Choose Your Way... to Magic Season
December 2, 2019 - by Alex Thoman, BDA Communications
Category What's Happening
Choose Your Way... to Magic Season
The holiday season is here, and with it, the start of Magic Season in Bellevue! There are a multitude of activities to experience over the coming weeks -- skating at the Bellevue Downtown Ice Rink presented by Symetra, witnessing the incredible Snowflake Lane parade, watching enchanting performances at the Meydenbauer Center Theatre, and taking in the illuminated Garden d’Lights at Bellevue Botanical Garden. If you decide to experience one or experience them all, skip the parking and traffic this year: Choose Your Way Bellevue encourages you to save time and money by taking alternative modes of transportation to Bellevue’s festivities, and they've rounded up the easiest ways to do just that for each event:
BELLEVUE DOWNTOWN ICE RINK PRESENTED BY SYMETRA
- Cycling – Utilize the high-comfort bike lanes southbound on 108th Avenue and westbound on Main Street to get to Bellevue Downtown Park. Use the Bellevue Bike map or Google Maps to help plan your bike route.
- Carpool – Make the most out of the car space, grab some friends and head to Bellevue Downtown Park where free parking is provided. If the lot is full, you can park in Bellevue Square mall parking and take a short walk down 100th Avenue or Bellevue Way Northeast to get to the rink.
- Bus – Take the bus to the Bellevue Transit Center and walk south and then three blocks west on Northeast Fourth Street to get to the rink.
- Cycling – The new bike lane on 112th Avenue Northeast from Northeast Eighth Street to SR 520 provides access to Meydenbauer Center Theatre. Use the Bellevue Bike Map or use the bike icon on Google Maps to help plan your route accordingly.
- Carpool – Vehicle parking is provided at the Meydenbauer Center. The first 30 minutes is free, while the first hour costs $5 and increases from there. Carpooling allows you to share the cost!
- Bus – We recommend taking the bus to the Bellevue Transit Center and making a short walk eastbound on Northeast Sixth Street to get to the Meydenbauer Center.
- Cycling – Utilize the high-comfort bike lanes on 108th Avenue (Main to Northeast Twelfth Streets) and Main Street (Bellevue Way to 108th Avenue Northeast) to get to Bellevue Way Northeast to enjoy the experience. Check out the Bellevue Bike Map or use the bike icon on Google Maps to help plan your bike route.
- Carpool – Free vehicle parking is provided at Bellevue Square mall, and getting to Snowflake Lane is a short walk away from Bellevue Square parking.
- Bus – Take the bus to the Bellevue Transit Center and walk westbound on the Grand Connection (Northeast Sixth Street) to make your way to Snowflake Lane
- Cycling – Utilize bike lanes on Northeast Fourth Street, 120th Avenue Northeast and 118th Avenue Northeast. Use the Bellevue Bike Map or use the bike icon on Google Maps to plan your route accordingly.
- Carpool – Parking is provided at Bellevue Botanical Garden.
- Bus – We recommend taking the 271 bus route that will drop you off right by Bellevue Botanical Garden. From there, walk down Southeast First Street, then Main Street until you get to Garden d’Lights.
A FEW GENERAL TIPS...
Cycling: there are bike parking stations located at Bellevue Downtown Park where you can lock your personal bike. Take a gander at the Bellevue Bike Map to help plan your route.
Carpool: Bellevue Way will be closed from Northeast Fourth Street to Northeast Eighth Street, 6:30 to 7:45 pm nightly, from Nov. 29 through Dec. 24.
Free parking is available at Bellevue Downtown Park and Bellevue Square Mall.
Keep in mind that this is an extremely traffic heavy event and finding parking can often be a challenge. Try using other methods of transportation like biking or busing!
Transit: we recommend taking the bus to the Bellevue Transit Center. It is a transportation hub and just a short walk to the Meydenbauer Center Theatre, Snowflake Lane and the Bellevue Downtown Ice Rink by Bellevue Downtown Park.
- Carry your exact bus fare in cash or have your ORCA card ready to go. Use the transit icon on Google Maps to plan your route accordingly or ask us for help (info@cywb.org).
- Free fares for children: Up to four children ages five and under always ride free with a paying adult on Sound Transit and King County Metro buses.
Making your commute as easy as possible is exactly what Choose Your Way Bellevue is there for. If you haven't yet explored this free resource, check out their website to see how you can make your commute easier and be rewarded along the way. No matter what your mode of transportation is, though, we're wishing you safe commuting and Happy Holidays!
