We will be driving to Seattle in mid-September and spending 5 days. We are staying at the Maxwell House Hotel - 300 Roy St. - which I understand is downtown and close to the Space Needle and Pike Mkt. Would love some sample itineraries for our 5 days. We defintely want to see the market and the needle, and would like to go to Victoria if that is feasible. I've been told we should take some boat tours of the lakes. My problem is that I go a little "brain dead" if I don't have a definite schedule, so help would be greatly appreciated!

Maxwell is on "lower Queen Anne hill". It is near the Seattle Center/Space Needle but to the *north* of the downtown core. It's quite a distance to the Pike Place Market.

I'll take a stab at an itinerary off the top of my head...

Day 1: Pioneer Square historic district, Smith Tower Chinese Room observation deck, Underground Tour (optional), Waterfall Park, Chinatown/International district.

Day 2: Ferry ride over to Bainbridge Island for lunch, then back. Walk along the Waterfront and have dinner somewhere with a view.

Day 3: Seattle Center, Space Needle, Olympic Sculpture Park, Experience Music Project (optional). Evening boat tour with Argosy cruises.

Days 4-5: Check out of Seattle hotel. Take the Victoria Clipper up, spend 1 night, take Kenmore Air float plane back, and use their free shuttle to take you back to SeaTac airport for your flight home.

As suze noted, the maxwell is not very close to the market--for that you'd want to stay right downtown rather than in the seattle center area which is about a mile north of the downtown core.

lakes tour, in seattle? could they have meant the locks and/or you misheard?

A neighbor took the duck boat tour, but said the other good tour was to see the houseboats around Lake Washington. But she could have meant the locks (or I interpreted as that).

Checkout the Argosy Cruise website. There are BOTH... lakes tours (Lake Union and Lake Washington) and Locks (out at Shilshole past Ballard).

Perhaps you will find some ideas here: http://www.frommers.com/destinations...032020004.html

HTTY

oh, ok, i guess that makes sense--except lake union is be where the houseboats are, not lk washington. the lk washington tour is more to see bill gates house from the water. imo there are much better ways to spend your time in seattle than seeing his house so that's why it didn't immediately leap to mind. the most fun way to see the houseboats is by kayak imo.

You are right - don't need to see Gates' house, but wouldn't mind seeing the houseboats - so that is Lake Union? We're in our late 60s, so don't think we'll be kayaking. How about going to Victoria? We'll have a car - could drive or take ferry - what's your thoughts on my timetable and being able to do that?

The Argosy Cruises are very nice- I have done the harbor tour and also the Tillicum Village tour- its an Indian Village on Blake Island - they also serve dinner - had the best salmon ever there- you can spend as long as you want on the island- some walking trails - great views

I enjoyed.

forgot to mention a night on town - the Teatro Zinzanni - in an antique circus tent- it includes dinner and I think is a very fun evening-

it's not feasible to take a car to victoria for a day trip as it takes at least 5 hours by any of the 3 car ferries to get between seattle and victoria. so the victoria clipper high speed ferry or a float plane are your best options for a day trip.

i'd agree that the cruises in elliott bay are a better bet than the ones in the lake.

teatro is a great idea esp since it's across the street from your hotel.

I think including Victoria or not just depends how much you want to see it, completely personal choice.

The most practical way is not to try and drive, rather go by Victoria Clipper &/or float plane (agreeing with the post above). It CAN be done as a really long "day trip" but an overnight is better, I think.

With only 5 days in Seattle, I'd probably skip it myself, but then I'm not as crazy about Victoria as some people are.

If you are interested in aviation, please consider a visit to see us (Everett) and take the world-famous Boeing Tour. If you don't have a car, you can use one of our many Seattle-based tour companies such as Grayline, Show Me Seattle, Customized Tours or Tours Northwest. Check in with the Seattle Concierge desk at the Convention Center for other ideas. www.futureofflight.org