barbarabar

We are going to be in Seattle for a week later this month and are staying at the Edgewater. MY husband can walk one or two blocks but tires easily. WE hope that the streetcar running by the hotel will make it easier to get places. Any suggestions for the best way to manage?- he is recently disabled and we have always been fond of exploring on foot so we know we have to adjust our thinking. Any suggestions on places to eat with good food and reasonable prices also appreciated. Thanks, Barbara

happytrailstoyou

You have selected a poor location for a person with limited mobility.

I suggest you rebook at a hotel in the retail core, the center of which is 5th and Pine. Hotels near this intersection include the Sheraton, Mayflower, Andra, Max, Red Lion, Westin, and Grand Hyatt. All of these hotels are conveniently located to shopping, restaurants, entertainment venues, and transportation to all parts of the city.

NWWanderer

The streetcar along the waterfront is no longer in service--there's a bus that runs along the route but that just takes you down the waterfront and to Pioneer Square.

I believe the Edgewater has a shuttle to take guests up to the market and into the downtown core so that might be your best bet.

There's a good seafood restaurant just a block or two south of the Edgewater--Anthony's Pier 66 is the fancier place upstairs, or the Bell Street Diner downstairs is more informal.

NWWanderer

Actually HTTY suggested what I was thinking as well.

321go

Because Seattle has so many steep hills, it can be a difficult climb from the waterfront to, for example, the market. Metro has a free bus ride area that can make it much easier to get around ( http://transit.metrokc.gov/tops/bus/...attle-rfa.html ), and as HTTY and NW Wanderer are saying, the downtown retail area is probably your best bet.

1JAR

Barbarabar,
My heartfelt sympathies.. it is so hard sometimes when 1, in this case 2, have to become used to being newly disabled.
I think your hotel is just fine..in fact it may be just what you need. You can drink in the salwater smells of Pudget Sound, hopefully have nice sunny days to see the Olympics, watch the ferrys and boats and there are some decent dining choices..some may even deliver.
Old Spagetti Factory, Ivars take out, Elliotts.
We just returned from our summer vac in Seattle I grew up in Seattle and lived there most of my life) we searched for a long time for parking on teh waterfront.

I think a cab might be just great. And I wouldn't consider walking up to Pike PLace anyway. Cab it would be better and would not cost that much if you coordiante your daily outings..for example the same day you see Pike PLace (not too many places to sit and rest on market side & old brick like street hard to walk on) and then have lunch at Ettas at the North end of Market..
You could also take a Ferry ride or Duck Tour or some other bus Tours...ask the concierge at the Edgewater..they will be able to suggest things...

happytrailstoyou

The Edgewater Hotel was in the news today--July 22, 2008: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/htm...sewage22m.html

suze

I would either rebook the hotel, or plan to use a taxi or the hotel shuttle to take you UP into the main part of downtown from the waterfront.

Even if the streetcar was running, it doesn't really take you anywhere you'd want to go, just back and forth along the waterfront.

One thing to realize about downtown Seattle that may be helpful for your situation, is that the North/South streets are pretty much flat. The steep hills are on the East/West streets.

Gardyloo

I might suggest you break up your week into two parts. Spend a couple or three days doing as the others have suggested - take cabs to major downtown sights, or walk as best you can manage along the central waterfront. I can't imagine the Edgewater people are unfamiliar with the needs of mobility-impaired folks; they must get many such in relation to cruise departures from the terminal next door.

Then I'd suggest getting a car for the second half of the week and use it to explore other areas where there isn't plentiful public transport anyway. Maybe take a ferry over to the Olympic Peninsula, or a day trip down to Mt. Rainier... we are blessed with many excellent day trip destinations that would be easy for you and your husband to visit without breaking camp at the Edgewater in the process. I'm not certain, but think it's possible for you to obtain a disabled parking placard from the rental agencies, or possibly you can bring one from home if you have it. The daily parking fee at the Edgewater will probably be $20 or so, but comparable to a couple of taxi rides.

You might also think about a wheelchair rental - it would allow you to explore the waterfront area more easily, including the Pier 70 shops and restaurants (a little north of the Edgewater) and the marvelous new Olympic Sculpture Garden just past Pier 70.

JoniC

I just got back from this beautiful city and I agree that the hills are pretty tough, even if you aren't disabled. I was having a hard time myself and we ended up staying at the Marriott, walking down the hill to the Waterfront, Pikes Pl Market, etc., and then going to a nearby hotel to hail a taxi back so we didn't have to walk back up the hills. Some of them are really, really steep! Note that taxis are not just roaming the streets looking for someone to pick up like they do in NYC. You have to go to a hotel and ask them to call one for you. (At least that is the strategy that worked for us). You may also want to book some tours so you leave the driving etc to someone else. I would not say that Seattle is very disabled-friendly. It is a fantastic city though and the weather should be perfect!

suze

It's true taxis aren't usually available on the street, but besides having a restaurant call for you, certain hotels have a taxi line where you'll always find a cab waiting. Westin, Mayflower, and Warwick are a few I know of.

Bobmrg

I believe that there is some kind of local ordinance that prohibits Seattle taxis from cruising and picking up fares on the street. Typical Seattle government.

Anyway, there is an elevator from the Alaskan Way (Edgewater) level up to the market, and if you play your cards right you can go as far uphill as 6th Avenue by using escalators/elevators in buildings along the way. At one time, the Visitors and Conventions Bureau had a brochure on this, but it made so much sense that they no longer publish it.

Bobmrg

Post script: Credit the Seattle Arts Commission with the demise of the waterfront trolley. They needed the space occupied by the trolley's maintenance shed for a staging area during construction of the Sculpture Garden, so they "temporarily" (heh, heh, if you believe that, you don't live in Seattle) shut down the trolleys and put them in storage. As the night follows the day, the trolleys are now gone, and (to the best of my knowledge), the sculpture garden is a widely ignored monument to the Arts Commission.

suze

Not to justify about the demise of the waterfront trolley, but I know ALL kinds of people who regularly go to the Sculpture Park... those of us working in Belltown, living on lower Queen Anne.

barbarabar

OMG, never mind the mobility, the sewer line rupture @ the Edgewater has us concerned!! WE booked as a package with our flight so I'm not sure we could change even if we could find another room, with Sea Fair going on- I hear most hotels are booked up. Thanks y'all for all the advice, though. We're going to stay loose and roll with it- not roll with a wheelchair;-), though it makes sense to me, he's just not ready yet.

Bobmrg

My goodness, don't let the sewer line rupture affect your plans. The city is concerned only about the waste from the laundry, not the toilets, and in any event repairs should be done by this weekend.

suze

I'm here at my office which is quite near the Edgewater. I haven't heard anything about this, or seen mention of it in the paper either.

suze

Seems like a city tour would be perfect in your situation. This is not recommendation (since I live here and haven't taken one) but I see the www.showmeseattle.com vans around the city that looked fun.

Nevisian

Seattle is hills, hills and more hills and then a cliff. You should rely on taxis to get anywhere east of Pike Market. The waterfront is your's for the walking. The elevator to Pike Market is in the parking garage. Is it possible to rent a motorized wheel chair (go cart) to make it more fun for your husband? The hotel concierge should be able to help you with any such requests.

dcsam

I just had to reply to your message. We're also staying at the Edgewater. I love it's location. My all-time favorite place to stay in Seattle is Inn at Harbor Steps, but they were full. The waterfront is beautiful. Plus the hotel offers free shuttle service to downtown areas. My mom can still walk and is fairly active. But we bought a 'transfer' chair for her and it's worked wonders while on vacation. If she feels like walking, it quickly folds up and she can push it like that or she can use it for stability in the set-up position. When she gets tired, it's always right there and it's really easy to maneuver and push. She prefers not to use it, but it sure has made traveling so much more enjoyable for all concerned. Just wish we had it during our Norway and Ireland trips. We could have done so much more and I would have spent much less time worrying about her well-being. We did use it A LOT in San Juan, PR and a bit during a cruise. My mom is very stubborn, and she never would have taken the initiative to purchase the chair, but she's really happy we have it now. When do you travel? Consider ordering the transfer chair. There are several brands. Just make sure the one you get has hand breaks and is durable.
Good luck and have a wonderful time.