Seattle - newby questions
Jun 9th, 2015, 08:53 AM
#22
<Other perhaps outdoor ideas, but more local to Seattle?>
in town:
Volunteer Park
The Arboretum & Japanese Gardens
Lake Washington (Madrona or Madison Park)
water taxi to West Seattle
ferry ride to Bainbridge Island
out-of-town:
Snoqualmie Falls
in town:
Volunteer Park
The Arboretum & Japanese Gardens
Lake Washington (Madrona or Madison Park)
water taxi to West Seattle
ferry ride to Bainbridge Island
out-of-town:
Snoqualmie Falls
Jun 11th, 2015, 10:54 PM
#23
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I also recommend the water taxi to West Seattle. It makes a great day trip. Snoqualmie should also appeal to everyone.
Maybe drive up north- drive Chuckanut/11 at least one way and perhaps spend time in Bellingham. Fairhaven is popular- great bookstore and waterfront bike path/park. The kids would love the local ice cream place and there's also good hiking at Larabee state park as well as "urban" hiking and swimming at Whatcom Falls Park. Taylor Shellfish on Chuckanut is also very popular.
I would normally be the first to suggest Deception and Whidbey, but hesitant because I just don't know how obnoxious the delays caused by road work will be. Also, I love Deception Pass- but I think kids would find the other attractions (like La Conner) in the area rather boring. I would only do Leavenworth if you want to spend 2 nights in the area- I find the drive kind of annoying, but then, I find Leavenworth really annoying with the summer crowds.
Bellingham is probably 1.5-2 hours depending on traffic, but it's I5 and easy (except optional Chuckanut part at the end, which can be slightly scary but has amazing views).
What do your kids enjoy doing? Hiking, biking, kayaking, etc? You could also go down to Portland for a few days if that's of interest- the teens/Tweens in my family have enjoyed that city, (although probably solely due to Powells books and voodoo donuts) and it's certainly less stressful of trip than Vancouver/Victoria.
Maybe drive up north- drive Chuckanut/11 at least one way and perhaps spend time in Bellingham. Fairhaven is popular- great bookstore and waterfront bike path/park. The kids would love the local ice cream place and there's also good hiking at Larabee state park as well as "urban" hiking and swimming at Whatcom Falls Park. Taylor Shellfish on Chuckanut is also very popular.
I would normally be the first to suggest Deception and Whidbey, but hesitant because I just don't know how obnoxious the delays caused by road work will be. Also, I love Deception Pass- but I think kids would find the other attractions (like La Conner) in the area rather boring. I would only do Leavenworth if you want to spend 2 nights in the area- I find the drive kind of annoying, but then, I find Leavenworth really annoying with the summer crowds.
Bellingham is probably 1.5-2 hours depending on traffic, but it's I5 and easy (except optional Chuckanut part at the end, which can be slightly scary but has amazing views).
What do your kids enjoy doing? Hiking, biking, kayaking, etc? You could also go down to Portland for a few days if that's of interest- the teens/Tweens in my family have enjoyed that city, (although probably solely due to Powells books and voodoo donuts) and it's certainly less stressful of trip than Vancouver/Victoria.
Jun 12th, 2015, 07:38 AM
#25
Hadn't thought about going south. Thanks. Hiking is probably what we would do. Will look at that also.
I would seriously follow up on this idea. And to be honest, given the increasing cost for families to visit Seattle during cruise season, I'll just speculate out loud that switching from a Seattle focus to a Portland focus might not be all that terrible an idea.
I'm becoming a big broken record on this, but Portland has a lot going for it for families with kids in the summer. First, the town itself is very pleasant, with great parks and outings for the kids (google "OMSI") and umpteen cool restaurants, pubs and walking neighborhoods for their parents.
But to the east of the city you have the incomparable Columbia Gorge, Hood River Valley, and Mount Hood, with so many beautiful and cool things to do all minutes from each other that it's a true one-stop region for family vacations focused on the outdoors.
For example, there are the many waterfalls and short hikes along the south walls of the Columbia Gorge, ranging from easy and spectacular (Multnomah Falls) to the difficult and other-worldly Oneonta Gorge.
Or there's white water rafting out of White Salmon, WA, across the Columbia from Hood River, itself the windsurfing capital of North America. There are beaches for sunning and paddling on the Columbia and Sandy Rivers.
At the Bonneville Hatchery the kids can visit Herman the Sturgeon, a giant ancient fish that's been thrilling viewers for decades.
Hood River, a pretty and funky little town with a reputation for craft beer (and increasingly locally produced wines) is at the bottom of the Hood River Valley, a stunning area of orchards, vineyards and wineries, dominated by Mount Hood to the south and Mount Adams across the river to the north. The Hood River Vally "fruit loop" includes umpteen fruit stands, wineries, crafts outlets and farms, all set in gorgeous surroundings.
Then there's Mount Hood itself - massive, glaciated, with year-round skiing (or just ride the lifts and come back) with iconic Timberline Lodge at the top.
A little farther east along the Gorge (still under two hours from downtown Portland) you've got the Maryhill Museum and Stonehenge replica, set in beautiful sagebrush-and-rock country.
Then, west of Portland (and slightly north) you've got accessible parts of the Oregon coast within a morning's drive from Portland - Cannon Beach and Ecola State Park - beautiful rocky coast, beaches. Then north to historic Astoria at the mouth of the Columbia, and across the river (awesome) to Cape Disappointment, with its lighthouses above crashing surf and its marvelous Lewis and Clark interpretive center. Then back to Portland along the north shore of the Columbia, even via Mount St. Helens if you want.
Anyway, the point being, there's enormous variety in this part of Oregon, all of it easily reached from Portland in less time than it takes to get from Seattle to Mount Rainier, the San Juan Islands or most of the Olympic peninsula. It's cheaper because you're not competing with the cruise people, and there's no sales tax in Oregon.
Now I'm not trying to hijack your plans. I live in Seattle and am a big booster of our city and its region. But I wanted to throw out some alternative options for you to process.
Links -
Portland gondola - http://gardyloo.us/20100510_23s.JPG
View from the top - http://gardyloo.us/20100510_21b.JPG
Columbia Gorge - http://gardyloo.us/20100509_5a.JPG
Waterfall, Columbia Gorge - http://gardyloo.us/20100509_42b.JPG
Mt. Hood from Hood River Valley - http://gardyloo.us/20100509_85a.JPG
Fruit loop - http://hoodriverfruitloop.com/
Hatchery and Herman - http://www.yelp.com/biz/bonneville-d...-cascade-locks
Maryhill Museum - http://www.maryhillmuseum.org/
Ecola State Park - http://www.oregonstateparks.org/inde...age&parkId=136
Cape Disappointment - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cape_D...ent_State_Park
I would seriously follow up on this idea. And to be honest, given the increasing cost for families to visit Seattle during cruise season, I'll just speculate out loud that switching from a Seattle focus to a Portland focus might not be all that terrible an idea.
I'm becoming a big broken record on this, but Portland has a lot going for it for families with kids in the summer. First, the town itself is very pleasant, with great parks and outings for the kids (google "OMSI") and umpteen cool restaurants, pubs and walking neighborhoods for their parents.
But to the east of the city you have the incomparable Columbia Gorge, Hood River Valley, and Mount Hood, with so many beautiful and cool things to do all minutes from each other that it's a true one-stop region for family vacations focused on the outdoors.
For example, there are the many waterfalls and short hikes along the south walls of the Columbia Gorge, ranging from easy and spectacular (Multnomah Falls) to the difficult and other-worldly Oneonta Gorge.
Or there's white water rafting out of White Salmon, WA, across the Columbia from Hood River, itself the windsurfing capital of North America. There are beaches for sunning and paddling on the Columbia and Sandy Rivers.
At the Bonneville Hatchery the kids can visit Herman the Sturgeon, a giant ancient fish that's been thrilling viewers for decades.
Hood River, a pretty and funky little town with a reputation for craft beer (and increasingly locally produced wines) is at the bottom of the Hood River Valley, a stunning area of orchards, vineyards and wineries, dominated by Mount Hood to the south and Mount Adams across the river to the north. The Hood River Vally "fruit loop" includes umpteen fruit stands, wineries, crafts outlets and farms, all set in gorgeous surroundings.
Then there's Mount Hood itself - massive, glaciated, with year-round skiing (or just ride the lifts and come back) with iconic Timberline Lodge at the top.
A little farther east along the Gorge (still under two hours from downtown Portland) you've got the Maryhill Museum and Stonehenge replica, set in beautiful sagebrush-and-rock country.
Then, west of Portland (and slightly north) you've got accessible parts of the Oregon coast within a morning's drive from Portland - Cannon Beach and Ecola State Park - beautiful rocky coast, beaches. Then north to historic Astoria at the mouth of the Columbia, and across the river (awesome) to Cape Disappointment, with its lighthouses above crashing surf and its marvelous Lewis and Clark interpretive center. Then back to Portland along the north shore of the Columbia, even via Mount St. Helens if you want.
Anyway, the point being, there's enormous variety in this part of Oregon, all of it easily reached from Portland in less time than it takes to get from Seattle to Mount Rainier, the San Juan Islands or most of the Olympic peninsula. It's cheaper because you're not competing with the cruise people, and there's no sales tax in Oregon.
Now I'm not trying to hijack your plans. I live in Seattle and am a big booster of our city and its region. But I wanted to throw out some alternative options for you to process.
Links -
Portland gondola - http://gardyloo.us/20100510_23s.JPG
View from the top - http://gardyloo.us/20100510_21b.JPG
Columbia Gorge - http://gardyloo.us/20100509_5a.JPG
Waterfall, Columbia Gorge - http://gardyloo.us/20100509_42b.JPG
Mt. Hood from Hood River Valley - http://gardyloo.us/20100509_85a.JPG
Fruit loop - http://hoodriverfruitloop.com/
Hatchery and Herman - http://www.yelp.com/biz/bonneville-d...-cascade-locks
Maryhill Museum - http://www.maryhillmuseum.org/
Ecola State Park - http://www.oregonstateparks.org/inde...age&parkId=136
Cape Disappointment - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cape_D...ent_State_Park
Jul 27th, 2015, 07:57 AM
#26
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Thanks everyone. Had a good trip. We stayed at the homewood suites on Pike. Expensive, but everything else was more so (in the downtown area). Not a bad location, but it is a bit of a hike uphill to get to it. Close to the Westlake transportation hub, though. We were able to exclusively use public transportation.
We did many of the top touristy things, but also hiked at discovery park, reachable by bus. Ferried to Bremmerton, and visited the USS Turner Joy, naval shipyard museum, and enjoyed the fountain park next door. We ate well at the Bite of Seattle festival (and elsewhere). Loved the Seattle Pinball Museum. Also the nearby Wing Luke museum is extremely well done.
All in all it is a nice city. Reminds me a bit of San Fran, including a lot of homeless (or those who just look homeless), which is sad.
We did many of the top touristy things, but also hiked at discovery park, reachable by bus. Ferried to Bremmerton, and visited the USS Turner Joy, naval shipyard museum, and enjoyed the fountain park next door. We ate well at the Bite of Seattle festival (and elsewhere). Loved the Seattle Pinball Museum. Also the nearby Wing Luke museum is extremely well done.
All in all it is a nice city. Reminds me a bit of San Fran, including a lot of homeless (or those who just look homeless), which is sad.
Jul 31st, 2015, 11:02 AM
#29
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suze, and I didn't see a single "my little library." 
Also, and more interesting, I didn't see much evidence of pot legalization, with one big exception: Waiting on the bus to the Museum of Flight. A guy was using a trash bin to fill a sliced cigar with weed ("roll a blunt"). He must have been an artist because he spend a ton of time on that. Didn't see him light up though.
Apparently there are no pot sellers in the immediate downtown.
Also, and more interesting, I didn't see much evidence of pot legalization, with one big exception: Waiting on the bus to the Museum of Flight. A guy was using a trash bin to fill a sliced cigar with weed ("roll a blunt"). He must have been an artist because he spend a ton of time on that. Didn't see him light up though.
Apparently there are no pot sellers in the immediate downtown.
