For a fun family event during the holidays or anytime, visit the Theo Chocolate retail store and factory in the Fremont neighborhood of Seattle. Factory tours are given seven days per week and cost $6 per person. You can make a reservation or take your chances with walk-up. Though the machines run on weekdays only, weekend tours include a look at the factory floor and information on chocolate production, which has many similarities to coffee in the processes of bean roasting and liquefying. You can get a preview of Theo Chocolate by buying it at the Seattle Audubon Nature Shop, 8050 35th Ave NE in Wedgwood, which sells Theo Chocolate as a Fair Trade, sustainable product. Theo Chocolate is the first bean-to-bar, organic and Fair Trade chocolate factory in the USA.
Theo Chocolate is located at 3400 Phinney Ave N, west of the Waiting for the Interurban statue and just steps from the Burke-Gilman Trail which passes through Fremont along the Lake Washington Ship Canal. While in Fremont you can enjoy this highly walkable neighborhood with small shops and many public art installations such as Waiting for the Interurban (pictured here: Valarie’s husband, son-in-law and daughter on a holiday visit to Fremont.) Visit the History House Museum at 790 N. 34th Street to see exhibits on the history of the Fremont neighborhood. History House is nearly underneath the Aurora Bridge, and from there it is a short walk to N. 36th Street where you can see the Fremont Troll, another well-known art installation.