By Beth Whitman, on August 16, 2013

What to do in funky Fremont

Fun fact: In 1994, the Fremont neighborhood of Seattle was declared Center of the Universe by the King County Council. This “Artistic Republic” is known for its funky art, eclectic shops, outdoor Sunday market, and naked bicycle solstice parade (you read that right). Located just north of downtown Seattle, residents and employees are known to be fiercely independent and work hard to create their sense of uniqueness. As a visitor, it’s an unwritten requirement that you let down your hair and join in the fun (but try to keep your clothes on!).

Eat

There are many options to eat in this neighborhood, but here are a couple of my top picks…

Jai Thai

These folks specialize in regional Thai cuisine, making it easy to sample food from a variety of areas of Thailand. The food’s great but I also love the atmosphere. In one section of the restaurant, you can sit on pillows placed on the floor in front of low tables. (Sit here and you’ll also have a great view of the pedestrian traffic.) 

Homegrown

With three locations in the city, I favor Fremont simply because I love the neighborhood. This sustainable sandwich shop makes wise choices for all of their food sourcing and doesn’t serve bottled water. Their sandwich options are pretty consistent, although their soups rotate daily (all the more reason for a return visit).

Simply Desserts

Seriously the best cake shop in Seattle. Don’t leave without trying a slice of the strawberry white chocolate cake and/or the red velvet cake. You can even order a whole cake in advance to bring home with you!

Play

The Troll

Hiding under the Aurora Bridge, the Fremont Troll was sculpted in 1990 by a team of local artists (and partially commissioned by the city). At 18 feet high, it’s large enough to consume the real Volkswagen Beetle captured in its left hand. The Troll makes for great photo opps if for no other reason than the sheer size of this massive sculpture.

 

Lenin statue in Fremont

Lenin Statue

After being abandoned in Slovakia’s revolution in the late 80s, this statue was found toppled over by American, Lewis Carpenter. He was impressed with the craftsmanship and mortgaged his house to bring the statue (now owned by his family after his death) back to the Seattle area, where it is now officially for sale in Fremont. Current asking price, in case you’re wondering, is at least a quarter-million.

Waiting for the Interurban

This interactive sculpture is one of the most fun stops in Fremont, since you never know what you’ll find here. Representing the light rail Interurban line (which no longer runs in Seattle), it’s five people (and one doggy) waiting for a ride under a shelter at the north end of the Fremont Bridge. Want to participate? Simply add your art or clothing to the statues. You can leave it for up to a week (but you must clean it up yourself). 

Stay

Viewfinder Tip: Fremont doesn’t really get rolling until after 10:00 a.m. but you can get a jump start by stopping in at one of the many coffee shops.

While Fremont itself doesn’t have much in the way of hotels, nearby neighborhoods have some wonderful options including:

The Maxwell Hotel

An excellent boutique hotel in the Lower Queen Anne neighborhood with unique rooms and pineapple cupcake happy hours (that alone is worth the stay). This Seattle hotel is within walking distance of the Space Needle, Pacific Northwest Ballet, and Seattle Opera. It’s also just a short drive up to Fremont.

Ballard Inn

Another boutique hotel option, this is located in Ballard, a bit closer to Fremont than Lower Queen Anne, but further from downtown Seattle. Ballard Inn was recently renovated and is now more reminiscent of 1902, when it was first built.

What’s your favorite funky thing to do when traveling?