If you’ve driven past the I-405 exit to Bothell and your curiosity was piqued—since you can’t really see it from the highway—it might be time for you to hit your turn signal and take the offramp. You’ll quickly discover that over the past few years some major changes have made this small eastside community a great destination. Bothell is a little slice of heaven, giving you the best of both worlds; a green open rural feel mixed with a positive urban vibe in the downtown core.

Why all the change? For starters, the University of Washington Bothell campus has expanded to over 5,500 students bringing thousands of new faces to the community. Combined with a growing technology sector, this influx of youth and vitality has created a demand for more fun and trendy things to do.

Several boutique shops, locally owned diners, distilleries, and brewpubs have sprouted up all over town and completely transformed Bothell’s Main Street. In addition, there are nine hotels and the beautiful Eason Estates B&B to make your stay convenient and enjoyable.

One of the most noticeable and welcome changes is the new McMenamins Anderson School. If you’re familiar with the McMenamins model, you know they find the coolest historic buildings in town and totally revamp them into pubs, restaurants, hotels, and breweries, each with its own ambience and charm.

In Bothell, that building is the former 1931 Bothell Junior High named for the school’s first principal, Wilbert “Andy” Anderson. While the principal’s name is on the building, the rules of the old school days have loosened up quite a bit. With McMenamins staff in charge, the promise now is “No hall pass required.” It is a fabulous transformation that includes three restaurants and three small bars. The Art Deco school building also features classrooms-turned-hotel-rooms, the North Shore Lagoon full-size swimming pool, and a small movie theater. 

After checking into your room, head over to Main Street to explore interesting shops, including apparel, exotic imports and a great bookstore, then grab a craft beer at one of the downtown pubs. In the summer, visitors can explore the Bothell Farmers Market.

Ask shopkeepers to recommend a place for happy hour or dinner and among the many options they suggest will almost always be Revolve Food & Wine Bar. Founded by a local doctor in 2016, Revolve serves organic, non-GMO, locally sourced food that reflects the owner’s passion for wellness, wonderful food and good wine. Current dinner menu choices include grass-fed flat iron steak, Moroccan spiced chicken, and market-fresh fish. They also feature some great wine pairings.

Speaking of wine, Bothell is only a few minutes from Woodinville Wine Country, so you can set up your headquarters here and take the short jaunt to taste many of Washington State’s finest wines. If there’s a center to the Washington wine universe, it’s Woodinville. Home to more than 100 wineries and tasting rooms, it’s a must for both serious connoisseurs and anyone looking for a delicious, one-of-a-kind getaway. Photo of group on patio ©Richard Duval Images

In addition to a great shopping, foodie and live music scene, this former logging community is surrounded by nature—so trails, parks and natural open spaces are easy to access and enjoy. The Park at Bothell Landing is a gem of an experience and there are 19 more parks to explore; for even more nature, a kid and dog friendly day hike to Bridal Veil Falls is also featured on the Begin At Bothell website.