vincenzo32951

I've done a search on this, but most of the hits weren't quite relevant, so ....

I'm arriving in Seattle about about 9 pm and flying out at about 6 pm the next day, meaning we'll have about 8 hours to explore some part of Seattle before we have to catch our flight. Recommendations? Yes, I realize it's a broad request, but we're open to almost anything that conveniently fits our schedule.

Also looking for hotel recs. My thinking is that we'll stay somewhere downtown, get up in the a.m., explore the city and get transportation to the airport -- also looking for recs on that.

happytrailstoyou

Book a room in one of the many hotels in the retail core, which is centered at 5th Avenue and Pine Street.

Include the following in your itinerary: The Pike Place Market, and the Space Needle, the Argosy Cruise that goes through the locks or the ferry to Bainbridge Island.

We drive or take a taxi to SeaTac, but there is a light-rail train many find convenient: http://www.soundtransit.org/Schedules/Link-light-rail

HTtY

Fodorite018

The Mayflower Park hotel is our go to one when we need a hotel in downtown vs going back to our place. Beautiful hotel, right smack in the area where visitors want to be, and the light rail link is attached to it.

To add to the suggestions above, while at the Space Needle get the combined ticket and do the Chihuly garden next to it. You might want to do a Savour Seattle food tour. The one for Pike Place Market is very good. Maybe the underground tour as well, or instead of, depending on your interests, time etc. If you do not take the cruise through the locks and have time, take the bus or Uber/Lyft and go see the locks. Beautiful park there, and of course watching the ships come and go is really interesting.

Not sure of your date for this, but if you do the Bainbridge ferry do check the Mariner's baseball schedule. You do not want to be riding the ferry back from Bainbridge before a ball game is about to start. It will be you and a million of your closest friends So if there is a game that coincides, just adjust the time accordingly.

With staying right in town, I would just do the light rail to/from the airport. Otherwise Lyft and Uber are great ways to get around, both to SEA as well as just around town.

vincenzo32951

Great stuff from both of you. Thanks much.

Gardyloo

The Mayflower is ideal because it's next door to the light rail line, so it will minimize luggage wrangling on departure day. Arriving at 9 pm I'd probably pop for a cab or towncar (same price, next to each other in the parking garage) rather than spending over an hour in transit on the light rail at night.

Get up early and head to the Pike Place market for breakfast. I'd recommend either the Athenian or Lowell's - http://www.athenianinn.com/ or http://eatatlowells.com/ - in the main arcade.

Explore the market for a while - it's best in the morning before the crowds show up - then if you're desperate to unload some cash, head to Seattle Center for the Space Needle or Chihuly Ego Center.

Or else walk down to Pioneer Square and look around the historic heart of the city, then head to the ferry terminal (foot of Yesler Way, the original "Skid Road" by the way) and take the water taxi to West Seattle, http://www.kingcounty.gov/transporta.../WSeattle.aspx - for a walk along the bike path toward Alki Beach. This will give you terrific views of the downtown skyline, Mount Rainier if it's out, passing ferries and the Olympic mountains... great stuff. http://gardyloo.us/20140513_11a.JPG , http://gardyloo.us/20091226_45s.JPG and http://gardyloo.us/20140513_47H2.jpg

Make your way back to the water taxi dock and maybe have a nosh at Marination Ma Kai, a very cool Hawaiian/Korean/Mexican fusion place right on the pier. http://www.yelp.com/biz/marination-ma-kai-seattle

Ferry back to downtown, up to the hotel, pick up bags, walk a few yards to the light rail station, badda bing to the airport.

Kathie

I agree with Gardyloo's early morning recommendations. I think the Space Needle is best seen at a distance, like the Eiffel Tower (I don't think it is worth going to the top of either), but we disagree on the Chihuly Museum and garden. If you like Art Glass it is really remarkable. If you don't like Art Glass, skip it, and perhaps the whole Seattle Center area.

You will want to be on the water at some point, and the water taxi to West Seattle is a good option. Or, you can take the ferry across the Bainbridge Island.

Enjoy your short stay in Seattle!

vincenzo32951

Thanks, all. Well done. I've seen tons of Chihuly's work elsewhere, so I may skip that.

Kathie

Here are photos of the Chihuly museum:
https://cherylmarlandphotography.smu...useum-Seattle/

AnnaDanishek

the Space Needle is fantastic you cannot skip it

Bitter

Vince, I was there for about a week last summer. We took the Link to downtown from/back the airport. Pike's market is a must but is also a bit overrated IMHO. Mid day it is ridiculously crowded. But it won't take you long to walk through.

You could then take the monorail, kind of iconic in and of itself, to the Needle. If you decide to go up in the needle, get there before it opens. You can buy tickets outside from machines and maybe save a few minutes. Otherwise, it gets busy and you'll spend too muchtime in line.

If you go all the way there, consider the EMP Museum. I believe it has traveling exhibits: When we were there they had a Star Wars costume exhibit, a sci fi exhibit, and maybe a horror exhibit. (check their website, memory is fallible).

Another different idea is to take the streetcar from downtown to Lake Union Park. See the boats, and float planes taking off. I think you'd have a nice vista back at the needle, too. There is a decent museum there. Or cab from the needle area to this area and take the street car back to downtown.

Downtown maybe walk over to the SAM, even if you don't go up into the exhibits, see the lobby. There was a really nice guard there who explained the current lobby exhibit. See the hammering man outside. A pretty impressive, free experience is to go up to the top of the downtown library. Trust me.

Bitter

FWIW we ate at the Athenian at Pike's Place. Didn't know it was in Sleepless in Seattle. Enjoyed it enough, but busy around lunch.

suze

For hotels I like The Mayflower Park, The Warwick, The Alexis.

I'd go to Pike Place Market for sure and maybe to Pioneer Square historic district(include the Klondike Museum & The Underground Tour).

Once you pin down an itinerary I'm happy to recommend restaurants depending on what part of town you'll be in for which meals.

suze, in seattle

suze

Pike Place Market "overrated"? That's a first.

Bitter

suze, its a market. Lots of ice, fish and flowers.

Nelson

I'm an occasional visitor to Seattle, 4-5 times over the last 6 years or so. Too bad you only have 8 hours, but so be it. We love it there.

The Seattle locals have not mentioned the Smith Tower, which we thought to be very enjoyable. Maybe a good option if the Bainbridge ferry doesn't work out?

It's close to both the fun Underground Tour and the Klondike Museum. I thought the latter was great. Interesting shopping around that area, antiquarian books and maps, marine memorabilia, unusual stuff, not your basic chains. Lots of good food and brews to be had there too.

Gardyloo

The Seattle locals have not mentioned the Smith Tower, which we thought to be very enjoyable.

Unfortunately the Chinese Room and view deck have been closed for some time with no re-opening yet announced. The building has been in financial trouble for a long time, with a series of owners, and apparently it's still in "workout" status.

happytrailstoyou

I recently read about something I want to check out the next time I am in downtown Seattle.

The 17th Floor of the Russell Investments Center has a "23,000 square foot deck," which is open to visitors. It is said to offer "sweeping views of Elliott Bay, the Olympic Mountains, Mount Rainier, the Space Needle and downtown Seattle."

http://www.russellinvestmentscenter.com/building.html

HTtY

Nelson

> Unfortunately the Chinese Room and view deck have been closed for some time

Ah, that explains it, too bad. Good to know though, in the future I'll refrain from recommending it!

suze

i know i know. I'm so sad about Smith Tower and Chinese Room (at the moment anyway). It was always one of my best "insider tips" -lol! suze, in seattle

vincenzo32951

Thanks again, all, for continuing recs.

I'm thinking the Mayflower sounds like the hotel to use because of the close rail line to the airport. Is it convenient to most of the major sites recommended so far, given that we only have several hours?