Located on the opposite bank of Lake Washington from Seattle, Bellevue is a bustling city in Washington’s King County. It’s an important tech hub and is consistently ranked as one of the top places to live in the United States, with engaging museums and scenic green spaces among its attractions.
Things to do in Bellevue
For a cultural fix, head to the Bellevue Arts Museum, which showcases rotating exhibitions of fine art paintings and sculptures, visual designs and contemporary crafts. It occupies a three-storey building designed by the New York-based architect Steven Holl and regularly hosts hands-on classes and workshops in a variety of disciplines. On the building’s upper storey is a sculpture garden known as the “Court of Light”.
Travelling with kids? They’ll love spending an afternoon at the KidsQuest Children’s Museum where they can delve into the worlds of science, technology, engineering, art and maths. In addition to the museum’s hands-on and interactive exhibits, it hosts science workshops, art programs and live concerts throughout the year. The museum lies on the edge of McCormick Park where you’ll find walking trails lined with rhododendrons, azaleas and mature trees.
Another green space not to miss is the Bellevue Botanical Garden, which is planted with species native to the Pacific Northwest. Wander through the Native Discovery Garden and explore the Perennial Border, then experience the tranquility of the Japanese-themed Yao Garden. In the Urban Meadow, you’ll find a variety of grasses and perennial species that are pollinated by the Bellevue Botanical Garden’s resident bees.
Getting around Bellevue
Bellevue is around 15 minutes' drive from Seattle and 25 minutes from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, which has flights to destinations across the globe. Buses connect from Seattle to Bellevue and access most of the city’s attractions.