Hi,

We will spend the labor day weekend in Seattle (09/04 to 09/07). This will our first time to be there. Any suggestions for our trip? (in Seattle, or areas around which we can do within one day)

thanks a lot!!

One word: Bumbershoot! Check it out at http://www.bumbershoot.org.

Beyond that, the usual suspects would include Pike Place Market, a ferry ride to and from Bainbridge Island, a drive to Mt. Rainier or Mount St. Helens, etc. Other possibilities (depending on your interests) might include a tour of the Boeing plant in Everett, scoping out the salmon (at the Ballard Locks) making their final journey upstream , the Museum of Flight, or the Aquarium.

You'll have a great time in Seattle!

Thanks a lot!
I guess it's over 3 hrs drive from seattle to Mount St. Helens, I doubt it's doable in one day. Right? It's a little over 1 hr drive to Mt. Rainier? How's this national park?

Boeing plant will close during our stay.

Thanks again.

btw, do we have chance to go out see whales?

regards,

Both Mt. St. Helens and Mt. Rainier are doable in a long day. I'd definitely choose Rainier if I didn't have time for both. I really enjoy Mt. St. Helens, but Rainier is spectacular.

Regarding Mt Rainier & Mt St. Helens - I would treat each of those activities as a full day. (a LONG full day in the case of Mt St Helens).

Ken

Yes you can go see whales. That is another day trip. You could take the ferry to Friday Harbor on the San Juan Islands, and go on a whale watching trip, or you could drive up to Anacortes and get a whale watching boat from there. You are very likely to see whales, as there are three resident Orca pods in the San Juan Islands.
Great trip ideas. One day to Rainier, one day in Seattle, one day to the San Juans for whales.
Do you have to stay in Seattle? Beware of labor day traffic and try to plan around a Monday return from anywhere on I-5. That might be a good day for the ferry to Friday Harbor.

Just a note....We live in the city and it takes us about 2 hours to get to Paradise on Rainier. Go early, pack a picnic, take a short hike and have lunch with the amazing views.

Thanks to all!!

1. We probably will do Mt. Rainier. Any web sites about the major attractions in Mt. Rainier and the driving direction from seattle (I know this sounds silly)?

2. For seeing whales, is there a direct ferry from seattle to Friday Harbour? How's the view from ferry? Do we have to make reservation for whale watching (either in Friday Harbour or Anacortes)? Any usefull web sites regarding the transportation and attractions? Is it easy to find parking lot in Anacortes terminal?

I'm already excited, even though we just came back from Europe.

Thnx again!

Not to be a poop, but Labor Day weekend is wall-to-wall everywhere, especially in places like Mt. Rainier or the San Juans. Longest lines and delays of the year at ferry docks, biggest crowds of the year in campgrounds and national parks. Which is not to say don't bother with these places, just don't plan on anything being too easy or convenient.

Look at www.victoriaclipper.com for ferries from Seattle to the San Juans. Anacortes is a two hour drive; look here for best-practices whale watching services: http://www.nwwhalewatchers.org/

To emphasize, Bumbershoot is one of the biggest arts festivals in the country - upwards of 300,000 people visit over the weekend. If you haven't done so, book accommodation like yesterday.

You may also think of making short trips to the Snoqualmie Falls or visit some wineries in Woodinville. They are interesting 1/2 day trips and won't take longer than an hour drive from downtown.

website for Rainier:

http://www.nps.gov/mora/

You've got to drive to Anacortes to catch the ferry to Friday Harbor(San Juan Island). I agree with Gardyloo about the traffic. We travel to the Pacific NW at least once a year and always after Labor Day! The lines for the ferry can be abysmal! You only have a weekend. Seattle has its own beauty! Besides, one of my favorite times to "stay in town" is weekends such as Labor Day when the masses depart. Get yourselves a copy of Best Places Seattle. This is our favorite line of tour guides for that area. Check out Belltown,Pioneer Square,Pike Market, The Seattle Art Museum just for starters.This is a beautiful city with lots of great food.

In Seattle: Argosy Cruise, Aquarium, Pike Place Market, Experience Music Project, Uwajimaya in Chinatown, Pacific Science Center, Woodland Park Zoo, Pioneer Square, The Arboretum, Fremont.

Near Seattle: any ferry ride anywhere, Hurricane Ridge (2 hours), Crescent Lake (2 hours), La Conner (1 1/2 hour),
Leavenworth (2 hours), Hoh Rainforest (2 1/2 hours), the San Juan Islands, Snoqualmie Falls - and the Snoqualmie Falls Lodge.

Hi,

Thanks to all!

Actually our 'final' plan is:

day 1: inside Seattle
day 2: Mt. Rainier
day 3: drive up to Anacortes, and take a whale watching boat from there. So we won't deal with the ferry waiting problem. (right?)

Questions:

1. Looks like we don't need a car on our 1st day. How easy can we find parking space in the city? We stay in Red Lion hotel (on 5th Ave), it's pretty expensive to park inside the hotel.

2. Any rental car shops close to where we stay? Any deals for 2 days?

3. How's the traffic from Seattle to Anacortes? That's right on Labor day Monday. Any good whale watching boat tour in Anacortes?

4. Any suggestions about our plan?

Thanks again!

All of the major car agencies have downtown locations. Cheaper than at the airport, too - lower taxes and fees.

Make sure any whale watching you do is with a member of the Whale Watch Operators Association Northwest - http://www.nwwhalewatchers.org/ . Don't become part of the problem.

Labor Day weekend will be busy everywhere! In Seattle, with our four days there, we enjoyed the Space Needle, Pike Place Market, the aquarium, Pioneer Square, and a ferry ride to Bainbridge Island.

Take a ride on the monorail, if you can, it's a great way to get over to the Space Needle from downtown.

Our favorite places to eat were: the breakfasts at the Six Seven at the Edgewater Hotel where we stayed three nights, Salty's on Alki Beach (the hotel arranged for a limo to pick us up) and the Dahlia Lounge. We also very much enjoyed our dinner at the Flying Fish.

Our hotel shuttled us to all these places, with no extra charge which was nice. Have a great time in this beautiful place! ***kim***

The monorail is shut down for a while, so that wont be an option.

The monorail is shut down for a while, so that wont be an option.

Like maybe forever.

LOL! Yes, the monorail is definitely in a pickle. I will say it was always nice to ride it back after the Seattle Marathon though...will miss that this year! Will just have to hoof it a bit further