I am planning to spend four days in and around Seattle with my husband and two adult daughters. Since none of us have been to Seattle (or the Northwest for that matter), should we take a tour to orient us to the city?
Is the Boeing Plant tour worthwhile? Also, Is there a good source for a guide to lead a hike or birdwatching trip nearby?
Thanks.

I don't know about the city tour, but I took a tour to the Mt Rainier, it was the end of May, walked on the glacier, took awesome pictures, that day was great! So sorry I didn't spend more time in the city!

The Boeing tour is definitely worthwhile. The Mountaineers is a wonderful outdoors group in the area and if you contact them they should be able to help with the hike. They have guided hikes of all difficulties, and if you are looking for something different than what they have they should be able to steer you in the right direction. We have been members for several years. As far as a tour for the main Seattle area, I personally would not bother. Do a search on here and you will find all sorts of interesting things to do in the area and then make notes of which ones are of interest to you. I will warn you, you will wish you had more time and will probably be planning a return trip very soon.

Thanks for the info, especially about The Mountaineers. I forgot to mention that we will be visiting in early May.

That will be a beautiful time to visit. Where are you coming in from, and will you have a car?

The only tour I would recommend for first time visitors would be a water tour of Elliott Bay and the Ballard Locks/Lake Union - actually quite informative and a good view of the city from a geographic and historic perspective.

With 4 days a car is a good idea - will you have one?

The Everett Boeing plant tour can easily be combined with a half-day outing to the southern end of Whidbey Island, where there are some good beach/nature walking possibilities as well as a couple of fairly cute towns.

This may be one time that I partially disagree with mms. As first-time visitors, and with only four days, is there a reason the Boeing Plant tour is high on your list? I live in Portland, and make it to Seattle a couple times a year, but have yet to tour Boeing. There always seems to be something better to do.

I agree that the Harbor tour is very nice and informitive - I also liked the trip out to Tillicum Village - you can spend as long as you want on the island and their are some hiking trails- the Tillicum Village includes a harbor tour and dinner and show at Indian Village -
they cook salmon on plank - we thought it was fun.
I would much rather take a day trip to Ranier than tour the Boeing plant

I also recommend the underground tour

I didn't even know there WAS a Boeing Plant tour! Personally I'd give that one a miss. Maybe the Museum of Flight instead?

Downtown Seattle would be easy enough to see on your own- Pike Place Market, Pioneer Square, maybe Chinatown &/or Seattle Center/Space Needle.

There's an amphibious tour bus/boat called The Duck that leaves from the Seattle Center I believe. I've never been but it always looks kind of fun.

If you have a rental car I recommend going out to the Locks and having lunch at Ray's Boathouse on your way back. And driving thru some of the beautiful parks like the Arboretum and along Lake Washington.

Your activities might well depend on the weather. You might want sunny and a rainy day plans.

Susan in Seattle

Beachbum got me thinking. Yes, unless you have a reason to go to Boeing your limited time could be better spent. It is a great tour though if it is something that is important to you. Many of our close friends are engineers there so that is what got us hooked on it.

We did the Duck tour once. Our inlaws gave us gift certificates for it when we moved there, and well, let's just say it was not our cup of tea. Some people enjoy it, but I personally would not recommend it. Just a matter of choice though.

We visited the Museum of Flight many times and it was always interesting.