I am interested in Local Knowlege of the above. Examples of the information I require are br /> Would a car be useful during a weeks stay in Seattle ? Would there be many other tourists ? Are there any "no go" areas ? Are there plenty of inexpensive places to stay- overnight ? What is the golfing like ? What places do the Seattle residents visit ? Is it possible to travel as far as the Canadian Border in say 2 weeks by car.
I want to see as much of theReal America and not necessarily spend too much time in Tourist Areas,
Please add any commments that are relevant, thankyou.

You would probably enjoy the Seattle area more if you have a car for at least part of the time. You can have a great time in the central Seattle area without a car. But if you want to see the mountains, Olympic Peninsula, Snoqualmie Falls, Paradise, Mt. St. Helens, you will need a car for part of the trip. The Canadian Border is less than 3 hours north of Seattle. Vancouver, British Columbia is about 3.5 hours. I think Vancouver is one of the world's great cities.

Seattle's tourist spots are excellent, and less touristy than some cities' local spots. For example, Space Needle, Waterfront, Pike Place Market, Pioneer Square, ferry trip to Winslow. Reasonably priced lodging should not be a problem if you make a reservation. You can stay downtown for around $100 per night and up, which is a lower starting price than many cities. You can find budget lodging from $50-75 per night in the areas near but not in downtown. You can also find cheaper but not so easily.

As far as no-go areas: do not go to McDonald's Restaurants. Otherwise, Seattle is a pretty safe city. You would be ill-advised to walk alone at night in some areas of the downtown, but you would still be safer at night than in many US cities by daylight.

The above advise is excellent. Seattle is one of the safest cities in the country and walking is safe in most areas, although I would suggest avoiding Pike Place Market and Pioneer Square areas at night due to the number of homeless people. There are many fine golf courses in the area - most are quite hilly and wooded and are even mostly fairly inexpensive. Some to consider are McCormack Woods and Gold Mountain across the sound from Seattle but easily available by car. To the north, on the way to Vancouver, there are a number of good ones including Eaglemont (very tough off the back tees!) and the Inn at Semi Ah Moo (fairly pricey, however) near the Canadian border. If you would like specific information, Email me and I'll be glad to help. You didn't mention when you were coming, but July, August, and September are the best times. Earlier in the year or much into October, you might get some rain.

Ian: The ferries are a great way to get around outside the Seattle area. Take the Washington State Ferries to Bainbridge and see a whole different world along the Olympic Peninsula. Ferries also go to Victoria, BC, which is a little touch of England. Depending on when you're going, the North Cascades are a nice day trip, and the Salish Lodge in Snoqualmie has a great restaurant. If you like wine, the Spirit of Washington dinner train goes from the Seattle southside to Woodinville and the Chateau Ste. Michelle Winery.

If you are going in a some what warm time, I suggest renting (or bringing your own) bikes and exploring some of the San Juan Islands. The sites are breath taking and the smell of fresh cut hay, salt and flowers is one I will never forget. I also recommend taking a drive on the old coastal highway up towards Bellingham; Chuckanut Drive is magnifique.