Seattle - 3 days - What to do????
Mar 12th, 2005, 04:02 PM
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 1,183
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Seattle - 3 days - What to do????
Oops, I forgot to post this in "Washington" my first try, sorry for the double post!
Hi! My husband and I will be doing business in Redmond, WA on Thursday, March 23, and will be staying in the area until Sunday to make a long weekend out of it. We plan to spend at least Wednesday night in Redmond to be near our business meeting, but have no plans after that. We've never been to Washington before.
Here are my questions:
Where should we spend the remaining 3 nights? Willows Lodge in Woodinville looks nice, but is that near anything? Should we stay in Seattle instead?
What are the "don't miss" things to see and do in that region if you have three days? We will have a car.
Thanks for your help!!
Hi! My husband and I will be doing business in Redmond, WA on Thursday, March 23, and will be staying in the area until Sunday to make a long weekend out of it. We plan to spend at least Wednesday night in Redmond to be near our business meeting, but have no plans after that. We've never been to Washington before.
Here are my questions:
Where should we spend the remaining 3 nights? Willows Lodge in Woodinville looks nice, but is that near anything? Should we stay in Seattle instead?
What are the "don't miss" things to see and do in that region if you have three days? We will have a car.
Thanks for your help!!
Mar 12th, 2005, 04:37 PM
#3
Join Date: Sep 2003
Posts: 7,090
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The weather will probably be great, with highs in the sixties and lots of sunshine (It could rain, but that seems not likely this dry, dry year.) The flowers will be flat out gorgeous at that time. Definitely stay in Seattle for one night. Don't miss the Washington Park arboretum. You have way too many choices of things to do. Are you interested in mountains? If so, think about consider going to the NW Cascades National Park, where they just reopened the road as the snow has melted early. Maybe you could stay one night at Sun Mountain Lodge. If you like islands, you could drive to Anacortes and go to San Juan Island and stay there one night.
Way too much to do! I think Oregon schools may be on break that week, so hotel space could be hard to come by. Kids around Seattle are in school, so this is a great time for ferries and vacationing, as the roads won't be too crowded.
Way too much to do! I think Oregon schools may be on break that week, so hotel space could be hard to come by. Kids around Seattle are in school, so this is a great time for ferries and vacationing, as the roads won't be too crowded.
Mar 13th, 2005, 09:42 AM
#4
Join Date: Apr 2003
Posts: 252
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
There are several important points in your original message. Like, this is your first trip to Washington and you only really have three days free. While you're in Redmond, you should take advantage of the winery tours nearby just north of town. You should take the short trip out highway 202 to Snoqualimie Falls. Water flow will be low this year due to our ongoing drought. You should dine at Juanita Cafe in neighboring Kirkland and walk around the nice downtown a bit. THEN, get over to Seattle. I recommend staying at the Waterfront Marriott because it's very nice, on the bay, and near Pike Place Market. I you go anywhere outside of Seattle, it should be a day trip only because you will find your time short. You could drive to Anacortes and walk on the ferry to Friday Harbor in the San Juan Islands. This is a big but doable day trip. Orcas recommendation of the North Cascades would be great particularly if Mountain scenery is what you want. That's pretty long for a day trip and quite early in the season. The road just opened this week for the earliest opening ever. I would reserve that trip for the full loop over the mountains and back over highway 2 some other time. That trip is quick even for an over night, an agressive drive. Another idea is to take the day trip by fast ferry to Victoria, the capitol of British Columbia. That's a long day trip too, but always gets raves from first time visitors. It requires a fairly long boat trip but is nearly free of driving. In Seattle...don't miss Pike Place. Etta's Seafood is great for dinner just near there. If you don't opt for one of the day trips by ferry, you might also take the short ferry trip to Bainbridge Island for a walk around Winslow and lunch at Cafe Nola. Don't miss the trip up the Space Needle. Locals might disagree with me on that but it's your first trip, so it really must be done if clear weather.
You should also visit Pioneer Square and take the Underground Seattle tour although I would not put it on my don't miss list. If you're down there already and have time, take the tour of Safeco field, our terrific ballpark. Have Dim Sum (chinese lunch) in the International District a short walk away. Again, if you're in Pioneer Sq. seek out Waterfall Park, a tiny uban oasis that many visitors only find by accident. It's a monument to the men and women in brown (that's right, it's the founding site of the massive UPS parcel service).
There's more, but the point is made...on your first visit three is much to miss in Seattle. Don't bite of more than you can chew...er, drive. Enjoy. The weather has been oddly sunny and warm.
You should also visit Pioneer Square and take the Underground Seattle tour although I would not put it on my don't miss list. If you're down there already and have time, take the tour of Safeco field, our terrific ballpark. Have Dim Sum (chinese lunch) in the International District a short walk away. Again, if you're in Pioneer Sq. seek out Waterfall Park, a tiny uban oasis that many visitors only find by accident. It's a monument to the men and women in brown (that's right, it's the founding site of the massive UPS parcel service).
There's more, but the point is made...on your first visit three is much to miss in Seattle. Don't bite of more than you can chew...er, drive. Enjoy. The weather has been oddly sunny and warm.
Mar 13th, 2005, 09:51 AM
#5
For Seattle my list include: Pike Place Market, Pioneer Square historic district, waterfront with ferry ride, Seattle Center and Space Needle, optional Seattle Art Museum, Chinatown (yea! dim sum), Triple door or Jazz Alley.
Around town in the car: out to the Locks with lunch at Ray's Boathouse on the way back, a drive thru the Arboretum with stop at the Japanese gardens, out to Snoqualmie Falls with lunch at Salish Lodge.
Don't try to do so much as suggested in some posts with only 3 days. As mentioned, the weather has been strangely sunny and mild this year. Actually we are hoping for rain because if this continues it will bring drought conditions later in the summer.
Susan in Seattle
Around town in the car: out to the Locks with lunch at Ray's Boathouse on the way back, a drive thru the Arboretum with stop at the Japanese gardens, out to Snoqualmie Falls with lunch at Salish Lodge.
Don't try to do so much as suggested in some posts with only 3 days. As mentioned, the weather has been strangely sunny and mild this year. Actually we are hoping for rain because if this continues it will bring drought conditions later in the summer.
Susan in Seattle
Mar 13th, 2005, 10:28 AM
#6
Join Date: Nov 2003
Posts: 4,639
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Highlights of our first visit to Seattle were: Pike Place Market, the ferry ride to Bainbridge Island, the waterfront, Space Needle and shopping in Pioneer Square. 
We enjoyed meals at Dahlia Lounge, Salty's in Alki Beach, the Flying Fish and the Six Seven at the Edgewater Hotel where we stayed and loved it!
We'll be visiting Seattle again in June and will be trying the Fairmont Olympic this time. I would love see Teatro Zinzanni this visit, if you like that sort of entertainment, Tom Douglas is the chef and I hear it's really fun! Enjoy Seattle! ***kim***
We enjoyed meals at Dahlia Lounge, Salty's in Alki Beach, the Flying Fish and the Six Seven at the Edgewater Hotel where we stayed and loved it!
We'll be visiting Seattle again in June and will be trying the Fairmont Olympic this time. I would love see Teatro Zinzanni this visit, if you like that sort of entertainment, Tom Douglas is the chef and I hear it's really fun! Enjoy Seattle! ***kim***
Mar 13th, 2005, 12:01 PM
#7
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,299
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
With only three nights on a first trip, I'd skip the suburban sights-the wineries and Willows Lodge, for example, and concentrate on Seattle. The city has plenty to keep you busy. You might take one, or even a half day and check out a nearby island if the idea of getting out of the city appeals to you. For example, if the weather's nice, you could ferry to Whidbey Island, walk around Ebey's Landing or South Whidbey State Park (or even Deception Pass, at the north end of the island). For a shorter trip, you could walk on the Bainbridge Ferry from Downtown Seattle, eat at one of the waterfront restaurants, ferry back to Seattle.
Mar 13th, 2005, 02:48 PM
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 1,183
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Wow! I didn't realize we had so many options. You have all made some wonderful suggestions. Now, I just need to sort through all of this. We do love visiting wineries, so we may still do that since we're going to be in Redmond anyway. After that, I just don't know yet...
Mar 13th, 2005, 03:51 PM
#9
One note about winery tours this time of year - limited opening hours - 10 to 5 I think, so plan accordingly.
If the freaky weather holds, there are no limits on what you might consider.
For example, if you want rural color, I'd take off on the Friday and head up to LaConner, a cute waterfront town in Skagit County (around an hour from Redmond) in the middle of the bulb growing area. The daffodils are all out right now, and the tulips are way ahead of schedule too, so by then there may be some serious color up there. Go on Friday because if the tulips are out, Saturday will be like Thursday on the San Diego Freeway. A wonderful day trip can be had by heading up to the tulips, continue west and south on SR 20/525 down the length of Fidalgo and Whidbey Islands, across Deception Pass, early dinner in Langley (another very cute town on the island) then across on the Mukilteo ferry, back to the I-5 freeway on SR526 (past the Boeing widebody plant - biggest building in the world) and into Seattle. Or, if daylight is waning, stay one night at the Silver Cloud Inn built over the water a couple of doors down from the Mukilteo ferry dock. That's a dynamite day trip in the Puget Sound region.
Then Saturday head into town (25 min. from Mukilteo and hit the Pike Market, Arboretum, see the houseboats on Lake Union, eat at one of the excellent Asian restaurants in the International District or good fish pretty much anywhere, music or bar-hopping in the evening. Sunday book yourselves into Salty's on Alki for brunch (food fair-to-good, view around a 25 on a scale of 10), then drive around Alki Beach and watch the parasurfers, ferries, etc.) Even if the weather turns back to normal, it's still an excellent weekend.
If the freaky weather holds, there are no limits on what you might consider.
For example, if you want rural color, I'd take off on the Friday and head up to LaConner, a cute waterfront town in Skagit County (around an hour from Redmond) in the middle of the bulb growing area. The daffodils are all out right now, and the tulips are way ahead of schedule too, so by then there may be some serious color up there. Go on Friday because if the tulips are out, Saturday will be like Thursday on the San Diego Freeway. A wonderful day trip can be had by heading up to the tulips, continue west and south on SR 20/525 down the length of Fidalgo and Whidbey Islands, across Deception Pass, early dinner in Langley (another very cute town on the island) then across on the Mukilteo ferry, back to the I-5 freeway on SR526 (past the Boeing widebody plant - biggest building in the world) and into Seattle. Or, if daylight is waning, stay one night at the Silver Cloud Inn built over the water a couple of doors down from the Mukilteo ferry dock. That's a dynamite day trip in the Puget Sound region.
Then Saturday head into town (25 min. from Mukilteo and hit the Pike Market, Arboretum, see the houseboats on Lake Union, eat at one of the excellent Asian restaurants in the International District or good fish pretty much anywhere, music or bar-hopping in the evening. Sunday book yourselves into Salty's on Alki for brunch (food fair-to-good, view around a 25 on a scale of 10), then drive around Alki Beach and watch the parasurfers, ferries, etc.) Even if the weather turns back to normal, it's still an excellent weekend.
Mar 13th, 2005, 04:11 PM
#10
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 10,965
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Gardyloo has outlined a very good itinerary—a trip we took this sunny day.
We went about 50 miles up I-5, got off at the town of Conway and drove through the Skagit Valley past fields of daffodils to La Conner--as delightful a town as is to be found in these parts. We had a delicious lunch at the La Conner Brewing Company.
On our way to Deception Pass, we took a little detour to the top of Mt. Erie for spectacular views of the San Juan Islands and surrounding mountains.
On Whidbey Island we visited Coupeville and Langley—two delightful towns.
We plan to do this trip again in late April when the tulips are in bloom, spending a night in Coupeville to explore some of the back roads with their great water and mountain views and also the Meerkerk Rhododendron Gardens near Coupeville.
We went about 50 miles up I-5, got off at the town of Conway and drove through the Skagit Valley past fields of daffodils to La Conner--as delightful a town as is to be found in these parts. We had a delicious lunch at the La Conner Brewing Company.
On our way to Deception Pass, we took a little detour to the top of Mt. Erie for spectacular views of the San Juan Islands and surrounding mountains.
On Whidbey Island we visited Coupeville and Langley—two delightful towns.
We plan to do this trip again in late April when the tulips are in bloom, spending a night in Coupeville to explore some of the back roads with their great water and mountain views and also the Meerkerk Rhododendron Gardens near Coupeville.
Mar 14th, 2005, 09:24 AM
#12
Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 17,226
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I strongly ditto the recommendation to drive through LaConnor and the surrounding valley. I felt like we were in Holland with all the dikes and canals and tulips everywhere. We sort of stumbled on it on our way out of Seattle after a conference and the afternoon spent driving around the valley was one of the highlights of the trip. I found a wonderful pottery there that I ordered gifts from for years - but can't remember the name. "Marguarite" specialized in white paper sack vases tied with blue ribbons (made out of clay, of course).
We did venture on further north, took the ferry to Port Angleles and visited Olympic National Park. That area is just gorgeous.
In Seattle I took the Sewer or Underground tour, which sounds a bit gross but was absolutely fascinating. The guide was very funny and we learned so much about the origin of Seattle. We kept looking at the colored glass in the sidewalk the rest of the time in the city - because the glass was there to illuminate the underground/ ground level infrastructure of Seattle. They still have remnants of the original piping - hollowed tree trunks!
I always ate on the second level of a seafood restaurant in Pike's Market and was tickled to see the restaurant in Sleepless in Seattle. Can't remember the name but perhaps other Fodorites would.
I fell in love with Seattle. Have a great time there and in the Pacific NW!
We did venture on further north, took the ferry to Port Angleles and visited Olympic National Park. That area is just gorgeous.
In Seattle I took the Sewer or Underground tour, which sounds a bit gross but was absolutely fascinating. The guide was very funny and we learned so much about the origin of Seattle. We kept looking at the colored glass in the sidewalk the rest of the time in the city - because the glass was there to illuminate the underground/ ground level infrastructure of Seattle. They still have remnants of the original piping - hollowed tree trunks!
I always ate on the second level of a seafood restaurant in Pike's Market and was tickled to see the restaurant in Sleepless in Seattle. Can't remember the name but perhaps other Fodorites would.
I fell in love with Seattle. Have a great time there and in the Pacific NW!
Mar 14th, 2005, 09:39 AM
#13
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 277
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I was going to recommend the Skagit Valley Tulip Festial, as well. Everything is blooming early. While normally the tulip festival is on for all of March, I believe this week they're opening up a week early. It is GORGEOUS and I can't wait to go myself!
http://www.tulipfestival.org/
If you're taking a ferry to Bainbridge Island, you might consider heading up north to the Bloedel Reserve. It's a lovely, peaceful area where you can go on about a 2-mile hike through some beautiful, lush natural gardens. Reservations are required, in order to keep it from being too crowded. No picnicking is allowed on the grounds, so don't plan on eating there!
http://www.bloedelreserve.org/
As everyone else has mentioned, Pike Place Market is well worth a visit. A true icon of Seattle, and the local vendors appreciate your support!
http://www.pikeplacemarket.org/
Chateau Ste Michelle is an excellent winery, and you CAN picnic there!
http://www.ste-michelle.com/
A Seattle virtual tour might give you more ideas:
http://www.ci.seattle.wa.us/tour/intro.htm
(The above also has a good map of the area: http://www.ci.seattle.wa.us/tour/seamap.htm)
The Seattle Times datebook will also let you know what's going on while you're here - find the calendar on the right side of the page and click on a date:
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/htm...entertainment/
Have a great time! The weather has been stunning, and looks to continue on as such. We need the rain desperately - but while we have the sun we might as well enjoy it!
http://www.tulipfestival.org/
If you're taking a ferry to Bainbridge Island, you might consider heading up north to the Bloedel Reserve. It's a lovely, peaceful area where you can go on about a 2-mile hike through some beautiful, lush natural gardens. Reservations are required, in order to keep it from being too crowded. No picnicking is allowed on the grounds, so don't plan on eating there!
http://www.bloedelreserve.org/
As everyone else has mentioned, Pike Place Market is well worth a visit. A true icon of Seattle, and the local vendors appreciate your support!
http://www.pikeplacemarket.org/
Chateau Ste Michelle is an excellent winery, and you CAN picnic there!
http://www.ste-michelle.com/
A Seattle virtual tour might give you more ideas:
http://www.ci.seattle.wa.us/tour/intro.htm
(The above also has a good map of the area: http://www.ci.seattle.wa.us/tour/seamap.htm)
The Seattle Times datebook will also let you know what's going on while you're here - find the calendar on the right side of the page and click on a date:
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/htm...entertainment/
Have a great time! The weather has been stunning, and looks to continue on as such. We need the rain desperately - but while we have the sun we might as well enjoy it!
Mar 14th, 2005, 09:59 AM
#15
For the person wondering abovew the name of a 2nd level restaurant IN Pike Place Market, I'll take a guess it was either Athenian or Lowells... both Seattle classics with views out over the water.
Mar 14th, 2005, 10:43 AM
#16
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 7,335
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I think the Teatro Zinzanni is one of the most fun things you can do - its a wonderful evening of food and entertainment - and I dont think you'l find anything like it anywhere else-
except San Francisco where they have another one -
except San Francisco where they have another one -
Mar 14th, 2005, 11:19 AM
#18
Join Date: May 2003
Posts: 11,350
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
This may be a little farther afield than you are looking to do, but I'll throw it out there anyway...we did Mt. St. Helens on a day trip from Seattle several years ago and it was my favorite part of that trip. The site is really incredible. I know there's been some seismic activity lately, so if it's something you're interested in, I'd check the national park's website to be sure it's open to visitors. The visitors centers and rangers were interesting and informative.
Mar 14th, 2005, 11:39 AM
#19
Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 17,226
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
LA_FadeAway - try aaa.com for a great online trip planner. You can choose cities, attractions, etc. and get driving directions and modify the trip items by moving them up and down. It's a great way to plan a trip.
Mar 14th, 2005, 12:23 PM
#20
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 277
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I just realized there's an error in my earlier e-mail. I said the tulip festival is normally on for all of March - what I meant was that it's usually on for all of APRIL but will be opening up the last week of MARCH this year. Whoops!!
