My 4 year old son, my husband and I will be in Seattle for a day (arrive 10 am from SF) and driving to Vancouver in the evening. What would you recommend we see in and around Seattle (it will be a Monday)? We will have a car. We have never been to Washington state before.

Thanks! I would greatly appreciate your thoughts.

Drive downtown to the Pike Market if it's your first time. Park, walk around the market, have lunch someplace (many choices.)

Then I would walk down the hillclimb from the Market to the waterfront and go as foot passengers over to Bainbridge Island on the ferry, then come back. The views and the feel for the Puget Sound country you'll get will stay in your mind.

Then drive up to Gasworks Park at the north end of Lake Union (you'll need a map probably. Walk around the park with its excellent views of the downtown skyline, the houseboats on Lake Union, passing yachts and kayakers, and a nice breezy setting.

As an alternative, you might go to the zoo in Woodland Park - an excellent zoo as they go, with many exhibits suited to younger kids.

Allow 4 - 4 1/2 hours all in for the drive to Vancouver, a half hour longer if you leave during PM rush hour. Your delay at the border may be fast or slow; hard to tell these days.

Having just returned from Seattle, I would like to recommend that you take one of the "Duck Tours" that originate across from the Experience Music Project in Seattle Center. In one vehicle, you will be able to ride through the streets of Seattle and Fremont, and travel around Lake Union, enjoying the view, the watercraft and houseboats. For a dollar, you can buy your son a "quacker", so he can "quack like a duck" with the other kids on the tour. It's informative and fun, especially when the captain "rocks the boat" in the lake. The tour takes 1 1/2 hours, and the cost is around $25 (?) for adults and half of that for kids. The last trip of the day is at 4:30 p.m. They have a great gift shop, too! Have fun!

Donna

Hamsafar: I noticed that you posted this question twice. (Maybe the other one will just fade away.) In case you are new to Fodor's, anytime you "lose" your post, just click on your screen name to find it. If you happen to post at a slow time of day and don't get any replies, post a reply to your own question such as "ttt" (to the top). Your message will become the #1 message in the list, and more people will see it. Good luck.

Donna

Thank you Gardyloo and Dwoodliff. Definitely have some idea now. Here is a really basic question. Is Mt. Renier too far to consider on this trip? We are also driving back from Vancouver on Friday to catch a 4 pm flight to SF. Is that something we could do then, if we left Vancouver early in the morning?

Thanks again.

Donna, thanks for the tip about posting. As you could probably tell, I am new to Fodors and I thought Washington state had its own separate forum, so got confused when I saw questions about NH and Maine on the list! But I know better now. Thanks.

You will not have time to have an enjoyable round-trip to Mt. Rainier.

It is not clear if you are driving to Seattle or if you are picking up a car at the airport or in downtown Seattle.

In any event, I think you would do well to restrict your exploration of Seattle to the downtown area--Pike Place Market (men throwing fish will delight you all), the Waterfront (Acquarium is a possibility), and Pioneer Square (National Park about the Gold Rush or the popular Underground Tour which will stimulate your child's imagination).

The Duck Tour leaves from the Space Needle in Seattle Center--it does look like loads of fun. Your son will love playing in International Fountain near the Space Needle before or after the tour. The Center House has a food court with offerings to please everybody.

The Duck Tour does look like loads of fun, but it will take you away

On the Friday before your flight, allow plenty of time, especially for the border on Fridays. Figure you have to be at the airport around 2 to drop the car and all that, so I'd definitely be on the road from Vancouver no later than 9:30 or 10.

Jimshep and Gardyloo, thank you for the advice. Cheers!

Hamsafar~we usually stop at the market on our way back to SFO. That way, we can bring home a variety of Seattle treats. I suggest Pure Fish about midway in the market. We always get some fresh fish(often salmon) and at least one piece of their hot wood fire smoaked salmon.(Even for food spoiled folks from SF..this stuff is divine) They will wrap the fish for the plane. We also usually stop and get some baked treats at the Three Girls Bakery. The hazelnuts(if you like them) are great to bring home as well. You will find the vendor relatively early on if you enter the market from the Cutter's end. With a four year old, you might take the boat across to Alki and have lunch at Salty's. Your son might like a ride on a boat and you get great views of Seattle from Salty's. Enjoy Vancouver..it's a wonderful city. Try dinner at Vij's. It's some of the most innovative East Indian food we've had. You cannot make reservations so get there pretty early(easy to do with a 4 year old). It's noisy enough,you'll be fine. He also might like to take the little boats across to Granville Island.

Thanks PamSF! Made my mouth water.

Yes, Salty's is wonderful! The coconut prawns are worth the visit, and the views are gorgeous from the outside deck. www.saltys.com Enjoy! ***kim***