Well, I need advice on just about everything. We will be spending 10 days in Seattle area in October. We are planning to rent car and dive around, up to Vancouver, etc. We need advice on what to do and see, what hotels and locations, and rest's are recommended (inexpensive preferred) and potenital itineraries.

Put Seattle in the search key and you'll pull up lots of info. We only had 1 1/2 days and enjoyed: the Underground Tour, Pikes Market, and a Duck Tour. We stayed at the Inn at Queen Anne which is in a good location within walking distance of the Space Needle. The rooms are a little shabby but offer a kitchenette. There are several restaurants nearby. Nothing to rave about but a good choice and decent prices. Parking was in a lot about a block away. It was a mostly residential area so pretty quiet. If you can get a good deal at a downtown hotel, I think that would be a better way to go. People seem to have done well with Priceline. The free bus is great.

We usrd priceline for our trip to Seattle. Staying at the Grand Elliot Hyatt for 40.00. Try priceline!! PJ

Sara, what are your interests?

There is the Seattle Art Museum, the EMP, Space Needle, Pike Place Market, Pioneer Square, Safeco Field and now the new Seahawks Stadium, Mt. Rainier, Snoqualmie Falls, Ballard Locks, Fremont, Alki Beach, Harbor Tours, Microsoft campus, etc, etc.

Tons and tons of great restaurants! For the best of the inexpensive ones I would check out the 5 Spot on Queen Anne, Icon Grill, Lush Life, Noodle Ranch, Mama's Mexican Kitchen, Ivar's Fish House.

Driving up to Vancouver is SO overrated. The post Sept. 11 delay at the border, the traffic congestion in Vancouver, the over priced "native - American" art, etc. I've done it twice (my husband's fault the second time) and I cannot recommend it.

If you want a nice drive to someplace beautiful, head for Mount Rainier (if it's not completely snow - packed by Oct.)!

Sara, go the Priceline route for your Seattle hotel. Some great hotels are available for very low rates. Go to www.biddingfortravel.com and research the bidding process. You won't be sorry.

I stayed at the Inn at Queen Anne a few years ago and would not stay there again. Too shabby for my taste!

I agree that driving to Vancouver is a bit overrated. It's very similar to Seattle and there's so muchto do and see in the Seattle area. The websites mentioned will help, but if you're into the ourdoors, I really suggest a trip to Mt. Rainer as well as Stevens Pass area (the scenery around the town of Index is unbelievable), as well as Snoqualmie Fall. Check out www.moon.com for the Washington Handbook.

Also, you might consider staying in a b&b--a good website to find one is pillowpoints.com.

In Seattle itself, besides the places already mentioned, others I think worthwhile are the Woodlawn Park Zoo with it wonderful rose garden and the Japanese Gardens in the Arboredom which is a part of the University of Washington campus, which is quite beautiful as well--especially on a clear day when the fountain is on and Mt. Rainer is "out".

Have a great trip.

HI: Id like to weigh in because Ive been a tourist to Seattle myself many times and now live here. I second the warning not to drive into Canada. What many dont know is the wait is horrendous BOTH ways, sometimes two hours going into Canada. If there is even a minor problem, they will shut it down completely. Ill reccomend three things you absolutely should do when youre here; 1) See the ballard locks and the salmon run there 2) ride the ferry system--its dirt cheap, clean , comfortable and can take you to a number of smaller towns on the islands that are both quaint and fun (as nice as Seattle is, youll want to get out of the city for a while). Some good choices--go over to Port Angeles, or rent bikes and go to Bainbridge island, where you can bike all day in parks and on country roads. 3) rent a car and drive north into Mount Vernon, La conner, and maybe Bellingham All are about an hour or so North), taking care to travel along Chuckanut drive, on of the most undiscovered scenic routes in the country.

Second the motion on Mt Rainier and Snoqualmie Falls. IF you do go to Vancouver take your passports with you. Will facilitate entry back to US.
Daug lives in MtVernon and had trouble getting back in US even tho she had drivers license. Guess it also depends on the border guard. I personally like to just walk around the Space Needle area. Also Mt St Helens is close enough for a day trip.

I agree with the other posters. Forget Vancouver! Not just the trip over. The City is VASTLY over rated. Nothing like Montreal, New York City or others it's been compared to.

Take the alternative suggestions given here. I might add that a trip to the Olympic Peninsula would be great. Plan a couple nights there and see the National Park, including the Hoh Rain Forest -- Stunning! The only one in America.

We spent only six days and saw ALL of seattle AND the Olympic Pennisula, including a couple nights on the Pacific Coast of Washington.

Previous posters have given you excellent advice and suggestions. I wish to add that while you in the city of Seattle, it is not necessary to have a car. Public transportation is wonderful. You might consider "doing" Seattle and THEN renting a car for more remote things.

Once you have a car, take that time to drive to the 'locks' (sorry, can't rem the precise name right now) and to a tiny little park up Queen Anne St. (Princess Anne?) which is the site of all those glorious travel poster pictures of the city. While at the locks we watched salmon swimming underwater and jumping like crazy.

Mt. Ranier was delightful for us when we were there in late Sept.

Port Towsend is a quaint little town. There is a museum there hosted by the friendliest people outside of the deep south...LOL! We found a brochure with a detailed map of the town and took a driving tour to see the Victorian Era homes.

Just riding the ferry in Seattle area is a life-enhancing experience!

With 10 days in October, you should probably plan on a couple of rainy-day alternatives (maybe you won't need them, maybe you'll need them all and then some.) There are numerous museums, exhibits, the Pike Market, theaters, and other attractions. What's your pleasure. Also this you should plan on a lot of traffic near Safeco Field due to the World Series, God and Lou Piniella willing (is there a difference?)

One thing that doesn't get mentioned much in discussions about the NW is how wonderful autumn colors can be. Seattle and Vancouver both have a lot of deciduous trees in town, and the Cascades offer birch, vine and other maples, and numerous other trees and plants that change color. One nice trip in October (which also avoids the rain usually) is to cross the Cascades and visit the orchard areas around Wenatchee and farther north - crisp air and apples, great colors, often blue skies. You can do a splendid one- or two-overnight loop north from Seattle to US2, then over the mountains to US 97, north to SR20, and back over the mountains through North Cascades NP to the freeway and home. If you do want to go to Vancouver, crossing over the border in Eastern Washington and following BC Route 3 back to Vancouver (or vice-versa) is also lovely ride in the fall.

I world recommend that you also try to take in Mt. St. Helens. Go in the back way and you'll see all the trees that were knocked down. Just awesome.
Duane

As a very frequent visitor to the Pacific Northwest ( 20 times a year )I would have to disagree strongly with some of the comments. On all of my business trips, I do business in both Vancouver and Seattle, and drive between them.
Seattle can't compare in any way with Vancouver. There is very little for a tourist to do in Seattle and one has to constantly be going well outside the city for scenic spots. Pikes market is a small circus compared to the wonderful market at Granville Island and the traffic in downtown Seattle and the Seattle / Everett corridor is horrendous. Seattle has closed in its waterfront whereas Vancouver has completely opened it's waterfront for public access everwhere. Vancouver is a wonderful city for eating out ( I would say on par with my home of San Francisco )whereas Seattle has but a few good resturants.

The border has never, to my knowledge, been closed but the waits are unpredictable. I have had many ocassions where the wait in both directions was less than 5 minutes but also hit it when waits were about an hour. Going back into the States is the longest as the Federal US border patrol really seems to like to play cowboy. I have also tried a couple of the other border crossings and sometimes they are quicker and other times not --overall, if you are not trying to cross during an American or Canadian holiday weekend, it is not bad.
The drive from Seattle to Vancouver is not particulary scenic but certainly Vancouver is considerable more scenic, cleaner, and much more international than Seattle. Reminds me of what San Francisco used to be years ago --don't miss it. In fact, if it was me, I would spend most of my time in Vancouver, Whistler, Victoria and very little in Seattle ( besides, your dollar will go much farther )

A recent trip took us to both cities. Because of professional obligations on several days, and because we had visited and toured a few years ago, we opted not to rent a car. We confined our sightseeing to Seattle and Vancouver, using the train to travel between the two.

We had 'open-jaws' plane tickets, arriving in Seattle and departing from Vancouver. The train (the only one of the day, I believe) was at 7:45 am; the route in many places was along the coast. Monitors in the car displayed simple maps showing the route, our position as we progressed, and the up-coming stops. Customs/immigration was at the Vancouver train station. Quick and easy. We were told to have either passports or birth certificates with us.

We enjoyed both cities. I agree with frequentvisitor that, as a city, Vancouver has more to offer...but then there's Mount Ranier, and Mount St. Helen's...
How about Seattle for two days, rent a car and drive south of the city for three or four days, then take the train to Vancouver for the balance of the trip?

BTW, we used the public transit system in both cities. I give high marks to both. Seattle's has a website where you input your origin, time of day, and destination and they respond with several bus routes--how to get to the bus stop, what time, where to descend...and the system was as efficient as the website.
And Vancouver must have the kindest, most courteous bus drivers on the continent! The buses ran frequently, even on the weekend.

ttt

frequenttraveller-I'm just curious--what's there to do in Vancouver. I've been to both cities and think Seattle hasmore to offer (true, Canada is cheaper), in the way of the arts, parks, and is very international--but maybe you know something about Vancouver I don't. (Victoria and Whistler are not in Vancouver)

How about the new Chihuly museum in Tacoma. Has anyone been there yet.?

I love Seattle, and the market is a must for first-timers, as well as walking the pier....for on the water dining, I like Salty's....you'll need a car or a cab, but I love this restaurant! Definately take a ferry ride and enjoy the scenery. Snoqualmie Falls is gorgeous, as well as the drive there, and ther's a restaurant with a great view, and great salad! Mt.St. Helens is a drive, but worth it....even if you don't go all the way to the rim, the visitor centers are worth it! My husband went to Van Couver on business, and thought it was wonderful; and this is coming from a man that does NOT like cities...if you can imagine! Go to the aquarium there! Beautiful parks abound! Back to Seattle...try one of the small beaches...you won't be able to swim, but the views are breath-taking! Check out "Sunset" magazine for great ideas.....best magazine of the west! (Not counting Arizona Highway)

PS, please don't dis on my spelling....it's really my typing that's a mess!