We are beginning a 15 day trip in Seattle in mid-July. We will have two days in SEA.We will have a rental car and are staying in Mukiteo. We (two adults and 15 yr. old boy) have tickets for the Boeing tour on Friday morning. We plan to spend the day downtown on Saturday and take in a Mariner's game. I also have to see the new library. I think we might take a ferry from downtown to either Bremerton or Bainbridge, which??

Any suggestions on how to spend the remainder of the day on Friday following the Boeing tour? We have been to Whidbey Island. Would it be worth visiting the Univ. of Washington campus?? Thanks so much for your input.

I like the Bainbridge ferry--it's a shorter ride than the Bremerton run, and the town you arrive at on Bainbridge Island has lots of nice stores and is very walkable. If you get a sunny day, the return trip to Seattle from either Bremerton or Bainbridge is spectacular.

While the University of Washington campus is beautiful, there are lots of other possibilities--Pike Place Market, Seattle Center (and the Experience Music Project if your son is interested in rock 'n' roll), or Alki Beach, just to name a few. You could also consider an afternoon of kayaking or canoeing if you're into that.

I'm sure Gardyloo and others will be here shortly to expand on my relatively short list of ideas...

I would not bother with Bremerton...there isn't much to the town. Take the Bainbridge and enjoy it. Coming from Mukilteo for the Mariners game you will encounter a LOT of traffic, so be sure to leave yourself plenty of time. The UW campus is ok...but there are so many other great things to see in Seattle, like Don mentioned.

From Seattle, definitely take the Bainbridge ferry. Bremerton is a navy town, and not as quaint as Bainbridge. Vashon Island is also nice, but the ferry leaves from West Seattle, so you don't get the great view of the Seattle skyline. In my opinion, taking the ferry is the best part of this journey--the towns on the other side probably won't keep you occupied for too long.

You may not get all of downtown done in one day--you might want to consider doing maybe the library and shopping (Westlake/downtown area) on Friday, perhaps Pike Place and the waterfront area on Saturday before the game, and then you could walk down to Safeco field.

Another idea for Friday would be to go to the Hiram Chittenden locks in Ballard, and relax at Golden Gardens park.

(I hate being so predictable...)

If it's the weekend of July 16-18, that's when the Bite of Seattle foodathon is being conducted on the grounds of Seattle Center. Mange, mange. Could be okay either after the Boeing tour or before the M's game; come hungry and equipped with money.

Otherwise I tend to agree that another day in the city could be a good idea, and the Ballard Locks are usually fascinating.

One thing you might consider at the U of W is renting a canoe from the UW canoe house and paddling around the nature reserve in Union Bay (part of Lake Washington) - great fun in our own little northern bayou.

Have you been up to the Cascades? From the Boeing plant you could jump on Highway 2 and head up to Stevens Pass, hit yodelayheehoo Leavenworth, and get over to rootin tootin cowboy country on the east side, in around 2 hours from the tour plant.

It would be a longish day but you could kill both the day trip and the ferry birds with one stone by going over to Whidbey after the Boeing tour, then over to Port Townsend on the Keystone ferry (cute little boat), then up to Hurricane Ridge south of Port Townsend. Then you can return by driving back to Bainbridge Island and taking the ferry into Seattle, best late in the day with the mountains and sun behind you. I've done this loop after a morning Boeing tour and it's not especially grueling - you can return to Seattle by 7 or 8 PM easy. If you're inclined, there will be some gorgeous fields of lavender around Sequim at that time.

Sorry - Hurricane Ridge is south of Port Angeles</> - too many Port Somethingorothers.

Thank you everyone. Yes, we will be there during the Food event, yippee!! I'm a foodie, we all are.

We have done the Cascades, (so incredible). My husband wants to go to Oceanaire on Friday night for dinner. I really want to take the ferry to Bainbridge with the return at the best time. My new question is, if we head into Seattle after the Boeing thing, and do some Seattle activities, what would be a good time to take the ferry, do the round trip and then what time for dinner reservations??

Is the food event indoors?

Thanks everyone. One month and counting.

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Try a cruise with lunch or dinner:

http://www.argosycruises.com/publiccruises/royal.cfm

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I think that now you've got too many activities for that day.

I don't know what time the Boeing tour will be over, but why don't you just head straight down to Seattle and get on the Bainbridge ferry then? Shop around, and then come back to Seattle. You are more likely to avoid rush hour (ferry) traffic. If you have time, you could do some sightseeing downtown before your dinner reservations. There are frequent crossings, but you can check the WA state ferry system schedule at:

http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries/

Like the previous poster stated, you could also take a cruise in Puget Sound or Lake Union (without your car) that would be scenic and get you out onto the water.

Oh yes, the Bite of Seattle is outdoors at Seattle Center. It's quite crowded and parking is not good, so I usually don't bother going. Though it's great people watching!

The very best time for the ferry is right at sunset, which in mid-July will probably be around 9 PM, so if you're having dinner in Seattle that probably rules out a ferry at that hour.

The ferries that depart Seattle between, say, 4:30 and 6:30 are very busy commuter boats. If you're walking on, no big deal, but if you're taking the car, tough.

You might think about taking the Edmonds ferry over to Kingston following the Boeing tour, visit Port Gamble on the Kitsap Peninsula (very cute historic village), visit Chief Seattle's grave in Suquamish, then continue on into Winslow on Bainbridge Island and take the ferry back into Seattle. That would give you the rest of the day in the city to explore, without having to worry about ferry schedules or juggling dinner reservations.

Thanks again. Okay, I've let go of the taking the ferry back at sunset goal. It just isn't meshing with how that Friday lays out. Gardyloo, if we opt to go with some or all of your idea, any suggestions for a decent lunch? We are on the 9:30AM Boeing tour.

If we go to Port Gamble/Winslow any eating recommendations?

Finally, focusing on Seattle, we live in a suburban environment (relocated from San Francisco 15 yrs. ago) and we love to take in the whole urban scene, people watching, ethnicity, vibrance, you know, what we don't get in our everyday life. (esp. my 15 yr. old) Think Stepford Wives. So please, chime in on where the best places are to sit, or walk (we are walkers) or hang out to absorb and enjoy. Thanks everyone.

If you go over to Port Gamble you could try a place we haven't been but are tempted to try (except it means more time on the %$@# treadmill) is the "chocolate high tea" offered by the La La Land chocolate boutique - sort of English tea with a twist - chocolate fondue instead of berries and cream. Oh mama.

But honestly with the 930 Boeing tour, I'd just hit the gift shop at the tour center afterwards (now this is branding) then head back into town.

You like urban diversity? Cool. Visit the wonderful Uwajimaya Village complex in the International District (at 5th/6th and Dearborn, a block or two from the train station). Great, cheap pan-Asian food court - Chinese, Japanese, Thai, Filipino, Hawaiian, Vietnamese... then prowl around the Japanese supermarket/department store adjacent. Too many visitors leave Seattle unaware of the city's marvelous Asian/Pacific Rim culture. (Want great seafood in Seattle? Check out the Asian/seafood places in the I.D. - they know fish.) Validated parking - a real bonus in central Seattle.

Then perhaps a bit more aerospace influence? Visit the Museum of Flight, IMO now the best museum in the region. Down at Boeing Field (10 min. from Uwajimaya - parking adjacent) the MoF has recently opened its new "Personal Courage" wing with one of the best collections of WW I and WW II warplanes in the world, placed in amazing settings. On the ramp outside the museum are various big birds inclduing LBJ's Air Force One, and the last Concorde to fly commercially into the US, open for tours. (The MoF's Concorde story is cool - on its last flight - from New York, where it landed on the last Concorde scheduled flight, to the MoF in Seattle - the Canadian government allowed it to use the afterburners in their airspace, i.e., go supersonic over land, which it previously was forbidden to do because of sonic booms. The result was that on its last flight it set a speed record for transcontinental passenger flights - 3 hours from NY to Seattle. That's the way to go out IMO.) Anyway, the MoF is a ball.

Then come back downtown, park the car someplace, and take the ferry to Bainbridge and back. Full afternoon, plenty of urban vibe.

2 thoughts from another local.....

There is a new museum that Paul Allen just opened in EMP that is the Science Fiction Museum. Your son may love this, I know my husband is dying to go!

http://www.sfhomeworld.org/index.asp

Also why eat at Oceanaire? I've heard it is good (and very expensive) but it is an eastcoast chain and hardly Seattle. Why not go to a local restaurant for great seafood. Waterfront on the pier would be my top choice. The view here is amazing. Rays at Shilshoel Bay would be my #2. Great food and amazing views again! Just a thought!

Gardyloo and Stormygirl,
Thanks so much. Everytime I think that I'm done getting great info, it leads to more questions!

First we are sushi fanatics, so if there is a place at the Uwajimaya district or there abouts that is known for great sushi, please chime in.

Stormy....don't have any sci fi folks here, but I think I just got my husband to give up on Oceanaire! He went there with a group of guys on a golf outing last year and had a nice dinner, but we would much rather have a Seattle experience.

Now everyone, you can write suggestions or I can work and look at threads. LOL We will not have dressy clothes on for the Friday dinner as we will have spent the day touristing, ferry, Boeing, etc. etc. We love salmon and basically haven't eaten it since we were in Central OR/WA in summer 2001. We would love to keep the entrees at around 20 dollars per person, if that's possible in a big city. Stormy, do your two suggestions fit this profile?

Lastly, any suggestions for dinner before the Mariner's game on Saturday?

I'm getting so excited about this trip.

Another vote against Oceanaire - not that it's bad, it's just that Seattle offers so many unique restaurant choices - no need to go with a chain outfit.

Well salmon is everywhere; downtown I'd go to Elliott's on the central waterfront - in the middle of the tourist dreck but actually very good - not just salmon, but oysters, crab, halibut, whatever. Also Anthony's Bell St. Diner, at the Pier 66 cruise terminal, is very good - there is a more upscale/pricey Anthony's Pier 66 upstairs. Ray's Boathouse (at Shilshole Bay 5 miles NW of downtown) mentioned by Stormygirl is probably still the best; go upstairs to Ray's Cafe for an outdoor-deck-sunset view of the mountains that's killer.

Surprisingly the best sushi places are not in the International District (which nowadays is mainly Chinese and Vietnamese) but in other parts of town. Shiro's on 2nd Avenue in the Belltown neighborhood (mile north of the Pike Market) is hard to beat; beloved of Ichiro if that means anything to you. "I love Sushi" - the name of the place - on the south shore of Lake Union, across from the Residence Inn, is also surprisingly good. And (about to be bludgeoned by purists) I actually think that Todai, the Japanese sushi buffet chain, is remarkably good if you're in the mood for an all-you-can-gobble Asian place. The sushi is consumed at such a rate that it never sits long before they have to make more, plus if there are non-sushi lovers in the group there are plenty of other offerings (including some western dishes) to more than meet the needs of all involved. Not cheap, but plentiful, and located in the Pacific Place shopping center (across from the Nordstrom flagship store) which also boasts a multiplex cinema where you can go in and snore off the nigiri.

None of these places should exceed the $20 entree limit, but with sushi one can go overboard easily. Todai is better value at lunch IMO; plus you don't need much for dinner later.

Absolutely do Rays for your salmon dinner. You can make reservations on www.opentable.com and in the special request area ask to be seated upstairs. Seattle is a pretty casual place so you'll be fine in whatever you were in for the day.

If you have sushi in the international district I like Chinoise.

I wouldn't eat dinner before the M's game....eat at the park! There is great BBQ at Porters, Chowder and fish and chips at Ivars, Sushi, stirfry, garlic frys, pizza, etc. We love eating at the game. Or stop in at FX McRorys before or after, it's just north of Safeco and the Seahawks stadium.

Have a great time! Go M's!!!

Thanks Gardyloo and Stormy,
Made reservations at Ray's today using the Open table site. Thanks.

It will either be I Love Sushi or either Chinese or the sushi recommendation at IM.

We will have dinner at Safeco. It sounds wonderful. Our Rays have won 8 in a row. We are sooo proud!

On to the Oregon Board. We are heading to Newport, Bandon and Gold Beach from SEA and then on to San Francisco. If you have any tips related to that aspect, let us know. I will make a trip report upon our return.

Thanks everyone.