Playing tourist in Lynnwood

1 Lynnwood Tourist 1 Coffee

What’s more fun than taking the day off to discover new places and visit with people outside of your community – or even right next door to your community, as the case may be.

I spent a day playing tourist in Lynnwood; and had a great day of coffee dates, shopping and parks, with dinner and karaoke thrown in. Yes! Karaoke.

I live in downtown Edmonds and although all roads lead to Lynnwood – the most direct route is via 196th Street Southwest.

Let’s go! At 10 a.m. I’m out the door with one priority – coffee.

Just over the “border” between Edmonds and Lynnwood is Caffe Ladro (6314 196th St. SW). I pulled in there. Caffe Ladro is a busy java hub within minutes of Edmonds Community College and buzzing with young couples, students and shoppers. I could have used their convenient drive-thru window – but how in the world could I have captured an iPhone photo to prove that I was really there?

Lynnwood is an ideal community for families, and if my grandchildren had been with me I would have had my choice of energy-burning activity options – including Pump it Up! and Chucky Cheese. But thinking of grandchildren reminded me of parties! So, I stopped in at The Party Store, which is now all settled in at its brand new location at 4730 196th St. S.W. Need party supplies, family reunion “stuff,” holiday gadgets? I have shopped at The Party Store for years!

2 Party Store _Shopping Lynnwood

I’ve always visited Wight’s for upscale home décor and, I’ll admit it, my day was turning into a bit of a shopping junket – but isn’t that what taking a day off is all about? Choosing a day chocked full of indulgences and luxuries? Janice Carr, one of my dinner party friends, mentioned “Tuesday Morning” to me, so I absolutely had to check that store out.

Tuesday Morning, located at 4201 196th St. S.W., is a national chain started by a garage sale junkie from Texas. According to Nancy, the sales associate I chatted with, this Texan would make the garage sale rounds and then have his own yard sales on Tuesday morning.

His popularity grew, along with his prowess for merchandising and – Yee Haw! – A fun, funky way to shop for bargains has been born.

The day was progressing nicely and I wanted some grown-up time, so I headed to Alderwood Mall and the Nordstrom Café. The Nordstrom Café Bistro is a great “hot spot” for a Frappuccino and Facebook time, so that is where I parked for my lite lunch of panini and an espresso.

By 1:30 I felt the need for serenity, so I chose Spruce Park at the northeast corner of Lynnwood’s city limits (16864 36th Ave. W.)

5 Dinner _Indigo Lynnwood

By 4:30 it was closing in on dinnertime so I pulled in to the North Pointe Mall at 2902 164th St. S.W. for some adult time at Indigo Kitchen | Alehouse. I love their bar – and their Nawlins’ inspired menu. This is the time of year that I miss New Orleans the most, and the restaurant is so worth the 15-minute drive from my Edmonds address. My dinner choice is always the pulled pork and fries. This visit I almost went for the jambalaya, and even the gumbo gave me pause. Maybe next time.

Nightlife in Lynnwood?

Why not karaoke? I’ll need a little brush up, and maybe a Sapporo or two, but the Big Bang Karaoke at 18623 Hwy 99 is where I headed after I slipped on my sunglasses and leopard-inspired coat. Grrrr!

4 Karaoke Practice_Lynnwood

The wonderful thing about spending the day in Lynnwood is that the last destination I visited as my day progressed was no more than 2.5 miles away from my next point on the map – I traveled 15.2 miles in my Great Getaway day of shopping, parks and dinner! So fun! So Close!

Visit Lynnwood!

— By Emily Hill

Emily ~ 2015 Bio jPeg for News (1)Emily Hill is the author of two novels and a short story collection. She writes the Artfully Edmonds column for My Edmonds News and the Lynnwood Lifestyle column for Lynnwood Today.. Emily is retired from a career in public information and news media relations.

  1. Those of us who are Edmonds bird watchers and bird photographers often venture to Scriber Lake, Mini Park, and Scriber Creek Park in Lynnwood to pursue our hobby. The osprey nest in the center field light stand of the SW softball field at the Meadowdale softball complex is good place to photograph adult and juvenile osprey in the summer.

    I want to thank the maintenance staff of Lynnwood Parks & Rec for their constant efforts to keep these parks clean for all of us to enjoy.

  2. Bill,
    You are so kind to leave a comment on my column!
    Yes, isn’t being neighbors with Lynnwood great?

    Lightbulb Moment: I would love to do a birders-go-to-Lynnwood column! But . . . I would need the help of someone like yourself !!

    Take me along! Sound fun?

    emily@lynnwoodtoday.com <— Let's flock to Lynnwood!

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