FAQs About the Area

From SeaTac, follow signs for I-405 North, then take SR 520 East toward Redmond and exit immediately at 124th Ave NE. Turn left onto Northup Way, left at 130th Ave NE, and right onto NE 24th St. Turn left onto 134th Ave NE, then right at NE 27th Street; follow the road as it curves right to the end. The drive takes about 25 minutes.

About 20 minutes by car, traffic permitting — we're actually 12 miles from Seattle. We're tucked into the quiet, wooded Bridle Trails neighborhood of Bellevue, just across Lake Washington from the city.

Just 5 minutes from the Microsoft campus, which makes us a convenient home base for business travelers visiting Redmond or Bellevue.

Yes. Both Uber and Lyft operate throughout Bellevue and the greater Seattle area, including trips to and from Sea-Tac Airport, making it easy to get around without a rental car.

Yes. Sound Transit's 2 Line light rail now runs directly between Seattle and Bellevue (full service began March 2026). Our closest station is BelRed/130th, about a 6-minute drive from the inn, where parking is available.

A car (or rideshare) is helpful if you want to visit Snoqualmie Falls, go skiing, or explore beyond downtown Bellevue. Downtown Bellevue itself is walkable once you're there, and is an easy rideshare or light-rail trip from the inn.

We have a classic Pacific Northwest climate: mild, wet winters and warm, dry summers. Winter daytime highs run around 45–50°F with frequent light rain (snow is rare in Bellevue itself), while summer highs reach the high 70s to low 80s°F with plenty of sunshine. November through January are the wettest months; June through September are the driest and sunniest, and generally the most popular time to visit.

Layers and a light rain jacket are useful nearly year-round, even in summer evenings. A warmer coat, hat, and waterproof shoes are a good idea from late fall through early spring.

Downtown Bellevue, about 10 minutes away, has an excellent dining scene. Favorites include John Howie Steak for prime and Wagyu steaks, The Lakehouse for James Beard–winning Chef Jason Wilson's Northwest farmhouse cuisine, and Wild Ginger for Southeast Asian-inspired fine dining. For the finest and freshest fish, we also recommend Anthony’s HomePort in nearby Kirkland — a beautiful spot right on Lake Washington near a boat marina, about 5 miles from the inn.

Din Tai Fung in Lincoln Square is a local favorite for handmade soup dumplings and noodles. We also love Duke's Seafood in downtown Bellevue, which has won awards for its clam chowder and can prepare it gluten-free. Downtown Bellevue overall offers hundreds of casual options spanning nearly every cuisine.

Yes — Salish Lodge & Spa, perched right at the top of the falls, offers Pacific Northwest steakhouse dining along with its well-known Country Breakfast and Honey from Heaven brunch.

Yes. The Summit at Snoqualmie is about 45–50 minutes east via I-90. It's made up of four base areas — Alpental, Summit West, Summit Central, and Summit East — with terrain for all levels, plus night skiing, tubing, and Nordic trails.

The Summit typically operates from late November through early April, depending on snowfall, with the best conditions usually in January and February. Check the resort's site directly for current conditions before you head up.

Snoqualmie Falls is a 268-foot waterfall (taller than Niagara Falls) about 30 minutes from the inn, with an observation deck, gift shop, and hiking trail. It's free and open from sunrise to sunset year-round.

Yes — the Northwest Railway Museum in nearby Snoqualmie is Washington's largest railway museum, with a historic 1890 depot, a collection of vintage locomotives and railcars on display, and seasonal excursion rides.

Bridle Trails State Park is just a mile from the inn and offers a quiet, peaceful forested setting to walk and enjoy nature, with three marked trail loops ranging from 1 to 3.5 miles. In downtown Bellevue, Bellevue Downtown Park features a waterfall, reflecting pond, and 10-acre lawn; the Bellevue Botanical Garden offers 53 free acres of themed gardens and trails; and Meydenbauer Bay Park on Lake Washington has a beach, pier, and waterfront walking paths.

The Bellevue Collection — Bellevue Square and Lincoln Square — is downtown Bellevue's main shopping and entertainment hub, with over 200 stores, dining, and a movie theater, about 10 minutes from the inn. Beyond the mall, Bellevue, Kirkland, Redmond, and Issaquah all have charming pockets of small, independently owned shops where you can often chat with the owner — a nice change of pace from mall shopping. Antique lovers should also consider a day trip to Snohomish, known as the Antique Capital of the Northwest, about an hour north.