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

[mellers]

A bit of interesting information--this wouldn't do if you had a lot of luggage, but there is a public bus that goes from downtown Seattle to within .3 miles of Smith Cove:

http://metro.kingcounty.gov/tops/bus/schedules/s018_2_.html

You would want to catch either the 15 or 18 from 3rd and Pike, and, if you took the busses, you would get off at 15th Ave W & W Garfield St. To get to the pier, you would follow these directions:


Walk a short distance S on 15th Ave W.
Turn right on Magnolia Bridge Ramp.
Walk a short distance W on Magnolia Bridge Ramp.
Walk straight on Magnolia Bridge.
Walk approx. 2 blocks W on Magnolia Bridge.
Total walking is 0.29 miles.

I'm going to try to test this out sometime before September, as I will probably be taking the bus to the pier (best way to transport a mobility scooter).

 

[minniemoms]

Great post. Anyone know about the marriotts? Looks like one is close

 

[mellers]

For those who are traveling before September 1, there is a Tippr deal on the Ghost Tour of Seattle:

https://tippr.com/i/mI2XeI7B/l/

 

[disneyfaninaz]

I'm going to be headed to Seattle for a few days in June. Unfortunately, not for the Alaskan cruise, but just for some fun.

Have any of you heard if the Chilhuly exhibit will be open by then? I love Chilhuly's work but won't be able to make to the glass museum in Tacoma.

 

[mellers]

I'm going to be headed to Seattle for a few days in June. Unfortunately, not for the Alaskan cruise, but just for some fun.

Have any of you heard if the Chilhuly exhibit will be open by then? I love Chilhuly's work but won't be able to make to the glass museum in Tacoma.

They don't say on the website, but they have a place to register your email address for updates:

http://chihulygardenandglass.com/about.html

 

[KsSteve]

Anyone ever stay at the Maxwell hotel? They have free parking and are located just north of Seattle Convention Center near Queen Anne Hill.

Is it better to stay near Pikes place? Seems more expensive, but don't want to have to walk to far to get to the waterfront. Are there shuttles or monorails that run from the Convention Center to the waterfront?

Thanks in Advance!

Steve

 

[mellers]

Anyone ever stay at the Maxwell hotel? They have free parking and are located just north of Seattle Convention Center near Queen Anne Hill.

Is it better to stay near Pikes place? Seems more expensive, but don't want to have to walk to far to get to the waterfront. Are there shuttles or monorails that run from the Convention Center to the waterfront?

Thanks in Advance!

Steve

You could probably walk to the waterfront from the hotel, if you're fairly fit, but it won't help you with regards to the cruise. Getting out to Pier 91 is a first-class pain. The only public conveyances of which I am aware which will take you out to pier 91 are the #15 and #18 busses. You are probably best off taking a taxi, particularly if you have a large party and/or a lot of luggage.

 

[KsSteve]

You could probably walk to the waterfront from the hotel, if you're fairly fit, but it won't help you with regards to the cruise. Getting out to Pier 91 is a first-class pain. The only public conveyances of which I am aware which will take you out to pier 91 are the #15 and #18 busses. You are probably best off taking a taxi, particularly if you have a large party and/or a lot of luggage.

Thanks!

We are renting a car and driving in from AZ, so we will have transportation to the port. The Maxwell has free parking, so that would lower our expenses for 3 days. dw wants to be close to the waterfront, so we are also thinking about the Red Lion on 5th and Inn at the Market.

 

[eandesmom]

Anyone ever stay at the Maxwell hotel? They have free parking and are located just north of Seattle Convention Center near Queen Anne Hill.

Is it better to stay near Pikes place? Seems more expensive, but don't want to have to walk to far to get to the waterfront. Are there shuttles or monorails that run from the Convention Center to the waterfront?

Thanks in Advance!

Steve

The Maxwell is not remotely close to the waterfront really. It'd be a hike. A downhill hike that would enter way down by the sculpture park. Easy/plentiful bus service though and fairly easy to get a cab I'd imagine as it has a decent nightlife. As for the hotel, it's a pretty decent place.

However, the Maxwell is nowhere near the Washington State Convention Center, which is downtown, close to the Sheraton. It is (relatively) close to the Seattle Center but that's not the convention center. In theory I suppose you could walk to the Seattle Center and then take the monorail downtown but that would be a bit of a pain.

All that said, Queen Anne is a great neighborhood with some truly wonderful restaurants so if you are looking for that kind of experience, the Maxwell would be a great choice. And if you planned to see the ballet or attend an event that was at the Seattle Center, also a good choice. If you are renting a car, you'd have to valet at the Maxwell or use their garage if you have one, parking on QA is generally a nightmare and pricey.

 

[eandesmom]

Thanks!

We are renting a car and driving in from AZ, so we will have transportation to the port. The Maxwell has free parking, so that would lower our expenses for 3 days. dw wants to be close to the waterfront, so we are also thinking about the Red Lion on 5th and Inn at the Market.

Inn at the Market is the BOMB! I can't say enough wonderful things about it and if it's just you and DH I would totally go for it and if you can, splurge for the view, it's amazing. I would not recommend the Red Lion, there are much better options.

 

[Travelbee]

A co-worker told me about the Central Link Light Rail that provides transportation from SEATAC to downtown Seattle for $2.75 per adult and $1.25 per kid. This is much cheaper than $50-$70 for a taxi or a shuttle for 2A1C. We will probably have 1 suitcase and 2 carryons (all on wheels) arriving around 7 pm on a Friday night. I was wondering if anyone know how crowded it gets and whether it's hard to travel on the rail with suitcases?

http://www.soundtransit.org/

 

[lucky1]

A co-worker told me about the Central Link Light Rail that provides transportation from SEATAC to downtown Seattle for $2.75 per adult and $1.25 per kid. This is much cheaper than $50-$70 for a taxi or a shuttle for 2A1C. We will probably have 1 suitcase and 2 carryons (all on wheels) arriving around 7 pm on a Friday night. I was wondering if anyone know how crowded it gets and whether it's hard to travel on the rail with suitcases?

http://www.soundtransit.org/

I will ask my BIL, he has done it from work (DT) to the airport with a suitcase.

 

[disneydance]

Is the ghost town still there (as in deserted/used to be a town)?

I can pretty much guarantee you can see snow on the mountains from downtown Seattle if the sun is shining.

If not, then it is cloudy and the clouds cover the snow.

Touching the snow is easier the earlier you go.

Yes it is! Also if anyone is going to do this hike I recommend a good pair of hiking shoes especially if all the way to the basin. Also a good map well hiking it we went the wrong way and through the river and I fell and later found out I broke my knee cap.

 

[eandesmom]

A co-worker told me about the Central Link Light Rail that provides transportation from SEATAC to downtown Seattle for $2.75 per adult and $1.25 per kid. This is much cheaper than $50-$70 for a taxi or a shuttle for 2A1C. We will probably have 1 suitcase and 2 carryons (all on wheels) arriving around 7 pm on a Friday night. I was wondering if anyone know how crowded it gets and whether it's hard to travel on the rail with suitcases?

http://www.soundtransit.org/

A shuttle should be less than that, I would double check that. It should be around $35 I think. It's $50ish to my house I think and I'm a good 20 minutes north of the city. To the city I don't think a cab is much more and will be faster since it isn't shared ride.

The light link is super easy to get onto and ride with luggage. That said it is SLOW compared to many trains in other cities. If I recall it was a good 40 minutes to get to Westlake and then from there another 5 to walk to the Inn at the Market, about 3 blocks but does go downhill. The worst part would be the walk to whatever hotel you are at from whatever stop you get off at and you could be going uphill or down depending. Rolling luggage through the downtown at 8pm ish on a Friday might not be all that fun depending on time of year, weather and crowds.

Seatac is the first/last stop so you'll have seats but I'm not sure how crowded it gets. It's doable and does save money.

 

[disneydance]

I went on this hike a few years ago and must say it is all up hill on the way to lake 22. It was definitely a mental challenge for me. I went with my church group and 2 girls quit half way up since it was "too hard" but is worth it in the end and know that I had conquered it!

Lake 22 is a great hike for most and you will see snow, it's at the base of Mt. Pilchuk, it is heading north but one of our favorites, just gorgeous! Depends on your ability but we did it last summer with our 4 (10, 12, 14 and 18 at the time) with zero issues, just a lovely little hike wiht a nice mix of open area and shade, lots of old growth forest and waterfalls/streams.

About 5.4 miles RT for the hike itself, maybe 3 hours total depending on how fast or slow you go. Nice to have lunch at the lake before you head back down. You can also walk around the lake if you have time. If you look close, you can see black dots on the snow on the other side of the lake, that's if you walk around.

Probably about 1.5 hours from downtown, depending on traffic.

 

[eandesmom]

I went on this hike a few years ago and must say it is all up hill on the way to lake 22. It was definitely a mental challenge for me. I went with my church group and 2 girls quit half way up since it was "too hard" but is worth it in the end and know that I had conquered it!

Fair point, I think it does depend on what you might be used to. It is uphill but shorter than a lot of the really good ones that might offer similar scenery and has more shade than many as well. To get to snow it is one of the prettier options that can be a day trip.

 

[mellers]

A co-worker told me about the Central Link Light Rail that provides transportation from SEATAC to downtown Seattle for $2.75 per adult and $1.25 per kid. This is much cheaper than $50-$70 for a taxi or a shuttle for 2A1C. We will probably have 1 suitcase and 2 carryons (all on wheels) arriving around 7 pm on a Friday night. I was wondering if anyone know how crowded it gets and whether it's hard to travel on the rail with suitcases?

http://www.soundtransit.org/

Traveling on the light rail with a wheeled suitcase is not hard at all. Getting from the station to your hotel with a wheeled suitcase may be dicier, depending on where your hotel is.

San Francisco is known for its hills, but having lived in both the San Francisco and the Seattle area, I can honestly say that Seattle can give it a serious run for the money.

 

[pixie08]

Can anyone recommend a good shuttle service from the Seatac to Pike area?

I want to save some $ so I don't want to hire a town car, but I don't want to waste over an hour using the light rail since our time is precious, and I want to get right into site seeing!

 

[Travelbee]

Thanks everyone on the light rail info. We are staying in the Hyatt @ Olive 8 and looks like it's a short 3 blocks from the Westlake Station. We are traveling in July so weather should be decent. The shuttle charges ~ $20 per person and with 3 it adds up. I guess we'll decide when it gets close but your info definitely gives me something to think about (slow, late evening, et.)! Thanks again!

 

[disneyfaninaz]

How far is it from the Westlake light rail station to the Monorail station?