First trip to Seattle, WA area
 

My husband and I will be visiting Seattle from 9/23 - 9/30. Part of the time will be visiting my son & daughter-in-law who moved there a year ago just after their wedding. We plan to stay in a hotel as they have a small apartment. We'll spend some time with them, but they will be working during the day. Any ideas of where to stay and what sights to see. We'll have a rental car. I would appreciate any recommendations!

The most popular day trip is the drive to Mt. Rainier (go on a day it is in clear view from Seattle).

A ferry ride to Bainbridge Island, is another good option. It provides great views of the skyline and, on a clear day, the Cascades, the Olympics, Mt. Baker, and Mt. Rainier. Have lunch at Cafe Nola in Winslow.

Our new library is of architectural interest, and we have a great zoo. The Klondike Gold Rush National Park in Pioneer Square and the Olde Curiosity Shop on the waterfront may interest you.

Discount tickets for harbor cruises and theatrical performances are available at the ticket office in Pike Place Market (foot of Pike Street).

Whidbey Island, the Skagit Valley (La Conner), and Port Townsend, are among other good day trips from Seattle.

If I knew the neighborhood in which you son and daughter-in-law live, I might be able to recommend a hotel. Downtown is a great hotel location for sightseeing, dining, and entertainment options; however, parking is expensive there.

Thanks for the info. We're really looking forward to this trip. Can you recommend any wineries to visit? My son & his wife live at 1323 Minor Ave. I believe it's either right downtown or very close.

That's on "Pill Hill" or First Hill. Close to downtown but the east side of the freeway.

I would highly recommend The Sorrento Hotel (if that fits your budget). It's a fabulously classy old hotel, one of my favorites in the city. With the added benefit of being just 5 blocks from their apartment!

www.ste-michelle.com

a winery in nearby Woodinville. I think there's at least one other out that way.

Oh yeah, I definitely 2nd that emotion--the Sorrento is classy and wonderful, and perfect for visiting around 1st Hill...it even has a nice looking palm tree outside (well, for the NW;-)

quackerbacker- isn't it a whole ROW of palm trees around the circular driveway?

You have to go to Seattle's Best Coffee! It is the best coffee I have ever tried- we always stop in and get a cup. Also Pike's Market is fun if you don't mind large crowds.. just watch out for the fish flying in the air!
We live only a few hours from Seattle and we go there once and awhile for weekend trips.

Thanks everyone for the recommendations. The Sorrento may be a bit pricey for a whole week; but a night or two of a little luxury might be nice!

The Silver Cloud on Broadway is also a short walk from your son's home. Silver Cloud is a popular local chain of hotels, and it may be a good option if you don't want to stay at the Sorrento or in a downtown hotel.

I sincerely wish you a very happy trip to Seattle (am going there myself over Labor Day and am very excited)...but please do your son a favor and *never* post his address on the internet again. I would flip out if my mother (or mother-in-law) did that to me!

I was just thinking the same thing. I think this is one time I'd ask the fodor watch dog to get this deleted...
Debi

There they go again, excoriating where a gentle reminder would suffice.

I, too, thought statng the exact address was more specific than necessary; however, I am wounded that my beloved Fodorites would be so harsh in their judgement, "flip" out, and state the horrific things they want to do to their mother-in-law the next time she makes an innocent slip. Where has gentility gone?

I must be flower picking now, L.M. Sunshine

Thanks for the advice. I guess I should have been more vague about the address. However, since it's a large building, I didn't think it would be a problem identifying the location be street address. I now realize I should have just mentioned the XXXX block of the street. Thanks again for your help.

Oh...and how do I go about requesting that post to be deleted?

Hi Svrichard --

You can contact the editors at [email protected]. Thank you for understanding the spirit in which my message was intended. Always best to remain vague and not give too many specifics.

Really hope you do enjoy your trip to Seattle. Anxious to see if you get any additional recommendations for things to do...so far my list only includes things to eat and drink. :)

Go to Pike Place Market early, it has such a different feel to it before it gets crowded. We like to get coffee/pasty across the street at Le Panier and watch the vendors set up. Very peaceful.

If you enjoy planes at all, go to the Museum of Flight, which is just south of downtown a bit. You can also head north to Everett to Boeing for the factory tour.

Many people enjoy taking a ferry ride. If you do that, I would recommend not during the commuting hours.

Try to catch a Mariner's game at Safeco field.

Go to the spaceneedle, but not for a meal. It is best if it is not a cloudy day.

Another day trip that I don't think was mentioned is Mt. St. Helens. Very interesting, and some good visitors centers along the way.

Thanks for all the ideas; and I did send a request to remove that address post. What time does the marketplace open? It would be nice to go early...I like that idea. It's been a long time since I visited a farmer's market. Many years ago when I lived on the East Coast, my roommate and I belonged to a food coop. One time when it was our turn to shop for the coop, my roommate misunderstood the order; and instead of picking up 7 oranges, she bought 7 dozen! Needless to say, we had a lot of fresh squeezed orange juice!

We are very excited about this trip. I would love to do a day trip to Mt. St. Helens. That would be fun. I haven't put my hands on a good map yet. So it's difficult for my right now to judge distances for everything. In New England everything is so close; however, here in the Midwest you can drive for 5 hours from Chicago and only be in the middle of Illinois!

For a great and very special evening, go to Teatro Zanzinni. Check out the website at www.teatrozanzinni.com. It's sort of a cross between dinner theatre/cabaret/cirque du soleil and it was such a fun evening! The food was very good too. Ask for a ring-side table. You'll have a ball!

I meant to say in the post above that Teatro Zanzinni would be a great place to go and celebrate your son and daughter-in-law's anniversary. Let TZ know it's a special occasion when you make the reservation.

To HDM:

Good idea! I'll definitely check it out!

I second Ste.Michelle winery , across the street from them is The Columbia Winery and down the street is the Silverlake Winery also some smaller ones along the way. Ste. Michelle is so pretty and has a great tour with tasting all for free. The wine at both others mentioned are great too. The folks at Silverlake are super nice. The Columbia is pretty too just compared to Ste. Michelle it pales. Next to the Columbia is the Red Hook Brewery if you or your husband likes beer or want a terrific lunch spot. Nice full menu and a full bar.Nice outdoor seating. They have a really fun tour.Free also.

I definitely would like to visit the St. Michelle winery, and lunch at the Red Hook brewery sounds perfect. Now I have some good ideas for planning our itinerary. Thanks!

The market opens around 8am.

As far as Mt. St. Helens, the downtown Seattle exits are #165 and thereabouts. You head south on I-5 to exit #49 and head east. The road goes about 45 more miles, and dead ends at Johnston Ridge Observatory. Fantastic spot and a must see! Be sure to check the hours before you go. I have not been in the fall so don't know.

Some other ideas -- take the Underground Tour at Pioneer Square. It is really interesting to see the old Seattle before it was raised above sea level.

IF you're a rock-music fan, you can explore the Experience Music Project -- we saw the Dylan exhibit last year and really liked it.

Alki Beach, across Elliott Bay from downtown Seattle, is the city's most popular beach and is the nearest approximation you'll find in the Northwest to a Southern California beach scene. Eat at Salty's for a memorable meal.

And if you like Jazz, try Dimitriou's Jazz Alley Restaurant and Nightclub
for excellent food and music.

Hope this helps...
Debi

I forgot to mention -- I strongly second {third?} Teatro Zanzinni...it was really fun and the food was good. Really unique show.
Debi

Silver Cloud Broadway is a good suggestion of a more budget wise place to stay. You can still have drinks in the lobby of the Sorrento Hotel.

I think the Market is open earlier than 8am? there is a website at www.pikeplacemarket.org for more details.

I don't see the big deal about mentioning a street address when we don't know a name and it is part of a large condo or apartment building. what's the fuss?

I don't think anyone's mentioned Chinatown/International District? That's very nearby where you will be and lots of fun. Have "dim sum" for lunch one day and look around.

We had a very nice dim sum lunch at a place called Floata (3rd floor in a building with a small mall on the main floor) and then walked down the street to the Chinese Garden. That was very pretty. You can also visit Dr. Sun Yat-Sen's garden next-door. There's a small fee but it's worth it if you can hook up with the tour. It's very interesting and pretty. At the ticket booth, there's a stand with brochures in it and in the one about the gardens, there's a coupon for some amount off the entrance fee.

Oh yeah--Suze, you're right--it's a row of palms now...you mean the hotel hasn't stayed exactly the same since 1988?;-)

Actually The Sorrento is a hotel that DOES look like it has always looked. Classy like that doesn't need an update!

When you stay at a downtown hotel Salty's on Alki will send a free limo to take you there and back. I can't imagine a better view at night.

Check out The Gaslight Inn on Capitol Hill. It's lovely and less than the Sorrento. It's in very close driving distance to first hill.They also have Howe Avenue Suites which will include kitchenettes. We really like this place and have stayed there often. The glass collection along with all the Mission Antiques and Hopi artifacts will delight you.

svrichard,
If you can still find a copy, the New York Times had a very good article on places to go in Seattle in yesterday's (Aug. 4) issue.

A few years ago we stayed at the "Executive Hotel Vintage Court" www.vintagecourt.com which is in the Union Station area. It's a small boutique hotel, reasonably priced, good location, and has a free wine happy hour every night. We thought it was a good value and a nice place. If you haven't done so already, check out www.tripadvisor.com for the recommendations of other travelers. I just did and see where this hotel gets mixed reviews. Trip Advisor is a good starting point. After narrowing your choices down, do a search here for additonal info.

The underground tour is fun. We also hit the wineries mentioned here and thoroughly enjoyed them. Ranier is amazing and well worth a visit.

Recommend Silver Cloud Inn-Lake Union. Request high floor on Lake Union side. Fantastic views, reasonably priced, parking, breakfast included. Lots of restaurants within walking distance. Be sure to eat at Ray's Boathouse Restaurant at sunset for great water views.

Mt. Rainier most definately -- be sure to walk through the grove of the patriochs to see some really large trees. If you plan to add Mt.St.Helens, it is better to get a room, we stayed at a really nice Best Western in Chehalis.

If you have a few days -- consider a trip to Port Angeles. Drive up to Hurricane Ridge -- awesome views. You can take the ferry over to Victoria in the morning and take a bus over to Buchart Gardens -- or just enjoy the lovely city of Victoria and ferry back the same day. We also stayed at the Red Lion Best Western here -- good Mexican food in the town. We also did a day trip to the Hoh Rain Forest from Port Angeles -- some really large Sitka Spruce Trees here -- some 500 years old.

Salties on the water -- good food as the name implies -- right on the water. September should be a great time to visit.

We've just decided to spend a weekend in Seattle and this was the first post I pulled up. It's got all I nn to know. Great timing on my part - thanks to everyone! I always come to Fodor's when I'm visiting someplace new.

Thanks to everyone for all the great advice. We've decided to stay at the Silver Cloud on Broadway since it's near where my son lives. I'm glad this post also helped out some other people! That's great! All of you gave us some great ideas of places to go! I will definitely check some of them out!