I am going to Seattle tomorrow evening for the holiday weekend and had planned to see all the usual suggested sites: Pike Place, Pike Hill Climb, Pioneer Square, Westlake Center, EMP, International District, etc. If we had extra time to kill, we were going to take the ferry to Victoria.

Anyway, having seen the weather report, it is suppose to rain all through the weekend. Can these sights be viewed comfortably while it's raining? Are there sights and things to do I should consider as a back-up in case it's raining hard? I know the city doesn't shut down because of rain, so what do people do? This is my first time in Seattle so I'd still like to be able to see things people should see when visiting Seattle. Any suggestions keeping the weather in mind?

Go see the Mariners. SafeCo field is a sight by itself. Also the Pacific Science Center is mostly indoors. Oh and the Paul Allen's Music Exihibit is indoors

it rains here all the time

Visit the folklife festival at the Seattle Center:

http://www.nwfolklife.org/

Also, see the new Seattle Public libary.

http://www.arcspace.com/architects/koolhaas/Seattle/

Don't worry about the weather. There will be plenty of dry times. Today there is an 80% chance of showers and the weather is very nice right now. I think it might have rained a bit today - am not sure.

It is extremely unlikely it will rain, rain, rain. All the sights you name are find in the wet weather anyway. Just bring something to slip on if it's wet. Carry it in a backpack.

Have a great trip and report back!

Right now, the only rain forecast is on Saturday (60 % chance). No rain in the forecast for Sunday or Monday. Of course, that could change.

Several of the sights you mentioned---Pike Place Market, Westlake Center, EMP, are indoors, so even if it does rain you'll be OK. It's a good weekend to be a tourist in Seattle, because everyone else will be at Folklife festival at Seattle Center.

Not to worry. The prediction is that if it rains it will only be a sprinkle here and there. Proceed with your plans (except for the ferry to Victoria).

Going to see the Mariners will involve a change of flight arrangements.

In case I'm wrong about the rain, you might enjoy seeing a movie at the Seattle International Film Festival, which starts tonight: http://www.seattlefilm.com/index.aspx

We don't change plans because of the rain, for the most part. Heck we don't even use umbrellas (local joke). Kidding aside... I'm looking out the door right now in downtown Seattle, and it is a bit overcast but not raining.

Both Folklife and the new library are excellent suggestions.

There is a beautiful old conservatory, water tower you can climb, and Asian Art Museum at Volunteer Park on Capitol Hill (the end of the #10 Metro bus line or plenty of parking). It's on 15th Avenue East a few blocks north of Aloha Street.

Many thanks to everyone! I feel much better knowing that we should still be able to proceed on our trip as planned.

On a different note, I know there have been may posts on restaurants, but does any have a really great suggestion for a Chinese (seafood) restaurant in Seattle?

Hi---you might do better to start a new post with this question, so the Seattle experts will see it.

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...1&tid=34809721

New Kowloon Seafood Restaurant
900 S. Jackson St.
Pacific Rim Center, Second floor
Seattle, WA 98104
Phone: 206-223-7999

Seven Stars Pepper, a Szechuan place at 12th and Jackson, has amazing crab and whole fish dishes.

Vietnamese, not Chinese, but Monsoon on 19th Avenue East (Capitol Hill residential area) is know for good fish www.monsoonseattle.com

annimal, please post a trip report after you get home from Seattle. I'm interested in how you compare what passes for "rain" in Seattle with what you are used to.

Having lived on the east and gulf coasts and in the Great Lakes area, what I called "rain" in those locations is totally different from what is called rain here in Seattle.

I like your post, Bobmrg. Something about this post rubbed me the wrong way when I first read it - folks in some parts of the country I think actually believe it does rain here 365 days a year and must believe we never, ever come outside because of that. You don't see too many posts that sound so frantic because of a weather report (unless I suppose a destination is in a hurricane's path - and those of us in the Northwest rarely see weather that severe to keep us from doing what we want to do, outside).

I second the suggestion of Monsoon. It was my first true Vietnamese restaurant experience and it really is different from other Asian cuisines. The fish dish that comes in a clay pot is excellent (sorry I can't remember the name). We sampled just about all the appetizers and they were fantastic!

Also, do try to get to Victoria if you can and the weather holds up. It is a magical little city - almost European in flavor.

OK---so now it actually IS raining---and I'm supposed to bike home today. And I don't see any blue sky off to the west---looks like it has settled in for awhile.

I've always wanted to see the Dale Chihuly installation (art glass) at the Seattle Art Museum. I saw his show at the San Antonio Art Museum a few summers go and it blew me away.