Top Places to Dine, Shop and Visit in Everett
While Everett is the seventh-largest city in Washington state, with just over 100,000 residents, and is the county seat for Snohomish County, Seattleites often overlook it as they drive by on I-5 heading to Mt. Baker Skiing, Bellingham, or the Canadian border. However, Everett has all the amenities of bigger cities, such as restaurants, sports teams, and parks, yet is much easier to navigate. Plus, Everett is surrounded by views of two mountain ranges, the Olympics and the Cascades, and is an access point to Puget Sound. It’s worth it to get to know the northern cousin of Seattle.
Where to Eat and Drink
Bayside Cafe in Downtown Everett, WA
Breakfast: While much of Everett lies north and west of I-5, a small slice of the city is southeast of I-5 and is the location for one of the best french bakeries one can find this side of the Atlantic. L’Artesian Bakery’s storefront is in a nondescript mini-mall near Silver Lake. Driving by, you’d never know that it’s full of some of the most beautiful bakery items. The croissants are perfectly flakey, and the cakes and tarts are works of art. Grab a coffee and a treat before or after a walk or run around Silver Lake’s two-mile loop.
Lunch: If you find yourself in the downtown area, a visit to the new Bayside Cafe is in order. Opened during the summer of 2020, the Bayside Cafe offers 100% plant-based burgers, brats, and hotdogs so good; you’ll forget you are not eating meat. The “Bacun” burger with a side of tater tots beats the burger from any joint vegan or not.
Dinner: Watch the sunset while enjoying a meal and a brew from the Scuttlebutt Restaurant and Brewery in the Port of Everett area of north Everett. Enjoy a local brew from this family-owned, independent brewery as you watch the sunset over Hat and Whidbey Islands. Everett is home to multiple local breweries, including Lazy Boy, Middleton, Crucible, and At Large.
Family Entertainment & Shopping
Sunset View at Marina Village in Everett, WA
Sports: Everett is home to two family-friendly minor league sports teams. The Everett Aquasox, with a lovable frog mascot, is a Single-A affiliate of the Seattle Mariners. Their spring and summer home games at Funko Field includes bouncy houses to entertain the kiddos and all the on-field fun and entertainment that minor league baseball offers. You can catch an Everett Silvertips hockey game in the Angel of the Winds Arena in the downtown area during the winter.
Kids: If your kids are in their early years (under -10), the Everett Imagine Children’s Museum is a year-round option for fun. The Museum has indoor and outdoor areas to explore, including art, bubbles, trains, farms, and dinosaurs.
Parks: Like any major city, Everett has several parks to please all types of people’s recreation habits. Forest Park includes wooded jogging and hiking trails, a large playground, a live animal farm, sport courts, and a swim center. Harborview Park is a perfect place to watch the sun go down as its north-facing view gives spectacular illuminated views of Mt. Baker and Possession Sound. The boardwalks and parks of Marina Village and the Port of Everett are locations for a stroll any time of day, while Legion Park’s bluffs provide an elevated view of the harbor.
Shopping: Everett has locations to shop for almost any typical consumer products; however, it is home to two unique and can’t miss shopping experiences.
First, Everett is the home to the worldwide headquarters of Funko. These large-headed collectibles, called Pop!, with the likenesses of your favorite characters from Star Wars, Marvel, Harry Potter, and more, are a hit with kids and adults alike. You can even make a Pop! in your likeness and take a picture with a life-sized Chewbacca, Hagrid, or Ironman Pop!
Yoda at BobaKhan in Everett, WA
For a less commercial experience, collectors of all sorts of toy items can head to the southern Everett Mall area and shop at BobaKhan. Named for Boba Fett (Star Wars) and Khan (Star Trek), this collectibles store is an experience that brings back all the toy nostalgia from one’s youth. Take your picture with a life-sized replica of Yoda from Star Wars, or if you get lucky, run into a cosplay actor dressed as Boba Fett.