With most of our staff having lived in the Seattle area for more than ten years, we’ve uncovered quite a few hidden—or not so hidden—gems in the area, from things to do to places to eat. Here are some of our staff’s favorite ways to spend their downtime or to entertain visiting friends and family.

Under the radar but loved by those in the know, Harried and Hungry is Eileen Olson’s favorite hideaway downtown for lunch. With a diverse offering of delicious, tasty and healthy meals prepared by hand every morning, you can dine-in, carry-out or have your delicious soup, salad, sandwich or pizza delivered to your office.

Another eatery downtown is Market Grill at Pike Place Market: a gem that the locals will brave crowds of tourists for. Kevin Callaghan recommends it for the halibut sandwich and slaw; a small but mighty crowd on Google recommends the blackened salmon or chowder, too.

If you’re looking for lighter options, don’t let conventiongoers get all the goodness: Check out Juicy Café at the Seattle Convention Center. Recommended by Curtis Pepin, this quaint gem has been around for 25 years and offers catering, too. With seasonal menus and food that’s designed to fill you up but not weigh you down, it’s perfect for a quick bite or a refresher while working, shopping or exploring downtown.

Explorers seeking culture already have Seattle Art Museum (SAM) on their lists, but visiting over the lunch hour is a gemlike experience. While weekends at SAM can be crowded, the lunch hour offers a respite from the day. Relax and recharge among exhibits like Everyday Poetics, which SAM says features works from Latin American artists “shaped by the social, economic and political developments in their respective countries during the 1980s and ‘90s.”

Ready for more culture? According to Steve Phelps, Seattle Opera is a gem hiding in plain sight. Steve says, “It features amazing performances and so few Seattleites have been to one.” Never been? Check out the Seattle Opera website to explore current and upcoming opportunities. Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess, The Turn of the Screw and Il Trovatore are on the horizon.

Open for late-night dining—so you can go after the opera—and located on the Harbor Steps is Lecosho, one of Tim Thomas’ favorite eateries. Created by the same Matt who launched Matt’s in the Market, this rustic yet elegant locale features various pork delights—its name is Chinook for “pig”—including house made sausage and porchetta, plus seafood, rabbit and a tuna melt that reviewers rave about. Sit outside or in the light and bright dining room for lunch, happy hour or post-show dining.

Ready to walk off all of that food? Mike Schultz recommends the Washington Park Arboretum. In addition to collections of oaks, maples and camellias, and phenomenal thematic and seasonal gardens, the arboretum offers classes, tours and birding and boating. The whole family can enjoy the self-guided adventures: explore with a seasonal tour map or seasonal scavenger hunt for the kids. Open from dusk until dawn daily and free to the public, there’s always something new to discover at the arboretum.

Get more steps in at Lisa Price’s favorite gems. “I love the trails of Carkeek Park and exploring the Pacific Galleries Antique Mall in the SODO neighborhood. Both provide hours of fun, rain or shine.” Though off the beaten path in the Broadview neighborhood, Carkeek is a must-do with out-of-town visitors for the park itself as well as the views of Puget Sound and the Olympic Mountains. And antique fans will be blown away by the massive assortment of fine art, antiques and estates available at Pacific Galleries.

Another view not to be missed by visitors is the one from Kerry Park on Queen Anne, which is often remembered as the view from Frasier’s apartment in the TV show of the same name. Megan Hitt says, “I make sure to take friends and family from out of town here to get their perfect view of Seattle.” As an added bonus, visitors can check out the Changing Form steel sculpture by Doris Totten Chase that’s been in the park since 1971.

If you’re on the Eastside this summer with the family, Cal Spranger recommends visiting Pine Lake Park in Sammamish. Originally a private resort when it opened in the 1910s, it’s a true hidden gem. With plenty of parking, picnic tables and a beach surrounded by lush greenery, the kids or grandkids will love jumping off the dock while the adults swim or lounge.