Seattle - Public Transportation
Aug 31st, 1999, 01:47 PM
#1
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Seattle - Public Transportation
I will be using public transportation during my stay in Seattle. What bus do I take to get to Renton? How long will it take to get there from the Edgewater Hotel? I will be going there on Sunday to take the Spirit of Washington train. When I get off the bus, where do I go from there to get to the train? What bus(s) do I take to get to the Ballard locks, Boeing and Ray's Boathouse Restaruant and how long does each take? I also need to get back to my hotel from Kenmore Air which is on Lake Union. I have called the Metro and they tell me to call back the end of September. I need an idea of times now to plan my trip properly. I will greatly appreciate any help you can give me.
Sep 1st, 1999, 05:13 AM
#2
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Can't really help you with trans. info, but this will send it back to the top. I know there are some wise Seattle mavens prowling about. Also: please post after your stay about the Edgewater Hotel. It sounds so great - we were supposed to stay there last year, and then had to cancel. Good luck!
Sep 1st, 1999, 11:25 AM
#3
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I'm not much help either as I don't use public transportation but this will bring it to the top again. As far as your itinerary goes - be clear about WHICH Boeing facility you're going to (we have LOTS). The city of Renton itself is right next to Seattle, by car could be 20 minutes or so but by bus, you may have to change 2-3 times. Edgewater Hotel is great hotel, convenient location on the waterfront and if that's your base, the concierge there should be able to help you with buses and address all your concerns. The train trip you mention I haven't taken but is supposed to be nice, and they should be able to give you bus info too when you contact them for reservations. Ray's Boathouse is a good restaurant and maybe l0 minutes from Edgewater by taxi - but not sure so check with concierge. Another good seafood restaurant which would be convenient for you is Anthony's Home Port. (I saw your other post re this restaurant too). Hope this helps.
Sep 1st, 1999, 11:26 AM
#4
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I'm not much help either as I don't use public transportation but this will bring it to the top again. As far as your itinerary goes - be clear about WHICH Boeing facility you're going to (we have LOTS). The city of Renton itself is right next to Seattle, by car could be 20 minutes or so but by bus, you may have to change 2-3 times. Edgewater Hotel is great hotel, convenient location on the waterfront and if that's your base, the concierge there should be able to help you with buses and address all your concerns. The train trip you mention I haven't taken but is supposed to be nice, and they should be able to give you bus info too when you contact them for reservations. Ray's Boathouse is a good restaurant and maybe l0 minutes from Edgewater by taxi - but not sure so check with concierge. Another good seafood restaurant which would be convenient for you is Anthony's Home Port. (I saw your other post re this restaurant too). Hope this helps.
Sep 1st, 1999, 02:10 PM
#5
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Hi, Alfreda,
It will probably take at least an hour to get to Renton on a Sunday from the Edgewater.
Given all your plans, it looks like you need a good map of the area and need to consult Metro's web site at http://transit.metrokc.gov/. Bus service on Alaska Way fronting the Edgewater is skimpy (although there is a trolly which runs to Pioneer Square) so you will need to allot plenty of time for bus transfers, etc.
The connection to/from Kenmore Air is probably best done by taxi. In general, east-west travel in central Seattle is harder than north-south.
I applaud your intention to use public transportation but your destinations are rather spread out. Is a car out of the question for a day or so?
It will probably take at least an hour to get to Renton on a Sunday from the Edgewater.
Given all your plans, it looks like you need a good map of the area and need to consult Metro's web site at http://transit.metrokc.gov/. Bus service on Alaska Way fronting the Edgewater is skimpy (although there is a trolly which runs to Pioneer Square) so you will need to allot plenty of time for bus transfers, etc.
The connection to/from Kenmore Air is probably best done by taxi. In general, east-west travel in central Seattle is harder than north-south.
I applaud your intention to use public transportation but your destinations are rather spread out. Is a car out of the question for a day or so?
Sep 1st, 1999, 04:55 PM
#6
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Well...
if you can afford the Edgewater, maybe this would be more to your liking:
http://www.shuttleexpress.com/
and click on the "towncar" icon (just a suggestion).
if you can afford the Edgewater, maybe this would be more to your liking:
http://www.shuttleexpress.com/
and click on the "towncar" icon (just a suggestion).
Sep 1st, 1999, 05:09 PM
#7
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If you're going to Boeing to do the tour, you'll be heading north to Everett. Since you change transit systems in the middle (different counties), it may be difficult to get there from here. Most of the busses to Everett Boeing run during commuter hours.
Given the deplorable state of public transportation in the greater Seattle area, it might be a good idea to rent a car for a couple of days. In the case of the Spirit of Washington train, get a cab. There's plenty of wine tasting at the Columbia Winery & you wouldn't want a dui ticket.
Bus service is reduced on evenings and weekends; do check the Metro web site.
Ray's is wonderful, but so is Elliott's on the waterfront.
Enjoy your trip!
Given the deplorable state of public transportation in the greater Seattle area, it might be a good idea to rent a car for a couple of days. In the case of the Spirit of Washington train, get a cab. There's plenty of wine tasting at the Columbia Winery & you wouldn't want a dui ticket.
Bus service is reduced on evenings and weekends; do check the Metro web site.
Ray's is wonderful, but so is Elliott's on the waterfront.
Enjoy your trip!
Sep 2nd, 1999, 09:46 AM
#8
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Thank all of you for your responses.
Arjay: The reason I'm staying at the Edgewater is that my cousin stayed there 2 years ago and raved about it. I can only afford the water side for 3 days and then have to change rooms to the city side for the remaining 7 days. I will let you know how I liked the Edgewater after my return.
John: A car is not out of the question. I will be renting a car for 1 day so I can go to the Salish Lodge and the mountains. I have to economize somewhere and I've decided it will be on car rental. What helped make that decision is that Seattle has the highest car rental tax in the country. It's 28.5 at the airport and 22.5 in the city.
D.B.: I don't think I can really afford a towncar. Although it's a nice idea.
Pam: I will be traveling to Everett during commuter hours (on a Thursday). I was rather surprised when you said the state of public transportation is deplorable. Everything I've read has stated that Seattle public transportation is wonderful. Please comment further, I'm wondering if I should be investigating other modes of transporation.
Arjay: The reason I'm staying at the Edgewater is that my cousin stayed there 2 years ago and raved about it. I can only afford the water side for 3 days and then have to change rooms to the city side for the remaining 7 days. I will let you know how I liked the Edgewater after my return.
John: A car is not out of the question. I will be renting a car for 1 day so I can go to the Salish Lodge and the mountains. I have to economize somewhere and I've decided it will be on car rental. What helped make that decision is that Seattle has the highest car rental tax in the country. It's 28.5 at the airport and 22.5 in the city.
D.B.: I don't think I can really afford a towncar. Although it's a nice idea.
Pam: I will be traveling to Everett during commuter hours (on a Thursday). I was rather surprised when you said the state of public transportation is deplorable. Everything I've read has stated that Seattle public transportation is wonderful. Please comment further, I'm wondering if I should be investigating other modes of transporation.
Sep 2nd, 1999, 02:18 PM
#9
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Hi again, Alfreda,
Okay, so now we know..
For what it's worth, the reason the tax on rental cars is so high is because that is one of the key methods being used to pay for the new baseball stadium in Seattle (also a surcharge on restaurant sales tax, so travelers be advised to walk and to buy food at the Pike market and have a picnic instead...)
The Boeing Everett tour center is in Snohomish County, which has its own transit authority, Community Transit, web site http://www.commtrans.org/. While you might go from Seattle to Boeing on one of the commuter busses (still involving a transfer and an AWFULLY early start since the day shift's hours start at 7 AM I think, hence the commuter bus schedule starts at oh-dark-thirty as they say,) your return would be after the morning rush, when the service drops like a rock. However, there are regular Gray Line tours to the plant from Seattle, and that might be a better way of getting there and back economically without wasting a whole day in bus hell.
Otherwise I think that is a good candidate day for a car rental. You can add Whidbey Island (ferry a couple of miles from the Boeing plant) to that day's outing - very picturesque, especially Langley and Coupeville so you get your money's worth on the rental.
There are lots of cheap rentals available in the Seattle area, not just the high priced guys at the airport. Do a web search and I bet you'll be surprised.
The regional transit picture will get better in coming years, as billions are invested in light and heavy rail, HOV lanes, etc. Right now it's very good in central Seattle, but coverage falls off rapidly as you get away from the core.
Have fun and don't let the transit blues spoil your enjoyment.
Okay, so now we know..
For what it's worth, the reason the tax on rental cars is so high is because that is one of the key methods being used to pay for the new baseball stadium in Seattle (also a surcharge on restaurant sales tax, so travelers be advised to walk and to buy food at the Pike market and have a picnic instead...)
The Boeing Everett tour center is in Snohomish County, which has its own transit authority, Community Transit, web site http://www.commtrans.org/. While you might go from Seattle to Boeing on one of the commuter busses (still involving a transfer and an AWFULLY early start since the day shift's hours start at 7 AM I think, hence the commuter bus schedule starts at oh-dark-thirty as they say,) your return would be after the morning rush, when the service drops like a rock. However, there are regular Gray Line tours to the plant from Seattle, and that might be a better way of getting there and back economically without wasting a whole day in bus hell.
Otherwise I think that is a good candidate day for a car rental. You can add Whidbey Island (ferry a couple of miles from the Boeing plant) to that day's outing - very picturesque, especially Langley and Coupeville so you get your money's worth on the rental.
There are lots of cheap rentals available in the Seattle area, not just the high priced guys at the airport. Do a web search and I bet you'll be surprised.
The regional transit picture will get better in coming years, as billions are invested in light and heavy rail, HOV lanes, etc. Right now it's very good in central Seattle, but coverage falls off rapidly as you get away from the core.
Have fun and don't let the transit blues spoil your enjoyment.
Sep 3rd, 1999, 09:18 AM
#10
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Hi Alfreda, as others have mentioned, public transportation in the Seattle area is quite bad once you get out of the downtown core. I can't imagine that whoever said it's wonderful ever lived in a place like NYC or Boston where there is actual efficient public transportation! The bus system here exists mainly to serve commuters from the neighborhoods to downtown, a model that has become quite outdated as many people now work elsewhere.
But anyway, I'll get off my soapbox! The Grayline tour to Boeing will be your best bet, as otherwise you'll waste the better part of a day trying to get there by bus, then get your ticket, wait for your tour time, etc.
You will probably have trouble getting a bus from Renton back to downtown late in the evening after the dinner train.
So a rental car may be your best bet despite the expense.
I saw your other posting about lunch near Boeing--I would say trying to have lunch there will be more of a bother than it's worth. Yes, the Anthony's is good, but you're staying two blocks from a better one (IMO)--Anthony's Pier 66. You might also want to consider taking a city tour to see things like the locks, rather than trying to go by bus--Seattle Tours and Show Me Seattle are two small van tours, if you don't want to do the big Grayline bus tour. And while Ray's is great, there are enough seafood restaurants downtown to keep you happy (Anthony's, mentioned above), Elliot's, Etta's, Flying Fish, etc), rather than hassling with the bus or the expense of a car or taking a cab.
But anyway, I'll get off my soapbox! The Grayline tour to Boeing will be your best bet, as otherwise you'll waste the better part of a day trying to get there by bus, then get your ticket, wait for your tour time, etc.
You will probably have trouble getting a bus from Renton back to downtown late in the evening after the dinner train.
So a rental car may be your best bet despite the expense.
I saw your other posting about lunch near Boeing--I would say trying to have lunch there will be more of a bother than it's worth. Yes, the Anthony's is good, but you're staying two blocks from a better one (IMO)--Anthony's Pier 66. You might also want to consider taking a city tour to see things like the locks, rather than trying to go by bus--Seattle Tours and Show Me Seattle are two small van tours, if you don't want to do the big Grayline bus tour. And while Ray's is great, there are enough seafood restaurants downtown to keep you happy (Anthony's, mentioned above), Elliot's, Etta's, Flying Fish, etc), rather than hassling with the bus or the expense of a car or taking a cab.
Sep 3rd, 1999, 11:05 AM
#11
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The bus service is great for getting around the core downtown area (it's even free there) or if you are going north (say to Northgate mall) or commuting north or south. Travelling east-west, even say from Queen Anne to Capital Hill is not as easy. Try this link: http://www.riderlink.gen.wa.us/rl_bus.html
to find out more. Using the Metro transit site will tell you how to get from downtown to all kinds of places -parks, museums, and so on via the bus, but some places may require multiple transfers. I don't know when new schedules come into use, that may be why Metro says to call back. Most of the popular routes will run at least hourly from 8am to 6pm. Kenmore Air may be able tell you as well.
Good Luck!
to find out more. Using the Metro transit site will tell you how to get from downtown to all kinds of places -parks, museums, and so on via the bus, but some places may require multiple transfers. I don't know when new schedules come into use, that may be why Metro says to call back. Most of the popular routes will run at least hourly from 8am to 6pm. Kenmore Air may be able tell you as well.
Good Luck!
Sep 6th, 1999, 06:34 PM
#12
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I would suggest dumping the public transportation idea and go with a weekly rental. I just rented a full size 2 dr for one week and it was $113.74 per week. Yes that is $113.74 and even with a 30% tax that is still a lot better than trying to hassle with the transportation. I would also look to save money by changing hotels on the non-waterfront days but that is only my opinion. If you have a car you have a lot of options and can save a great deal and afford dinners and the surcharge taxes at a lot of nice palces. This is my two cents worth.
