The Seattle Book of Dates: Adventures, Escapes, and Secret Spots (The Book of Dates)

Top music and book gifts for 2023 — Seattle Times

Discover the best of Seattle in a whole new way! Here are 125 secret spots, beloved locales, and unexpected destinations offer endless options for date night and weekend adventures.

From the authors of the bestselling Portland Book of Dates comes this insider's guide to the coolest spots in Seattle and Washington state. A visual delight, the illustrated book marries style and substance and the result is a curated and creative collection of more than 125 often-inexpensive outings in and around Seattle to inspire romance and adventure.

For locals and visitors alike, this is an essential resource for couples of all ages (and singles with friends) interested in learning about off-the-beaten-path things to do, see, and taste in Seattle and environs.

Outings run the gamut: 

• Tropical Winter Date features the Volunteer Park Conservatory and a secret drink at Inside Passage
• Get High on History includes a trip to the Klondike Gold Rush Historic Park and Smith Tower Observatory (and bar!)
• Eat, Drink, and Be Gay offers up Capitol Hill bars that celebrate and cater to the queer community
• Farther afield adventures include trips to Vancouver and Victoria, the San Juans and other islands, Bellingham and Skagit Vallet, Mount Rainier, Eastern Washington, and more!

Authors (and married couple) Eden Dawn and Ashod Simonian seek out the obscure and fascinating, and the date descriptions are motivating enough to prompt even the most dedicated Netflix-and-chillers to head out the door.

EDEN DAWN is the former award-winning style editor for Portland Monthly. She's a beloved personality in the community, often seen judging drag queen pageants, emceeing fundraising galas, performing at storytelling events, and hosting Fashion in Film at the historic Hollywood Theater. ASHOD SIMONIAN is a creative director and designer known for advertising campaigns and packaging projects for Focus Features, Columbia Sportswear, and Peet's Coffee, among others. He is the co-owner of Imaginary Authors, and author of Real Fun, a book of photography and stories documenting his decade spent touring the world in a variety of indie rock bands.

Together, Eden and Ashod run the activism-based nail polish company Claws Out. The Seattle Book of Dates—just like their previous best-seller, The Portland Book of Dates—is a natural extension of their adventurous, overextended lifestyle. They wrote this book from their slightly creaky 100-year-old Portland home.