I will be in Seattle in early November for a conference. We are trying to figure out just where to stay. How easy would it be for me to get to Seattle Center on public transportation from the Inn at Harbor Steps?

Relatively easy...you should be able to catch a bus straight up 1st Avenue. It'll probably take 15 minutes or so, depending on the time of day (more during rush hour).

alternatively you will be able to walk 5 blocks east and grab the monarail which goes straight to Seattle Center.

That 1st ave bus has a bit of a ride free zone but I think it ends before the SC

I'm pretty sure there are more bus routes running to Seattle Center on 3rd instead of 1st, so might be worth walking the few extra blocks east. Metro has a website you can check schedules there. Again I'm pretty sure the free ride zone ends before the Center. Oh heck let me go find the website and answer this question better.

www.metrokc.gov

On 1st Ave catch the #15 or #18 will take you to Seattle Center Pavillion.

On 3rd Ave take the #4 or #16 which brings you to the Space Needle.

Or go on the monorail from "south station" to "north station" see website for details.

Rides $1.25 for bus or $1.50 for monorail.

Free ride zone (which covers a good part of downtown BTW) ends at Battery Street, so still a bit of a hike to get into the Seattle Center proper.

Wow~Thank you! I just made our reservations at the Inn at Harbor Steps and will keep your transportation tips close at hand.

I thought of one more small but important detail about taking Metro around Seattle.

Most #'d bus routes are big circles so you need to be heading the correction direction. From downtown to the Center you'd stand on the east side of 1st or 3rd (away from the water), the bus most likely will say Seattle Center on the front (but might have a further destination instead if it's passing thru the Center but not terminating there).

The #2 for example heads off into the Central District in one direction and goes up Queen Anne in the other (ask me how I figured this out when I 1st moved to town -LOL).

Metro drivers on the whole are friendly enough so ask before you get on "do you go to Seattle Center?" they'll nod yes or point you to a different bus most likely.