Seattle Washington

The Hubby and I are headed to Seattle WA in June and I was just wondering if any of you have suggestions on fun stuff to do.  He will be in class for a couple of days and then we are extending our stay so he can have a vacation too.  We are staying about a mile from Pioneer Square so I will have to spend some time there......any other suggestions?

 

Space Needle

Science Fiction Museum

Seattle Aquarium

Pike Marketplace

Ferry to Victoria, BC

Whale Watching

Seattle Mariners Baseball

If you don't mind getting away from the city you should go to the Olympic National Park.  It is gorgeous there!  You can take a gorgeous hike through the rain forest and end up by the ocean!  I highly recommend it.

Try to work in a trip to Hurricane Ridge on Mount Rainier. It's breath taking.

Try to save some money to have some fresh seafood sent home from Pike Market. You'll love how they serve the patrons.

There's also a wonderful scone shop. It was the first time I ever had authentic scones and fell in love with them.

The view from the top of the space needle is great, but I wouldn't eat dinner at the top of the restaurant. It's overpriced and not that great, although it is kind of fun to sit in the lounge and catch the view as it spins.

Thank you....I think Olympic National Park looks really cool.  I will also have to try a scone, never heard of them before but I'm always up to trying something new!

yeah, pike's and the waterfront shopping district, for sure.  you don't mind the smell of fish and seaweed, do you?

There used to be a stand that sold blueberry vinegar and other blueberry products. It was called Canter-Berry Farms. If they're still there, consider purchasing a bottle of blueberry vinegar.

It is fabulous. It makes the most wonderful salad dressing. I checked not long ago and they're still in business and have a web page, so even though I'm not able to get to Seattle on a regular basis anymore I can still have it delivered.

I actually LIVE in Seattle. So here's what you gotta do (In order of importance):

1. Pike Place Market - 1/2 day unless you REALLY love to shop, make sure you see the original starbuck

2. Take a drive - some of the very best parts of Seattle are outside the city suggestions: San Juan Islands, Olympic Peninsula, Snoqualmie Forrest (Snoqualmie falls)

3. Have a romantic dinner at Salty's on Alki (make reservations at opentable.com) after a walk on Alki beach (about a ten minute drive from downtown)

4. If you like airplanes (or husband does) go to the Museum of Flight - but I'm partial about this one... :)

Also, the best shopping is around Pike and 4th Street. You probably won't be able to do much whale watching during that time, not the best season. 

 

 

Um. What kind of fun stuff are you looking for? If you're looking for touristy stuff everyone else has you covered.

What about night life....any suggestions! 

Now THAT is a tough one.  It really depends on what you're into.  There really is something for everyone here, but it also depends on when you're here.  Try this website it has everything you need to know about Seattle nightlife from the locals...

http://www.nwsource.com/entertainment/music-n ightlife

On the way to the Olympic Peninsula, (or if you don't want to go that far) take the Bainbridge Ferry & wander around the town right off the ferry dock.  There are lots of little shops within walking distance.  Check out the Mora Ice Cream shop - they have amazing ice cream.

Also - no one said anything about Ivars - it's down on the waterfront, definitely a Seattle tradition - try the fish & chips or clam chowder.  The whole waterfront is a lot of fun - lots of people, lots of activity :-)

If you want to check out a spectacular city view, try Kerry Park, on Queen Anne - You can catch a bus from downtown (try the #13).  There are several fun shops in Queen Anne also, (if you stay on the 13, it will go right through QA), and a BUNCH of great restaurants. 

Honestly, I would suggest just wandering around!  There are all kinds of things to do within walking distance.  Shopping everywhere, great theaters (check out SeattlePerforms.com), amazing food places (bakeries, gelaterias, more coffee shops than you can take in, etc).  Oh - coffee shops - be adventerous & don't go to Starbucks (unless it's the original).

I would say go to Ballard for seafood.  It's a fun neighborhood that's away from downtown.    You have to go across the Aurora bridge from downtown, so you can stop and see the troll.  Good photo op.  Very Seattle.  As far as restaurants and nightlife, it just depends on what you like.  My favorite restaurant is Wild Ginger, which has amazing Thai food.  There is lots of good Japanese food too.  Seattle has a decent art museum if you're into that kind of thing.  It's also worth it to go into the library to look around, it's a pretty neat building.

Have fun!

Also, if you're looking for something to do outdoors in the city, there's a really nice lake with a 3ish mile walking path around it called Green Lake Park.  It gets really busy sometimes, but it's fun to see everyone out with their kids and dogs.  You can also rent boats and go out on the lake.  

Okay, it has been a while since I vacationed in Seattle, but I had a lot of fun and plan to return for sure!

Pike place Market

Ranier Ale Brewery Tour

Comedy Club downtown - can't recall the name, we went on amateur night!

Great Restaurant Supply store near the university.  I STILL USE stuff I bought from there over 10 years ago!

One of the most fun things I did was go on a guided bus tour of the City on one of those plush buses and just kick back and get the grand tour.  I highly recommend that.

Take the Ferry over to one of the outer islands - Spectacular!  Go have lunch on the island then come back

 

Original Post by kaylam2001:

What about night life....any suggestions! 

Yes! What kind of music do you like? If you're looking to hop around, Belltown & Capitol Hill are the places to go.

Seattle's awesome weekly The Stranger: http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Home

They feature weekly calanders for nightlife & the arts. Anything they suggest is sure to be awesome.

If you're looking to drive around & find cool shops, bars & local flava seek the following neighborhoods: Georgetown/South Park (Stellars' Ale house by the train tracks/water, cool artist lofts/shops etc), Alki (beach townish, not very hip unless if it's nice out), Capitol Hill (Soho of Seattle), Ballard (park & walk around downtown Ballard. Eat at Volterra or one of the several pubs or wine bars... AWESOME night life: you can't lose!), Fremont (frat boyish, Nectar is rad)

Avoid Pike Place on the weekend. Do not go on the weekend, it's awful. If you go, check out Il Bistro under the stairs of the Market for the best late night pizzette you've ever had. Also, the truffle shop serves amazing lunches & Cafe Campagne is amazing. Le Pichet just up market /belltown is incredible. Cyclops further into belltown makes the best f-nig bloody mary's ever.

& stay away from Wild Ginger http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/343845_ba dfood17.html

Good luck!

Ride around on ferryboats all the time.

And when you get bored of that, go shopping for trenchcoats, rain boots, and umbrellas!

I want to go there. That's my first pick for colleges, University of Washington.

If you're looking for good seafood with a view (& a fantastic wine & beer selection) I recommend Ray's Boathouse near Ballard Locks. It's cheaper & better than Salty's & you still get an awesome view. They have great reasonable lunches.

The best sandwiches in the city are at the Honey Hole on Capitol Hill (killer place to go before a night out, great happy hour!) & Paseos Carribean in Fremont. Paseos is amazing... the lines are long because of the sandwich greatness, so look it up & order ahead if you can! The tofu sandwich is incredible!

If you go to one restaurant in this city go to Lark on Capitol Hill for the most delicious small plates you've ever had (& then go clubbing/bar hopping!)

p.s. nobody uses umbrellas

 

I'm with you, carleyrapp... only non-natives use umbrellas. 

I was there a few years ago.  I went to the Space Needle, and the Pike Place Market.  If you are a Starbucks fan the original Starbucks is right next to it.  Also travelling a good ways outside the city is an option go see Mt. Rainier up close, it's gorgeous and I think the flowers are in bloom around July.  There probably will be some out in June too.    I went up to Paradise Point at Mt. Rainier and I;ve been wanting to climb that mountain ever since!

My boyfriend and I spent a whirlwind weekend in Seattle last May and did the following:

Went to Lakeview Cemetery to see Bruce Lee's grave (my BF LOVES martial arts movies).  His son Brandon is buried next to him.

Space Needle/Pike's Place Market/Pioneer Square/International District

Dinner at Ray's Boathouse (we actually went to the cafe upstairs which has basically the same menu but cheaper.  Plus, you can sit outside where there's a beautiful view of Puget Sound and they give you blankets when it gets chilly!)

Dinner at Salty's (beautiful views of Downtown Seattle but we thought the food at Ray's was better).

Saw the Fremont Troll

Went to the Fremont Sunday Flea Market

Two things we wish we would have had time to do:

Underground Tour at Pioneer Square

Tour the Boeing Plant