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Story Ideas

Story Ideas

An accessible, vibrant city located on the shores of Lake Washington, Bellevue is commonly known for its thriving business community and world-class shopping. However, it might just surprise you to find a delightful combination of both urban and outdoor adventures to suit a range of travelers.  Below are some general story ideas as well as seasonal activities that reflect the varied events and activities throughout the year. Please let us know if we can help you with your story ideas.


 

Bucket List Experiences 

There is nothing better than checking off an epic experience that you have dreamed about for years. Bellevue Washington’s incredible location in the center of the Pacific Northwest & Puget Sound provides visitors access to enjoying possible bucket list adventures that are a world away from your normal routine. These ultimate experiences and suggestions are what we have found to be some of the best of the best in our region, and we hope these ideas inspire you. Come and jump in (and to start checking them off your list!). More Information & See the List 

Shop & Stay Getaway Packages

Shop 'til you drop and fall right into the comfy rooms, heavenly beds and cosmopolitan vibes at The Bellevue Collection, a 5.5 million square foot portfolio of shops and hotels. For each night's stay at Hyatt Regency Bellevue, W Bellevue, and Westin Bellevue, guests will receive a $100 Bellevue Collection gift card, redeemable at more than 250 stores and restaurants. You'll also get late checkout, parking perks, and a Bellevue Collection VIP Passport. Plan your getaway to the Pacific Northwest’s premier collection of stores, restaurants and nightlife, all in one place. For a side quest, explore the great outdoors! You'll be just a short walk away to parks with beach activities and stunning city views, plus a short hop to all area attractions and activities. For information and online booking: https://bellevuecollection.com/special-weekender-packages-and-hotels/ 

July 4th Weekend Celebrations 

Independence Day Weekend is a big deal in Bellevue, with gorgeous 4th of July fireworks bursting from Bellevue Downtown Park at the annual Bellevue Family 4th, honoring our nation's birthday. Enjoy unmatched weekend shopping and entertainment packages, get in on some live MLB action, enjoy outdoor water recreation on Lake Washington at REI’s Boathouses or perhaps a hike, or Zipline adventure? Most importantly, plan a picnic at our City in a Park. More Information and Ideas 

Getaway for the Guys or Gals 

Who says it's just the girls that need to get away? Bellevue provides incredible options for weekend warriors and ladies of leisure alike. Those looking to lounge in the lap of luxury may enjoy a visit to Yuan Spa and an exploration of Bellevue's world-class shopping. Options range from the high-end designers and brands of The Bravern and Bellevue Collection to the small, independently owned boutiques and home décor shops of Old Bellevue. Or kick off a weekend with a Friday afternoon round of golf at Newcastle Golf Course, and take in the breathtaking panoramic views of Lake Washington, Mt. Rainier, the Olympic and the Cascade Mountains, and the city of Seattle. Round out the weekend with a steak dinner at Daniel's Broiler or John Howie Steak followed by live music at Bake's Place or a comedy show at The Parlor. 

City in a Park

Known as a "City in a Park," Bellevue offers over 2,700 acres of parks, trails, and open space, with over 90 miles of multi-use trails, 46 playgrounds, 8,760 linear feet of waterfront, 7 beach parks, 2 blueberry farms, and 100 community garden plots. From the Mercer Slough Nature Park to Coal Creek Natural Areas, Bellevue is an incredibly pedestrian friendly city with gorgeous PNW backdrops. Suggested stops include a visit to the Mercer Slough Environmental Education Center, a canoe or kayak trip on the Mercer Slough, a walk through the Bellevue Botanical Garden, and explorations along the Lake Hills Greenbelt, Weowna Park, and Coal Creek Natural Area. They're all connected too - by the Lake to Lake Trail that spans 10 miles from Lake Washington to Lake Sammamish.

Bellevue: A Holiday Spectacular

Bellevue transforms into a holiday spectacular between Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Eve. For a truly dazzling, nightly winter wonderland performance - complete with falling snow, magical floats, toy drummers, and festive music you can't help but sing along to - Snowflake Lane is the bucket list travel activity of the season. The founder of the Bellevue Collection and Snowflake Lane, Kemper Freeman, was inspired by visits to famous holiday epicenters across the nation and created the cherished Pacific Northwest holiday tradition in 2001. From a few to a few hundred performers, Snowflake Lane continues to attract more visitors each year, and continues to grow. Down at Downtown Park, the Bellevue Downtown Ice Rink presented by Symetra is the region's largest seasonal ice-skating experience with 9,000 square feet of real ice. A few more minutes of strolling will put you at Bellevue's Main Street, fully decorated with an explosion of holiday joyfulness with festive boutiques, candy confectioners, beloved restaurants, and cafes with hot chocolate. There's a holiday market in town, Bellevue Botanical Garden turns into an illuminated and magical display of lights, holiday productions are playing at the theater, and stunning holiday window displays from over 200 retailers at the Bellevue Collection, where you'll find Santa. 

Fun for Families

Find free and low-cost family activities in your backyard! Visit the Crossroads Water Spray Playground to take the heat off of those warm summer days. Continue with a visit to Kelsey Creek Farm, visiting with its resident farm animals. Finally, visit one of the many playgrounds in Bellevue for some outdoor fun, or if it's raining-stop by a community center during one of the low-cost drop-in parent/child playtimes. Low-cost family options include KidsQuest Children's Museum, the Discovery Challenge Course at Eastgate Park, and rock climbing at Stone Gardens.

For the Cultured Class

Given its proximity to the city of Seattle, Bellevue's arts and entertainment offerings are often overlooked. With a nightlife all its own, a world-class museum and some of the city's top-rated restaurants, Bellevue is sure to provide the cultured class with something to write home about. A new ArtMap was recently introduced by the City of Bellevue to provide a walking tour of the city's more than 120 works of public art. The Bellevue Art Museum provides rotating exhibits of contemporary art while venues like Bake's Place and The Parlor provide live music and comedy shows, respectively.

Visit Bellevue is Growing Tourism

Bellevue has unparalleled access to the outdoors, a flourishing global culinary scene, the Northwest's premier shopping and dining district, and a collection of incredible meeting spaces. Since becoming the official Destination Marketing & Management Organization, Visit Bellevue launched programs to enhance visitor experience, like the event incubator program, the free BellHop rides, the Mobile Welcome Center, and more soon to be announced. 

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Want to know what big changes and exciting events are coming to Bellevue? Browse Bellevue press releases and Bellevue in the news.

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Safe, walkable and easily accessible from anywhere in the Pacific Northwest, downtown Bellevue is a vibrant fusion of welcoming hotels, restaurants, nightclubs, arts & culture, outdoor recreation,...

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Travel media or a convention group coming to Bellevue, Washington? You are invited to access our Visit Bellevue Washington Photo Library to help tell your story and promote your events!