Seattle - Memorial Day Weekend (tomorrow!)
 

My husband and I (celebrating our 10th wedding anniversary away from our three young children!!) are flying into Seattle tomorrow and will be staying at Inn at the Market right next to Pike Place Market. We have tickets to the Red Sox/Mariners game on Tuesday night. Other than those reservations, we do not have any set schedule. We are not planning to rent a car. I'd love to hear some recommendations on a few things to do...including what ferry trip/island to visit. Anything special going on this holiday weekend? I appreciate your time/comments!

The big thing going on this weekend is Folklife Festival at Seattle Center:

http://www.nwfolklife.org/P_F/festival.html

Three days of music, street fair, food booths and fun. One admission (suggested $10) to everything going on. Check out the schedule for performers you might enjoy.

The easiest island to visit without a car is Bainbridge. Just head for the ferry dock and walk on. Ferries depart about every 50 minutes; you can get a schedule for precise times at

http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries/

You might go Saturday morning so you can catch the Farmer's Market:

http://www.bainbridgefarmersmarket.com/

It's about a half-mile walk from the ferry dock. There's lots of good food there, but save your appetite for lunch and (if it's a nice day) enjoy lunch on the deck with a view of the harbor and boats at Harbour House pub:

http://www.harbourpub.com/home.html

Then take a mid-afternoon ferry back to Seattle.

The Bainbridge Island ferry trip as described above is perfect. Allow ~4-5 hours if you stay on the other side for lunch (1/2 hour ferry ride each way).

The Pike Place Market
Pioneer Square Historic District
observation deck top of Smith Tower
International District/Chinatown
Seattle Center/Space Needle
... are all fun areas downtown to explore.

If you want to see one of our lovely neighborhoods (mine-lol)... Catch the #10 Metro bus downtown up to the end of the line on Capitol Hill (20 mins). Get out at Volunteer Park. There is the Asian branch of the Seattle Art Museum, an old and beautiful plant conservatory, and a water tower you can climb for a view. It's a wonderful Olmsted brothers creation back in the 1920's I believe. Then walk back (south) 4 blocks along 15th Avenue East and you will find a little shopping and restaurant district. Jamjuree Thai, Jalisco Mexico, Olympia Pizza, Costal Kitchen, 22 Doors, Smith, are all fun restaurants for lunch or dinner.

If you're looking for good restaurants downtown I love the Dahlia Lounge or Etta's Seafood.

For Italian, Il Bistro or Assagio's are both good.

For casual to-go breakfast or lunch, walk up to 4th and try the Dahlia Bakery (next to the restaurant). It's great. Also La Panier, the French bakery in Pike Place Market is very good too.

I neglected to wish you a Happy Anniversary!

What kind of food do you like? In addition to the places Suze mentioned, there are two French restaurants with waterfront views in the market, if you like French food and a romantic atmosphere.

Lots of good choices in Belltown, including Asian and sushi.

Well, I don't really like meat (just don't care for it) and prefer hole in the wall type places. I love Mexican, Indian, Italian, anything with some kick. My husband LOVES steak and seafood and will eat anything. I can always find something to eat even if it's just a salad and baked potato.

Thank you for the recs so far...I'll keep checking until we leave tomorrow afternoon!! Cannot wait!!

Hopefully your hotel will have the Belltown business street map that shows all the shops and restaurants. There's loads of little hole in the wall places that sound like exactly what you want... especially along 1st, 2nd, some on 4th, between about Virginia heading north to Bell or so (with a map in front of you what I just said will make perfect sense -haha). A quick walk around you can find some of your own. Or start with Mama's or Noodle Ranch.

There's a great "hole in the wall" Mexican restaurant called El Puerco Lloron" on the steps that lead from the Pike Place Market down to the waterfront. The Address is 1501 Western Avenue, but it's actually situated along the stairway. You know it's going to be good when you walk in and see that they're making their own tortillas. You can eat inside or out on the deck.
Another "hideaway" is Cafe Zum Zum, 823 3rd Avenue. Great Indian curry over rice. There's usually a line out the door during lunchtime (mostly for takeout). It's worth the wait!