Locals launch community-based tourism office in Ballard

 Members from the local culinary and retail communities have worked together to launch Ballard’ s very own community-based tourism office.

The new venture is designed to offer visitors in Ballard an authentic, local welcome differently to that provided by traditional tourism offices.

The creation of the Ballard Tourism Office (BTO) has been a collaboration between local organization EAT BALLARD and Leslie Mehren, owner and head designer of Ballard store Anima Mundi (5410 NW 22nd St).

The BTO is run by local community volunteers and provides both visitors and locals with a unique and personal free tourism service. The volunteers at the BTO share their expertise and deep personal knowledge of Ballard that in turn provides guests with an intimate knowledge of our neighborhood.

“With over 200 independent, locally owned restaurants, shops, cafes, boutiques, bars and breweries, Ballard has much to offer visitors. Newcomers and long-time residents are equally welcome to make use of the free service,” says founder of EAT BALLARD Gerard Wirz.

“Having a BTO at Anima Mundi is like hanging up a Welcome sign to visitors and newcomers. I love helping people discover what our neighborhood has to offer them,” says Mehren.

The BTO at Amnima Mundi is open Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. and is open from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. on Sundays. (The office is closed each Tuesday in Winter.)

Wirz confirms that at least three other local businesses have expressed interest in hosting a BTO on their premises.

Click here to learn more about the BTO.