Fairway

We will be traveling to Seattle this summer. We have an afternoon free after touring Boeing in Everett, one overnight, and the entire next day available before heading to airport for a next day early morning departure. We do not have reservations for that one overnight yet, so options are totally open.

We have planned to have already visited the downtown Seattle waterfront and museums. Also will have been to Snoqualmie. I have been scanning this board, but seem to be finding everything related to Seattle city.

Also, we are considering a seaplane ride for aviation enthusiast - does anyone have a recommendation on a particular company since I am unfamiliar with them?

Appreciate any help. Thanks.

happytrailstoyou

We always use Seattle-based Kenmore: www.kenmoreair.com

Bobmrg

Go to www.kenmoreair.com for the seaplane ride...they are the pre-eminent float plane operator in the area. I would make that the afternoon trip.

For the day trip, I like the boat ride to Tillicum Village on Blake Island; leaves from Pier 55. You get a wonderfully scenic boat ride, a salmon dinner, and an interpretive dance show by local Indians.

NWWanderer

For your free afternoon, you could continue from Everett to Mukilteo where you'd catch the ferry to Whidbey Island. You'd then drive up the island, stopping to check out Langley, Coupeville and maybe Ft Casey on your way to Deception Pass, where there are some good hikes and scenic views. You could spend the night on Whidbey and then the next day come back to Seattle via the mainland (you'd cross over the Deception Pass bridge), stopping in La Conner in the Skagit Valley.

Or taking a floatplane (Kenmore Air) to the San Juans or Victoria for an overnight would certainly be another nice option.

sunbum1944

The floatplane is fun - takes off from Lake Union and lands in the Harbor in Victoria - makes a great day trip

Fairway

Wow.. thanks for the advice everyone! It's great to get recommendations from folks who know the area.

NWWanderer - love the idea of driving to Whidbey Island and Deception Pass. We were checking it out online tonight. We are taking the hiking shoes so this might be the best solution to the open day.

I would love to get to Victoria or Vancouver, but perhaps that will be another trip to the NW..

We will check out Kenmoreair since that's who all of you recommended. I would love to get the aviation enthusiast in a float plane. Personally, I'm a bit nervous about it, but..?? guess there's always a first time. Wish I had the enthusiasm of everyone with regard to float planes.

Thanks again - will keep you posted on what we decide.

Barney18

When you go to Boeing don't miss the salmon run and Chittenham
locks south of Boeing; do this before you take the ferry to Whidbey Island. Olympic National Park is a gem but you need more than one day to see the Park and travel time.

lennyba

The Crittenden locks are actually in the Fishermen's Terminal/Ballard area of Seattle, so while a fun thing to do they aren't super-convenient to Everett. I'd schedule that, if you're thinking of it, for your Seattle waterfront day.

Fairway

After doing some research, we are leaning toward the idea about heading to Whidbey Island. Sounds like it would be the best for our free afternoon/next day. Searching for places to stay (3 of us) for 1 night - finding a few places - but open for suggestions.

Checked out Kenmore Air for the floatplane trip - perhaps just the sightseeing trip for the aviation enthusiast.

Question: We are planning to visit the waterfront and Pike Place Market. I am reading that parking in Seattle city is a nightmare. Also read that parking at Seattle Center is the best overall option, then taking the monorail to Pike Place Market. I like some thoughts on this option from the locals.

Places/things we would like to visit include the Space Needle, Pike Place Market, the aquarium and Tillicum Village - but this can occur over a few days time.

Thanks for the help!

lennyba

There are many parking lots and garages in downtown and near the waterfront and the market. They do fill up quickly though, and street parking is a crapshoot. If you were headed down there fairly early on a weekend you shouldn't have too much trouble. I guess parking at the Center and taking the monorail to downtown (it doesn't go directly to the market, btw, you'll walk several blocks from Westlake) would be an option that would show you a little more of the scenery.

Gardyloo

The Boeing factory tour center is about a 5-minute drive from the Mukilteo ferry dock.

I always recommend to people that they take the earliest tour time they can manage, then head over to Langley on Whidbey Island for a late breakfast and a stroll around the cute old town. Of course you can also have lunch in Langley (or Coupeville, but a longer drive) if the Boeing tour is later in the morning.

One place you could look at would be returning to Mukilteo after a Whidbey day trip; maybe stay at the Silver Cloud Inn right over the water next to the ferry dock - www.scinns.com.

With a full extra day (i.e., Boeing tour and day trip to Whidbey on day 1, then a new day 2) you might think about heading over Stevens Pass (US 2) from Everett to Leavenworth and Cashmere, down US 97 and back over I-90 to Seattle and the airport. That would give you fabulous mountain scenery, pseudo-Bavarian kitsch at Leavenworth, and a little time on the dry side and Columbia basin before re-crossing the mountains to Seattle. It's a very scenic route.

As for parking at the Pike Market, there are ample lots and garages - look below the market on Western rather than the First Avenue side for cheaper rates.

Or park someplace cheap in the Denny Regrade or Belltown and use the buses (free in the downtown core) for the last mile or so.

Cimbrone

This thread is of interest to me as I will be visiting Seattle this summer and have one day to do something like one of the kenmore air trips.

I have a 10:30 pm flight out of Seattle's main airport. Would I be okay to land on Kenmore in Seattle at 7:30 and still make it to my flight by taxi?

Also, any recommendations for which trip? Victoria appeals to me. But I also love nature. I would not want the day trip to cost over $200. What would my best destination be?

roundthebend

Kenmore Air flies in and out of Lake Union, which is close to downtown Seattle. The drive to the airport at that time of the evening is 45 minutes at most, so as long as the flight is even close to on time you can make the airport with time to spare. Will you have a rental car? If not, ask Kenmore Air to have a taxi waiting for you when you arrive.

If you're driving and you like nature, I don't see how you can visit the Seattle area without going to Paradise on Mt. Rainier. It's a world class destination that will take your breath away. You could easily do it round trip from Seattle in a day, or stay overnight at any of a bunch of spots on or near the mountain. Hopefully others can come up with places to stay. Of course, if the weather has the mountain socked in you might need an alternate plan...

Cimbrone

Thanks for that info. I wasn't planning to rent a car, but Paradise looks beautiful, and I suppose I could rent a car for the day to get there. Then I could return the car to the airport before I leave.

Thanks, Fairway, for posting this question.

Fairway

Wow... you Fodor's folks are wonderful. You've given us a lot of great advice.

Gardyloo, taking Steven's Pass to Leavenworth and also going to Whidbey Island sounds like the best of both worlds. Liked the Silver Cloud Inn site suggested as well. We want to capture as much flavor as we possibly can of the area - and hopefully return someday to explore more. Thanks for the suggestion.

I've checked out Leavenworth and it's so cute! That has my vote since I've never been to Bavaria. Taking in additional scenic drives is a good thing.

Barney18 - where is the salmon run you mention below Boeing?

Glad I could help Cimbrone - we love to see areas outside of the cities when we travel.

Thanks again everyone!

lennyba

The Crittenden locks are actually in the Fishermen's Terminal/Ballard area of Seattle


This is the salmon run Barney was referring to.

JohnInMiami

The fish ladder is at the "Chittenden" locks in the Ballard neighborhood. Ask a local where they are and they will look at you funny since everyone calls them the "Ballard Locks". The address is 3015 NW 54th St.

Details about the locks & park can be found at http://www.seattle.gov/html/visitor/points.htm. Scroll down and click the "Ballard Locks & Ship Canal" link.