If we get to visit Seattle this summer...

[Jodi1980]

what are some of the things we should plan to do?

 

[FunkyRooster]

You have to see Pike Place, walk along the peer and watch them throw the fish!! The marketplace was one of my favorite places!!! I went in the winter and found the area beautiful, I can only imagine how nice it must be in the summer as well...have fun!

 

[bubbleprincessmom]

Visit the mountains! Drive to Mt. St. Helens (worth the drive) and visit the observation sites. The last one (Johnston?) has an awsome movie about the history and when the curtains open WOW!!! Mt. Rainer has some great hiking too. Have a great
trip!!

 

[TinkBoo&ElliesMum]

Originally posted by Jodi1980
what are some of the things we should plan to do?

Experience Music Project Museum, Seattle
A museum offering fun and informational exhibits to inspire musical creativity in even the most tone-deaf music lover.

*** we've been, it's interesting. Not sure I'd want to pay a bunch to go. My BIL and SIL loved it though. There is also a sci-fi museum opening in there this summer. The building is strange looking at best!


Pike Place Market, Seattle
One of the few authentic farmer's markets in the United States, this hub of delicious scents, delectable eats and delightful personalities attracts nine million visitors a year.

*** be ready for big crowds! Every tourist ends up here and it shows! Great prices on fresh sea food and veggies though.


Space Needle, Seattle
Climb 520 feet to the observation deck of Seattle's signature building, which is actually 605 feet tall, for spectacular views of the city and its surrounding area. For food and fantastic sights check out SkyCity, the tower's rotating restaurant that makes one complete orbit per hour.

*** I think it's a must do, we go up once every five years or so just to see how it's going! The restaurant is overpriced and the food generally speaking sucks! The view is amazing though! And it's not going to fall over - even in an earthquake.


Seattle Aquarium, Seattle
In addition to having many interesting exhibits, the aquarium offers whale watching cruises around the San Juan Islands.

*** my 7 year old loves it, but it's expensive and the entire thing can be seen in about an hour. Try getting a citypass if you want to go - it includes other things. http://citypass.net/cgi-bin/citypass/city_fly?mv_arg=seattle&rand=8502


Washington Park Arboretum, Seattle
Use a canoe, or your feet, to explore the 230 acres and 4,000 species of trees, vines, shrubs and plants at this arboretum.

*** We drive through it a lot, never actually gotten out to look!


Pioneer Square, Seattle
Pioneer Square Park, topped by an ornate pergola, is the site of the city's oldest settlement.

*** Lots of bars and old shops.

Seattle Art Museum, Seattle
This post-modern structure houses an impressive and eclectic collection.

Capitol Hill, Seattle
Beautiful Volunteer Park is at the center of this wonderfully multi-faceted neighborhood, where Seattle's gay community and student population co-exist with older residents, historical mansions, up-scale restaurants and shops.

*** Not sure I would call this a tourist attraction (I go the list from Travel advisor!) Capitol Hill is, well, Capitol Hill. There is a large gay community up there, there's also a large population of homeless teens. Broadway is intersting, couldn't pay me to walk down it at night though! DH likes it because there's a Dick's Drive-In which is a local thing that I still don't understand - ick!


Woodland Park Zoo, Seattle
Best known for its seasonal pony rides, snakes and flesh-eating piranhas, this was voted as one of the ten best zoos in the United States.

*** In the words of my kids, it's big and pretty! It's a nice zoo. Portland's is better though


Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park, Seattle
This national park is really a free museum that documents Seattle history, from the fire that burned it down to the gold rush that helped build it up.

*** I think I went once in elementary school, not horribly memorable.


Museum of Flight, Seattle
Museum-goers can view all types of aircraft, walk through the first presidential jet, pilot an imaginary flight in the traffic-control tower or even ride in a NASA space flight simulator.

*** Another one of the kids favorites!! DS could spend hours there. The concord is now open for viewing and they have the first Air Force One (Jackie Kennedy's bathroom is worth the walk through alone, that thing is huge!!!)


Seattle Center, Seattle
Site of the 1962 Worlds Fair features the Space Needle, childrens museum, theater and lots of amusement rides.

*** Speaks for itself! We went last weekend. It's fun, the Science Center has a lot of things for just about everyone.

Ye Olde Curiosity Shop, Seattle
Not just tourist trinkets but, for starters, shrunken heads and pigs with three tails this curiosity shop is sure to whet your curiosity for the bizarre.

*** This is such a strange little shop! It's down on the piers. The waterfront is fun and it's a quick walk or elevator ride down from Pike Place. (Pike Place is up on the hill, there are A LOT of stairs!)


The Seattle Underground Tour, Seattle
Descend into the subterranean city that was once Seattle. This hour and a half tour is fun and informative.

*** creepy yet fun, sort of. It's interesting though a little weird at times!

There is also the Ducks - www.ridetheducksofseattle.com strangest looking things but they seem to have a lot of fun!

If I can think of more I'll add it!

 

[MelessaG]

Well, that about covers anything I could add. So, I will just say 'have a great trip' if you are able to go. I worked many summers there for my uncle when I was a teenager and got to go back two summers ago-I still love it there.

 

[clh2]

We loved Seattle - although our vacation their was about 12 years ago.

We loved the Underground Seattle Tour...Pike Market...the Space Needle...the Flight Museum.

While most of the things we did just in town...Seattle has a fabulous transit system, and you can get just about anywhere without needing a car.

But - we did rent a car to get out to the location where they filmed Twin Peaks...but the "real" name escapes me right now.

Have a great trip!

 

[goofy4tink]

If you are into antiques...drive north and visit Snohomish. Great area for antiques. My db lives there. Really pretty area.
We loved the Duck Tours...when they asked us where we were from we told them "Boston!" Their answer was "Don't you guys have a terrific Duck Tour there?" "Yep, but the line was too long." I told him. It was great fun.
Loved Pike Market and just wandering around the city. What is the area where all those gorgeous old homes called? Queen City or something like that? Up on the hill overlooking the city/harbor. It was beautiful.
Lake WAshington was nice too and the floating bridge.
Also, if you have the time, drive over to the Olympic area. It's the northwestern most point. Terrific rainforest and old growth. But it's a loooong drive from the Seattle area.
I love Seattle. So beautiful.

 

[BriarfoxinWA]

Twin Peaks for filmed in Rosalyn, WA. Nice little small town - not much to see though. If you go - Mama Valone's has great Italian food.

 

[TinkBoo&ElliesMum]

Originally posted by BriarfoxinWA
Twin Peaks for filmed in Rosalyn, WA. Nice little small town - not much to see though. If you go - Mama Valone's has great Italian food.

Actually Twin Peaks was filmed in North Bend and Snoqualmie. The restaurant Twedes is in downtown North Bend, DH had to go one day - they have HUGE banana splits!

Northern Exposure was filmed in Roslyn for the most part!

 

[goofy4tink]

Originally posted by TinkBoo&ElliesMum
Actually Twin Peaks was filmed in North Bend and Snoqualmie. The restaurant Twedes is in downtown North Bend, DH had to go one day - they have HUGE banana splits!

Northern Exposure was filmed in Roslyn for the most part!

Oh, as in Snoqualmie Falls?? That is some kind of beautiful country. One of my favorite photos of my mom and dd is there, on the observation area beside the Falls.

 

[two4ruff]

Mt St Helens is a great trip, but plan a whole day for it. It's actually closer to Vancouver, WA and about an hour off the highway.

But it IS well worth the trip - makes you feel very small and insignficant when you see what's left of that huge volcano and the damage it did.

Oh, and if the falling Space Needle doesn't get you, watch out for Bigfoot!!

 

[beachbunny]

I'd recommend all of the above, especially Pike's Place Market and the Underground Tour. Also, if anyone likes airplanes, visit the Boeing Museum of Flight. Do the Tillicum Village Tour - it's a boat ride to an island, dinner (salmon and clams), and native american entertainment. If you have a car and weather's nice, drive to Mt. Rainier or to Leavenworth - L. looks like an alpine village. If you want a nice pacific northwest dinner, try Ray's Boathouse - it's right on the water and view of the Olympic Mountains is increadible. If you want a more casual dinner with a spectacular water view, try Ivar's Salmon House.

 

[TinkBoo&ElliesMum]

Originally posted by goofy4tink
Oh, as in Snoqualmie Falls?? That is some kind of beautiful country. One of my favorite photos of my mom and dd is there, on the observation area beside the Falls.

Pretty much , the falls are between Snoqualmie and Fall City.

We live about 15 minutes north of the falls, it is a beautiful area!

 

[TinkBoo&ElliesMum]

Originally posted by two4ruff


Oh, and if the falling Space Needle doesn't get you, watch out for Bigfoot!!

Don't forget the killer slugs!! We've had some big ones lately!!

 

[monarchsfan16]

Take a drive through Steven's Pass. It's a notch, right through the Cascades, and it's one amazing drive. I have some of the best pictures from when we drove through there last summer. It also brings you out into this little town called Leavenworth, which is like a little Bavarian village, in the middle of Washington. Definitely neat to explore, and just plain old cool to see.

 

[Blondie]

I hear that Seattle is notorius for their coffee.

 

[goofy4tink]

Don't get me started on Steven's Pass!!! Drove thru there in the fog. You couldn't see a thing. Now, don't get me wrong...I'm not sure that was a bad thing but knowing how far down it was and not being able to see the edge of the highway was pretty spooky. We also visited Leavenworth. In fact, my dd just found some photo's taken there.

And the banana slugs....yuck. I think that's the one reason I don't move there. Makes me crawly just thinking about them. Saw some that had to be close to a foot long in the rainforest area.

 

[calypso*a*go-go]

Depending on how much time you have, you could also take the Victoria Clipper over to Victoria, BC for the day (or stay overnight). That's a nice little getaway as well!!!

 

[Alice42]

I've been to Seattle a few times, here are my suggestions:
1) Pikes Place and Market
2) The 1st Starbucks EVER (near Pikes Place)
3) Snoqualmie falls-just BEAUTIFUL

 

[Jodi1980]

Does anyone know how I can get a travel book from Seattle in the mail?