4 Best Sights in Bellevue, Washington Cascade Mountains and Valleys

Beautifully designed and lovingly tended, this 53-acre garden is one of the most beautiful in the state. Laced with peaceful paths through coniferous woodlands, open meadows, Japanese-style plantings, rock and wildflower gardens, and more, the property is anchored by a contemporary, glass-walled visitor center and gift shop. As you might expect in a tech-driven city, the garden offers a number of plantings and features with signs with QR codes that let you use your smartphone to learn more about what you're seeing. The garden adjoins Wilburton Hill Park, which offers another 105 acres of trails, ball fields, playgrounds, and picnic areas. 

At this large, modern tasting room in the center of downtown Bellevue, sample the exceptional wines of this acclaimed Walla Walla–based vintner, which routinely scores high marks for its Cabernet Sauvignons, Malbecs, and other typically French oak–aged Bordeaux-style vintages, including blends. In this clubby, warmly lighted space, you can also sample the Browne Family's bourbons and ryes.

Given the rapid growth of Seattle's Eastside suburbs, it's a little hard to believe you can still find completely wild and secluded woodland trails less than 10 miles southeast of downtown Bellevue. This 3,115-acre county park centered on 1,614-foot Cougar Mountain is indeed wonderfully peaceful and undeveloped, with nearly 40 miles of hiking trails connected by four different trailheads. You can discover everything from lush wetlands to sheer cliffs here—even a few caves. Near the park's northeast border, the 11-acre Cougar Mountain Zoo ( www.cougarmountainzoo.org) is home to lemurs, Siberian reindeer, Bengal tigers, and many other species; it's well worth a visit if you're in the area.  

With a curving modern pier, paved pathways lined with park benches, an imaginatively designed playground, a small sandy beach, and impressive views of the Seattle skyline in the distance, this 7-acre park within a short walk of downtown Bellevue is one of the prettiest spots along the Lake Washington shoreline for a picnic, a stroll, or a swim. From May through October, you can rent kayaks, canoes, and stand-up paddleboards from the REI Boathouse at the park.