I will be attending a conference the first week in April, and I'm staying an extra 3 days to see the city. I'll be staying downtown near the Convention Center (probably the Sheraton). I will not have a car.

In reading posts and other things online, I've come up with how I can spend those 3 days (weekdays). I'd love some feedback on the attractions and welcome suggestions.

Day 1 -- Pike Place Market, Aquarium/IMAX, ferry to Bainbridge (not staying, just for the views).

Day 2 -- Monorail to Space Needle, Experience Music Project, walk around Fremont neighborhood.

Day 3 -- See Intl. District, Pioneer Square, Seattle Art Museum.

I think I could probably do more on Day 3... any suggestions? My main interests are photography (always looking for good photo ops), music, art.

Transportation question: will it be easy getting to Fremont from Seattle Center (and back from Fremont to downtown?) I know it's not walkable -- are taxis easy enough to get? Should I try to figure out the buses?

Thanks!
Carol

All fine ideas, Carol. Yes you should figure out the bus system - well worth it. Access to Fremont is easy. Also you might poke around the houseboat docks on Fairview Ave. - very fun and utterly Seattle environment.

Consult the Seattle Weekly (www.seattleweekly.com) for gallery listings, art/music openings, etc.) - April is a busy time and there ought to be plenty of things happening.

Photo/outing suggestions - Museum of Flight (easy bus from downtown); Frye and Henry galleries (under-visited, great resources.) A short visit to the Museum of History and Industry (MOHAI) can be followed by a fascinating walk through the adjacent Union Bay marshlands on wooden paths that take you through the nature reserve (Lake Washington wetlands) - a blast in the spring. In the same area is the Washington Park Arboretum. Run by the U of W, it's one of the premier arboretums (arboreta?) in the country; the Japanese Gardens in the spring will knock your eyeballs out. Or take the bus to Alki for great beach walking and the best views of downtown Seattle going.

Using either Sound Transit (bus) or the Sounder train from King Street Station (which forms the boundary between Pioneer Square and the International District), you might head to Tacoma for the trifecta of the State History Museum, the new Tacoma Art Museum (really dandy) or the Museum of Glass, complete with (Dale Chihuly's) Bridge of Glass linking the MOG to the other museums and wonderfully restored Union Station. Downtown Tacoma has much to offer for the pedestrian tourist nowadays.

Happy planning.

Sounds a lot like our schedule when we were in Seattle, minus the SAM and the EMP. I hope hope to hit those next trip, tho.

You'll be seeing gorgeous views of Seattle from the ferry ride, but a lunch or dinner at Salty's on Alki Beach was fun. The restaurant will come and pick you up in a limo if that sounds fun to you. We really enjoyed our experience there! Have fun! ***kim***

Log onto www.metrokc.gov and go to Transportation for bus schedules. Downtown to Fremont would be easy by bus, you just need to know the route number and where to catch it downtown. Actually you CAN walk it (I've done it before) but it takes about 1 hour. Taxis are easy if you have your hotel call one, but harder to hail on the street than in some other cities.

Your list of activities sounds fine to me. Although personally I've yet to make it to the EMP. Save that 3rd day for things you find of interest in the 1st two, is my suggestion. Seattle Weekly and The Stranger are both free weekly papers available in dispensers along the sidewalks.

Susan in Seattle

If you find yourself with too many ideas, I'd cut the aquarium and Imax. Lots of other cities have an Imax, and our aquarium is in need of renovation. I'd recommend the Ballard Locks (accessable by bus) much more highly than the aquarium.

It's easy to get between Fremont and Seattle Center-the 74 is one bus I know goes there. Metro's web site is easy to use.

For another perspective of the city, you can walk along the path at Myrtle Edwards Park, on the water just north of downtown. Good views from the north over Elliot Bay toward the city.

I agree about the aquarium in Seattle, but then again I'm spoiled by the excellent aquarium in Monterey, CA where we frequently go. ***kim***

Downtown to Freemont sounds like bus number 26 or 28 on 4th avenue (which is one-way).

Another nearby neighborhood of interest would be Broadway. Just a couple of miles due east of downtown. The sights may grow more interesting after nightfall but you'd always be safe with so many people around.

From the right spots on Broadway, the PHOTO of the Space Needle, with water and mountains in the background, is quite the draw for a visitor.

Buses to broadway are probably best caught eastbound on Pike street at mid-town.

There IS a bus #8 that goes from Seattle Center (E.M.P. area) directly to Broadway.

Enjoy!

Don't sweat logistics of a bus connection. People at your hotel can give you very explicit hints on how/when to catch one. AND...when we were there, busses within the central part of the city were FREE.