Hoofing it in Seattle
 

We want to get from Pike Place Market to Doc Maynard's, at 608 First Avenue, to take the Seattle Underground Tour. The Yahoo map says it is about a .7 mile walk along Western Avenue between the two. Is this a pedestrian-friendly stroll? Decent sidewalk? Up any jagged mountain peaks? :-)

Should we walk this or try to find wheeled transportation?

You can walk via Western or First Avenue, or via Alaskan Way on the waterfront. It's a slight downhill route on either Western or First, level (natch) on the waterfront - you just go down the Pike Hillclimb from the main market arcade.

Both Western and First are commercial streets, easy walking, past various places to spend money. Western is the site for several upscale furniture stores, First more variety but also offices and hotels etc.

Throughout downtown Seattle all buses are free until 9 PM, so you can just hop-on hop-off if your dawgs are barkin'. Plenty of bus service on First between the market and Pioneer Square.

I thought that the free ride zone ended at 7pm.

As mentioned above, it is a reasonable, slightly downhill walk. If I had to do it, I would descend the stairs from Pike Place Market to the waterfront (Alasakan Way), then take the waterfront street car from the Pike Street Station, to the Occidental Park stop (http://transit.metrokc.gov/tops/bus/...ps/m099_0.html). If you want to walk along the waterfront for a while, you could walk to the next stops (University St. or Madison St.), then board the trolley for the rest of the ride.

Great stuff. Thanks very much guys. I haven't been in Seattle since right after the Earth cooled, when I was four years old. My dad was in the Army, stationed in Alaska, and returning from Alaska, we took the ship back frome Whittier to Seattle. It was a very rough passage and all of us were seasick. I remember looking out the porthole after we finally docked and being fascinated by the operating bilge pump of the ship adjacent to us. I also have a memory of a public square and lots of pigeons. Not exactly sure where it was. Maybe Pioneer Square? The memories are hazy through the mist of years and my young age at their formation.

Anyhow, I am anxious for a return visit. Thanks again for your help.

DFMcJ

ALF, you're right. 7 PM. Don't know where the 9 came from. Ought to be 24/7.