Northwest Paragliding
https://www.nwparagliding.school
When I was offered the chance to participate in a tandem paragliding flight, my only familiarity with human flight was the scene in “Rio” when the main characters crash a hang glider. Thankfully, my experience with Northwest Paragliding was vastly different.
It began with a forest drive past Issaquah, toward the Tiger Mountain State Forest. As we drove on, I could see several paragliders dotting the sky and began to realize just how high up I’d be. Friendly staff greeted us and offered drinks from a cooler; then, I was shuttled to the launch site with several other beginners and a few pilots.
The takeoff is simple. You walk a few steps and then, when the paraglider rises — you run off a mountain.
This was the moment I’d been so nervous about, but the only shock was my composure as the ground gave out. As someone who’s panicked on a zipline halfway up a tree, I want to stress that a fear of heights shouldn’t hold you back. There’s nothing to fall off of. And while Washington isn’t home to Rio’s blue macaws, the pilot flying with me, Austin, said bald eagles often fly with the paragliders — at a safe distance.
Overall, I highly recommend Northwest Paragliding for anyone looking to face their fears. The experienced staff and beautiful landscape make the pricey excursion worth it.
4 Dreams Escape Game
4 Dreams is a unique escape experience featuring four distinct rooms. Players move through the rooms linearly. These spaces are not all dreamlike, but the theming is strong throughout the experience.
Although 4 Dreams integrates unique technology, there are no screens. The tangible puzzles make the experience a breath of fresh air from our world of cellphones and Apple Watches.
Our team only completed two of the rooms in time, but we experienced all four rooms since each room has its own time constraint. We were intrigued by the idea of four rooms in one experience and it made for a great pace, but the lack of reused props made the game mechanics less satisfying than a typical escape room.
4 Dreams is a solid choice for anyone looking for a well themed escape room with clever puzzles in the Seattle area.
Savor Seattle Food Tours’ Original Food and Culture Tour of Pike Place Market
https://www.savorseattletours.com/foodtours/the-signature-food-and-culture-tour/
Pike Place Market is one of the most well known spots in Seattle. However, with over 500 businesses (according to our friendly and informed tour guide Casey), most Seattle residents have not tried all of the unique local foods that Pike Place has to offer.
Savor Seattle Food Tours brings guests into the Pike Place Market community with their Original Food and Culture Tour. All of the vendors are incredibly friendly and happy to answer questions about their products. Highlights from the tour include greek gelato from Hellenika Cultured Creamery and lentil soup from Turkish Delight.
If you have family or friends in town, we recommend taking tourists to this tour. As a Seattle native, you probably know much of the lore, but we promise it is still a fun (and delicious!) experience.
Ginger & Scallion
https://gingerscallion.square.site/
If you are willing to venture to North Seattle, Ginger & Scallion is worth a stop. Recently transformed into a khao soi specialty restaurant, the unassuming establishment offers an excellent rendition of the Northern Thai classic with a variety of meats.
We tried the beef tenderloin, duck breast and snow aged wagyu khao sois. Each meat was more tender than the last.
The varied flavors and textures of each dish are remarkable. Meats are paired with crispy noodles and a wonderful curry broth. I prefer slightly richer broths, but it was still one of the best khao sois I have tasted.
If you have not tried khao soi, Ginger & Scallion provides a great introduction to the dish. And if you are already a fan, Ginger & Scallion delivers.
Please note that we received press passes from the organizations featured in our summer guide. We will continue to update the guide with reviews of experiences throughout July and August.
