Seattle - Week Vacation
 

My husband & I are going to Seattle July 29-August 5. Mon-Tue-Wed nights are already booked for the Mariners/RedSox game. Any suggestions for quick day trips (that would allow us to be back for 7:05pm ballgame) for those days. Thursday we're thinking about taking Amtrak day trip up to Vancouver. Sunday & Friday are wide open for extended trips. <BR>Was alaso thinking about breakfast at Snoqualmie Lodge, then out to Mt. Rainier Park .... is that do-able & still be back in time for the baseball game? <BR>We're receptive to any and all suggestions. Thanks to all. <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR>

Hi Maggie, are you from Boston or are you just BoSox fans? I'm a Boston fan living in Seattle, so I'll probably "see" you at one of those games! <BR> <BR>To get to Paradise or Sunrise (the main visitor areas at Mt. Rainier) is about a 2.5 hour drive in each direction. So, if you want to have any time in the park at all for hiking or walking and still make it back to Seattle for the game, I'd save Snoqualmie for another day (or visit Mt. Rainier on a day you don't have a game to get back for). <BR> <BR>I'd also suggest that you consider a day trip to Victoria via the high-speed ferry, either in addition to or in lieu of the day trip to Vancouver (or stay overnight in Vancouver). Amtrak is four hours each way--an awfully long time to travel for a six hour visit, and Vancouver is well worth more time. On the other hand, the trip from Seattle to Victoria takes just two hours each way, so you'll have a good six hours in Victoria--enough time to take a three hour tour to the gardens and have tea (if that's your thing) and/or visit the Royal BC Museum and/or do a whale watching trip. You might consider an overnight there as well if you want to do ALL those things. <BR> <BR>If you are hikers, you could go to breakfast at Snoqualmie (it's actually called Salish Lodge, by the way), then head up toward Snoqualmie Pass where there are all sorts of great day hikes. I'd do this on a Thursday or Friday, though, not the weekend (fewer people). <BR> <BR>A day trip over to the Olympic Peninsula is another possibility. It would help to know what you like (besides baseball!) in order to make better suggestions. Are you outdoors people or not really?

<BR>Allow some time to see downtown Seattle too, especially the Market, Pioneer Square and our waterfront. And do the touristy thing of going to the top of the Space Needle for great pictures. And don't do Snoqualmie/Mt. Rainer same day especially trying to make a game on time that night - allow plenty of time for Seattle traffic jams/parking. And as Sheri mentioned, try the ferry to Victoria.

Thanks for all suggestions so far! You've both been very informative. <BR> <BR>We were thinking about driving through Mt. Rainier National Park - you can do that, can't you? We also wanted to do the Boeing tour at Everett (isn't that the best one)? When we were in Seattle 4 years ago we did take the Victoria Clipper out to Victoria and did indeed have a wonderful time. We also took the horse & carriage ride through Pioneer Square (oh boy, what an experience that was at midnight on a Friday night!). I'm in the process of gathering info off the internet - and once I get more organized, I'll get back with more questions. <BR> <BR>Basically we'll be looking for a break from the hot Orlando summer that we'll be escaping. We want to stay cool, people watch, relax, have nice meals, do some sightseeing, and of course, go to the BoSox games. <BR> <BR>Maggie

Rainier National Park deserves more then a few hours. But you could go to Crystal Mountain ski area in the summer. Wonderful views of Mt. Rainier from there. Remember traffic gets ugly in Seattle, especially on game days so you'll want to give yourself lots of time.

Our plans are firming up! We're staying the first 5 nights at Hotel Edgewater; and the last 2 nights on the tugboat, M.V. Challenger. Any opinions/comments on these 2 accomodations? Being from Florida, I'm a little concerned about no a/c on the tugboat, but they assured me it will be cool. Thoughts, anyone?

Hi Maggie, I'm not a huge fan of the Edgewater (think it's overpriced because it's the only hotel on the waterfront), but the rooms are fine and so long as you don't mind paying extra for the water views, go for it! Just don't expect Four Seasons quality, even though the room rates can be close to what you'd pay at the Four Seasons. Of course, if you got a great deal, so much the better! <BR> <BR>The Challenger is way cool (ooh, just realized, poor word choice! I mean "cool" in the sense that it's "neat" or "great"!). Which room did you book? Heat *shouldn't* be a problem, but hmm, *assurances* that we won't have one of our (admittedly rare) heat waves? I'm not sure I'd go out on that limb, but chances are, it will cool down just fine for sleeping at night. <BR> <BR>By the way, it seems to me that not all the rooms at the Edgewater have a/c, but I could be wrong on that.

Before the big game -- take a tour of the bay for lunch on the Spirit of Seattle, then drive out to Snoqualamie Falls for a 15 min. view (remember the Griswold's at the Grand Canyon?), don't forget to stop and see the big log. <BR>

We visited Seattle in Sept., and rented a Mustang to drive to Leavenworth, WA. It's a beautiful Bavarian village. We couldn't believe it when we saw it. Very neat, with lots of flowers and lots of great shops. We stayed at the Enzian Inn, and we couldn't believe how beautiful it was for the price. Try www. enzian.com Try it...great place!

I gave you the wrong internet site. Try <BR>www.leavenworth.org. <BR>The drive through the mountains is beautiful and Enzian is the best place to stay. The owner plays an alpenhorn on the balcony every morning in full Bavarian dress during breadkfast. We are anxious to return to Leavenworth, WA.

Hi Maggie, <BR>Just a word of caution about a/c in Seattle. We stayed at the Embassy Suites in nearby Bellevue last June. Overall, I am a big fan of Embassy Suite. However,our room didn't cool off so we called maintainence. The engineer checked our a/c and said it was working fine. He noted that we are from the South (Panama City, FL) and that a lot of guests from the South expect the A/C to put out cooler air. So, while we weren't miserable, it was a different level of "cool" compared to the a/c back home. Just a warning.

Maggie, <BR>My suggestion is to spend one day in Seattle and the remaining six in Vancouver BC. Although Seattle is a nice town, Vancouver is far more beautiful and cosmopolitan. <BR> <BR>Enjoy your trip.

That's no longer true, though it may have been true ten years ago. WhileSeattle is becoming more and more cosmopolitan, Vancouver (and the rst of British Columbia as well as Canada) is rapidly turning into one of the lesser Third World countries, with crimes, drugs, at al. to match. <BR>I live quite close to Vancouver and I used to go north about once or twice a week. Now I'll go up maybe once every other month--and return disgusted. <BR>

d bailey: <BR>Speaking of Leavenworth, we also really enjoyed our stay at the Blackbird Lodge. Overlooking Blackbird Island with the mountains beyond felt just like being in Bavaria or at least what I'd imagine Bavaria to be like. The island has an easy-to-walk loop trail with lovely views of the river.

Yikes, here are are, 3 weeks till our vacation and, with the help of everyone who responded, we've got the trip very firmed up. <BR> <BR>We're staying at the Edgewater all 7 nights; I cancelled the Tugboat because of lack of air conditioning, I just didn't want to deal with no A/C. <BR> <BR>We arrive 11:10am Saturday, considering Cirque du Soleil that night. <BR> <BR>Sunday: Brunch @ Space Needle; trek out to Salish Lodge @ Snoqualmie Pass; then continue on to Mt. Rainier. <BR> <BR>Monday: Boeing Plant Tour (any suggestions as to which facility has the best tour?); BoSox vs. Mariners game at night. <BR> <BR>Tuesday: Day spa & downtown Seattle; BoSox vs. Mariners game at night. <BR> <BR>Wednesday: OPEN FOR SUGGESTIONS FOR DAYTIME; BoSox vs. Mariners game at night. <BR> <BR>Thursday: Amtrak train (roundtrip) Seattle-Vancouver. <BR> <BR>Friday: Seafair demonstrations; and maybe Lake City Salmon Bake (would it be worth schlepping out to?) <BR> <BR>Saturday: Fly back home. Bummer. <BR> <BR>Whew! Talk about a full week! <BR> <BR>Anyone have any last minute suggestions?

If you like art, I suggest using some of that open time on Wednesday to go to the Frye Art Museum. I like their collection and presentation of 19th and 20th paintings. Although they rotate the permanent collection, you might see a <BR>Cassatt, Copley, Homer, Sargent or Wyeth, among others. It's at the corner of Cherry and Terry Streets. Http://www.fryeart.org <BR>Oh yes, and it's free.

Hi, Maggie, <BR>A couple of points. First, the Salish Lodge is at Snoqualmie Falls, not Snoqualmie Pass. The Falls are around 30 miles west of the pass, in the Cascade foothills. A day trip to Mt. Rainier after brunch and the falls is going to make for a very long day. In late July/August there isn't much water going over the falls, so you might consider skipping the falls and heading straight for Mt. Rainier. If time permits and you have no fear of heights, stop either coming or going at the Crystal Mountain ski resort near the Mt. Rainier National Park entrance and take the high speed lift up to the top and have a meal at the Summit House, looking eye-level across to the Mt. Rainier summit. http://www.crystalmt.com/summer/dining.html <BR>Second, there is only one public Boeing tour, at the 747/777 assembly facility in Everett. Worth it, but get there real early. After the tour (allow 2 hrs. total) take the ferry from nearby Mukilteo across to Whidbey Island (20 min.) and have lunch or wander around Langley, a few miles from the ferry dock. Then drive north up Whidbey Is. to Deception Pass (view and behold from the bridge), east on SR20 to Interstate 5 (no ferry this end) and back to Seattle. <BR>For Wednesday, maybe a walk-on the ferry to Bainbridge Island for an hour or two, just to enjoy the skyline and the feel of Puget Sound. The Frye Museum is also a great idea. <BR>If you can get tickets for Cirque du Soleil more power to you. <BR>Go M's, but welcome!

Hi! I am a native of these parts, (well, practically, since being here since a child). One thing we love todo is to park at the waterfront, get on the ferry to Bainbridge, explore the town there, and walk thru it down to the marina, enjoy some excellent seafood. Pretty stressless, and a great day trip. Another would be to take the Harbor cruise from the waterfront, enjoy the funky shops there, go to the Pike Street Market, etc, or the Aquarium, the Seattle Art museum (a fantastic collection of Jade)...on and on. All these without needing a car, or taking a chance on getting caught in evening traffic. Oh yes, the monorail into Seattle center, then lunch at the Space Needle. These are tried and true suggestions but great fun, none the less.

Oh yes, one more thing. I seccond the opinion that Vancouver is not what it used to be. A huge influx of immigrants and high crime have strained it's resources, and the culture feels much different now. All the beauty and ambiance we used to love seem clouded, if not disappeared. we don't go there anymore. However, since you are going, try to see the Park (Stanley), the china town district, and go over the bridge to the north part of the city, then drive around. It used to be very nice there.

I would suggest instead of brunch at the Space Needle, have breakfast at one of the old little restaurants at Pike Market. Then visit the Space Needle for the views. You can easily walk from the market to the beginning of the monorail to the Space Needle. We really enjoyed Seattle but didn't get to go to Victoria (high winds) and didn't do any day trips. Have fun.