A Day & Night in Seattle - What to do?
 

We would like to make the most of our limited time in Seattle. Anyone have suggestions of what we should check out? Space needle, Pike Market on list-but, what else?? What about china town? Good places for dungeness(sp?)crab? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!!

I would definitely recommend Pike's Place and also wandering the Post Alley which is across the street from Pike's Place. They have great restaurants and bars (Pink Door, Kells) tucked away there. If you have a car, go to Ballard and see the Locks and have great seafood at Ray's Boathouse. I personally wouldn't go to the Space Needle, I don't think it's anything great, the same with Chinatown. Also go to Pioneer Square near Safeco Field. There is a great Italian espresso shop, Torrefazzione Italia (not like Starbucks at all) and there are lots of restaurants nearby. If you like microbrews, the Redhook Brewery in Fremont is fun. Enjoy your trip!

Agree with Kim's suggestions, but with one exception. If it's a beautiful day and you can get there early to avoid standing in line, go to the newly renovated Space Needle. We were impressed.

I'm also not a fan of the Space Needle, especially at $11 a pop. I do enjoy poking around the International District (aka Chinatown, although nobody in Seattle calls it that), especially Uwajimaya, a fascinating Asian emporium. But it kind of depends on your interests. <BR> <BR>The Market is great, of course, and Pioneer Square has some interesting buildings, shops and galleries--and a big thumbs up for Torrefazione (I'm drinking a cup of their coffee as we speak!). The Locks are very cool if you have a car--be sure to cross to the far side to see the salmon ladder. <BR> <BR>My favorite preparation of Dungeness crab is at Flying Fish in Belltown (another cool area for shops and restaurants). They do it with black pepper and a wonderful dipping sauce. It's messy and wonderful!

Amy, you should include a foot-passenger trip across Puget Sound on a State ferry from Coleman Dock, next to Pioneer Square. Great views, air, breeze... The ride to Bainbridge Island is the shorter of the two available routes, and Winslow, where the boat docks, is a pleasant town for strolling. The ferry to Bremerton is longer (about an hour each way) and less frequent, but is a somewhat more scenic ride. (Unfortunately Bremerton is not all that exciting a destination yet, but they're working on it.) But some time on a Puget Sound ferry is a must-do for visitors to Seattle, IMO.