Seattle sightseeing downtown and near Spaceneedle prior to cruise

[Tink3815]

For those who did this last year prior to an Alaska cruise, did you do this on your own or take tours? I would only be going out in the day. Our hotel is downtown on 6th Ave., which is in a safer area. I want to avoid mass transit, but the tours seem extremely expensive.

 

[SueInBoston]

For those who did this last year prior to an Alaska cruise, did you do this on your own or take tours? I would only be going out in the day. Our hotel is downtown on 6th Ave., which is in a safer area. I want to avoid mass transit, but the tours seem extremely expensive.

My partner had a conference in Seattle back in February, I spent 3 days touring by myself before our Hawaii trip. Our hotel was on 5th ave near the convention center. I walked to Pike Place, Olympia Park, Chihuly, Museum of Pop. I felt perfectly safe walking by myself into the early evenings for dinner.

 

[Tink3815]

Thank you

 

[DodgerGirl]

My dad went to Seattle for a work job and Mom and I went with him because we also went to see some of our relatives as well. But when I went to Seattle I also went to the Space Needle which is wonderful and my family ate wonderful food there and The Space Needle is great to see Washington up close because while you eat there the restaurant rotates similar to Epcot's Garden Grill. There's also Seattle Center where you can shop and they even have an arcade there with video games and more amazing stuff. If you want to go shopping a mall I recommend is Southcenter Mall and that mall is pretty cool
Have a nice trip
Dodger

 

[MillauFr]

For those who did this last year prior to an Alaska cruise, did you do this on your own or take tours? I would only be going out in the day. Our hotel is downtown on 6th Ave., which is in a safer area. I want to avoid mass transit, but the tours seem extremely expensive.

Downtown Seattle is walkable. No need to buy an expensive tour unless you are going somewhere like Mt. Rainier. You can walk to Pike Place Market. You can get to Seattle Center on the monorail which will be filled with fellow tourists such as yourself. I like the underground tour in Pioneer Square. The food tours in Pike Place Market are great too. It doesn't get fully dark in June until 9:30 to 10:00p. So you are not walking around in the dark at night even when coming back from dinner.

 

[MsChristy12]

No need to pay for any sightseeing tours in Seattle, unless you want to experience very specific things like the Underground tour. Downtown Seattle is pretty small, very walkable. We are getting more daylight now, sunset is around 8pm and it will extend to almost 10pm by June.

Avoid 3rd Ave for sure because that's the main hub for all buses and it's not a pleasant street to walk along. Go to Pike Place earlier in the day, get some donuts from Daily Dozen Doughnut as they are made fresh throughout the day. Don't go to the original Starbucks at Pike Place, line is always too long and there's nothing special at that location. If you are a coffee lover, plenty of great local coffee shops in downtown. My favorite in the area is Mr. West and Anchorhead and the are across the street from each other. They should be very close to your hotel since you're staying on 6th Ave.

I'm local so let me know if you would like any other recommendation.

 

[MillauFr]

Don't go to the original Starbucks at Pike Place, line is always too long and there's nothing special at that location.

Agreed. It isn't even the original location. It is store #4. The original location was 1 block to the north.

 

[MsChristy12]

Agreed. It isn't even the original location. It is store #4. The original location was 1 block to the north.

haha yeah very little people know that!

 

[SueInBoston]

I heard about the lines at Starbucks so I had no plans to go there but I was walking around Pike Place and saw it across the street with NO lines so I scurried over and bought a mug.

 

[MillauFr]

haha yeah very little people know that!

Yep. It is the oldest Starbucks store though. The original store was at 2000 Western Avenue. It later closed. Store #2 was in University Village. That store was relocated with in the shopping mall. Store #3 was in downtown Edmonds. That store also closed.

 

[OrangeBirdGirl]

What we did pre-cruise was just walk around Pike's market, Space Needle and if you are into NPS sites, there is a branch in Seattle that is part of the Klondike Gold Rush, the other part of the park is in Skagway which you likely will port on your AK cruise.

We stayed at the Charter Curio by Hilton on 2nd and Stewart and I have heard such horror stories about how "bad" Seattle was. Now we did stay in all touristy areas, yes we saw homeless people, but we never felt unsafe.

 

[MillauFr]

We stayed at the Charter Curio by Hilton on 2nd and Stewart and I have heard such horror stories about how "bad" Seattle was. Now we did stay in all touristy areas, yes we saw homeless people, but we never felt unsafe.

You will get mugged in Seattle not by the homeless but by the high restaurant prices. I felt the prices were lower in San Francisco and Manhattan.

 

[Tink3815]

Doing my research and looking at menus , I agree. Also read that Uber rides and Uber eats are really high. Only doing 2 days and then on to the cruise.

 

[MillauFr]

Doing my research and looking at menus , I agree. Also read that Uber rides and Uber eats are really high. Only doing 2 days and then on to the cruise.

Yes Uber rides that are $40 in other cities are $100 in Seattle.

 

[bcla]

This place is worth a visit while at Pike Place Market. Small cheese factory with an attached shop.

https://beechershandmadecheese.com

Seattle Center makes for a really nice walk. There's a whole lot there besides just the Space Needle. I've gone to a college basketball game at Key Arena, there are assorted gardens, and bunch of things to do.

Someone mentioned restaurants is more expensive. I do remember visiting Dick's Drive In in Queen Anne near Seattle Center. At least a few years ago it was really cheap. Even cheaper than McDonald's.

 

[MsChristy12]

You will get mugged in Seattle not by the homeless but by the high restaurant prices. I felt the prices were lower in San Francisco and Manhattan.

Can't agree more~! It's sad. Especially the ones that charge auto 20% gratuity! Even in London, as expensive people say it is, it's definitely cheaper than Seattle and my personal opinion, food quality is also better.

 

[MsChristy12]

This place is worth a visit while at Pike Place Market. Small cheese factory with an attached shop.

https://beechershandmadecheese.com

I love Beecher's cheese, but their Mac n Cheese....not that good. They also need to rename it to Penn & Cheese because they use penne! Not a fan...

 

[Tink3815]

No need to pay for any sightseeing tours in Seattle, unless you want to experience very specific things like the Underground tour. Downtown Seattle is pretty small, very walkable. We are getting more daylight now, sunset is around 8pm and it will extend to almost 10pm by June.

Avoid 3rd Ave for sure because that's the main hub for all buses and it's not a pleasant street to walk along. Go to Pike Place earlier in the day, get some donuts from Daily Dozen Doughnut as they are made fresh throughout the day. Don't go to the original Starbucks at Pike Place, line is always too long and there's nothing special at that location. If you are a coffee lover, plenty of great local coffee shops in downtown. My favorite in the area is Mr. West and Anchorhead and the are across the street from each other. They should be very close to your hotel since you're staying on 6th Ave.

I'm local so let me know if you would like any other recommendation.

Thank you for advice

Our hotel is near 6th Ave and Seneca. Google walking directions has 3 options to get to Pikes Place Market. The distance and time are the same. Which way would be better?

5th to Pine

Seneca to 4th to Pike to 1st

5th to Union to 1st to Pike

 

[MsChristy12]

Thank you for advice

Our hotel is near 6th Ave and Seneca. Google walking directions has 3 options to get to Pikes Place Market. The distance and time are the same. Which way would be better?

5th to Pine

Seneca to 4th to Pike to 1st

5th to Union to 1st to Pike

Walk down 5th and turn on Pike, head straight down you'll hit Pike Place Market. Union is the block before the market and Pine is the block after. Pike is where the market sign is where everyone takes pics.

 

[HannaBelle]

I am the travel planner for a group of 15 sailing out of Seattle with RCL to go to Alaska this July. We are spending a couple of days after our cruise in Seattle. Do I need to pre-book tickets for the Space Needle?

I am having planning burnout, there are too many options!

I do not even want to talk about our tentative trip to Japan in 2027. It is unlikely that I am up for the challenge.