The Washington Court Reporters Association (WCRA) is excited to welcome attendees of the 2026 NCRA Conference & Expo to the fair “City in the Park” of Bellevue, Wash. Special thanks to the WCRA Board of Directors for their recommendations on what to see and what to do.
“Bellevue once seemed just a suburb of Seattle, but it’s now a lovely destination of its own,” says Holly Draper, RPR, president of WCRA. “It has the same tech vibe as Seattle, but it has a gorgeous natural background being right by the lake. We’re so excited to see all of you here.”
To help you make plans for the time you are spending in Bellevue this year, the WCRA Board of Directors suggested adding a couple of the following to your itinerary to really get a feel for the place.
What to do in Bellevue
- Bellevue Botanical Garden: Feel the need to touch grass? Visit the Bellevue Botanical Garden, which features 53 acres of cultivated gardens, restored woodlands, and natural wetlands.
- Meydenbauer Bay Park: Within walking distance from the Hyatt Regency, this lake beachfront park offers kayak and paddleboard rentals.
- Mercer Slough Nature Park: Soak in a little nature by walking along the boardwalk, picking blueberries or getting on the water with kayak and paddleboard rentals
- Din Tai Fung: Taste some excellent dim sum right across the skybridge from the hotel.
- The Lakehouse: At one of the best restaurants on the Eastside, the menu is hyper-local and changes constantly. It’s tucked inside the Lincoln mall and accessible by skybridge from the hotel.
- Main Street, between Bellevue Way and 100th Ave NE in Bellevue: Only 15 minutes away (walking) through Bellevue Downtown Park, is a cut two-block stretch with little shops and lots of good local dining options.
- Bridle Trails State Park: On the north boundary of Bellevue and Kirkland, a 500-acre equestrian park right in the middle of the urban Eastside. Lots of trails for walking or running, and there will probably be some horse shows happening then.
- Forum Social House: A great place to take a fun break with mini golf, top golf, and a sound lounge.
Interested in exploring a little farther afield? Hop in your car, take the light rail, or buy a ticket on the ferry to see the sights in these other great cities not far from Bellevue. Enjoy your stay in the Pacific Northwest!
Getting around: Bellevue to Seattle Light Rail:
- Sound Transit’s East Link light rail line, now known as the 2 Line, extends 14 miles from downtown Seattle to the Overlake area in Redmond, with 10 stations in Mercer Island, South Bellevue, downtown Bellevue, BelRed (Bellevue) and Overlake. Preliminary service for the Eastside stations began in 2024.
Plan an excursion to Kirkland
- Kirkland Downtown: Spend some time on the waterfront, which features art galleries and lots of restaurants and treats.
- Kirkland Uncorked: July 17-19: An outdoor wine fest with live music at the beautiful marina, ticketed entry with tastings included.
- Ladies’ Night at the Lime: Live music at a slightly classy dive bar in Kirkland.
- Juanita: A quiet retreat with a boardwalk and lots of wildlife that spans between Juanita Beach Park with sandy beaches and Juanita Bay Park wetland reserve. Lots of good dining and bar options on the north end near the beach park.
Get a ticket to ride in Redmond
Ride the brand-new light rail from Bellevue Downtown Station to Downtown Redmond Station ($3.00). There you can take in many more sights (and tastes) recommended by the locals.
- Redmond Town Center outdoor mall.
- Marymoor Park: Sprawling urban park with events.
- Palmers East: Dive-bar karaoke and cheap drinks at local favorite.
- Tipsy Cow: Burgers and boozy shakes.
- Matador: Mexican steakhouse.
- Flatstick Pub: Minigolf and dozens of beers and ciders on tap.
Grab a glass of wine in Woodinville
They’re really leaning into their wine culture and offer many places you can do tastings or tour wineries.
- Chateau Ste. Michelle: Do a tour or a tasting and explore the gorgeous gardens.
- Willows Lodge Collective: The famous Herb Farm restaurant, their little sister Barking Frog, the gorgeous Willows Lodge with a lounge, and then a ton of wineries have tasting rooms just around the corner, including Sparkman, DeLille, and my personal favorite, Mark Ryan.
- The Schoolhouse District: A bunch of wineries and restaurants clustered around a roundabout. Plus, a brand-new hotel with spa just opened up: “The Somm.”
- Warehouse District: Off the beaten path, lots of smaller wineries clustered together in converted warehouses. You can buy a pass of four flights for $65 or just go on your own.
Add a day to spend in Seattle
The city of Seattle is always a fun place to spend some time. Here are a few ways to organize a day trip if you want to plan for an extra day before or after your Conference experience.
Idea #1: Pioneer Square/Seattle Aquarium/Ferry ride to/from Bainbridge Island
- Pioneer Square: You can choose from many different tours with different vibes – including underground tours – through this hip and urban neighborhood. You can even visit the Seattle underground in this section of town.
- Smith Tower in Pioneer Square: The tallest skyscraper on the West Coast for 50 years, also has a speakeasy observatory bar at the top.
- Seattle Aquarium: Take a time out to ooh and aah over the cute otters (and other sea life) at the Seattle Aquarium.
- Bainbridge Island: A scenic island in Puget Sound, Bainbridge Island is known for its small-town charm, lush forest, and grand views You can take the ferry to Bainbridge Island.
- Mariners Baseball: Playing home games at our retractable-roof stadium July 17-22.
Idea #2: Space Needle-Pacific Science Center/monorail ride to Westlake Center Mall/walk to Pike Place Market
- Space Needle: There are few American buildings more iconic than the Space Needle – and if it’s been on your bucket list to head up the elevator for a view of the city, now’s your chance. Take the monorail to get around the city on this trip.
- While in the area, you can take in the bustling heart of the city at Westlake Center and Pike Place Market.
Idea #3: Mt. Rainier/Northwest Trek Wildlife Park
- Mount Rainier: Checking on the mountain is a daily activity for locals, and it is a treasure of the Pacific Northwest.
- Northwest Trek Wildlife Park: Visit our bears, wolves, foxes, bobcats, cougars, and other native wildlife at the Northwest Trek Wildlife Park in Eatonville, Wash.
Idea #4: Snoqualmie/North Bend:
- Snoqualmie Falls: Another popular way to enjoy our beautiful state is to visit Snoqualmie Falls, a 270-foot waterfall, with upper and lower observations decks. It’s only 30 minutes from Bellevue. You can also get a great view of the falls from a scenic chairlift.
- Get in a little shopping at the North Bend Premium Outlets or take the Twin Peaks Tour
While you can expect a busy day of Conference sessions and meetings, we’re confident that our host city and its environs will offer you no shortage of activities to partake in once sessions have ended for the day.
We can’t wait to see where your Conference plans take you this summer!
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