Exploring Fremont | Fremont Troll, Gas Works, and Many Bennies

 

The view from Gasworks Park of Lake Union and Downtown Seattle. 

A seaplane takes off and a floating sauna boat drift by. 

I felt like a tourist in my own city recently when my family explored the Fremont area of Seattle. 

My son wanted to check out the Fremont Troll, a concrete troll located under the Aurora Bridge which is 18 feet tall and weighs a whopping 13,000 pounds. My sons had visited this quirky public art sculpture before when they were young, and they didn't really remember it. 

Since we last went, they fixed up the area around the troll, even adding a small park with a picturesque entrance labeled 'Troll's Knoll Forest'. There were also lots of flowers in bloom along the walkway to the troll. 

After taking a ton of photos of the famous troll, we drove a few minutes away to Gas Works Park. They have a large parking lot with free parking. The neighborhood around the troll also has free parking. Gasworks Park is famous for its views of Lake Union and the city, along with lots of views of seaplanes taking off. It's also fun to watch all of the different types of boats sail by. A fun one to spot were the floating sauna boats. 

My sons had fun playing at the playground and then we walked up the big hill for more Seattle views. There are geese everywhere, so I recommend staying on the trail on the hill, because of the geese poop. There are restrooms at Gas Works, but they're not the cleanest, so bring some hand sanitizer. 

After the park, we were on a mission to try the ice cream at Many Bennies. This popular local spot opened last year and serve New Zealand style ice cream. You first pick a base, either vanilla, non-dairy, or lavender. Then you choose a fresh fruit, one or even two to mix, and then a topping if you wish. Then the base and fruit will be blended together, and you'll also get two edible googly eyes! They also make their own waffle cones, but you can choose a cup instead. 

I selected the lavender base (yum) the blueberry fruit to mix, and then I added lemon curd. I ordered mine in a cup. Simply put, it was outstanding. These three flavors were one tasty combo, and it also looked super cute with the edible eyes. The lemon curd was really, really good, and I could easily taste the lavender, although subtle, and the fresh blueberries in the ice cream. 

One of my sons chose the strawberry and mango with the vanilla base, and my other son ordered the vanilla base with strawberry, and he had his topped with chocolate sauce. They both got their ice cream in the homemade waffle cones. 

Many Bennies can get busy, so prepare to wait in line. When we arrived in the early afternoon on a Saturday, there was just one family in front of us. They only have a walk-up window, but they do offer lots of outdoor seating. This was our third time trying New Zealand ice cream, and it's always so fresh tasting and looks amazing, too! This style is a cross between soft serve (same texture and look) and frozen yogurt. It's a little healthier than regular ice cream because of the fresh fruit. Add this spot to your Seattle dessert list! 

We had so much fun touring around Fremont! If you're a local or planning a visit to Seattle, these three Fremont stops should be on your list. 

The Fremont Troll 

Troll Avenue N. 

Gas Works Park 

2101 N Northlake Way

Many Bennies 

3535 Interlake Ave N