Since I’m from Seattle, a lot of times when we visit we just hang with family and don’t get out to explore the city much.  This trip, Blake and I found ourselves with an evening alone and decided to make a date of it.  Afterwards, we both concluded that it was one of our very favorite nights in Seattle together, and consequently a perfect date (for anyone out there looking!)

We started by eating at Din Tai Fung.  You GUYS…it’s so good.  We’d heard about it from so many people and finally had to try it ourselves.  Din Tai Fun is a Taiwanese restaurant know for their dumplings.  We went to the location in the University District in Seattle, but there’s one in Bellevue, Santa Clara, and a few in LA and Orange County.  (For international locations, check here.)  We LOVED the food, I’ve been craving it since we left!  The service was also great – our server was super helpful with explanations and recommendations.  She even taught us the proper way to eat the dumplings when they came out.  We took her advice and ordered Sauteed String Beans with Garlic, Pork XiaoLongBao (this is what they’re known for!), Shrimp & Pork Wontons with Spicy Sauce (this sauce was amazing, our server told us to save it and use it for everything else and we totally did!), and Pork Buns.  We need to go back and try the noodles and fried rice, because we heard amazing things about those but just couldn’t eat anymore!Din Tai Fung Steamed Dumplings | Palms to PInes

Afterwards, we couldn’t help but stop at Molly Moon’s Ice Cream.  I’d heard a lot about it, and they seem to have become a Seattle staple with their amazing homemade ice cream!  They’ve got locations all over Seattle, but we went to the one in the University District, right underneath Din Tai Fung.  The smell of the place itself is enough to make you go crazy, and we were dying as we watched them make fresh waffle cones while we waited in line.  My favorite flavors of ice cream were the Honey Lavender, the Stumptown Coffee, and the Balsamic Strawberry.

molly moons u village | palms to PinesAfter Molly Moon’s, we headed over to the Arboretum.  If you’re not familiar with Seattle, it’s just across the freeway from University Village and only took us 5 minutes to drive over there.  It’s a massive, beautiful park that should definitely be explored in its entirety at some point, but we specifically wanted to go to the Japanese Garden.  The Japanese Gardens are located at the south end of the arboretum, and there is an entrance fee of $6.50.  Guys, they’re so beautiful!  We snapped a ton of pictures, but pictures just don’t do it justice!  After a crazy week, it felt so amazing to walk through such a peaceful, pretty place.  Garden tip: buy some food at the front if you want to feed the koi fish, and you might see some really cute turtles come to grab a bite, too!  For specific location and hours, check here.

Seattle Japanese Garden | Washington Park Arboretum | Palms to PInesSeattle Japanese Garden | Washington Park Arboretum | Palms to PInesSeattle Japanese Garden | Washington Park Arboretum | Palms to PInesSeattle Japanese Garden | Washington Park Arboretum | Palms to PInesSeattle Japanese Garden | Washington Park Arboretum | Palms to PInesSeattle Japanese Garden | Washington Park Arboretum | Palms to PInesSeattle Japanese Garden | Washington Park Arboretum | Palms to PInesSeattle Japanese Garden | Washington Park Arboretum | Palms to PInesSeattle Japanese Garden | Washington Park Arboretum | Palms to PInes Seattle Japanese Garden | Washington Park Arboretum | Palms to PInesSeattle Japanese Garden | Washington Park Arboretum | Palms to PInesSeattle Japanese Garden | Washington Park Arboretum | Palms to PInes

Outfit Details:Seattle Japanese Garden | Washington Park Arboretum | Palms to PInes

All Saints Leather Jacket | Aritzia Sweater (on sale!) | Roam Free Tee | Paige Distressed Ankle Jeans | Superga Canvas Sneakers | Coal Beanie | Sunglasses |Welden Bag