Official Seattle information thread Updated 5/28/2014-Oso update

[mellers]

Just want to clarify, you are not recommending the Space Needle, but you are pointing out the other attractions you do recommend are all located at the Seattle Center where the Space Needle is located.

You are recommending Ride the Ducks, The Children's Museum, Pacific Science Center and the EMP which are also all located at the Space Center?

Sorry--I wrote that badly. I don't necessarily recommend the Space Needle. However, Ride The Ducks, The Children's Museum, the Pacific Science Center and EMP are all located at Seattle Center, very close to the Space Needle, and I would recommend any or all of those activities

 

[mellers]

the Space Center is across the street

One small point of clarification--I think you mean Seattle Center, not the Space Center.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Does SEA have a hotel that is attached to the terminal similar to the way Hyatt is right inside MCO?
My parents are considering this sailing with us but my dad really prefers non-stop flights. The only ones from Philly are on USAirways which is just 1 per day, arriving 9pm which will feel like midnight ET. There's a Marriott 1/2 mile from SEA but I'm hoping for something attached. I found SEA's website and doesn't mention any but I'm hopeful locals know.

 

[Caropooh]

Does SEA have a hotel that is attached to the terminal similar to the way Hyatt is right inside MCO?
My parents are considering this sailing with us but my dad really prefers non-stop flights. The only ones from Philly are on USAirways which is just 1 per day, arriving 9pm which will feel like midnight ET. There's a Marriott 1/2 mile from SEA but I'm hoping for something attached. I found SEA's website and doesn't mention any but I'm hopeful locals know.

No hotel attached to the airport. There is a hotel right next to it and across the street though.

 

[mellers]

Does SEA have a hotel that is attached to the terminal similar to the way Hyatt is right inside MCO?
My parents are considering this sailing with us but my dad really prefers non-stop flights. The only ones from Philly are on USAirways which is just 1 per day, arriving 9pm which will feel like midnight ET. There's a Marriott 1/2 mile from SEA but I'm hoping for something attached. I found SEA's website and doesn't mention any but I'm hopeful locals know.

I don't know if mobility impairments are part of the issue, but if they are, the Holiday Inn Express Inn and Suites has a wheelchair accessible airport shuttle, and they are quite prompt.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

I don't know if mobility impairments are part of the issue, but if they are, the Holiday Inn Express Inn and Suites has a wheelchair accessible airport shuttle, and they are quite prompt.

Thanks anyway. They don't need wheelchairs all the time, just for extremely long walks like wdw. I worry that midnight is waaay past my dad's bedtime and that's assuming their flight is on time. I will be canceling SWA flights to Cali, changing to SEA, so we won't be arriving until the next day. SWA doesn't offer non-stops or my parents would fly with us. I need to use up my SWA credits so I can't fly non-stop with them.

No hotel attached to the airport. There is a hotel right next to it and across the street though.

Which are those? The closer, the better.

 

[NWmom]

One small point of clarification--I think you mean Seattle Center, not the Space Center.

I meant Seattle Center (will go fix that) That is what happens when you are also planning a post cruise trip to Kennedy Space Center near Port Canaveral, lol.
Skye

 

[CousinVinny]

We're going in late June. We took the three-day Caribbean cruise on the Wonder in December 2009 and can't wait!

For those of you considering the train option across the north: we live in Chicago and considered the Amtrak option on the Empire Builder, but spring flooding in North Dakota and the rising water level in Devil's Lake really eliminated that option, as Amtrak regularly suspends service between St. Paul and Bozeman, Montana in late spring / early summer. So we're probably flying.

Also, one place we plan on hitting while in Seattle before our departure date is the Archie McPhee store; maybe we'll pick up some goo-gaws for the cruise, since there will be 9 kids in our family party. The last time I was in Seattle, the store was in the Ballard neighborhood but it has moved to the Wallingford area. It looks fairly easy to get to the new location from downtown on the bus, though.

 

[mellers]

Which are those? The closer, the better.

I'm not absolutely certain (and if I am wrong, somebody please correct me immediately), but I believe the closest is the Red Lion Inn:

http://redlion.rdln.com/HotelLocator/HotelOverview.aspx?metaID=44

 

[Caropooh]

Thanks anyway. They don't need wheelchairs all the time, just for extremely long walks like wdw. I worry that midnight is waaay past my dad's bedtime and that's assuming their flight is on time. I will be canceling SWA flights to Cali, changing to SEA, so we won't be arriving until the next day. SWA doesn't offer non-stops or my parents would fly with us. I need to use up my SWA credits so I can't fly non-stop with them.



Which are those? The closer, the better.

Radisson Hotel Seattle Airport and Red Lion Hotel Seattle Airport are both across the street.
http://www.radisson.com/seattle-hotel-wa-98188/waseatac
http://redlion.rdln.com/HotelLocator/HotelOverview.aspx?metaID=44

Coast Gateway Hotel Sea Tac is next to the airport.
http://www.coasthotels.com/hotels/usa/washington/seattle/coast_gateway/overview

If you do a hotel search for Sea Tac, you'll find the hotels closest to the airport. That's the city the airport is actually in.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

I'm not absolutely certain (and if I am wrong, somebody please correct me immediately), but I believe the closest is the Red Lion Inn:

http://redlion.rdln.com/HotelLocator/HotelOverview.aspx?metaID=44

Radisson Hotel Seattle Airport and Red Lion Hotel Seattle Airport are both across the street.
http://www.radisson.com/seattle-hotel-wa-98188/waseatac
http://redlion.rdln.com/HotelLocator/HotelOverview.aspx?metaID=44

Coast Gateway Hotel Sea Tac is next to the airport.
http://www.coasthotels.com/hotels/usa/washington/seattle/coast_gateway/overview

If you do a hotel search for Sea Tac, you'll find the hotels closest to the airport. That's the city the airport is actually in.

thanks! I did a quick search last night and found there are a few very close & would be an easy walk if not for luggage. I'm checking out the Hilton but will check your suggestions too.

 

[mellers]

thanks! I did a quick search last night and found there are a few very close & would be an easy walk if not for luggage. I'm checking out the Hilton but will check your suggestions too.

When you check, be sure to check shuttle hours as well. Some shuttles end at midnight, and that's cutting it close if I understand their itinerary correctly. I know the Red Lion has a 24 hour shuttle.

 

[mellers]

I haven't stayed at any of these places, so I can't speak to the quality, but I just received an email from Best Western touting some special internet-only rates for some Seattle-area hotels. The Best Western Executive Inn might be of note for those traveling to or from Vancouver for a cruise--there's a bus (http://www.quickcoach.com/ ) that stops there which will take you to or from the Vancouver, BC or Bellingham, WA airport, and downtown Vancouver, BC hotels. Both the Executive Inn and the Loyal Inn are near Seattle Center, and the third hotel is near the airport:

http://book.bestwestern.com/bestwes...teCode=US_WA&countryCode=US&promoCode=WEBONLY

 

[lucky1]

Also, one place we plan on hitting while in Seattle before our departure date is the Archie McPhee store; maybe we'll pick up some goo-gaws for the cruise, since there will be 9 kids in our family party. The last time I was in Seattle, the store was in the Ballard neighborhood but it has moved to the Wallingford area. It looks fairly easy to get to the new location from downtown on the bus, though.

If you go to Archie McPhee, just walk up the street a couple of blocks and go to Molly Moon ice cream. It is the best ice cream with some unique flavors. We had driven past Archie McPhees lots of time and didn't stop there until this past summer visit. Just wasn't that excited about it and didn't find anything unique.

 

[twinstars]

Hi, can someone local or is familiar with the Hyatt Place comment on the quality of this hotel and its location to the port? Thanks!
Hyatt Place Seattle/Downtown
110 6th Avenue North
Seattle, Washington, USA
98109

 

[mellers]

Hi, can someone local or is familiar with the Hyatt Place comment on the quality of this hotel and its location to the port? Thanks!
Hyatt Place Seattle/Downtown
110 6th Avenue North
Seattle, Washington, USA
98109

It's about 2.5 miles to the port, and it's fairly close to the Space Needle, Pacific Science Center, Ride the Ducks and the Experience Music Project/Sci Fi Museum. It's not all that close to downtown, but you should be able to hop the monorail from Seattle Center and get there quite easily. I have no idea how good/bad the hotel is.

 

[mellers]

It's still a couple of hours outside Seattle, but the small town of Sequim (pronounced "Skwim") is a popular recreation destination in this area, and this is a good deal:

http://www.livingsocial.com/escapes/209480-olympic-peninsula-inn?msdc_id=1729-seatlle-citywide

 

[mellers]

LivingSocial had a few hotel deals outside of Seattle.

One is for a picturesque little town called Leavenworth, that's set up to look like an old German village:

http://www.groupon.com/deals/ga-m-a...s=body&d=ga-m-adventure-inn&p=1&c=deal_button

The other is for Friday Harbor, a big whale watching area near Seattle:

http://www.groupon.com/deals/ga-m-r...&s=body&d=ga-m-roche-harbor&p=2&c=deal_button

I haven't stayed either place, but they are both good deals, if they coincide with your cruise.

 

[pixie08]

For anyone who is a Seattle local, can you recommend the must have places to grab some food? DH is all about dining he is a foodie so we have a list of some places we are considering eating(all if possible)...

Poppy
Dahlia Lounge
Serious Pie
Six Seven for Brunch (I chose this because I want to eat on the waterfront)
Top pot dougnuts
Pike Brewing
many vendors in Pike place
and a few coffee shops about town

We thought of doing one of the Savor Seattle food tours but we aren't sure it is worth $70pp?

Thanks for any help!

 

[mellers]

For anyone who is a Seattle local, can you recommend the must have places to grab some food? DH is all about dining he is a foodie so we have a list of some places we are considering eating(all if possible)...

Poppy
Dahlia Lounge
Serious Pie
Six Seven for Brunch (I chose this because I want to eat on the waterfront)
Top pot dougnuts
Pike Brewing
many vendors in Pike place
and a few coffee shops about town

We thought of doing one of the Savor Seattle food tours but we aren't sure it is worth $70pp?

Thanks for any help!

I would avoid the Pike Place fast food places--the restaurants are pretty decent, and the fresh produce is amazing, but the fast food is more or less what you'd find at the county fair. Top pot is an absolute must. Anthony's on the waterfront is to die for. Can't really speak to the others.