mike_pakowski

Hey everyone,

I'm making my first trip to Seattle at the end of September, and am looking for tips from those who have been there on fun, interesting, unique things to do while I'm there. I'm traveling on my own and will be there for four days (Sat-Wed).

I've got my lodging, my restaurants, my coffee, and my beer/spirits in order, but would love recommendations on some cool things to check out - tours, parks, trails, museums, art galleries, architecture, shops, record stores, markets.

Since I've never been I would like to include some of your typical touristy stops, but would also be very very interested in some non-touristy, unique places (outdoor, indoor) to check out. Definitely willing to travel outside of Seattle if it is within reason.

Would love some tips! Thanks in advance!

Cheers,
Mike

Gardyloo

Where are you staying and are you willing to rent a car for a day or two?

Bobmrg

First, go to Top Questions over on the right. Then go to
http://www.visitseattle.org/Essentia...ttle-Maps.aspx.
Under the Visitors tab, scroll down to Discover.

wekewoody

I enjoy visiting the Olympic Sculpture Park.

http://www.seattleartmuseum.org/visi...sculpture-park

garyt22

We had fun on the Duck tour... Campy, fun, a bit silly, but covers some of the main city highlights...

starrs

"First, go to Top Questions over on the right."?
TripAdvisor?

My first stop is Pike Place Market -
http://www.pikeplacemarket.org/

Wander in and stop to watch the flying fish for a few minutes.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSWUw2jcgYo

My first meal is always at the Athenian, going upstairs to sit with a view of the water -
http://athenianinn.com/

Get out on the water via a ferry ride over to Bainbridge Island -
http://www.oregonlive.com/travel/ind...tle_links.html

We really liked the underground (sewer) tour -
http://www.undergroundtour.com/

tenthumbs

It's been many years, but I enjoyed the underground tour as well. The views of Mt Ranier and the Sound are beautiful from the top of the Space Needle.

roundthebend

Visit the Hiram M Chittenden Locks in Ballard. Watch ships and cool pleasure craft move from Puget Sound up to the level of the freshwater Lake Union. You won't see this on this scale in many other places in the US. Nice park, too.

suze

Pike Place Market
Waterfront
Pioneer Square historic district
Smith Tower
Underground Tour
The Great Wheel
Seattle Art Museum
Space Needle/Seattle Center
Volunteer Park
Chinatown/International District
Arboretum/Japanese Garden
Madison Park/Madrona/Lake Washington

starrs

We enjoyed the locks tour also. Be sure to go to the fish ladder to watch the salmon swim -
http://www.seattle.gov/tour/locks.htm

Another popular spot is the fish ladder, built to allow salmon to pass between fresh and salt water, and to navigate the locks. Glass panels below the water line make it possible to watch the fish as they swim through the ladder

At the top of my list for my next visit is a tour of Lake Union, especially to see the floating houses -
http://www.argosycruises.com/sightse...ington-cruise/

The most famous of which just sold for a cool $2+M -
http://www.countryliving.com/homes/h...=1453_86853034

The charming houseboat that Tom Hanks's character, Sam Baldwin, called home in the romantic comedy Sleepless in Seattle has a new owner. According to the Puget Sound Business Journal, a tech industry executive bought the 2,200-square-foot home that's located in Seattle's Lake Union neighborhood for over $2 million . The previous owners, Jim and Loretta Healy, had owned the house since 1993 and originally listed the four-bedroom home for $2.5 million in 2008, but took it off the market soon after. This time around, the house wasn't listed on MLS and the sale was done quietly.

If you had more time, this is at the very top of my bucket list for my return visit -
http://www.outdoorodysseys.com/custo...ay-kayak-tour/

They do have a half day kayak tour and a full day, but you'd need to include the travel time to Anacortes and the ferry to Friday Harbor. BUT if you are willing to spend that amount of time, it's fabulous to get out on the water via the ferry even if you don't get in the water via kayak.

I plan to take the 3 day wine and tasting and kayak tour some day.

sludick

Has anyone done the Tillicum Village Salmon Bake? I've wanted to do that for the last few trips to Seattle, but between visiting family in Everett, and too little time, never have gotten to it. But if I can, will be on my list for the next trip.

Link: http://www.argosycruises.com/tillicum-village/
Link: http://www.sightseeingworld.com/tour...edinnercruise/

mike_pakowski, this might be something for you to consider.

Fodorite018

sludick--Yes, and it is wonderful! That was always a great field trip for the 4th graders there as they studied WA state history. All the parents wanted to chaperone that trip so it became a lottery, if that tells you anything

sludick

It's a definite "go," then! Thanks, mms. We'll be in Depoe Bay, Oregon, in a week or so for the 59th Annual Salmon Bake. Not the same, but we'll still see the salmon roasting on the stakes.

Have fun, Mike. Be sure to pick up some smoked salmon at Pike Place Market (they are generous with samples, yum.) Oh, and make sure you stop off at the original Starbucks by the Market, there should be some type of music outside also.

Fodorite018

sludick--I saw they have a special on either Groupon or Living Social. I saw it just a day or so ago, so you might check and see if you can snag it for a good deal. BTW, a couple weeks ago we were kayaking when one of those Argosy cruise ships went by. Man they are big when you are this tiny thing in the water next to them , lol!

goddesstogo

We had a great time in Seattle and loved the market. At the recommendation of a friend, we went early one morning (we were staying at the Inn at the Market so we were right there), picked up our coffee at the original Starbucks, then went next door (or a couple of doors down) to a Russian bakery to buy excellent pastries, and then took our breakfast across the road to the market and ate it in the little seating area overlooking the water. Then we explored the market which was wonderful.

I agree that the underground tour is really interesting. Also, if you have any interest at all in airplanes (my SO does), go to the Boeing plant tour. It's very interesting and if you don't have a car, I think you can take a bus there.

Finally, one evening we went to this and it was lots of fun. It's a sort of dinner theatre/circus (no animals) and quite unique:
http://zinzanni.com/seattle/

SeaF

The library dowwntown, if you like architecture!!

Michael

The Seattle Center:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/mksfca...7622991196341/ and subsequent pictures

happytrailstoyou

Jazz Alley and The Triple Door are great venues for music, if they have a show of interest to you while you are here.

The Frye Art Museum, an easy walk from downtown, has free admission: http://fryemuseum.org

From there you could over to Pike or Pine and up the hill to Broadway. There you will find loads of shops, bars, restaurants, and night clubs catering to every taste and proclivity.

The ferry to Bainbridge offers great views of the Seattle skyline and, on a clear day, the Olympic Mountains and the Cascade Mountains, including Mt. Rainier and Mt. Baker.

Alternatively, the Argosy cruise that goes through the locks and into Lake Washington provides interesting views of the harbor and several Seattle neighborhoods.

This site often has discount offers of various kinds: http://www.goldstar.com/seattle/events

HTtY

mike_pakowski

Thanks guys so much for these recs! Great stuff. I'm staying in Capitol Hill so should be pretty easy/convenient for me to get around.

Can't wait for my trip!

Cheers

tomfuller

If you have or can get a handheld GPSr,you can start geocaching.
The world headquarters (Groundspeak) is up in the Fremont section.
I've been geocaching for 9 years now and have seen many things I never would have seen otherwise.
I know that there is a sculpted troll under one of the big bridges.