscreen="" loading="lazy" referrerpolicy="no-referrer-when-downgrade"></iframe> ### Matador Ballard <iframe src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m18!1m12!1m3!1d1343.4241191635451!2d-122.38597922964165!3d47.667944536121624!2m3!1f0!2f0!3f0!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!3m3!1m2!1s0x549015c5d74d65d3%3A0x41d79358c9bf2e19!2sMatador%20Ballard!5e0!3m2!1sen!2sus!4v1656628375672!5m2!1sen!2sus" width="80%" height="300" style="border:0;" allowfullscreen="" loading="lazy" referrerpolicy="no-referrer-when-downgrade"></iframe> ### Other Coast Cafe <iframe src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m18!1m12!1m3!1d437.07261178015307!2d-122.38388097661506!3d47.66685946029929!2m3!1f0!2f0!3f0!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!3m3!1m2!1s0x549015c65129a4d7%3A0x94932a89a35d8b65!2sOther%20Coast%20Cafe!5e0!3m2!1sen!2sus!4v1656628423169!5m2!1sen!2sus" width="80%" height="300" style="border:0;" allowfullscreen="" loading="lazy" referrerpolicy="no-referrer-when-downgrade"></iframe> Great sandwhiches. Check out the Manstooth (my favorite) and the Rajun Cajun (Maddy's favorite) ### The Splintered Wand <iframe src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m18!1m12!1m3!1d750.5283516209199!2d-122.38253047023414!3d47.66564622829655!2m3!1f0!2f0!3f0!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!3m3!1m2!1s0x549015f9570a621f%3A0xa8af7261c61b2644!2sThe%20Splintered%20Wand!5e0!3m2!1sen!2sus!4v1656628492753!5m2!1sen!2sus" width="80%" height="300" style="border:0;" allowfullscreen="" loading="lazy" referrerpolicy="no-referrer-when-downgrade"></iframe> Just your typical Wizard wand shop and pub. Reservations are no longer necessary for the bar area, but the rest tends to be booked out. We haven't been in yet, but it's been fun to watch them build it. ### Stoneburner <iframe src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m18!1m12!1m3!1d333.548898497322!2d-122.38244189190128!3d47.665943567837864!2m3!1f0!2f0!3f0!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!3m3!1m2!1s0x549015c7af1530d9%3A0x1019b8a244b31f64!2sStoneburner!5e0!3m2!1sen!2sus!4v1656628657706!5m2!1sen!2sus" width="80%" height="300" style="border:0;" allowfullscreen="" loading="lazy" referrerpolicy="no-referrer-when-downgrade"></iframe> Upscale restaurant in Hotel Ballard. We like to go here for special occasions like birthdays. The menu rotates frequently, but check out the rigatoni if it is avialable. ### Macleod's Scottish Pub <iframe src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m18!1m12!1m3!1d167.9346626288585!2d-122.38231642678937!3d47.6658783174664!2m3!1f0!2f0!3f0!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!3m3!1m2!1s0x549015c7a50925ed%3A0x4a17576142100d54!2sMacleod%E2%80%99s%20Scottish%20Pub!5e0!3m2!1sen!2sus!4v1656628811765!5m2!1sen!2sus" width="80%" height="300" style="border:0;" allowfullscreen="" loading="lazy" referrerpolicy="no-referrer-when-downgrade"></iframe> So many Scotches to try! (But I have a hard time not just ordering my standard Glenlivet) Nifty upstairs area with swanky counches and some outdoor seating as well.