Hi,
We will be in Seattle for 2 days.
Are planning to see Pike Market, Pioneer
Square , Space Needle ( for these I know
we can take a bus ) , Bainbridge Island
( Can we take a bus to get to the Ferry ? )
What about getting to Snoqualmie Falls and
what are the Cascades ?
Round trip shuttle prices from airport are
$48 for 2 people.
Will appreciate any help.
Thanks
Rhea

When I was last in Seattle, you could take a "towncar" for the same as a taxi, and it was about the same $ as the airport shuttle. There a bus from the airport that is less expensive than any of them. Ground transportation at the airport is set up really easy to understand. You won't need a car. It is a delightful city. You can even take a monorail from downtown to the Space Needle (most fun way to get there). The Cascades are the mountain range.

Hi, Rhea,
For 2 days you don't have to bother with a car, but the cost of a small car wouldn't be too much more than the cost of the airport shuttle plus tour bus costs to Snoqualmie Falls or up into the mountains (What time of year? Hiking or skiing?)
The ferry dock is walkable from anywhere in downtown (but buses are free in the city center.)
Either way you'll do fine.

Rhea, so long as you are staying in the downtown core, you can take the Airporter Bus operated by Grayline. It costs about $8/person each way, and goes to most of the major downtown hotels.

As has been said, a car isn't necessary for downtown (and you'll have to pay extra for parking at your hotel--generally about $15/night). However, you would most likely need a car to get to Snoqualmie Falls, unless you can get a tour (maybe Grayline?)

Have fun!

Sheri Doyle
Pacific Northwest Journeys

Thanks guys for all your responses.
Extremely helpful.
We won't be skiing or hiking in
the cascades, just sightseeing so
donno if its worth it ?
Thanks again.

Rhea

Rhea,

I agree that it is a great, and colorful, area to do on foot. If you do it this way please bring good walking shoes or sneakers as the hills are quite steep. I, personally, am a car person and like the freedom to go where I want for around $45 day plus parking. Waiting for a shuttle or bus or waiting for them to pick up others before or after you can take a chunk of time out of a short trip. Hours of operation and frequency of stops for shuttle/buses will control your day. The Seattle-Tacoma airport is an easy drive from where you are focusing in on. The roads are well marked and you will have freedom to explore if you learn after you get there of things that are happening, or that you would like to see.
While you are there try not to miss tour of the underground city. It is fascinating to see that some of the buildings above ground were built with an additional first floor below ground.There are also old building from the turn of the century that were never torn down but built over when they raised the level of the city streets. Guides will take you down there and explain the history. Tours are offered regularly during the day. If you have the time, a drive out to the winery area, is fun. Chateau St Michelle is lovely,includes a free tour and free winetasting. You can also buy wine and accompaniements to picnic (weather permitting)there. Around it are other wineries and breweries.
By foot, bus, or car it is a great place to see. have a great trip.

Get a car. Honest. It's a big city, and stuff you'll want to see is spread out, and it rains a lot. And the hills are steep, and the parking is fairly easy anyway.
BAK

Brian, I really have to disagree that downtown Seattle is "big" and that parking is easy down there. Everything in the downtown core is extrememly walkable (there are ways of avoiding the hills!), plus finding on-street parking these days is much tougher than it used to be, especially with all the building construction going on. If they are staying downtown, driving to the Market, Pioneer Square or even the Space Needle would be silly, I think! Of course, if they have trouble walking, that's another thing. But otherwise, the last thing downtown needs is more cars!

Sheri
West Seattle

I've stayed in downtown Seattle many times and had a car only once. If you're walking, the panhandlers near First Street can be particularly aggressive. The last time I was there, it had rained 90 days in a row. Bring your overshoes and umbrella.

I found everything downtown easily reached on foot. I was there on business and went out for a couple of hours every morning for some photography (plus some at night). I walked from the Convention Center to Pioneer Square and beyond. I have heard that Pioneer Square is not very safe at night, and a taxi driver told me to be very careful alone out on the harborfront. From what I saw walking the streets, I was a little concerned (for example, one guy came up to me and asked for money, and then told me that he had sold lots of expensive camera equipment "last week.") Just be careful, and you should be fine. Driving in Seattle didn't look fun to me, and I have heard a couple of times that it has some of the worst traffic in the country.

So is Pioneer Square worth going to
during the day ?
Also one of the earlier posts said that
the Space Needle are was not really downtown. I was considering staying at
the Travelodge by the space needle.
Will that be too far from Pikes place ?
Thanks
Rhea

Hi again, Rhea, Pioneer Square is well worth going to during the day, if you like history and/or art. It's the historic section of town and many of Seattle's art galleries are concentrated there. There's also a great independent bookstore, Elliot Bay Books.

If you're not planning on getting a car, I would recommend staying downtown rather than near the Seattle Center (where the Space Needle is located). You'll be within closer walking distance of more sights and restaurants. Of course, you can always take the Monorail between downtown and Seattle Center.

And just so you don't get pegged as a tourist, it's the Pike Place Market, or just "the Market"! (No "s" in Pike, and never just Pike Market!)

Have a fun trip. When are you coming, by the way?

Sheri

I would hope that people who read some third hand comments would critically evaluate what is being said. I have lived in Seattle for 20 years and spend lots of time downtown and in Pioneer Square day and night. Yes,I have encountered panhandlers and it does not surprise me to learn that a person walking on the street might claim to have sold camera equipment. But what does that mean? I am not, and I don't think you should be, afraid while walking on the streets of downtown Seattle, in Pioneer Square, or at the waterfront. I probably wouldn't choose to go walking in dark alleys in those places after midnight, but is that what you had in mind to do? Downtown, Pioneer Square and the waterfront all have lots of pedestrians walking around day and night until the stores, restaurants, and clubs close. I think a lot of damage is done to travelers' opportunity to enjoy all cities - not just Seattle- by offhand comments and unfounded fears. One of the reasons, presumably, we visit cities is the opportunity to observe and be a part of a place with a certain texture and randomness. Our cities are not theme parks where every unplanned sight or experience is excluded. In downtown Seattle and in Pioneer Square you will see people whom you will not see in Disneyworld (I suppose) but there is no reasons to be constantly afraid. By all means go to Pioneer Square to spend some time seeing some of the more interesting galleries in town, the most concentrated collection of historical buildings in town, and to check out a great bookstore- the Elliott Bay. (Also, you might enjoy the tour of old "underground" Seattle.)-- (To the person who asked whether or not a motel near the Space Needle would be too far from the Pike Place Market: It is about a 20 minute walk- and the walk down 1st or 2nd Avenue is interesting, or it is a 10 minute bus ride.)

Sam, I didn't mean to alarm anyone, but just to offer my own experiences to go with the others. Generally, I am not a person who is afraid walking around. Afterall, I did see a lot of the downtown in the very early morning and late at night on my own. If I had taken everything the taxi driver told me to heart, I would not have gotten some very nice shots of the city at night. He made it sound like I was in serious danger out by myself. I do feel that cab drivers tend to know a place more than most, but then again they are individuals like anyone else and as such have their own opinions. I agree that there is a definite difference between being out at 7-10 p.m. versus being out after midnight. You certainly don't need to be afraid, but as in any large American city, think about your surroundings. With a group of people, though, I wouldn't be concerned in Pioneer Square at 3:00 a.m.

I have been visiting fodors for the past 4 years and have travelled
around the world, but have'nt seen so much pride and passion for any other city.Must be a great city after all.
Can't wait to go visit.

I've stayed at the Roosevelt Hotel downtown 4 times and really liked it. They have a good restaurant attached (Von's) and it's near the convention center. Now if they get the broken glass cleaned up after the WTO riots...
Watch them throw fish at the Pike Place Market and have a beer at the brewery there.