What to see in Seattle?

[Chuck]

gotta fly to Seattle next month for a business conference. Never been there, won't have much time (a couple of evenings and maybe a Saturday morning)...what should I see?
I'll be staying at the Pan Pacific Hotel, which I understand is right downtown.

Tips?

[cameront120]

The new art museum is good. Of course no trip would be complete without a visit to Pike Place Market and Pioneer Square. Washington Park Arboretum, Volunteer Park Conservatory, the Fremont Troll, The Experience Music Project, the Space Needle.

I've not been a while, so I'm not sure what's happening with restaurants at this point, so perhaps someone else has some recommendations there.

Enjoy your trip, it's agreat city.

[Mel]

Well, depends on what you like to do!

Typical Seattle tourist activities include taking the elevator to the top of the Space Needle, watching the flying fish at Pike Place Market, riding the monorail at Seattle Center, and taking a ferry ride to Bainbridge Island (all are pretty close to your hotel). The Seattle waterfront is fun, with seafood restaurants, an aquarium, and funky shops like Ye Olde Curiosity Shop (see a real mummy!). Museums - Seattle Art Museum, Experience Music Project, Science Fiction Museum, Pacific Science Center. The new Seattle Public Library, designed by Rem Koolhaas, is worth a look, too.

There will be approximately 27 Starbucks within walking distance of your hotel, too.

[Jim & Susan]

I made a business trip out there about 10 years ago and had an entire weekend, a little more time than you have. I also had the advantage of a childhood freind that was living there at the time. One thing not to miss if you're into aviation is the Boeing Museum. I don't remember exactly where it is, but I think it was at the Boeing facility next to the Seatle-Tacoma airport. Lots of great old birds in there. Spacecraft, an SR-71, old WWII stuff. Really cool. Outside on the tarmac, they had an old B-29 that was supposedly there to be restored.

We also made it down to see Mt. Saint Helens, but that's an all day trip.

Jim

[CanoeStream]

Hey Chuck -- We 'touristed' Seattle for 2 years from 2003 to 2005 when our daughter worked at Seattle Childrens Hospital. The hilltops & waterways have caused discrete and economically complete little neighborhoods to survive the big box stores. The Fremont neighborhood commercial district is nice for meandering and has a good choice of restaurants.

If the skies are clear the favorite evening I had was just west of there in the Ballard neighborhood (if you have a car). She took us to eat at La Carta de Oaxaca (walk-up only, no reservations -- don't even attempt in the evening on a Thu, Fri or Sat night! see here and here) and then we went out to Golden Gardens park to watch the sun set over the Olympics across the sound. Keep an eye on the sunset time so you can do both. We'd go in April and would be similar to now, so sunset time should be reasonable enough.

Carta de Oaxaca serves appetizer portions only but is great for a group to order a sampling of several and pass them around. Then order different menu items or more of what you like -- and it is absolutely wonderful. The waitresses look for people to order round 2 (or 3!) and the kitchen has more on your table quickly.

There's also great beer in Seattle - Red Hook ESB on tap is hard to beat. Pyramid. Oregon too... Deschutes (Mirror Pond), Widmer, Rogue. By the bottle - Colorado's New Belgium Trippel is hard to beat with seafood.

Pike Market? I dunno -- pretty touristy but easy to get to from where you're staying. We'd sweep in and buy 4-5 pounds of mussels at a time to prepare at home with a fresh salad and neighborhood hearth bread. You've seen "Real women don't drink light beer t-shirts?" The locals have the same attitude toward Starbucks. Zoka stands above all the other coffee places IMO but there are so many good ones I don't need to recommend any.

This image is a smaller scale map of the Golden Gardens area:

[Janets Husband]

Originally Posted by Chuck

gotta fly to Seattle next month for a business conference. Never been there, won't have much time (a couple of evenings and maybe a Saturday morning)...what should I see?
I'll be staying at the Pan Pacific Hotel, which I understand is right downtown.

Tips?

Chuck

When I get over to Seattle I like the City Center site of the 62 Worlds Fair. Space Needle, Science Center, Imax theatre, all kinds of neet things to do there. When you get there, then take the Mono-Rail to the Westlake Center then it is a short walk to The Pikes Place Market, you could spend two days there if you wanted. If you get to Pikes Place, find the "Pink Door" down the alley. It is a resturant no signs, just a pink door. Hard to find but well worth it, you might have to ask around to find it. There are many things to see and great eating around these areas. Have fun.

[Jim & Susan]

One more thing, if you're into micro-brewery beers, you'll be in Heaven out there.

Jim

[starflyte1]

Lucky you! Pike's Market is a must (for a tourist) and a nice place to eat is just north of Pike's Market, past a tiny park. The place is Cutters. Great view. A bit expensive, but we feel it is worth it. There are also places to eat on the waterfront. Lunch or dinner at the space needle is also something to consider. Also, you can go to any ferry station, walk on wherever it is going, and ride it over and back to Seattle, getting in a rustic cruise and a view of the skyline. Staying downtown in Seattle, you will have a great time.

[cameront120]

Another vote for the Pink Door here. Terrific restaurant!

[jnerges]

I live here, Federal Way actually, about 20 miles south but here are a few... For sure Pikes Market, make sure you buy some fish, the Ahi Tuna there is spooky good as is the salmon. The other thing I really enjoyed was the "Ride the Ducks" tour. It leaves from near the space needle, you ride around the streets and then splash into Lake Union. If you are driving a little, consider the glass museum in Tacoma, it is very cool. You can do the Vashon Ferry loop, get on in Tacoma, tranverse Vashon and leave near Seattle. Great fun. Argosy dinner tours boat rides are supposed to be cool to. If you are into the sports shopping thing, the REI downtown is a monster.

Try Salty's on Alki beach too, that is a great restaurant.


Enjoy

John

[SRoffe]

Originally Posted by Mel

There will be approximately 27 Starbucks within walking distance of your hotel, too.

In addition to the Starbucks you have Tully's, Seattle's Best, and other great coffee choices.

Seriously though, in addition to all the other things in Seattle that have been mentioned, there some nice music venues too, Jazz Ally is one that comes to mind, and they have good food too.

Just make sure you tell people it really rains in Seattle.

Sam

[Relentless]

We have lived in the Seattle area for the past 25 years. One of our favorite restaurants is Pallisades. You'll need a cab to get there and reservations as far in advance as you can. A salt water stream runs through the center of the place and the crab are kept in the stream. Can't beat that for fresh. Excellent sea food and a view of Seattle that is outstanding.

The best sea food place, in my opinion, is McCormick's. Right downtown. The hotel desk will give you directions.

John

[cammur]

Way too many great choices, tough to narrow it down, depends too much on your tastes for others to decide. To add to your choices, consider a walk in Seattle's new sculpture park, on the water a ways up from Pikes Market. (Actually, fairly close to an old hotel that sticks out over the water on pilings, famous for a picture of the Beatles fishing from their hotel room.) Porque No is a nice casual Italian restaurant run by a Chinese couple. Yes, a nice Italian restaurant owned by a nice Chinese couple - why not?

[Tim A.]

Having been born too many years ago in the Ballard Hospital, I would like to put in a good word for a trip to the Ballard locks. Here is a tourist description: "The Hiram M. Chittenden Locks located in Ballard provide a link for boats between the saltwater of the Puget Sound and the fresh water of the Ship Canal connecting to Lake Union and Lake Washington. The Hiram M. Chittenden Locks, often called the Ballard Locks, link salty Puget Sound with the fresh waters of Salmon Bay, Lake Union, Portage Bay and Lake Washington. Both tourists and locals enjoy watching the parade of sailboats, motorboats, tugs, barges and yachts passing through. Pass a sunny day watching boats of all shapes and sizes come into the locks, and the water level is adjusted to allow their safe passage to the lake or sound.
Stop by the fish ladder, built to allow salmon to pass between fresh and salt water. Glass panels make it possible to view the fish as they navigate their way through the ladder, adjusting to different levels of salt each step of the way."

[Chuck]

Boy....airstreamers must really like to EAT.

and not just "eat"...but eat FISH!

Ok, I shoulda said: I don't like fish. only thing (to me) worse than that would be a "fish market".

really, I don't think I'm going to have the time for any "fine dining experiences". we're talkin, "I got a few hours", here.
I don't have flight times, yet, so I don't know exactly. I'm just assuming that I'll be leaving "some time saturday". I might have to get up and head straight to the airport...or I may have some time to kill. don't know yet.
I'll be on foot.

I like the idea of a ferry ride to "wherever", just for the sake of the ride and the view.
"space needle", too...probably all I'll have time for, and its walking distance from the hotel.

thanks for the tips...keep 'em coming. got some things to google, now...

[DFord79]

If you only have a few hours and you don't go to PIKE STREET MARKET you have missed one of the most unique attractions in Seattle. Most of the really great things to see have been covered so I am only adding a sensory exsperience. GET up early one morning and walk down to Pioneer Square and smell the coffee in the air (if you don't like coffee AND fish you'r in the wrong city). Just kidding....but Seattle is very friendly (as big cities go) and laid back.

A nice walk past pioneer square to the SMALLEST national park (one buiding) and to the water front. Eat at Ivar's on the street (I forgot) you don't like fish. Down to peir 70. Ride a horse drawn carrage on the Water Front. Things to do on short notice.

[DFord79]

O YA,,,,if you DON'T LIKE FISH. Eat at the Spaghetti Factory.

[w/oapaddle]

My husband and I are natives of Seattle. Both born and raised as were our parents, siblings and children. Wouldn't live anywhere else. Even as natives we still have adventures pretending we're tourists for the day.

All the previously mentioned are great to experience. Check with the Concierge's desk and one of the larger hotels (Westin, Sheraton, W, Hyatt). They can assist you with anything from sites, places, restaurants, reservations, opera, ballet, concerts or sports events - you name it.

Take the Victoria Clipper up to the San Juan's or Victoria for the day. Go see Boutchart (sp?) gardens, whale watching. Experience the Puyallup Fair, concerts in the park, see the Pigs on Parade throughout the city. University District, Snoqualmie Falls. You can enjoy the restaurant while looking out over the Falls. Spectacular. Take a trip to the Ocean Beaches. All in all you are pretty much 20 minuts to an hour from just about anywhere. Always someplace to go and something to see.

Downtown Seattle in the center of it all there are so many shops and restaurants - new and old. Check out the views and sites - Discovery Park in Magnolia. Take a trip to Blake Island and go to Tillicum Village - indian style dinners, beaches, authentic shows.

As I said - we love Seattle and Washington State. Hope you have fun and enjoy.

Marya & Brian

[JakBluMule]

Ivar's Acres of Clams.