runawaybunny

My 23 year old daughter and I are about to spend 4 days in Seattle, part of our first trip to the Northwest. I'd like to avoid tourist traps, if possible, and know I've picked a few activities or sites that are really worth remembering, although my daughter and I have a great capacity for enjoying silliness and fun no matter what! We will not have a car and will be close to downtown. Please give me your suggestions. And thank you!

vincenzo32951

We liked Seattle Walking Tours. Take a look at their website to see if something appeals to you.

The tours are fun and informative and good for filling a half day.

Ackislander

I wish I had ridden more ferries.

I wish I had seen Mount Rainer, but it was always hidden in the clouds.

I wish I had seen the museum at Boeing.

I am glad I rode the light rail from Sea-Tac to downtown.

I am glad I saw the Troll under the Bridge, which satisfies your silly quotient.

I am glad I saw the UW campus. I have visited many dozens of colleges and universities professionally, and it was very lovely indeed.

I have been to better markets than the one where they throw fish.

Gardyloo

...although my daughter and I have a great capacity for enjoying silliness and fun no matter what!

Okie dokie.

1. Archie McPhee. Ground zero for silliness. In the fun Wallingford neighborhood. http://archiemcpheeseattle.com/

2. Fremont. It's the center of the universe, just ask locally. See the troll, visit Vladimir, touch a spaceship, walk along the Ship Canal... a fun day, one that can be combined fairly easily with Wallingford. https://fremont.com/about/

3. Water taxi, Marination Ma Kai, beach walks and the Statue of Liberty. Take the water taxi from the central waterfront across Elliott Bay to Seacrest Park in West Seattle. Rent a bike or a kayak, or just walk on the waterfront bike path a couple of miles to Alki Beach, where you can play in the sand, watch the ferries go by, or see our own little Statue of Liberty. When you're done, head back to the dock (ride one of the free shuttle buses if you don't fancy a hike) and have a meal and/or a maitai in the wonderful outdoor patio at Marination Ma Kai, a cool Hawaiian/Korean diner (Loco Moco, Spam musabi, Kalbi sliders, shave ice...) before riding the boat back downtown.
http://gardyloo.us/wp-content/upload.../P1000136s.jpg
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http://gardyloo.us/wp-content/upload.../P1000142s.jpg

4. Uwajimaya. Visit Seattle's iconic pan-Asian grocery/department store in the International District. Nosh in the cool food court, play "name that vegetable" in the produce section, buy weird Japanese snacks for the flight home. http://www.uwajimaya.com/stores/seattle

5. Ride the SLUT past Bezos' Balls to MOHAI. Rent an electric boat and float up to the houseboats. Okay, it's not called the South Lake Union Trolley anymore; the moniker was too embarrassing. It's the Lake Union Streetcar. You take it from Westlake Center north to Lake Union, passing Amazon's HQ with its "biospheres" - http://gardyloo.us/wp-content/upload...-spheres-1.jpg - with their local name, to the Museum of History and Industry on the south end of Lake Union, Seattle's remarkable "city" museum. https://mohai.org/ Nearby you can rent an electric boat for a tour of Lake Union, up to the "Sleepless" houseboat, or up past Gasworks Park at the north end of the lake. Watch out for floatplanes landing and taking off. https://theelectricboatco.com/

6. Ballard locks and climbing fish. Visit the Ballard Locks, where boats pass between the freshwater lakes (Union and Washington) and Puget Sound. On the north side of the locks (use the bridge) is a fish ladder with an underwater viewing area where you can watch sex-crazed salmon striving mightily to get back to their spawning (and dying) grounds. Circle of life and all that. http://www.myballard.com/ballard-locks-seattle/

That's just for starters. Want more?

Oh, how to get around without a car: http://tripplanner.kingcounty.gov/

garyt22

Add the Seattle Duck Tour... the Seattle CityPass (which includes the major attractions at a discount) and get some pot edibles and get high...

Kathie

The Seattle Duck tour will certainly add to the 'silliness quotient" of this visit. Some of my favorite non-silly items would be the Chihuly Garden and Museum, Seattle Art Museum, the Ballard Locks. I categorize the fish throwing at Pike Place Market as contributing to the "silliness quotient' but the market itself is still worth a visit, though I don't visit during the summer (too crowded).

BTW, I consider the Seattle City Pass to be a waste of money. It would very hard to do enough things on their list to break even.

volcanogirl

We loved our food tour to Pike Place Market - if you like Greek yogurt, there's a great stand there that serves it with fresh fruit toppings. Also loved Chihuly Garden and Glass that Kathie mentioned. We enjoyed the Space Needle, but may be too touristed for what you're looking for.

Bitter

We did not really enjoy the ducks ride. It takes a long time (too much on the road IMHO).

You have to go to Pikes Place but it is overrated in my opinion. And it can be ridiculously overcrowded.

I think you need to go to the space needle as well. It is touristy but the views are worth it. FWIW, the MoPOP (fka EMP) near the needle was a fun visit.

vincenzo32951

>>You have to go to Pikes Place but it is overrated in my opinion. And it can be ridiculously overcrowded.

runawaybunny

Wow, you all are amazing. Thanks so much for all the suggestions!! Oh, boy, oh boy!!

EstherIris

I took the ferry to Bainbridge Island and spent the day walking around the small downtown. Nice shops, good bakeries, ice cream parlors and cafes. There's also an art museum with free admission. On the way back I had spectacular views of Mount Rainier. Highly recommended.

I also took a great trolley tour that went out to the Ballard Locks via several Seattle neighborhoods.

And I loved the Chihuly Glass Museum. Amazing.

garyt22

Don't forget the Marijuana brownies!!!

suze

<I've picked a few activities or sites that are really worth remembering>

What have you picked already?

I like The Underground Tour, Klondike Museum, Smith Tower, and Waterfall Garden Park all in Pioneer Square historic district. YOu can walk thru Chinatown/International District that same day.

The things I believe are "can't miss" are probably what you are calling "tourist traps"... the Pike Place Market and the Space Needle.

Bitter

We enjoyed the underground tour. If you go to chinatown, the Wing Luke museum is well done.

suze

An Argosy Cruise (to get out on the water) would be memorable.

sunbum1944

I agree Argosy Cruise is nice. I have done the harbor tour. A little history, views of Seattle from the water.

Also have taken tour to Tillicum Village- Indian village where you dine on salmon, learn some of the culture of PNW tribes.

MJfromChicagoBurbs1

Estheriris & Others,
Which trolley tour co. did you use?

Any other city tour (~3hours on a Sun.) recommended?

Thank you!

volcanogirl

I was curious about the Ballard Locks - is that area illuminated? Can you see the salmon and ladders at night? We're getting into Seattle in the evening but staying fairly close to that area, so I thought we could swing by.

Gardyloo

The park and pedestrian access to the locks is open until 9 PM and the surface areas are lit; however I'm pretty sure the (underwater) fish ladder isn't lit as it would probably disorient the fish. It's certainly dark by 9. They do open at 7 AM if that's of interest.

volcanogirl

Thanks, Gardyloo, that would be fun to see. I hope we can fit it in before we head off to Friday Harbor.