Casino appeal

Reno’s glitzy resorts offer more than slots. They’re home to some star-studded eateries, too. Over at The ROW, which includes hotels, casinos and restaurants, Gordon Ramsay has extended his Caesar’s Entertainment contract with two new eateries. Gordon Ramsay Fish & Chips opened in May in a London pub-meets-fast-casual setting, while his fine-dining Ramsay Kitchen began welcoming guests in July.

Charlie Palmer has long been a staple at the Grand Sierra Resort, where his eponymous steakhouse offers a half-priced happy hour menu (4-6 p.m. Sunday-Thursday) boasting prawn cocktails, wedge salads and lobster bisque. If you’re here for a steak or seafood dinner, don’t miss the Glazed Thick Slab Bacon appetizer ($24) with grilled peach and a pickled mustard seed gastrique.

Food and wine lovers will also want to check out the Atlantis Casino Resort Spa, where the Atlantis Steakhouse and Bistro Napa have been on a Wine Enthusiast awards streak for the last two decades. Bistro Napa’s “social hour” — 4 to 6 p.m. daily — offers half-priced drinks and dishes, including $11 roasted bone marrow, $10 prime rib sliders and discounted oysters. And the more casual Asian-fusion Red Bloom, which opened in 2020 on the main casino floor, offers flavorful chow mein ($16), tender pork belly adobo ($22) and bao buns ($12).

Small surprises

Small business owners are at the heart of the Reno food scene, though, where newcomer Wings Korean Chicken arrived in neighboring Sparks in May. It’s a strip mall stop with a hip-hop attitude, and the second location for this casual Nevada-based spot that serves Korean chicken wings, Korean corn dogs and bibimbap. If you’ve never had a Korean corn dog ($4-$5) before, this is your chance to bite into a panko-crusted, cheese or sausage-filled “dog.”

If Asian fare is your fave, you should also check-out Ijji Noodle House, Ijji 4 Korean Bar-B-Que, Arario and Kwok’s Bistro, whose chef and owner, Kwok Chen, was a James Beard semi-finalist in 2022.

Lili’s Restaurant & Bar, which serves breakfast and lunch, offers a specialty island menu, as well as diner fare. Think chow fun noodles ($7.50) and deep-fried Crack Chicken ($15.75), Spam musubi ($4.25) and Maui-style hot dogs ($15.75).

Riverfront dining

The Truckee River runs through Reno’s downtown, creating a walkable hub dotted with riverfront restaurants and bars. Open since 2022, the upscale Smith and River offers a seasonal menu that showcases local ingredients and handcrafted cocktails, including a bourbon-centric Smoke on the River.

The modern American Wild River Grille is a longstanding favorite with outdoor seating, live music on select nights, and a Broadway-inspired menu that riffs off the lineup at the nearby Pioneer Center. Expect to dine on “Some Like It Hot” and “Book of Mormon” inspired prix fixe menus this season.

And The Shore, inside the Renaissance Reno Downtown Hotel & Spa, is a fine dining affair. Head for the terrace upstairs where you can enjoy the view as you dine on small plates — Spanish octopus ($18) with a lemon-garlic vinaigrette, perhaps — or Verlasso salmon ($34) served with squash, eggplant and a puttanesca sauce.

All-you-can-eat sushi

The all-you-can-eat buffet is a casino staple. But Reno is known for its extension of the AYCE concept to nearly every sushi restaurant in the city. The sushi bar ($30-$40) at Sky Terrace at the Atlantis is one option.

Other favorites — including Pisces Sushi, Hinoki Sushi and O’A Sushi — are tucked in local strip malls. Menus typically run about $25 to $30 per person and include not just rolls but appetizers, as well.

Italian inspiration

If grape stomping and ravioli consumption are more your taste, head for The ROW for The Great Italian Festival Oct. 12-13, when the 42nd annual celebration takes over several blocks. Taste through  the sauces — slathered over fresh pasta — competing for top prize. There’s even a grape stomping competition.

The festival is fun, but you can dine like a Roman, a Neapolitan or Florentine here year round. Everything at Pasta Fresca — my favorite — is made fresh by the Italian staff, with pasta, as you might imagine, taking the starring role. Whether you dine in or get the sauces and noodles to go, don’t miss the cannoli.

Now run by the fourth generation of the Casales family, Casale’s Halfway Club dates back to 1937. Dive into plates of saucy ravioli or try the beef or vegetarian lasagna. You’ll need reservations to score a table any night of the week, but the bar is first come first serve.

Drinks about town

Head for Calafuria, an Italian restaurant tucked inside a century-old house. But what’s really interesting is what’s behind it: a new speakeasy dubbed No. 731. Expect classic and Italian style cocktails  — the Rosemary Old Fashioned is hard to pass up, as is the refreshing Limoncello Spritz — plus Calafuria-prepped small bites including charcuterie and Roman supplì.

Midtown’s popular, speakeasy-style Death & Taxes specializes in rare whiskeys, as well as stylish craft cocktails, served amid moody decor. Think black-painted walls, candle-filled fireplaces, big leather couches — and vibrant sippers, made with egg whites for froth and dehydrated fruit garnishes. (Its sister bar, Amari, is right next door serving up spritzes and amaro flights.)

If you prefer your bubbles with a side of sweets, Champagne & Chocolate opened this summer with a confectionery pedigree — it’s owned by the folks behind Carson City’s Chocolate Nugget Candy Factory. Selling their own branded chocolate goods and offering make-your-own chocolate bars, the brunch and bar concept flaunts more than drinks and dessert.

If You Go

The ROW: Restaurants at this trio of hotels include Gordon Ramsay Fish & Chips and Ramsay Kitchen. Admission to the Great Italian Festival, Oct. 12-13, is free. 345 N. Virginia St. in Reno; www.caesars.com/the-row-reno.

Charlie Palmer Steak Reno: Open for dinner daily at 2500 E. Second St. in Reno; www.charliepalmersteak.com.

Atlantis Casino Resort Spa: Find the Atlantis Steakhouse, Bistro Napa, Red Bloom and Sky Terrace at 3800 S. Virginia St. in Reno; www.atlantiscasino.com.

Wings Korean Chicken: Open for lunch and dinner daily, except Wednesdays, at 2134 Greenbrae Drive in Sparks.

Lili’s Restaurant & Bar: Open for breakfast and lunch daily at 2325 Kietzke Lane in Reno; www.lilisdining.com.

Smith and River: Open for brunch on weekends and dinner Wednesday-Sunday at 50 N. Sierra St. in Reno; www.smithandriver.com.

Wild River Grille: Open for lunch and dinner daily at 17 S. Virginia St. in Reno; www.wildrivergrille.com.

The Shore: Open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner at 1 S. Lake St. in Reno; www.shoreroom.com.

Pasta Fresca: Open for lunch on weekdays and dinner Monday-Saturday at 6135 Lakeside Drive in Reno; www.pastafrescanv.com.

Casale’s Halfway Club: Open for lunch and dinner Tuesday-Saturday at 2501 E. Fourth St. in Reno; www.casaleshalfwayclub.com.

No. 731: Opens at 4 p.m. Wednesday-Sunday at 725 S. Center St. in Reno; www.calafuriareno.com.

Death & Taxes: Opens at 2 p.m. daily at 26 Cheney St. in Reno; www.deathandtaxesreno.com.

Champagne & Chocolate: Opens at 10 a.m. daily offering bubbles, cocktails, sweets and weekend brunch at 550 W. Plumb Lane in Reno; www.champagnechocolate.shop.

There are plenty of spots that boast delicious scrambles, Benedicts and other brunchy fare. But head for the Artemis Lakefront Café, and you can enjoy a Mediterranean-inspired menu lakeside. Take in the water views while sipping mimosas and espresso drinks by the giant outdoor fire pit or on the patio. The Greek Breakfast ($17) offers gyro slices sautéed with peppers and onions, topped with feta and served alongside eggs, herb roasted potatoes and pita bread. They’re open for lunch and dinner, too.

Heidi’s Pancake House and its bright yellow chalet are a South Lake Tahoe institution — it opened in 1964 — and a great place to start any pancakes-to-pilsners itinerary. Order a Heidi’s Short Stack ($11.49) with four buttermilk or buckwheat pancakes or indulge in a Bacon Stack ($15), six pancakes with bits of crispy bacon cooked right into the batter.

Meanwhile, the Driftwood Café puts you right in the middle of the Heavenly Village action. Their breakfast burrito ($14) holds a special place in our hearts (and bellies) with its plentiful filling of scrambled eggs, breakfast sausage (or avocado), hash browns, cheese and housemade salsa. And the lineup of “primo pancakes and wacky waffles” includes a loaded waffle ($14) topped with bananas, granola and yogurt.

And the casual, counter-service Sprouts Natural Café blends fresh smoothies ($7.50 to $8.25) to order, with a morning menu that includes Breakfast Bowls ($12.75), with brown rice, beans, steamed cage-free eggs, melted jack and avocado, and Huevos Verduras Rancheros ($13.50) that pile on the veggies.

Then hit the trails and enjoy the summery outdoor scene. When you’re ready, we’ll be waiting with some craft beer destination suggestions and — oh hello, here you are!

South Lake Tahoe has plenty of bars and restaurants, but if we’re focusing on what’s brewed here, head for South Lake Brewing Company. You can choose the local’s option and head for the brewery, where a taproom, beer garden with picnic tables and ski lift seating (yes, really) and rotating food trucks await. Or opt for the company’s Libation Lodge across the street from Heavenly Village and enjoy beer (and food).

We’re smitten with South Lake Brewing‘s “shot ski” style serves — no, no, not the high-alcohol, quick-consumption shots you find at some bars. The brewery uses skis for its beer tasting flights. Most people opt for the five-taste option which uses a pint-sized ski to serve two-ounce pours of five brews on tap. If you’ve brought a group and want to taste the entire line-up, there’s a 16 taster, full-ski option.

The Marlette Sunrise, a blood orange blonde, and the Fog Nozzle hazy IPA are the two flagships, both delicious but in very different ways. Every beer has a fun name, the artwork aligns with Tahoe vibes, and you’ll find many brews available by the can in the grab-and-go fridge, in case you want a brew on the go. Expert tip: When it’s time to refuel, the oversized pretzel with beer cheese ($16) does not disappoint.

South of North Brewing Co. is a sweet little outdoor space that offers terrific Tahoe ambience and an impressive collection of beers brewed on-site in a converted hotel room. (Yes, really, and if the brewer is around, you can catch a peek.)

If I had to pick just one of their brews to drink all day, the Explorer Cream Ale comes top of mind. It’s described as a California Cream Ale, but the style is largely European and offers a milky mouthfeel with a touch of vanilla. The Front Porch Pilsner is a great pick too, an easy drinker that’s light on the palate. There’s a large line-up of IPAs and even a double IPA, but as a small-batch brewery, everything is on seasonal rotation and kegs occasionally run out.

Plan to hang out awhile so you can enjoy the outdoor area with its picnic tables and giant fire pits surrounded by Adirondack chairs and cafe lights, or head inside to catch a game in the bar. Keep an eye on the brewery calendar, if you’re interested in trivia nights.

Finish your day at Cold Water Brewery and Grill, a full-service pub in the Swiss Chalet Village, where you can grab dinner with your beer flight. You’ll find brews that echo the laidback lake style with names such as Feel Good IPA, Lake it Easy Pilsner and It’s All Pine by Me IPA. If you like darker brews, the Stillwater Stout is a delicious combination of coffee, caramel and chocolate flavors. The crowd-pleasing Mr. Toad’s Wild Rye is a malt-forward amber with a hint of grass and spice.

Or, if you want games along with your drinks, The Hangar is a great outdoor option. This taproom and bottle shop sits on an acre near the Tahoe forest and works with other breweries to curate their list of offerings. There’s space to picnic, food trucks and an adults-only play zone that offers bocce, corn hole and other lawn games. And for the indoor crowd, there’s the Flatstick Pub which offers mini golf, a full bar with beer on tap, and adult-only and family-friendly hours so you can choose your own experience as you…

Lake it Easy.

If You Go

Artemis Lakefront Café: Open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily at 900 Ski Run Blvd., Suite 111, South Lake Tahoe; http://artemislakefrontcafe.com/.

Heidi’s Pancake House: Open from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily at 3485 Lake Tahoe Blvd.; www.heidislaketahoe.com.

Driftwood Café: Open from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily at 1001 Heavenly Village Way; www.driftwoodtahoe.com.

Sprouts Café: Open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily at 3123 Harrison Ave.; www.sproutscafetahoe.com.

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South Lake Brewing Company: The Libation Lodge is open from noon to 9 p.m. at 4000 Lake Tahoe Blvd., Suite 26. The brewery taproom and beer garden are open from 2 to 8:30 p.m. Monday-Wednesday and noon to 9 p.m. Thursday-Sunday at 1920 Lake Tahoe Blvd.; www.southlakebeer.com.

South of North Brewing Co.: Open from 2 to 10 p.m. Monday-Thursday and noon to 10 p.m. Friday-Sunday at 932B Stateline Ave.; www.southofnorthbeer.com.

Cold Water Brewery and Grill: Open from 11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday, and until 8:30 p.m. on Friday-Saturday at 2544 Lake Tahoe Blvd; https://tahoecoldwaterbrewery.com/

The Hangar: Open from noon to 9 p.m. Sunday-Wednesday and until 10 p.m. Thursday-Saturday at 2401B Lake Tahoe Blvd.; www.thehangarlaketahoe.com.

Flatstick Pub: Open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. or later daily at 4101 Lake Tahoe Blvd., Suite #101; https://flatstickpubtahoe.com/.

A quaint stretch of wine country located mostly along a one-mile roadway, Yountville is home to some of the world’s most recognized restaurants, several of Napa Valley’s most distinguished tasting rooms and a couple of surprises that will quickly elevate your weekend away. Read on for an itinerary ripe with accessible luxury experiences in a town created with ease and comfort for locals and visitors alike.

Plastered with large, white block letters that announce “Market” across the top, the delicious yet unpretentious Ciccio has changed hands without losing favor. It’s still under its original ownership, but Meadowood chef Christopher Kostow has taken charge. In a town known for Michelin stars — Thomas Keller’s famous French Laundry has three — standing out is no easy task, but Ciccio does it with ease, offering a down-to-earth approach to fine dining in Yountville.

Don’t miss Ciccio’s popular gnudi ($28) — a puff of housemade, cream-filled pasta that is neither gnocchi nor ravioli and whose cacio e pepe treatment offers flavors of burnt peppercorn punctuated by Pennyroyal cheese. It’s just one of many clever options on the menu, which includes short lists of pasta, pizza and mains. If you order the Pork Chop Milanese ($42), perfectly crusted and cooked to perfection, accompany it with a side of wood-fired broccolini ($15). And the focaccia ($8) served with garlic butter is a must.

The dive bar next door, Pancha’s of Yountville, was recently sold and awaits reopening — still as a dive bar — but Ciccio sits on a stretch of road peppered by some of Yountville’s most impressive wine and food options. In the scant mile between The Restaurant at North Block (where you can also book a room) and Keller’s other pride and joy, Ad Hoc, it’s hard to go wrong. RH Yountville is hard to miss with its sparkling patio chandeliers. R+D Kitchen doubles as an outdoor bar and chic hot spot with a veggie club sandwich ($19) — cucumber, French feta, avocado and pickled onion — that will have even omnivores craving more.

Between meals, wine tasting is a popular adventure. Yountville lies in the heart of Napa Valley, after all, and its founder, George C. Yount, was the first person to plant grapes in the region in 1839. So our first stop is Cornerstone Cellars, where you can pair your wine tasting flight ($50) with a cheese or charcuterie board — and a bit of shopping.

Yountville requires that new tasting rooms devote space to non-wine uses in an effort to diversify its walkable downtown. So Cornerstone, for example, shares its building with Tina Stephens, a casual clothing shop. JCB Yountville next door offers a similar tasting room-meets-retail shop experience with branded JCB jewelry, luxury candles and more. Handwritten Wines pairs a stylish shopping space with its tasting lounge, where the Bread and Butter wine tasting experience ($100) includes four wines, white truffle potato chips, Bouchon Bakery baguettes, artisan butters, Coppa Salame and P’tit Basque cheese.

Priest Ranch, whose bacon and wine pairings ($85) have made it a local fave, has retail space in its tasting room and a restaurant next door. Head for the Kitchen at Priest Ranch, and you can pair your smashburger ($18) with a glass of Priest Ranch cab.

Meanwhile, Honor Market takes a different approach to the hybrid model. This gas station-meets-bottle shop sells a variety of local vinos plus coffee and hot dogs in an indoor-outdoor setting that is much too chic to be called a convenience store.

There are almost as many high-end hotels in Yountville as restaurants and tasting rooms — and again, you can hardly go wrong. But the Napa Valley Railway Inn stands out for one charming reason: Its rooms are housed in converted,100-year-old railway cars from the town’s original depot. The bright red exterior makes it hard to miss, even tucked, as they are, into a quiet corner of a parking lot.

Prefer a bird’s eye view of the valley? Consider a loftier vantage point by taking a hot air balloon ride ($280 and up) with Napa Valley Aloft, one of the original balloon companies to provide agricultural aerial tours here — and, weather permitting, those balloons launch from a lot at the neighboring V Marketplace, just steps from the inn.

We’ve concentrated on eating, drinking, shopping and soaring, but the town also has an immersive art scene. The annual Yountville Art, Sip and Stroll on May 18 combines all our favorite things — art, wine and delicious bites — in the heart of town. And the Yountville Art Walk proffers a stroll-worthy, year-round display of 38 outdoor sculptures by artists from around the world. (It’s also a good way to stretch your legs between tasting appointments.)

With most of the pieces placed along the main drag, it’s easy to do a self-guided tour of the art walk. Pick up a map at the Yountville Community Center or Welcome Center (at 6516 and 6484 Washington St., respectively), then keep your eyes open for the QR codes at each sculpture location to access more information. There’s a free audio tour option, and Yountville Arts provides docent-led tours ($25), as well.

And afterward, there will still be time for more sips and bites.

If You Go

Ciccio: Open from 5 to 9 p.m. daily at 6770 Washington St. in Yountville; www.ciccionapavalley.com.

RH Yountville Restaurant: Open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. weekdays, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. weekends at 6725 Washington St.; www.rh.com.

R+D Kitchen: Open from 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday-Thursday and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday-Sunday at 6795 Washington St.; www.rd-kitchen.com.

Cornerstone Cellars: Open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily at 6505 Washington St.; www.cornerstonecellars.com.

JCB Tasting Salon: Open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily at 6505 Washington St.; www.jcbcollection.com.

Handwritten Wines: Open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily at 6494 Washington St.; https://handwrittenwines.com.

Priest Ranch Tasting Room: Open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily at 6490 Washington St.; www.priestranchwines.com.

Honor Market: Open from 6:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily at 6795 Washington St.

Napa Valley Railway Inn: Rooms start at $245 per night. 6523 Washington St.; www.napavalleyrailwayinn.com.

Napa Valley Aloft: Hot air balloon rides ($280 and up) are offered daily, weather permitting. The office is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays and until 3 p.m. weekends at 6525 Washington St.; www.nvaloft.com.

Yountville Art, Sip and Stroll: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 18. Admission to this art, wine and food fest is free. Tasting packages ($40) include a glass and four wine tasting tokens; www.artsipstroll.com.

Yountville Art Walk: Find details on these public art installations at the town’s welcome center, https://townofyountville.com and https://youraudiotour.com/tours/72/.

Art lovers will want to head straight for the Seattle Center, where Chihuly Garden and Glass houses Dale Chihuly’s dazzling, vibrant glass sculptures — and the museum’s new restaurant lets you sip and dine among his collections. But you can also visit glass art studios around town, watch glassblowing demonstrations and even try making a molten glass keepsake yourself.

Consider it an immersive adventure of the most artistic sort.

Explore the Chihuly legacy

You’ll find Chihuly’s wildly creative glass installations at museums and venues around the world, from the Toyama Glass Art Museum in Japan to the Oklahoma City Museum of Art, which holds the largest permanent collection of his work.

But Washington holds a special place in the heart of this legendary Tacoma-born glass artist. You’ll find his works displayed at the Tacoma Art Museum, on the University of Puget Sound campus — where the alum dedicated a glass installation to his favorite professor — and, of course, in Seattle where Chihuly’s studio lies just a few miles from the 74-acre urban park that houses Chihuly Garden and Glass.

Just steps from the Space Needle, the museum’s striking glass edifice and sculpture garden showcase towering glass structures both indoors and out. The massive, suspended scarlet and yellow Glasshouse Sculpture was installed in 2012, when the museum first opened. Indoors, you’ll find the colorful Mille Fiori — a floral garden of glass that practically glows — and boats filled with ikebana and glass floats and so much more.

If you’re curious about how glass is made, glassmiths or gaffers give outdoor glassblowing demonstrations at the museum’s retrofitted 1967 Airstream — it’s known as the Community Hot Shop — daily starting at 11:15 a.m.

Set a new bar

Many museums have cafeterias or restaurants. This one has a cocktail bar — dubbed simply The Bar. It’s a testament to the Pacific Northwest, with locally sourced ingredients and seasonal menus that complement the cocktail program; they also serve beer and wine.

The Bar is almost a second museum with 25 of Chihuly’s private collections on display. Antique accordions hang from the ceiling, small glass bottles and other trinkets nestle under the glass-topped dining tables and Chihuly drawings line the walls.

Sip a barrel-aged negroni or a pistachio-infused rye and bourbon Inkwell ($17 each) alongside warm, smoked king salmon dip ($13) and crispy calamari ($11), showcasing the PNW’s oceanic offerings (there’s also fish and chips, soft shell crab and miso clams). Or opt for a Columbia Valley wine alongside slightly spicy Bolognese pasta ($16) or wagyu beef sliders with smoked scamorza cheese ($17 for two).

For those abstaining from alcohol, the housemade sodas are anything but basic — think red wine vinegar, blood orange and cedar smoke ($9). And for those who came for the social experience, communal cocktails ($55, serves four) are available as well.

Blow your own

Once you’ve accumulated enough inspiration (but preferably not immediately after indulging in a cocktail), head to the Seattle Glassblowing Studio, a half-mile walk away. Here, a team of talented artists waits to open their kilns and share their knowledge of glassblowing with you as you embark on a DIY project in the hot shop.

The studio gets hot, and protective gloves and goggles are required, but the experience is surprisingly interactive. So choose a project from the wall of beginner options — paperweights, bowls, perhaps a decorative pumpkin — and let the pros help you get started.

There are a few safety rules and tricks — the practice requires constant movement, for example, so the melted materials don’t fall back into the oven as you’re working. Follow the studio’s guidance, and you’ll be just fine.

Paperweights offer the most creative control. But — happy surprise — you can use the bowls you make here, as long as you keep them out of the heat. Don’t put them in a dishwasher, for example, or microwave. (Tip: Ship your handmade glass art home, so your creation makes it safely.)

Start a collection

Looking to do a little shopping? The shelves at the Seattle Glassblowing Studio shop offer everything from large vases to animal trinkets; some, perhaps, created by the pro who just assisted you.

Then explore more glassblowing studios and shops. Among the possibilities: Seattle’s Totally Blown Glassworks, Glasshouse Studio, Avalon Glassworks, DeCicio Artisan Glass, Karaba Art Glass and Fremont Antique Glass Co., as well as galleries such as Edge of Glass and Blowing Sands.

Think outside the box when choosing blown glass. You can buy artwork to grace your shelves, of course, but many blown glass items — drinking glasses, lamps, jewelry dishes — are made to be used. They’re beautiful and practical at the same time.

If You Go

Chihuly Garden & Glass: Admission is $26-$35. The museum opens at 10 a.m. daily at 305 Harrison St. in Seattle. The Bar is open from 10:30 a.m. to 8 pm.; www.chihulygardenandglass.com.

Seattle Glassblowing Studio: The studio is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily at 2227 Fifth Ave. Hands-on glassblowing experiences ($70 and up) are available daily by reservation; www.seattleglassblowing.com.

Totally Blown Glassworks: Hours vary. 5607 Corson Ave.; www.dehannajones.com.

Glasshouse Studio: Opens at 10 a.m. Monday-Saturday, 11 a.m. Sundays at 311 Occidental Ave. in Pioneer Square; www.glasshouse-studio.com.

Avalon Glassworks: Open noon to 4 p.m. Thursday-Saturday at 2914 SW Avalon Way; www.avalonglassworks.com.

DeCicio Artisan Glass: Open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sundays at 5416 Shilshole Ave. NW; www.decicioglass.com.

Karaba Art Glass: Opens at noon Mondays, 11 a.m. Tuesday-Sunday at Pike Place Market; www.theglasspumpkin.com.

Fremont Antique Glass Co: Make an appointment to view glass production and shop at the warehouse by emailing fremontantiqueglass@gmail.com. 3614 Second Ave. NW; www.fremontantiqueglass.com

Edge of Glass Gallery: Open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at 513H N. 36th St.; www.edgeofglass.com.

Blowing Sands: Call 206-783-5314 for hours or to shop by appointment. 5805 14th Ave. NW; www.blowingsands.com

Unlike its southern neighbor, Oregon, Washington State has not made much of its rugged Pacific coastline. Seeing a lack of oceanside getaways for state residents, Casey and Laura Roloff decided to build their own waterfront oasis using Seaside, Florida as a guide. (If you’ve seen “The Truman Show,” you’ve seen Seaside. The iconic 1998 Jim Carrey movie was filmed there.) The 2004 project was their second planned community in the Pacific Northwest; the first — Bella Beach — is on the Oregon coast.

Seabrook was painstakingly built to exude the coastal charm of historic beach towns inAmerica, while keeping sustainability and urbanism in mind. Every planning decision has a reason, from slowing traffic to make streets safe for play to building neighborhoods where everyone has a view of the water.

When you arrive, you’re greeted by a walkable town square flanked by East Coast-style buildings and an oversized beach chair — for photo ops, of course — beneath a gray and blue-hued sky (this is Washington, after all). It didn’t take long to be smitten by the beach town vibe. Shops cater to the ultimate summer vacation with a flair that feels at once family friendly and upscale. With 500+ homes tucked into nine micro-neighborhoods, the town welcomes full-time residents (mostly retirees), day trippers and, most notably, vacationers.

More than 275 of those properties — everything from stately compounds to colorful yet quaint homes — are available to rent and sleep anywhere from two to 24 guests. Outdoor sports courts, parks, biking and hiking trails are easily accessible. And you can explore everything else this walkable town has to offer—18 parks, an event space, boutique spa, fitness center, central amphitheater, outdoor firepits, sports and pickle ball courts (of course), an indoor pool, award-winning restaurants and plenty of shopping.

Among our favorites was the cozy Joie Des Livres: The Joy of Books, a two-story shop lined withnovels, books and knickknacks for all ages. A space in the back is set up for kids who want tocurl up with a book, while they wait for parents to shop. This is also the spot to grab games, puzzles and art supplies to enjoy throughout your stay.

The Salty Dog has everything needed to spoil Fido, PONDR caters to chic male clientele with a sense of style, Magnolias Boutique offers womens wear and Brooklets Toys fills its shelves with toys, games, puzzles and gifts you won’t find at your neighborhood Target.

Because the Roloffs have a hand in every decision made in Seabrook design, they ensure no twoshops are the same. This isn’t the town where you’ll find branded souvenirs in three buildings onthe same street; to cut down on competition, there’s only one of those, and it’s high end notkitschy.

Walking the town is one of the best pastimes in Seabrook. There’s no shortage of things to do — and Olympic National Park is only a 45 minute drive away — but the allure of the stately Town Hall building, the larger-than-life Sasquatch statue and those ocean views are irresistible.

And when it comes to dining, the restaurants follow the same rules as retail businesses — no two are alike. Vista Bakeshop serves coffees and pastries, including cruffins which have people lining up around the block. For lunch, Rising Tide Tavern is American cuisine, heavy on seafood options, with a back patio perfect for people watching. For dinner, choose between the margarita and taco scene at Koko’s Restaurant & Tequila Bar or pizza at Frontager’s Pizza Co. & Social.

Adults will love The Stowaway Wine Bar, where fireside seats and hanging chandeliers create a distinctive ambiance for wine flights and charcuterie platters. And if you want to cook at home, head for Fresh Foods, the town’s 13,000-square-foot grocery store.

The weather is pleasant throughout the year, and each season has its own activities, which the concierge at the Seabrook real estate office can help arrange, from mushroom foraging in the fall to razor clam digging in winter and spring. Or you can simply DIY it: set out on a hiking trail on your own, check out a sunset concert or rent a SUP, kayak or surfboard. Surfing is a year round sport here, and the Pacific coastline promises large swells for enthusiasts.

Grab your family for a walk along the sandy beach (even in summer, temperatures are mild, which makes diving in a brave task), check out the old school arcade and stock up on specialty candies and fresh scoops of ice cream at The Sweet Life.

If you’re keen to leave Seabrook for an afternoon, you can explore some of the more notable attractions at Olympic National Park, such as Marymere Falls, Lake Quinault and the Hoh Rainforest, or visit the town of Forks, a mecca for “Twilight” fans. Each attraction is just 45 minutes to two hours away. And anglers can check out the fishing at the Wynoochee River, Lower Quinault River, Hoh River or Queets River.

Or simply kick back in Seabrook, a little slice of nostalgia on the Washington coast.

If You Go

Getting here: Seabrook is a 130-mile drive from Seattle airport; it’s 170 miles from Portland’s airport.

Vacation rentals: Book a vacation house and check out the town’s amenities, including shops and restaurants, at www.seabrookwa.com/.

Joie Des Livres: The Joy of Books: Open 10 a.m.-6 p.m. daily at 216 Market St, Pacific Beach;www.facebook.com/joiedeslivres.seabrook.

The Salty Dog: Open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. daily at 215 S. Meriweather St., Pacific Beach; www.shopsaltydog.com.

PONDR: Open noon-5 p.m. daily at 207A Market St., Pacific Beach: www.pondrpnw.com.

Magnolias Boutique: Open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, until 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday at 212 Market St., Pacific Beach, www.shopmagnolias.com.

Brooklets Toys: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily at 208 Market St., Pacific Beach, www.facebook.com/brooklets.toys.

Vista Bakeshop: Open 7 a.m.-3 p.m. daily at 202 Meriweather St., Pacific Beach; www.vistabakeshop.com.

Rising Tide Tavern: Open for lunch and dinner daily, plus breakfast on weekends, at 223 Market St., Pacific Beach; www.risingtidetavern.com.

Koko’s Restaurant & Tequila Bar: Open for lunch and dinner daily, plus breakfast on weekends, at 5 W. Myrtle Lane, Pacific Beach; www.kokos-restaurant.com.

Frontager’s Pizza Co. & Social: Open for lunch and dinner daily at 21 Seabrook Ave., Pacific Beach; www.frontagerspizza.com.

The Stowaway Wine Bar: Open from noon-8 p.m. daily, until 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday, at 203 Market St., Pacific Beach; www.thestowawaywinebarseabrookwa.com.

Fresh Foods: This market is open from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily at  224 Market St., Pacific Beach; www.freshfoodsmarketplace.com/seabrook-wa.Open 8 a.m.-9 p.m. daily.

The Arcade: Open 10 a.m.-7 p.m. daily, until 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday at 16 Front St., Pacific Beach; www.seabrookwa.com.

The Sweet Life: Open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily, until 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday, at 215 S. Meriweather St.; Pacific Beach, www.sweetlifewa.com.

Olympic National Park: Find trail maps and park information at www.nps.gov/olym/