Our son will be graduating from a military program at Ft. Lewis Washington this summer. We would like to go out for the ceremony and while we're there see a little bit of Seattle. Can anyone recommend a budget-mid range motel/hotel that would be in a good location to do these things? We're planning on renting a car.

Ft Lewis is on the south end of Tacoma, around a 50 min. drive from downtown Seattle (except in rush hours.)

The airport area is more-or-less half way between them, so if you want to stay there and use the car for day trips, there ought to be plenty of budget accommodations in the area. Parking in downtown Seattle during the days is expensive, but the cost probably won't equal the hotel/motes savings over staying downtown. If you want to stay in downtown Seattle, though, try to use Priceline.com, otherwise the rates will be quite high.

you can find inexpensive motels with special military discounts around fort Lewis. In addition, you can contact the seattle convention and visitors bureau and they will send you a slew of maps and general information as well as a discount booklet--since you have time. there is lots of off the street parking with a 12 dollar full day fee if in before nine. the Pike street Market is open by then although downtown is closed until 10. we have stayed on aurora avenie north of downtown- an easy 10 minute drive to the market.
Don't expect any mercy fom the metermaids if you try on the street parking--fine is now up to 50 dollars with fees and the car rental will pass that charge on to you if you try to dodge it.
Best of all seattle has a free bus riding zone which covers the whole downtown area--just hop on and off. that will be reflected on the tourist maps.\
have your son go the McDonalds and Denny's to pick up the travel coupon booklets they have in the front and mail them to you. it will give you an idea of the discount motels near the downtown area as a point of departure for your search. The airport budget hotels are still a stiff half hour drive from downtown and longer in rush hour.

Why not stay in Tacoma? Lots of nice hotel/motels in area. From there you can go up to Seattle, over to Mt. Rainier, down to Mt. St Helen's, etc. Lots to see and do in the area..

Thanks for all of the good advice. Any specific suggestion on motels/hotel in Seattle or Tacoma? Also any sightseeing musts?

ttt

I used to live near Ft. Lewis and there is a Sheraton in Downtown Tacoma that used to have great rates on the weekends. I have also stayed in the best western in Lakewood and it "wasn't bad" however Lakewood can be somewhat depressed, but it is very close to Ft. Lewis.

When we visited last summer we stayed in the SouthCenter area, which is close to the airport at a Hampton Inn. It was close to the freeway, but we didn't hear the traffic noise. We spent one day visiting friends who took us to Mt. Rainer and then another day in Downtown Seattle. I actually liked the area because of a lot of restaurant choices and could get everywhere pretty quick.

Having done the Tacoma to Seattle commute, watch the commute times because traffic along the I-5 corridor is a bear. It pours North in the AM and South in the PM from Seattle.

When I first moved there, I stayed at a hotel which was right off of I-5 north of Ft. Lewis, but south of Downtown and I'm sure there are tons of budget minded hotels near that along the freeway. There are definate areas which I wouldn't stay near, hilltop is one of them.

Have a good time and I hope you have good weather because the area can be beautiful.

Oh yeah, and when we would go to downtown, we would go park out by the Space Center (which is where the space needle is) and take the monorail into downtown. Parking was very inexpensive and more than made up for what you spend on the monorail. Plus it's fun. Signs off the freeway make it easy to get to the Seattle Center.

When you are downtown you can walk almost everywhere. There is a tour of the underground that is a lot of fun, but a little planning is needed. Otherwise don't miss Pike Place market and take the walk down the hill to the waterfront.

It's easy to do in a day, but could be a long day depending on how much you want to see.

My daughter just got back from Ft. Lewis visiting her boyfriend in the area. I don't know if this is too late of a reply but she recommends staying in Tacoma. It's barely 10 minutes from the Fort and about 30 from the airport. The Extended Stay hotels or CrossLand Hotel in Tacoma is a good price, $29 a night with kitchen facilities. Tacoma is right near the highway to Mt. Ranier also. Definitly stay in Tacoma instead- it's so close so much cheaper and a better deal for you.
Sites of course include Pike Place Market, The Space Needle, Mt. Ranier, Seattle Aquarium and Art Museum. Just visting the Pike Place area is very very interesting and very beautiful. To visit most of these is very easy. Take I5 straight into Seattle until you see an exit sign for Space Needle. go see the Needle, use your son's military discount if he's with you for $10 tickets. The Aquarium is there, and possibly go see the EMP if you are really into music but not highly recommeded. take the monorail to Pike Place- you could also drive because it's very close and pay another parking fee. Visit the world famous fish market where they throw fish, Uli's Famous Sausage which is right next to the fish market, Vivace's for coffee- it's not just another Starbucks. It's all pretty centrally located.
For Mt. Ranier, there are signs for the highways to take around there. Any way up the mountain is good. $10 entrance up the mountain but soooooo worth it.