Seattle and surrounds
 

Hi there,
I have also posted a qsimilar question on the Canada forum but would like a few tips for Seattle and surrounds.
We will be there mid August before flying to New York.
What are your must sees/ dos?
Best areas to stay?
Main attractions etc
Any other cities we should include?
Thanks in advance
Donna
Australia

In Seattle itself, I say don't miss these attractions:

* Bill Speidel's Underground Tour
* Pikes Place Market
* If you have kids, the Pacific Science Center is great.

Just walking around town was a treat - lots of interesting buildings (like the space needle) and sculptures.

In Seattle, you are not too far from Mount Rainier which offers some beautiful hiking and views. You will actually be able to see the peak of this mountain from Seattle itself (it is around 14,411' elevation).

Donna, there are a lot of topics on this board about Seattle and surroundings - a quick search will help, also have a look at Fodors' excellent recommendations on Seattle under the "destinations" tab.

For more assistance on the forum, however, it will be good to know how long you'll be here, and also be a bit more specific on your anticipated dates. The reason for that is that August can be a very busy time in Seattle, with a couple of local festivals/events taking place that can have an impact (good or bad) on things like accommodations, activities, traffic, etc.

How many of you will there be - kids? Elders? And so on.

I agree more details would be helpful. But in the most general way I'll say...

Stay downtown Seattle. That's where most of the hotels are anyway. I like Mayflower Park or the Warwick for midi-priced places both in good locations.

Pike Place Market/Waterfront
Pioneer Square/Smith Tower/Chinatown
Space Needle/Seattle Center
Olympic Sculpture Park
monorail/streetcar/ferry ride

is a good introduction to our city.

The other nearest major cities are Portland to the south, and Vancouver BC to the north. But there's lots of beautiful countryside surrounding... San Juan islands, Olympic Peninsula, Cascade mountains, etc.

On our trip to Seattle, my husband and I (believe it or not) were bowled over by the high-tech library. Really worth a trip around.
We also drove 100 miles east to Ellensburg and attend a "chimposium" at Central Washington University. They have them every Saturday morning. These are the chimps that know sign language.
Here is a link to a recap of my last Seattle trip: http://www.moonfun.net/Seattle_Files...le_Journal.htm

Kate

Thanks for all of yur great suggestions.
We arrive on the 22nd of August in Vancouver and will have time in Victoria island, surrounds etc and then do not leave Seattle until the 4th of September. We are looking at having 3 or 4 nights in Seattle before flying out to New York, where we are doing a cruise.???
It will just be my husband and I. We are both in our 40's and will hire a car to do most of this trip.
Thanks again for your help
Donna

I have been away for a week and am just checking back.
Thanks in advance
Donna

The ferry out to the Orcas islands from Anacortes is wonderful. It's beautiful and relaxing, and when you get off at Friday Harbor you can rent scooters to travel around the island. I guess you can take your car with you, but the scooters seemed like more fun!

On our first visit to Seattle, a few years ago, we were very impressed with our tour of the Boeing factory.

Also, Mt. Rainier.

Hello there

The others have mostly hit upon my recommendations...

However, I must add that a highlight for me during my trip to Seattle last year was simply walking around the Capitol Hill neighbourhood, one of my favourite urban residential areas in North America for architectural style and vibe. I stayed there rather than downtown (and was glad I did; I found it more charming than the downtown area... about twenty minutes or so to walk to downtown if one wanted). If you like to cycle, I'd recommend taking the ferry over to the Alki peninsula and cycling along the waterfront; the day I went it was just gorgeous with beach and snow-capped Olympic mountains visible.

Also, the Burke Museum in the "U" district I found interesting if you have an interest in Pacific Coast First Nations.

Have fun whatever you decide!

Daniel

Daniel~ Thanks for the mention! I love Capitol Hill, have lived here for a long time. By staying in this neighborhood I'm sure you got a more local perspective than being in a downtown hotel. It's so great to have almost a small town feel with friendly people, tree lined street, old architecture (mixed with new), the vibrant shops, restaurants, local businesses, parks... Thanks for the post.
Suze (in Seattle)