Less than a day in Seattle area

Old Jan 26th, 2015, 12:36 PM
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Less than a day in Seattle area

We'll be making a quick turn-around trip in March to surprise our daughter in Maple Valley, flying in and out of SeaTac. Allowing for time to visit with her, we will have only about a half of a day to ourselves. Was thinking of going to the Museum of Flight. Starting to wonder if we'll just feel like we're cheating ourselves with a rush visit; maybe should just spend the entire day and a half in Maple Valley? Or is there something else we should do in that brief time without giving it short shrift? Any advice appreciated.
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Old Jan 26th, 2015, 02:56 PM
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Pike Place Market
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Old Jan 26th, 2015, 03:09 PM
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Personally, I would spend the time with my daughter. You apparently live a distance from her, so rather than spending a day with her and half day seeing something, I woud opt for the time with her. But that's me.

You're surprisingly her? Is there anyone with her that knows? What if you get there and she's away for the day??
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Old Jan 26th, 2015, 04:55 PM
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PPM is wonderful, but so is the MofF. It just depends on your interests. MofF is much easier to get to from Maple Valley, FWIW.
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Old Jan 27th, 2015, 05:12 AM
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Personally, I would spend the time with my daughter.

Is this about you?

You're surprisingly her? Is there anyone with her that knows? What if you get there and she's away for the day?

Where are the thumb screws? The bright light in the eyes?
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Old Jan 27th, 2015, 05:18 AM
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"Any advice appreciated."
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Old Jan 27th, 2015, 06:49 AM
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I vote for Pike Place Market! I would feel cheated if I went to Seattle and did NOT get to spend any time the Market.
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Old Jan 27th, 2015, 08:50 AM
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I agree with SeaF. That is always my first stop. Say "hi" to the pig, watch the fish fly for a few minutes and then I head to my favorite restaurant (the Athenian), grab a seat by the second floor window and watch the boats and ferries while I eat. I may wander more of the market or may head back out for other options.

I'm sure the Museum of Flight is nice, but if you've not taken this tour I highly recommend the Underground tour -
http://undergroundtour.com/about/index.html

On my next trip out, I want to take a tour on the lake and to go through the locks -
http://www.argosycruises.com/sightse.../locks-cruise/

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

Since you'll be there in March, you may want to head further north to see the tulips - if you have enough time.
http://www.tulipfestival.org/

Enjoy your trip and have a nice visit!
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Old Jan 27th, 2015, 10:08 AM
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If I had a half-day in Seattle I would:

Go to Pike Place Market (1 hour)
Walk along the Waterfront heading south (30 mins)
Go to Pioneer Square historic district, up the Smith Tower, the Klondike Museum, and Waterfall Garden Park (2 hours)
... and have lunch somewhere

I would not do Museum of Flight (since it's not downtown) and I would not do any tours since you have so little time.

suze, in seattle
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Old Jan 27th, 2015, 10:38 AM
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The Tulip Festival is great, but it is in April.

Have you been here before by chance? If you have and have spent time at the market, I can see why you might consider other options. Whatever you choose, enjoy!
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Old Jan 27th, 2015, 11:23 AM
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If the tulip festival is in April, won't the daffodils be up in March?

We were there for a conference and it was before the tulip festival and the daffodils were fabulous.
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Old Jan 27th, 2015, 11:32 AM
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Usually, but the festival is SOOOO much better than just seeing the daffodils. The weather has been so crazy here this year though, so who knows when things will bloom. Probably early, but the festival still stays in April as it is usually a muddy mess before that. Besides, coming from MV, that will take much more than half a day!
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Old Jan 27th, 2015, 11:37 AM
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I would spend MOST of your time in Maple Valley with your daughter.

But you could have a really nice lunch somewhere and a quick walk thru the Pike Place Market and Waterfront on your way back to SeaTac. Somewhere in the Market like Etta's Seafood, Maximillien's or Place Pigalle (great view), or more casual Emmett Watson's Oyster Bar or Pike Place Chowder.
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Old Jan 27th, 2015, 12:07 PM
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I'm glad the festival is so much better than just seeing the daffodils, but we loved driving around the area, stopping at a pottery, having lunch and enjoying an afternoon.

It's one of a half dozen suggestion of things I've enjoyed. Maybe the OP will, maybe the OP won't. Different folks like different things.

We don't know what she's already seen in Seattle and what she hasn't. I definitely take a tour when I have just a short amount of time in an area because I think it's one of the most time-effective ways to see an area. If I've seen most of what I've wanted to see in a city, I definitely take drives out to pretty areas. She could stop and see the locks and explore a new area she hasn't seen. The fields of daffodils were fabulous and we enjoyed exploring an area that reminded us of Holland.

During that same conference I had an afternoon off and drove out to Snoqualmie to ski. Not suggesting that to the parents but it was a great way to spend an afternoon off work. They were offering a great deal for ticket, rental and group lesson. I was the only one who showed up for a mid-week group lesson so had a private lesson with Jake from Australia.

Different people enjoy different things. That's the great part of this forum - different people suggesting different things.
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Old Jan 27th, 2015, 12:19 PM
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The Tulip Festival may not work out because Maple Valley is 30 miles south of Seattle, the Tulip Festival is 60 miles north of Seattle, and SeaTac Airport is 15 miles south of Seattle. That's a lot of driving with little time to smell the tulips.

HTtY
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Old Jan 27th, 2015, 12:22 PM
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That's why Museum of Flight might work well, because it also is south of Seattle.

Depending on how much time sart29 decides to spend in Maple Valley (i.e., "maybe should just spend the entire day and a half in Maple Valley?") they may not make it into Seattle at all!
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Old Jan 27th, 2015, 12:38 PM
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Bingo HTTY. Exactly what Suze and I were getting at.

As for skiing, well, I would absolutely pass on that too. Our ski season flat out sucks this year. We did it a couple days over new years and lucked out with the absolute best days for conditions, and even that was far from ideal with limited runs open etc, and the season has gotten significantly worse since then.

MofF is excellent and is easy from MV. Or maybe find something else on the east side to just sort of hang our with your daughter.
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Old Jan 27th, 2015, 12:50 PM
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Starrs--Miles are only part of this equation. Traffic is the other. When was the last time you visited?
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Old Jan 27th, 2015, 01:10 PM
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It is unclear from the OP exactly what the time frame is for this visit.

IF the OP flies in on Saturday a.m. and spends all day/night Saturday with the daughter and is flying out on noon or there abouts on Sunday, that is going to make a major difference as to how the time is spent. Maybe they are planning on spending Saturday night IN Seattle. Who knows?

Many assumptions being made here and since OP hasn't provided additional info; hard to offer hard and fast suggestions.
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Old Jan 27th, 2015, 01:15 PM
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DebitNM,
The timeframe was made perfectly clear: It is zero in Seattle ("just spend the entire day and a half in Maple Valley") up to a half day ("only about a half of a day to ourselves").
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