On my way back to the mid-south from Alaska in August, I'll have about 24 hours in Seattle (from afernoon one day to afternoon the next). Of course I know I need more time than this to appreciate much about Seattle so will need to make it a destination some time. However, maybe I'll have time to see a few things - perhaps the Space Needle and the market? I thought about staying in a hotel near the airport but maybe that's not best? Suggestions?

SeaTac is ~30 mins. drive from downtown depending on the time of day and traffic on I-5. You can get there by Metro bus, shuttles, taxi, etc.

And definitely you can get a taste of Seattle in your 24 hours. Your plan of Pike Place Market, the Space Needle (and I'd throw in Pioneer Square historic district which is nearby) is exactly what I'd do!

A hotel downtown might make better use of your time (since you mention afternoon to afternoon) because once you're out at the airport, there's really not much to see or do in that area.

If you want to see a litte of Seattle, you would be much better off staying downtown rather than out by the airport.

On our trip north to Alaska we spent two nights. I arrived in the late afternoon and met up with family. We stayed at the Inn at Queen Ann which is within walking distance of the Space Needle. All we did the first night was have dinner. The next morning we took the monorail to downtown and the first Underground Seattle tour of the morning. Walked and browsed shops. I think we took a bus to the market. Had lunch. Went back to the Space Needle to look around and take a Duck Tour. The hotel was convenient but a little worn. We wanted something low budget in a quiet area and it was decent enough. I took a shuttle from the airport to the hotel. There were several restaurants within walking distance. Nothing spectacular but good food.

dfrostnh -

Did your hotel provide the shuttle? Or is there a shuttle that will take you to most of the downtown hotels?

Is the Space Needle close to Pike Place Market?

You might try the Silver Cloud at Lake Union. Very nice, reasonably priced, short drive to downtown, Space Needle, walk to restaurants, shuttle service. Pretty good package and less than middle of town.

There is a bus called Greyliner that goes from the airport and a loop of major downtown hotels (Sherton, Westin, Warwick, etc.). It was $8.75 one-way last time I took it.

Pike Place Market is maybe a mile or so from the Seattle Center/Space Needle. You can get between the two by Metro bus, the monorail, walking, or taxi.

Hi crazy4Hawaii,

I think we might need a little bit more information than you offered, to inspire you toward the best move.

You're coming back from Alaska... will that be on a cruise ship that arrives downtown? and then shall we assume you're flying out of SeaTac airport the next afternoon?

Will you have lots of luggage that you'd need to stow somewhere during your 24-hour frolic?

IF you are arriving by water downtown, you might opt to rent a car for the single 24-hour day just to have a place to keep your luggage. You could pick it up downtown and return it at the airport. (most car companies charge higher rates for this, but it is only one day, so it might still pay off for you)

I use National Rent a Car, which has an outlet at the Hilton Hotel (6th & University).

Once situated with a rental car, you could DRIVE to the "Seattle Center" and find the Space Needle. (make reservations in advance and just have a pricey dinner there, to avoid having to pay the $13 ticket up in the elevator) You may as well, with only one night in town.

IF you decide to stay downtown somewhere, you could wake up in the early hours and go down to Pike Place Market and watch it come to life. (The fish guys are there by about 6:30 every morning, but the rest of it is slow to come alive... there are a couple of suitable breakfast spots in the Market... and the views are great when the weather is nice)

For added must-see spots, we'd have to know exactly what you enjoy. Maybe you want to spend the twenty-some dollars to go to the Music Museum near the Space Needle - some people love that place.

With your could-be rental car, maybe just DRIVING AROUND and viewing the Seattle area would at least give you inspiration for a return trip someday.

More details about your plans would help others tailor suggestions to fit.

Enjoy!

You can spend a great single day in Seattle. No need for a car-as pointed out, there are shuttles. Stay downtown, visit the Market (have a lovely french breakfast at Le Pichet, a delicious and very-Seattle lunch at Matt's in the Market or Market Grill, maybe a drink on the Pink Door's rooftop view deck), take the 30 min. (each way) ferry ride to Bainbridge Island and back, shop at the botiques along 1st Ave north of the Market in Belltown, look at the historic buildings, art galleries and terrific bookstores of Pioneer Square, visit the amazing, award winning new library, and, if you really want to spend the $13, go up the Needle (under no circumstance should you eat there).

If you stay downtown you will be able to put in a full day of sightseeing and go to your room to relax and freshen up before going out to take advantage of what Seattle has to offer in the evening.

If this isn't important to you, you can probably save a little money by staying near the airport.

If you are intersted in the NW Silver Cloud chain, they have a place at Madison and Broadway which is more conveniently located to downtown than is the Lake Union property.

Thank you for all the great advice. I'll be flying in from Juneau about 3-4 pm and then flying out about 3 pm the next day. I'm toying with the idea of staying in the Westin to enjoy a bird's eye view of the city. (Alaska will give me plenty of water views, and I may be ready to enjoy the contrast of a big city with tall buildings and lights!) If you had such a short time in Seattle, would you go up the Needle or just enjoy it from a distance? We basically have one evening and one morning. Pike Place Market is a must. Dining suggestions?

IMO there are better ways to spend you time and money than to go up the Space Needle. It costs $13 during the day and $17 at night, and you can get great views of the mountains from the waterfront.

Tom Douglas has four upscale restaurants downtown that are great favorites--The Dahlia Lounge, Etta's, The Palace, and Lola's. I find them to be a little too expensive.

On the waterfront, we like the moderately priced Bell Street Diner. Others prefer the more expensive Waterfront and Elliot's.

Downtown we like Il Fornaio. The calamari and the antipasto are great and the pizza Christina is unusual and delicious.

P.F. Chang's and The Cheesecake Factory are two of the national chains downtown.

If you're into beef, Morton's Steakhouse and Ruth's Chris are both conveniently located to the Westin.

Oceanaire is a seafood restaurant near your hotel that has a great atmosphere and food people like.

Wild Ginger is a pan-Asian restaurant downtown that has an international reputation.

Thank you for the great suggestions. I booked a reservation for Dahlia Lounge. I know their menu changes some, but does anyone have a recommendation for a "do not miss" from their usual selections? I've noticed that even the best restaurants have some great things and some marginal things they prepare...

We really liked the pressed duck appetizer at Dahlia and I had the crab cakes that were really good, also. Save room for one of Tom's great desserts! ***kim***

Honestly, I'd cancel that Dahlia reservation and make one for Matt's in the Market. It's a bit less expensive, has fewer tourists, and isn't riding on it's reputation (I and many others I know have had one too many less than stellar meals at Dahlia. I actually think Palace Kitchen is the most reliable of TD's restaurants if that is what you really wanted). Over on Egullet (a terrific, heavily used food message board), I think Matt's is the #1 place we all recommend to visitors, and it never disappoints.
In case you'd like other restaurant opinions:
http://forums.egullet.org/index.php?...9b&showforum=7

what Christy says!

Or I'd choose Etta's Seafood over the Dalia if your wanting a TD restaurant for whatever reason.

I'd actually keep the Dahlia reservation even though Palace is my favorite because Dahlia is really a true 'seattle' restuarant experience. I say that because Tom Douglas has created a menu that really fuses PNW and Asian cuisines. The space is gorgeous and everyone should go to the Dahlia at least once. We just took out of towners there in Jan. and I can say that the food has never been better. And their chef won the James Beard award last year.

Bottom line there are way too many restaurants in Seattle and so many that are really really good. We just hope you'll have a chance to come back and try some others too.

BTW- the don't misses at Dahlia are the crab cakes, the rubbed salmon and the triple coconut cream pie. The menu is different every day but those are always on it.

The best thing on the Dahlia Lounge menu is the coconut cream pie and it is available in various sizes (including individual) at the take-out bakery next to the restaurant.

As somebody else mentioned, TD is famous for his crab cakes, and they are good if you like really rich food. He is also noted for his Tuscan grilled bread salad, with pesto, olives, mozzarella and spicy coppacola. However, the last time I ordered it I the serving was was too small for $9 (which becomes $11.50 with 9% tax and 17% tip).

The restaurant used to sell the salmon rub mentioned above. Perhaps it still does.

IMHO, Douglas is rapidly becoming the Emeril of Seattle - overexposed, still good food most of the time at most of his restaurants, but in danger of lapses in quality and service. Plus, his style, which IMO was not all that original in the first place, is being copied by lesser (or sometimes better) chefs at places that are cheaper, easier to get into, and quieter (I find the Palace Kitchen to run somewhere between din and jet hanger). Oh and where parking doesn't cost $5 on a Tuesday night.

He now runs a banquet hall across the street from the PK; he's on the radio, all over. I thought it noteworthy, though, that a recent fundraiser we helped set up, featuring 30 of the best chefs in Seattle, each donating a five-course meal for a table of 12 happy eaters who paid $250 each to sit there and contribute to a very, very worthy medical cause, TD, while invited, was conspicuously missing. Again. So perhaps my opinion is biased a little. Sorry.

Actually I prefer casual and not too expensive. "Fine dining" is not as much my thing as good food in a peaceful and/or interesting setting. I like nobodies who prepare good food - both original and old standbyes - every bit as much as "celebrity chefs". The main reason I booked Dahlia is its only two blocks from where we're staying and I thought it might be uniquely "Seattlean". Isn't Matt's the place that does not take ressies and only has a few tables? Since this is a Friday night and we'll be coming in from a week in Alaska, I just didn't want to get into a situation where we're having to seek out transportation and then wait a long time for a table...