dbn

We're coming in for a wedding and are staying at a Red Lion at 112 and S. Pacific:

1. I understand lines for the needle are 1 - 2 hours. Is that right? I've read mostly negative posts about the restaurant (plus they didn't respond to my request for a menu). Is there a way, or time, to get up the needle w/o standing in line, or minimizing it? (Philly does a great job of that for Independence Hall and Constitution Center)

2. Our hotel location seems to be in the hinterland. We land around noon from NJ. If we're not up for shlepping into Seattle, what would you suggest for that first day?

Your posts are really helpful. Thanks.

dbn

Frank

It's my understanding that if you eat lunch or dinner at the top, there is no wait and it includes free access to the observation deck. It's also my understanding that the restaurant prices are high.

Gardyloo

If the wait is a couple of hours, then I'd think about some other tourist destination. Frankly, the view of downtown etc. from the West Seattle waterfront (I-5 to West Seattle/Spokane St. exit, west to Harbor Ave. exit, then north) is superior and there's no wait and it's free. If you want an overpriced meal with your view, eat at Salty's on Alki, right on Harbor, and save the parking and lineup that comes with the Space Needle.

FYI, the weekend of the 5th-7th is when the annual Seafair festival culminates with the Blue Angels and the hydroplane races around Lake Washington; the Blues hang out near the Museum of Flight at Boeing Field - worth a visit. Alternatively, if the prospect of 200,000 people heading for their cars all at once doesn't appeal to you, give a wide berth to Lake Washington on the Sunday.

Your hotel is at the airport. If you don't feel like heading into town (around 25 min.) then you could enjoy a nice shopping center (Southcenter) which is just east of the airport, or head to the Museum of Glass in Tacoma (around half an hour south) or do whatever one can find to amuse oneself near big airports.

I'd head into town.

suze

I did not know the lines were that long. 1-2 hours, really?

The other two questions some one beat me to answering:

I'm pretty sure with a restaurant reservation you get to go up the elevator right away with the charge covered by your meal. It may be expensive but worth it if you really want to go up the Space Needle. I'd recommend waiting and see what the weather is like that day, and only go up if it is clear.

You aren't exactly in the hinterlands, just down near SeaTac airport, so approx 25 mins to get into Seattle up I-5. Travel time depending on traffic.

christy1

My parents, who are not at all picky about food, just had a miserable meal at the Space Needle. If they're complaining about it, you know it's bad. If you are determined to do it, do breakfast, which is less expensive (I'll bet you will still pay close to $20 for each breakfast, though). I'd never heard that about the lines but I haven't been in years.

There's nothing to do near the airport, but it's only a 10-15 minute drive to West Seattle (up Hwy 509). You could visit Lincoln Park (a nice waterfront/beach park), walk/eat along Alki Beach, or head to that viewpoint Gardyloo suggested-these places have easy parking so you won't have to deal with the parking and traffic you would if you came downtown. But really, Seattle isn't that far from the airport (downtown is maybe 20 minutes), especially if you take 509 and then 99, so going into the city won't be a huge hassle.

Orcas

I like the idea of seeing Seattle from West Seattle, as Gardyloo suggests. Look at a map, though. I think you can take 99 in and cut off for W. Seattle and avoid I-5 altogether. My sister lives out that way and they scoot up to Alki that way.

There are a couple of other really good restaurants on Alki (and probably many more I don't know about). Try the Phoenicia for delicious Mediterranean (Lebanese) type food. It has a view, though not quite like Salty's. It's right by the mini Statue of Liberty. There are nice paths on the beach just across the street and you can watch beach volleyball and see the bonfires at night.
There is also a good, small and romantic-countryish Italian near the water at Alki called "La Rustica." No views from the inside, but you can get out and walk on the waterfront and continue on down to where the Statue of Liberty is.
And you didn't think you were going to NY!

luvtravl

We were in Seattle July 7,8 & 9. Did the Space Needle on Friday, July 8 later in the afternoon (while it was busy). We waited about 20 minutes. Looked a lot worse than it actually was. Earlier in the day there was no wait. I would go for it!

isabellasu

We had dinner at the Space Needle restaurant several years ago. I thought it was quite good. Here's the website for a menu:

http://www.spaceneedle.com/restaurant/

Wednesday

It must depend when you go, we bought a ticket, waited for the elevator and went up, 10 min maybe...I think it was a weekday and cloudy, so the view was "ok"...We didn't spend much time up there at all.

happytrailstoyou

Come into town and visit the Pike Place Market. Cruise the waterfront (half price tickets may be available at the Market Information Booth). Check out our thriving retail core. Take the monorail to Seattle Center and check out the scene, but you won't miss much if you don't go to the top of the Space Needle.

kswl

We were in Seattle a few weeks ago and were rather surprised at the low height of the Space Needle. We had expected it to be similar to the Eiffel Tower (dumb us for not reading about it) and gave it a pass. Don't feel like we missed anything.

dbn

My fears were unfounded. We waited till Mon 10 am and were up inside 15 minutes.

I was surprised to find on street parking (1,2, and 3 hr) on the north side within 2 blocks, but also reasonable parking lots.

Waiting till our last day was a good idea - fun to point out places we'd been.

dbn

suze

Thanks *dbn* for posting back for us. Since I live in Seattle I'm always interested to hear how it is for visitors.

I was curious about the possible 2 hour wait, since I'd never heard of such a thing... but you never know. Why just this week someone posted here on Fodors that it took them 1 hour to get to SeaTac airport (it always takes me about 25 mins. in a taxi)...

Anyway, hope you enjoyed our fair city, at least you had great weather!