k12lima

Hello,

My husband will be attending a 5 day conference in Seattle July 9-13, and I am tagging along since we are now empty nesters! I am looking for some recommendations of things I can do (safely) alone while he is in classes. We will be staying at the Sheraton on 6th Avenue. This will be our 1st trip to the area, and I am looking for suggestions like shopping, sight-seeing (maybe a bus tour), museums, etc. that I can do alone.

Thanks so much!

Karen

maxima

1. Pike Street Market.. not just food and you can have nice lunch . I liked Matt's in the Market

2. Seattle Art Museum...see what special exhibits are on

3. Seattle Underground Tour..in Pioneer Square...after an earthquake Seattle was re-built on top of the old city and what remains is quite interesting.

4. You can take a ferry to one of the islands

5. Shopping if you are looking for dept stores, there are Nordstroms, and Macy's and Eddie Bauer which started in Seattle..

6. there are numerous places in Seattle that have glass studios..lots of blown glass .. from small pieces of jewelry to larger decorative pieces

7. if you like browsing at bookstores.. go to the Elliot Bay Book Company.. lots of new and used, an independent bookstore and an institution in Seattle

Tomsd

Asian Art Museum up on the hill - and there is an Arboretum next to it. Great Aquarium down on the Wharf - and have clam chowder or fish chowder at Ivar's.

Take the day ferry over to beautiful Victoria and see the great Museum, have a pint in an English pub, etc.

sunbum1944

Argosy boat tours- the tour of the harbor is very interesting but there are others to choose from

I bus tour to Mt Ranier would be great- wild flowers should be great that time of year

lenlu

There is the SAM, Burke, Frye museums around the city. You might check out galleries in Pioneer Square and hit Grand Central Bakery for coffee/snack while down there. During the day and being around First Ave should be fine. You can see Chihuly's new glass garden at the Seattle Center (Space Needle). Try breakfast at Tillicum Cafe prior or walk that area and head to the Wild Ginger for lunch. You can shop at Pacific Place which is very near your hotel. As others mentioned you can walk the market, walk the piers or Myrtle Edwards Park, take a sail or Argosy cruise, head toward REI and walk toward Lake Union. Daniel's Broiler has a great happy hour. There are countless music venues but that's probably an evening thing.

Gardyloo

There are also some very enjoyable and walkable neighborhoods easily accessed by bus. One you might enjoy is Madison Park, at the foot of Madison Street where it meets Lake Washington. There are some very nice (up-market) shops and cafes, a lovely little park, and some nice residential streets for strolling. On the way you can stop at the Japanese Gardens in the University of Washington Arboretum, a marvelous, peaceful place in the middle of the city. http://www.seattle.gov/tour/gardens.htm

Another terrific destination is West Seattle and the Alki neighborhood. From the main ferry dock (foot of Marion Street) there's a water taxi which crosses Elliott Bay to Seacrest Park in West Seattle, affording marvelous views of the downtown skyline, ferries, probably Mount Rainier, etc. From the West Seattle dock, there's a level waterfront bike/foot path that follows the shoreline around Duwamish Head to Alki Beach - sand, volleyball, etc. - with views back to the city but also to the Olympic mountains, passing ferries, boaters and all that. The walk (or there are bike or kayak rentals at the water taxi dock) is around 1 1/2 miles, or there's a free shuttle bus if you choose. On the dock itself is a fab Hawaiian/Korean/Mexican cafe, and at Alki Beach is a miniature Statue of Liberty, as well as many cafes, bakeries, and more shops. http://www.kingcounty.gov/transporta.../WSeattle.aspx

Mt. Rainier from the water taxi dock (lower right) - http://gardyloo.us/20140513_11a.JPG

View from the water taxi dock back to the city (later) - http://gardyloo.us/20091226_31a.JPG

View from Alki Beach - http://gardyloo.us/20140513_47H2.jpg

Ozarksbill

Well you could look up our 30 year old grandson who has been in Seattle for several years. Working here and there in computer support. Seriously, maxima and others have good tips. I like Seattle except for the rain.

Bobmrg

Ozarksbill, please send some rain our way. Seattle has accumulated .57" so far this month. Showers were predicted for yesterday but they never showed up.