Questions about Seattle, WA

[NWmom]

I've seen a lot of questions about Seattle coming up, both for 2011 and 2012 cruises.

I thought we could reference answers in previous posts here and anyone wanting to ask questions could ask them as well.

I do many field trips to downtown Seattle and the surrounding areas through school so I can answer family related questions, but not adult nightlife questions.

There are many DISboard members from the area as well. Should give some great well rounded opinions.

Seattle is on the water in the Puget Sound area west of I-5.
Bellevue is to the east.
Everett to the North
Skye

 

[mellers]

I've never been to Seattle and we are headed there for the July 23, 2012 cruise! How far is the port from the airport? Any suggestions where to stay? Thanks for your help.

I live just outside Seattle--if you want to go upscale, the Mayflower Park is a good choice. It's about a mile or two (maybe less) from the port, and you can take the light rail there from the airport. You can also take the monorail to the Space Needle, Pacific Science Center, Seattle Children's Museum, Experience Music Project, and Sci Fi Museum (a must for Sci-Fi fans). You can walk to Pike Place Market, and take the elevator from there down to the waterfront.

If you want to go downscale, and you cruise is out of Seattle, stay at the Holiday Inn Express at the airport. They have a decent breakfast, good prices, and you can take the shuttle to the airport and catch the light rail into town pretty easily, although you might have a time of it getting to the port on public transit.

The one exception I should make is if upscale shopping is your primary goal in Seattle. If that is the case, you want to take the bus to Bellevue and stay at the Bellevue Westin (if you're going upscale), or the Courtyard by Marriott in Bellevue (if you're not). You'll have a $40 or so taxi ride to the port when you go, but you will be in the middle of the best upscale shopping in the Seattle Area, bar none. It will also put you within walking distance of a Disney Store and a Lego Store.

In downtown Belleve, the best place to eat is Maggiano's. In Seattle, near the waterfront, it's Anthony's.

If you were coming in for the Vancouver cruise, I would change my downscale lodging recommendation to the Best Western Executive Inn. You can walk to the Space Needle, monorail, Experience Music Project, the Sci-Fi museum, and the Pacific Science Center. You can also take the monorail to Westlake Center, walk over to Pike Place Market and take the elevator down to the waterfront. You can take the QuickShuttle directly from this hotel to downtown Vancouver, or YVR if you want cheaper lodging near the airport. You can also take it directly to the port, but I don't recommend people do this.

 

[NWmom]

Downtown Seattle has a free bus zone that you can hop on to get from one place to the other. If you ride the bus past the free zone you pay the difference.

The free zone does not go to to the Space Needle. to get there you take the monorail ($2.50 roundtrip)
Plus it is a Disney cruise so a monorail ride makes it "authentic" and the kids love it.

Adding things that are located by the Space Needle to include:
Ride the Ducks- land and sea tour with local history, great overview as they point other things to do (Also great photo shot of the Space Needle when you are on the lake)

Boeing IMAX Theatre (tickets at Pacific Science Center)
McCall Hall


By Pioneer Square you have:
Seattle Underground Tour
Klondike National Park- Seattle Unit (a lot of Gold Rush money was made in Seattle, free entrance)
Fire Museum
Police Museum

Along the waterfront:
Seattle Aquarium
My kids love The Crab Pot for a casual meal
They also like taking the stairs instead of the elevator to the waterfront (if you want the elevator ask where it is, took us several trips before we even knew it existed)

A little farther out:
Woodland Park Zoo- has grizzly bears
Museum of Flight (they will be getting a space shuttle simulator you can actually go into- will update this post when it is here)
Ballard Locks- some of the crab boats from Deadliest Catch moor near here

Out of Everett(everett is about 20 miles north so car would help:
Boeing Tour-really cool if you are into planes

I'll add more info and websites later.
NW

 

[mellers]

Should also add--international district:

Uwajimaya (picture an indoor Japantown)--it's also in downtown Bellevue
Wing Luk Asian Museum

UW area--don't go after dark:

MOHAI--The Museum of History and Industry

 

[NWmom]

With the cruises going out of Seattle getting closer, more questions are coming up.

Feel free to ask questions and those of us in the area will do our best to answer.

 

[mello]

Some things I didn't see mentioned at the Waterfront:

Ivar's for great fish & chips, clam chowder in a sourdough bowl, or clams

The Old Curiosity Shop is fun, especially for kids

The first Starbuck's, right across from Pike Place Market

It's been many years, but we once stayed at the Best Western Executive Inn - it was nice then, (don't have any idea how it is now), and the location is good for doing things in Seattle Center. The monorail goes from Seattle Center to downtown. That would be fun for a touristy activity. But for transporting luggage I'd definitely take a car or taxi to the port.

Oh, and another thing I should mention is the Museum of Flight. It's really a world class museum, and well worth a visit if you or your kids are at all interested in that kind of thing (or even if you're not - my dh & ds's are and I'm not, but I even really enjoy it). It's a short drive south from downtown on I-5 (like 5-10 min if traffic is moving), you can see the runway from the freeway, take the East Marginal Way exit.

 

[Jackson's grammie]

Thank you for all the super information. We will be doing the Aug 13 Alaska out of Seattle. I understand the Pier is 91. Disney has suggested The Sheraton Seattle. My only criteria is as close to the Pike Mkt Place as possible. We will be coming in one or two days in advance to do tourist things in Seattle. Daughter also has a close friend who she wants to spend time with.

 

[mellers]

Ivar's for great fish & chips, clam chowder in a sourdough bowl, or clams

I agree with everything you said, except I think Anthony's is better for all of these things.

 

[TwinsFan]

Thank you for all the super information. We will be doing the Aug 13 Alaska out of Seattle. I understand the Pier is 91. Disney has suggested The Sheraton Seattle. My only criteria is as close to the Pike Mkt Place as possible. We will be coming in one or two days in advance to do tourist things in Seattle. Daughter also has a close friend who she wants to spend time with.

I stayed at the Sheraton in downtown Seattle in 2009 and found the hotel and rooms very nice. We are booked there again in May 2012. It is a three block walk to Pike Mkt Place.

 

[TwinsFan]

It's about a mile or two (maybe less) from the port, and you can take the light rail there from the airport.

mellers, can you post a link for the light rail to the airport please?

 

[mellers]

mellers, can you post a link for the light rail to the airport please?

Sure--and I need to update some earlier information--the Rosalie Whyel Doll Museum is as amazing as I have described it, but in this bad economy they can no longer keep their doors open, and they will be closing March 1.

The light rail information is available here:

http://www.soundtransit.org/Rider-Guide/Link-light-rail.xml

 

[NWmom]

Also need to update---
the free downtown bus zone may have a fee by next summer. Budget cuts.

 

[DCLShel]

Cruising out of Seattle on June 25, 2012 cruise - subbing!!

 

[mom2aidanNpiper]

Other fun things to do in Seattle (I am from there)

Argosy cruises does a fun harbor cruise during the day (right by the aquarium)- it's pretty informative and you can get great pics on it (they also have a bar on board). They also do more fancy dinner cruises for those in the area for a cpl days.

The Seattle Center does have some interesting things- check out their event calendar here: http://www.seattlecenter.com/events/ - the children's museum in located in the center house there and while best for ages 8 and under I would say, is very fun for little ones.

The Experience Music Project (EMP)/Science Fiction museum is also on site there (at the Center) and fairly entertining (though pricey)

Also at the Center, is the Pacific Science Center. Often there are traveling exhibits here (recently the Harry Potter exhibit, then the Star Wars one). Very fun

The zoo (mentioned in a PP) is really fun, and Greenlake (a 2.8 mile loop) is a nice stroll with lots of restaurants and a playground. The lake is very close to the zoo (so if you are headed there then check it out). Both though are not in the downtown area.

A PP mentioned the everett area- if you head that way the childrens museum there is really fun, as is Forest Park (a great park with multiple playgrounds, a petting farm, and a water playground/splash park).

For those wanting to take a day trip out of the downtown area (you would def need a car, its 30 min out of downtown)- I would recommened Snoqualmie..they have an amazing waterfall located at Salish Lodge (which has 2 great restaurants and a spa onsite), as well as a cute strip in town with other dining options, cute quaint shops, a bowling alley, coffee shops, etc. The drive from downtown to Snoqualmie will take you completely out of the city and into a feeling of being in the true northwest (and it's a short drive!).

One thing I would HIGHLY suggest is getting a local entertainment book for here. Every school year we take orders (and you can get them online) and I know they run through the following November (so a little more than a school year, not a calander year, if that makes sense). Nearly every attraction people have mentioned is in there- usually a buy one get one free entrance. Some of those attractions are at least $10-$15 each and an Ent. book is only $25. We get two a year usually and if helps our family of 4 SO much. They have great downtown dining coupons, tourist attractions, etc.

For a good all inclusive site to reference (and it sorts things to do by neighborhood which is helpful) visit http://www.cityofseattle.net/visiting/

 

[bceagle76]

Courtyard in pionner sq is a good hotel
a game at Safeco is great take
The Space Needle@ Pike Market are a must
If you want a great steak The Met is the place

 

[mellers]

Other fun things to do in Seattle (I am from there)

Argosy cruises does a fun harbor cruise during the day (right by the aquarium)- it's pretty informative and you can get great pics on it (they also have a bar on board). They also do more fancy dinner cruises for those in the area for a cpl days.

The Seattle Center does have some interesting things- check out their event calendar here: http://www.seattlecenter.com/events/ - the children's museum in locate din the cetner house there and while best for ages 8 and under I would say, is very fun for little ones.

The Experience Music Project (EMP)/Science Fiction museum is also on site their, and fairly entertining (though pricey)

Also at the Center, is the Pacific Science Center. Often there are traveling exhibits here (recently the Harry Potter exhibit, then the Star Wars one). Very fun

The zoo (mentioned above) is really fun, and Greenlake (a 2.8 mile loop) is a nice stroll with lots of restaurants and a playground. The lake is very close to the zoo (so if you are headed there then check it out). Both though are not in the downtown area.

A PP mentioned the everett area- if you head that way the childrens museum there is really fun, as is Forest Park (a great park with multiple playgrounds, a petting farm, and a water playground/splash park).

For those wanting to take a day trip out of the downtown area (you would def need a car, its 30 min out of downtown)- I would recommened Snoqualmie..they have an amazing waterfall located at Salish Lodge (which has 2 great restaurants and a spa onsite), as well as a cute strip in town with other dining options, cute quaint shops, a bowling alley, coffee shops, etc. The drive from downtown to Snoqualmie will take you completely out of the city and into a feeling of being in the true northwest (and it's a short drive!).

One thing I would HIGHLY suggest is getting a local entertainment book for here. Every school year we take orders (and you can get them online) and I know they run through the following November (so a little more than a school year, not a calander year, if that makes sense). Nearly every attraction people have mentioned is in there- usually a buy one get one free entrance. Some of those attractions are at least $10-$15 each and an Ent. book is only $25. We get two a year usually and if helps our family of 4 SO much. They have great downtown dining coupons, tourist attractions, etc.

For a good all inclusive site to reference (and it sorts things to do by neighborhood which is helpful) visit http://www.cityofseattle.net/visiting/

100% agree with everything, and would add that Argosy Cruises also does a Native American interpretive program at Tillicum Village

 

[AJA55]

Or if you don''t want to rent a car, I have taken a tour bus to visit Snoqualmie.

 

[melmar136]

Last year, we had a couple of days in Seattle before leaving from there on a cruise on HAL and would highly recommend http://www.savorseattletours.com/ We did the Pike Pike Market food tour and it was great!

 

[miry]

seriously considering the possibility of a cruise coupled with major league baseball. Mariners prior to cruise with a's/giants, dodgers, angels, disneyland and padres after the cruise. How convenient is seattles ball park to the port? Thanks

 

[mellers]

seriously considering the possibility of a cruise coupled with major league baseball. Mariners prior to cruise with a's/giants, dodgers, angels, disneyland and padres after the cruise. How convenient is seattles ball park to the port? Thanks

There is a waterfront trolley that will take you within a couple blocks of the stadium, and I believe Pier 91 is pretty close. Or, from Pike Place Market, you can walk over to Westlake and take the Light Rail