Seattle - how to kill 5 hours near the airport
 

Suggestions??? We have 5 hours between when our flight lands (11:00 am) and our friend's flight lands (4pm). Are there things to do close to the airport - hubby doesn't want to drive all over the place then go back to pick them up.
Thanks

If you're into malls, one of the biggest in the Seattle area is two or three miles from SeaTac:
http://www.westfield.com/southcenter

HTTY

There is a big movie theater at the mall: http://www.fandango.com/amcsouthcent...xg/theaterpage

And several restaurants: http://www.westfield.com/southcenter...urants-42.html

Not sure I could sell my husband on a mall...looking for something more outdoors related although if it is raining the theater might work. Hiking etc???

Seven or eight miles from the airport are Lincoln Park and Alki Beach Park in West Seattle

http://www.seattle.gov/parks/park_detail.asp?ID=445
http://www.seattle.gov/parks/park_detail.asp?ID=460


If those don't suit him, perhaps Dash Point State Park will be his cup of tea: http://www.parks.wa.gov/parks/?selec...k=Dash%20Point

It is about 20 miles from the airport.

It's 15 miles from the airport to downtown Seattle. You'd rather have to kill 5 hours than drive an extra 30 miles?

The most helpful answer to your question is:

"no, there aren't significant/noteworthy things to do near the Seattle airport".

Perhaps if we knew more of your logistics, then we could give suggestions to match.

<i>It's 15 miles from the airport to downtown Seattle.</i>

True. If you've never been to Seattle, you might find it interesting. You could wander around the retail core, Pike Place Market, and the waterfront. That wouldn't be killing time--it would be time well spent.

This is a good place to park: http://www.pacificplaceseattle.com/concierge/parking

HTTY

Depending on the time of day& day of the week, rush hour traffic could bean issue: an frankly I understand not wanting to drive back and forth.

CedarBrook Lodge is a lovely place with lovely grounds very close by... maybe light snack out on the deck? Their restaurant is very highly rated...

http://www.cedarbrooklodge.com/

14 miles south of SeaTac airport is Weyerhauser Headquarters. Lovely walks and tours and learn about Bonsai, Rhodedenrns, renewing lumbar sources fabulous art gallery.No one knows about this and I would put this on your list of things to see

http://www.weyerhaeuser.com/Company/Bonsai/VisitUs

Normandy Park is a community west of SeaTAc. They have a private beach and nearby Salt Water PArk is a great place to stroll around

http://local.yahoo.com/info-22179122...3?viewtype=map

You could ride the light rail into Seattle and spend time walking around the city. There is also a free bus zone as well.
http://metro.kingcounty.gov/tops/bus.../flymetro.html
It might be cheaper to rent your car downtown and then drive back to the airport to pick up your friend.

Link light rail will get you from the airport to downtown in about 35 minutes for $2.75 each, each way. That's what I would do.

drive nearby to this park. then have lunch in burien or take a picnic and enjoy nature.

http://www.guidespot.com/guides/norm...eattles_hidden

I didn't see that 1JAR had already suggested this park.

I am not clear on the driving issue or why you'd to that when you can take the light rail right downtown.

If you want outdoors, you can go to Tacoma, the other direction, they have a real nice park there (Pt Defiance), as well as nice places to walk along the port. http://www.metroparkstacoma.org/page.php?id=24

I'm sure it depends on traffic, but driving up I5 from Tacoma to Seatac only takes about 45 minutes. I just drove it in morning rush hour and it took about that long, maybe a bit less.

Go tour the Boeing Flight Museum. It's one of our family favorites. Have lunch at one of the restaurants surrounding Southcenter Mall.

Good ideas above, as well.

Go have a long late lunch on the pier at Salty's at Redondo, out on the sound just south and west of the airport. http://www.saltys.com/seattle_south/

It's the Museum of Flight - www.museumofflight.org - often confused with the Future of Flight/Boeing factory tour center in Everett, 30 miles north of the airport - www.futureofflight.org

With 5 hours you have time for both Salty's and the MoF.