Bellevue makes a case. The Eastside city sits across Lake Washington from Seattle, with a walkable downtown, a Lake Washington shoreline, more than 100 parks, and a new direct light rail line that drops you about a 10-minute walk from Lumen Field’s gates
The train connection
The 2 Line, also called the Crosslake Connection, runs the full route from Bellevue to downtown Seattle. It’s the world’s first light rail service over a floating bridge. It takes just under 20 minutes to get from Bellevue Downtown Station to International District/Chinatown (the Seattle stop closest to Lumen Field), and trains come every eight to 10 minutes during peak hours.
For fans coming from out of town, the rail goes all the way to Sea-Tac with one transfer at ID/Chinatown. End-to-end travel is about an hour and 15 minutes. There’s also a direct Bellevue Airport Shuttle from the airport. For late matches, the 2 Line runs until about 1 AM Monday through Saturday. Something to note for anyone interested in the June 26 Egypt vs. Iran group stage match that kicks off at 8 PM.
What to do before and after kickoff
“Start your morning with Bellevue’s café culture — this region is known for its coffee, and downtown offers everything from craft roasters to relaxed neighborhood cafés,” says Brad Jones, executive director of Visit Bellevue. “From there, walk to Bellevue Downtown Park and Meydenbauer Bay Park where you’ll find wide open green space framed by skyline views, a perfect place to ease into the day alongside fellow fans or a mid-morning kayak with views back toward Seattle.”
The rest of his list depends on what you’re interested in, but there’s no shortage of things to choose from: Old Bellevue’s Main Street for the independent shops, restaurants, and bars; the Bellevue Botanical Garden for some fresh air; or the Bellevue zip tour, the East Trail, or Snoqualmie Falls if you want to stay active.
The Bellevue Collection — 200-plus stores, more than 50 restaurants — is the main draw to keep the theme on soccer, though, with World Cup activations and a Bellevue Baller beer at Bellevue Brewing’s Spring District taproom…