Seattleites traveling on State Route 522 would recognize the famous motto on a road sign: “Welcome to Bothell…for a day or a lifetime.” That is, if the local jokesters haven’t covered up the first three letters of the town name. After decades the signage disappeared , due to accidents and construction. Finally with the backing of local merchants, the markers returned in 2018.
Though it is mere feet from the bike path, we hadn’t been to Bothell before, nor considered it a destination. But if you want staycation in a box, requiring little planning and zero paralysis by analysis, then welcome to Bothell for a heavenly weekend. With a playful, eccentric anchor hotel, local small-town vibe, a few innovative food and drink options, and walkable access to the tranquil Sammamish River and trails, everything needed for a relaxing visit is ready to go.
Stay
No need to decide — make a reservation at McMenamins Anderson School Hotel . One of three hotels in the state from the forever whimsical Portland brothers (along with The Olympic Club in Centralia and the Elks Temple Hotel in Tacoma), the Anderson School might be their crowning achievement. A real life former junior high school, the 1931 campus has been refurbished for maximum fun. You can visit the Principal’s Office (a bar ), the Woodshop ( sports bar ), and The Shed ( whiskey bar ).
Anderson School
Photo by Kathleen Nyberg, courtesy of McMenamins
The Shed
Photo courtesy of McMenamins Anderson School Hotel
There is an Olympic-sized swimming pool , the North Shore Lagoon, which has adult lap swim at 7 p.m. but is mostly kid-friendly. Upstairs you will find Nui Nui , a swimmingly appointed tiki bar. A first run movie theater shows multiple screenings daily of the latest Hollywood releases, with a bar , and food available. As with other McMenamins locations, “History Pub” offers interesting classes and seminars. Playing hooky has never been so well-catered.
North Shore Lagoon
Photo by Kathleen Nyberg, courtesy of McMenamins
Nui Nui
Photo courtesy of McMenamins Anderson School Hotel
You could spend the entire weekend just enjoying the campus, but when it’s time to take recess from the revelry, the hotel location provides easy access on foot or two wheels to the local trail network.
Step Outside
The Park at Bothell Landing is the city’s spiritual center on the Sammamish River, with a charming footbridge dating to 1978. The park leads to the Sammamish River Trail, which connects to the Burke-Gilman Trail to the west. Rent a bike at Seattle Electric Bike and take off on an adventure, as the wine tasting rooms of Woodinville are less than five miles away. If the weather cooperates, rent a kayak, canoe, or paddleboard from Whats Sup and paddle the lazy river.
Footbridge over Sammamish River
Photo courtesy of City of Bothell
Paddling at Lazy River
Photo courtesy of WhatsSup Stand Up Paddle & Surf
Find solace from the splashers to the north, where the trails get rural quickly and extend into Snohomish County. North Creek Forest is a Coast Salish ancestral site and idyllic 64-acre nature park, with birdwatching and forest bathing available . Look for hawks and great horned owls as you become one with the forest.
North Creek Forest
Photo courtesy of Friends of North Creek Forest
In Town
Bothell’s history follows the usual Pacific Northwest arc: logging, sawmills, railway, etc. But today’s downtown core looks brand new and is perfectly walkable, clean, and convenient. With its proximity to Seattle, white collar industries such as tech, health care, and insurance thrive. The University of Washington Bothell opened in 1990, and now has more than 5,000 undergrads, adding a youthful influx to the former timber town.
Kutay Gokeri attended UW Bothell and decided to open his own business there after school. The son of Seattle’s beloved and buzzing Cafe Turko founders, he opened Daily Grind Bothell a short walk from the hotel. Start the day right with a Turkish coffee and his mother’s spanakopita. Alexa’s Cafe is another great breakfast option that leans more toward long, lingering brunches.
Alexa’s Cafe
Photo courtesy of Alexa's Cafe
Bothell has a tiny pedestrian-only street, but it’s well worth exploring if you’re hungry or thirsty. Sweet tooth? Bothell has one, too. Within a two-block radius you can sample Sugar Rush for old-fashioned and odd-ball style sweets. Ohh…Macarons sells “macarons with personality,” and T55 Patisserie serves “The Flower,” an ambitious design in the pain-au-chocolat milieu — it aims for chocolate in every bite. Visit Hillcrest Bakery for that sweet taste of Dutch nostalgia in a 90-year-old bakery. To watch a game or enjoy a cold beer, The Bine Beer & Food has an excellent regional taplist in a comfy gastropub setting. The happy hour smoked carnitas tacos are yummy, and a great deal.
Assorted pastries at T55 Patisserie
Photo courtesy of T55 Patisserie
The Bine Beer & Food
Photo courtesy of The Bine Beer & Food
The appeal of Bothell becomes apparent when chatting with long-time locals. Step into the curio shop Bothell Jewelers & Collectibles to chat with the owner and get lost in the treasures, or Sankara Imports next door for imported finds . Zulu’s Board Game Cafe provides the perfect souvenir for the trip, rely on the employees’ encyclopedic expertise for a recommendation.
After Dark
Every night, more than 10,000 crows make their way to the roost at UW Bothell to spend the night. The city has embraced the intelligent avians as its unofficial mascot, and you can find “I Survived a Murder in Bothell WA” T-shirts everywhere. Krō Bär is the latest establishment to adopt the feisty creature. It’s an appropriately dark and moody drinking den with excellent cocktails and small plates. If you’re unsure what to order, try the Krō-makase and the bartender will pour a bespoke tipple based on your mood and preferences.
Charcuterie and specialty cocktails from Krō Bär
Photo courtesy of Krō Bär
Bothell’s elevated dining scene is small but mighty, and everyone seems to know each other. Industry staff recommend Poquito’s (a sister to the Capitol Hill location), and Amaro for Italian food. Our pick for dinner is The Cottage , with its naturally lit indoor/outdoor setting, seasonal farm to table offerings, and charming, friendly vibe. The kitchen is seasonal, so late summer menus might showcase burrata, with peaches and crispy prosciutto.
Amaro Bistro
Photo courtesy of Amaro Bistro
The Cottage
Photo courtesy of The Cottage
The restaurant has a full calendar of fun promotions, like Wine Wednesday featuring three local tastes for $10. To sample exclusive and extremely expensive spirits at a fraction of the cost, The Cottage has one of the coolest promotions around. Each Tuesday at 4 p.m. is Break Even Bottle Night, where staff opens a rare bottle — say, a Bunnahabhain 25-year single malt Scotch whisky — and sell one ounce pours at cost until it runs out. Don’t delay or that bottle will be empty by the time you arrive.
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