Seattle trip suggestions

[atheneze]

Hi. My husband and I decided to go to Seattle on Memorial weekend (chosen randomly). It's kind of a budget trip: used Southwest credit card points for our flights and rented an apartment through vrbo. We don't have much on our itinerary. We have a rental car for that weekend. Some of the things we'd like to visit/do: Pike Place Market, Seattle Center (EMP, Space Needle). What else can you suggest? And should we do the Pike Place Market tour or just do it on our own? Thanks for you help.

A little background on us: we like to do touristy stuff but also interested in what locals do/visit, we like to eat, we're willing to try new things.

 

[disykat]

There are usually several "festivals" going on that weekend, one of which is the Folk Life Festival. The Seattle Center will be packed. I can't tell you much about it because it's been years since I went. The last time I went there was a chili cook-off at the same time and it was too crowded for me!

 

[JohnnyFedora]

The Underground Tour. So much fun!

 

[bumbershoot]

Yep, traffic will be heinous right in town, and the area surrounding the Seattle Center will be packed b/c of FolkLife. (don't choose Labor Day instead, because the festival THAT weekend is my namesake, Bumbershoot, and it's even MORE packed even though it's expensive vs free/donation).

Folk Life is great...I would have chosen it as my username if it had sounded interesting b/c I love the festival...so I would do that since you're already going to be there. Just know that if you're trying to get around the city, that area is going to be snarled.

 

[ironpig70]

I went in September 2013 and got a City Pass and it was well worth the money.

You can see the Space Needle 2x in 24 hours, EMF, Aquarium,Pacific Science Center, harbor cruise and either the zoo or air musuem

http://www.citypass.com/seattle


Nice thing is the Space Needle, EMF and Pacific Science Center are together and then a short walk to the aquarium and the harbor cruise then Pikes Market is also right there.

 

[atheneze]

Thank you all very much for your replies. Nice to know in advance that there is something going on that weekend. So, we're not too surprised!

We looked at the Seattle City Pass and was wondering if we could do all that. hmmm... something to consider.

I was reading reviews on the Underground Tour i think it's interesting. I should look more into it.

Anyone who has done the Pike Place Market Tour?

 

[ssawka]

The Underground Tour. So much fun!

I second this! Definitely do the underground tour. Also, when you are at Pike Place, make sure you visit the original Starbuck's. It looks nothing like your neighborhood Starbuck's. Another thing we enjoyed was the Experience Music Project.

 

[CourtNut]

The Ballard Locks are pretty neat to visit. The grounds are beautiful, and I found it fascinating watching the process of getting boats from the lake out into the bay.

https://www.seattle.gov/tour/locks.htm

Enjoy your visit! I absolutely love Seattle, and can't wait to return (permanently) someday.

 

[DawnM]

Agreeing with the suggestions:

Underground Tour
Pike Place
Ballard Locks
Take a Ferry for fun (Fort Casey on Whidbey Island is fun to visit too if you have time and you can take a Ferry there.)
Seattle Center

I spent 4 years in Seattle for college (a long time ago!) I go back every few years. I am hoping to get there this summer as my best friend lives there.

 

[Chipmunklove]

Little warning on the Underground Tour. There is a lot of sexual innuendo thrown into it o if you are offended by that I wouldn't do it. I found that very unnecessary but other than that it was a great tour.

For Pike's Place you don't need a tour. Just wander around.

Taking a drive down to Mt. Rainier would be a great day trip if it is a nice day. Also driving over to Alki Point and walking on the beach and looking back towards Seattle is beautiful.

A lot of people do the "Duck" tour in Seattle. You ride in a car/boat and they give you a tour of Seattle.

Hope this helps.

 

[wiigirl]

The Underground Tour. So much fun!

 

[AlaskaMOM]

If you're a chocolate lover Theo Chocolate does factory tours with lots of sampling. It's a small organic free trade company that has many yummy flavors. It totally changed my idea that Hersheys could be considered chocolate (with such a low amt of chocolate %).
I don't know if anyone mentioned already but a ride on a ferry can be real nice on a sunny day.

 

[atheneze]

How about some places to eat? Any suggestions?

 

[moniqueand2]

Agreeing with the suggestions:

Underground Tour
Pike Place
Ballard Locks
Take a Ferry for fun (Fort Casey on Whidbey Island is fun to visit too if you have time and you can take a Ferry there.)
Seattle Center

I spent 4 years in Seattle for college (a long time ago!) I go back every few years. I am hoping to get there this summer as my best friend lives there.

I've been to Seattle for vacation 4 times. I agree with the above.

Not too impressed with EMP.

Easy to walk around Pike's Place Market on your own. Great crepe place if you like crepes. Also a cute crumpet shop if you'd like that.

Love the harbor boat rides. They are narrated so you learn as you ride and see the sites.

Love Space Needle area, there is a monorail that you can take from downtown and back. But I don't feel it is completely necessary to go up in the Space Needle if you'd like to save the money. But walking around it is nice.

I sorta of liked Underground Tour, if I recall it is cash only. But that was a few years ago. Yeah, I guess I'd recommend it.

LOVE the Aquarium in Seattle.

 

[endy]

I also recommend the Citypass or is it the Go Seattle card. You can buy one from Costco. I forget which we had last summer but it was totally worth it. Aquarium, tower, EMP, Science Center, harbor tour and either the zoo or Boeing. I think it was just over $60 each which is a great deal since almost everything was in the $20 range.

The duck tour was so much fun if you have time for it too. It is right across the street from EMP. We didn't think much of Pike's, been a couple of times. You gotta go to say you were there. I find it busy, jam packed with people and the same stuff every few places.

If you like baseball the Mariners may be at home. Not sure about soccer or football season.
Be prepared to pay for parking. You can do the aquariun and Pike's from one spot. The tower, science center, EMP, Duck tour from one spot. If you have no kids in tow you can get thru everything so much quicker.

My ds16 wants to go to Seattle again this summer. Ballard Locks this is something we haven't done so I'm off the check that link.

Have a great trip.

 

[OhioDisneyDad]

Try the Seattle Bites food tour. My wife and I did it last year and it was great. Pike's Place on a weekend is crazy busy and during a holiday will be SUPER CRAZY busy. The food tour gets you front of the line access to some of the best dining choices in the market. I'd also suggest Island Adventures Whale Watching up in Anacortes, WA (about an hour north of Seattle). It's an easy drive with great scenery. On one whale watching trip I saw probably 50 whales! Plus you get to cruise the San Juan islands. Highly recommended!

 

[ICan'tWait]

The City Pass is a good idea. When we have out of town guests we frequently get the City Pass. Ivars is a good touristy food place. The ferry is popular with our out of town guests as well (if you don't get the City Pass and do the harbor tour).

 

[jmqidoc]

Hey there.. I would really suggest doing a Duck tour.. http://www.ridetheducksofseattle.com/ some people find it kinda cheezy but honestly I thought it would be cheezy but found it to be the best tour.. I laughed and saw parts of Seattle I never saw before.. The Duck goes out onto the water..

lots of fun.. if you have never done a Duck tour.. go for it.. you get a tour of Seattle.. from across the street of the Space Needle past Pikes Market.. to the Stadium.. tour past Starbucks.. giggles and jokes along the way

 

[clh2]

I also liked the Underground tour.

We went to the Museum of Flight (it is near the airport, as opposed to "in" Seattle. And - we also went out to Snoqualmie Falls - which were beautiful.

We also went to a winery tour, somewhere on the way from Seattle to Snoqualmie Falls.

 

[DizneyDogs]

I also recommend riding the ducks it was a lot of fun.

We also liked the Chihuly Garden and Glass at the base of the Space Needle.

For dining we enjoyed the Purple Door and Ivars.