ceejayto

We're coming to Seattle for 3 nights/3 days in April so my 17 year old daughter can take a second look at Seattle University. When we were there for just one day last year, we stayed at the Silver Cloud Capitol Hill and explored Pike Market Place and enjoyed the walk from the Market Place back to the hotel, including a visit to the the public library.

This year, my husband and 14 year old son will also be with us and I'd like some suggestions for good activities with the kids. We'll have one full day for sight-seeing, and a couple of half-days to fit around the college visit. We're staying at the Silver Cloud again, and we'll have a rental car.

I imagine we'll visit the Space Needle and I think we'd enjoy a ferry ride and activities that help us to explore the greater Seattle area and soak up the ambience. We're coming from San Francisco, so we're not starved for culture or shopping.

Also, my son is interested in video game design. I can't find any information for tours of Nintendo HQ in Redmond, so I'm assuming they don't offer tours, but if I'm wrong, please let me know.

Any recommendations for our stay would be most appreciated.

-Ceejayto

Hisfollower

I would recommend the EMP Experience Music Project Museum. Visit Queen Anne and the Fremont Area. Fun to walk around. I recommend Seattle Pacific University over Seattle University. My daughter goes to Seattle Pacific University. Oh yeah we beat Seattle U in basketball last night

suze

Besides winning at basketball, why are you recommending SPU over Seattle University? Seattle University is very well respected.

happytrailstoyou

I called Nintendo. They do not offer tours to the public.

If you go to the Space Needle, your children may be interested in the nearby EMP (Experience Music Project) and Science Fiction Museum.

Since you like walking, walk to the new and wonderful Olympic Sculpture Park. Before or after your visit, have lunch at the Bell Street Diner.

While on the waterfront, take the ferry to Bainbridge Island, or the Argosy cruise that goes through the locks (offering great views of several old Seattle neighborhoods).

If you go to Bainbridge Island, have lunch at Nola's.

Drive east on Madison to Madison Park and have a meal at Cactus. Afterwards, drive along the shore of Lake Washington.

If you, like me, love zoos, our Seattle Woodland Park Zoo is a very good one.

Mt. Rainier is the most popular day trip from Seattle (but don't go unless it is a clear day).

It is also possible in a day to visit Hurricane Ridge and Lake Crescent in the Olympic National Park. If you go to Lake Crescent Lodge, the hike from there to Marymere Falls which will take you through a forest that gets more than 100 inches of rain each year.

P.S. Seattle University is a great school located in a city I doubt you will tire of visiting.

enzian

Unfortunately, I don't think they will be able to visit Mt. Rainier in April. The roads in are still closed by the flood damage; you can only go as far as Longmire, only on certain days, and only by shuttle:

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/...rainier10.html

Gardyloo

The Museum of Flight is also an excellent destination. Some seat time in a fighter simulator, or a tour of a Concorde or Air Force One, is also pretty cool.

Seattle U is a Jesuit school and SPU is affiliated with the Free Methodist Church. Plenty of differences there.

clarasong

Well, if you came today, you might not like it at all..fog hasn't lifted all day. But I would think if you are on Capitol Hill, the young man will be delighted just to roam around there.!! Lots of neat shops, etc., and lots of young people. p.s. I went to Seattle University and thought it was fine. And is within walking distance of the center of town. Also, if you go down to the waterfront and walk on a ferry to Bainbridge, it might interest him. Could be combined with an interesting walk along the waterfront. Be sure to stop at IVAR's for some fish and chips. SAM is right there if you like art, and they have one of the most extensive collections of Jade in the world. THere is the seattle underground tour, and the Arboretum. I personally think the Space Needle vastly overrated. There is a "body" exhibit in town, very educational, if a bit 'ghoulish', lots and lots. Hope you enjoy yourself.

suze

The main downtown branch of SAM (Seattle Art Museum) is closed for remodel; not reopening until May.

ceejayto

Thanks for all the great replies!

I loved Seattle when we visited last year and am really looking forward to another visit.

My husband is an aero engineer, so I'm sure he would like the Museum of Flight.

My daughter is a nursing major, which limits the field of schools a bit. Also currently attends a Jesuit high school and is hooked on that Jesuit education. She's got her choices narrowed down to two Jesuit schools, Seattle U or USF. She likes the weather here in SF and loves the rain, but isn't sure she could tolerate the Seattle variety. She likes a day or two of sun sprinkled in among the grey ones.

suze

That is a rumor that is simply not true... that it rains all the time in Seattle. There are plenty of sunny days sprinkled in. Sometimes loads of 'em.