What are some must sees in Seattle
Mar 9th, 2009, 05:12 PM
#42
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
local sights: pike place market (por supuesto!)--make sure and check out the below deck stores, there's some really bizarre and interesting stuff down there. During the summer months, the Islander, which sits to the southeast of the market (maybe off post alley?), has an open deck where you can watch the boats cruise in and drink with the tourists, off work professionals, and capitol hill people down to check out drinks. There's usually a nice breeze off puget sound; a welcome thing during the two weeks of genuinely hot weather end of july/early august. Otherwise, during winter months, I love a sunset beer at Lowell's, located inside the market right by the sausage vendor. Two good breakfast spots: the crumpet shop (in the shops just across the cobblestones from the actual market itself), and macrina bakery, some blocks down on first avenue, but the chef's special is usually worth the walk. Ditto that the biscotti and bialy egg sandwiches.
Pioneer Square: Il Terazzo Carmine, great italian. Everyone should check out Elliot Bay Bookstore--it's huge, winding, and an exemplar to well-run independent bookstores everywhere(don't miss the upstairs discount book section).
Mariner's Game at Safeco Field--go online day of game, a la craigslist,and score cheap[er] diamond club tickets ($75-150, instead of $215-$350 or thereabouts). This is serious luxury--you can order food and drinks from your seat (included in price of ticket) while watching the game from the prime rows right behind home plate, or hit the excellent in-stadium buffet. For pre-game tipping, Pyramid brewing company has some pretty great beers to try; it's just west of the stadium.
Day Trip 1. ferry to bainbridge island. from the ferry, you can walk into town--turn left on winslow way and keep on it. there are a number of shops/cafes, etc. along the main street. Try Cafe Nola (at the end of the main drag on the left)--I've had at least two good dinners there (I think they even had Seghesio's 2007 zinfandel on their wine list...bliss.)
Day Trip 2: La Conner, WA (for the ambitious: continue through to deception past, and on to whidbey island, take the ferry back to edmonds & enjoy a redhook and cup of clam chowder aboard). La Conner Brewery and Calico Cupboard both have great casual fare (the former for lunch, the latter for breakfast). You can walk up and over the bridge into the reservation across the river. There is a native american cemetary that's worth checking out--the headstones and maintenance thereof differs wildly, and there are some really unusual histories. If you walk along the main drag away from the bridge and toward the end up the block, there is a store that carries dozens of olive types--$25 cents for three tastes. A really weird/excellent tasting tour for those who love olives. The olive shop is close to Go Outdoors, a really kitschy/interesting outdoor company with great baseball hats.
Day Trip 3: Langley, WA. stay at the Inn at Langley in the off season for great rates. The chef's dinner is spendy, but definitely worth it. Otherwise, I just had a great dinner at Gordon's in Freeland. Really interesting take on Northwest/Seafood/Asian fusion. Though I'm generally anti-fusion (thai inspired coq au vin? not so much), the food was excellent and interesting, and the combinations seemed self evident once they arrived--a la salmon infused tempura battered scallops with hoison sauce. To the chef: you really knocked yourself out with that one. I could have eaten 12 orders.
Hmm, perhaps this should be appended to restaurants of Washington, rather than "sights" of Washington--but I generally have my best days in/around seattle enjoying the cuisine as I go. Whoever remarked that there is better food in the east than the west should probably undertake a more thorough analysis before making that type of global remark. The restaurants in LA are great--but I'd rather wind my way through downtown seattle/the market/san juan islands than drive 25+ minutes through unzoned/unkempt cityscapes for my food, a la the City of Angels.
Pioneer Square: Il Terazzo Carmine, great italian. Everyone should check out Elliot Bay Bookstore--it's huge, winding, and an exemplar to well-run independent bookstores everywhere(don't miss the upstairs discount book section).
Mariner's Game at Safeco Field--go online day of game, a la craigslist,and score cheap[er] diamond club tickets ($75-150, instead of $215-$350 or thereabouts). This is serious luxury--you can order food and drinks from your seat (included in price of ticket) while watching the game from the prime rows right behind home plate, or hit the excellent in-stadium buffet. For pre-game tipping, Pyramid brewing company has some pretty great beers to try; it's just west of the stadium.
Day Trip 1. ferry to bainbridge island. from the ferry, you can walk into town--turn left on winslow way and keep on it. there are a number of shops/cafes, etc. along the main street. Try Cafe Nola (at the end of the main drag on the left)--I've had at least two good dinners there (I think they even had Seghesio's 2007 zinfandel on their wine list...bliss.)
Day Trip 2: La Conner, WA (for the ambitious: continue through to deception past, and on to whidbey island, take the ferry back to edmonds & enjoy a redhook and cup of clam chowder aboard). La Conner Brewery and Calico Cupboard both have great casual fare (the former for lunch, the latter for breakfast). You can walk up and over the bridge into the reservation across the river. There is a native american cemetary that's worth checking out--the headstones and maintenance thereof differs wildly, and there are some really unusual histories. If you walk along the main drag away from the bridge and toward the end up the block, there is a store that carries dozens of olive types--$25 cents for three tastes. A really weird/excellent tasting tour for those who love olives. The olive shop is close to Go Outdoors, a really kitschy/interesting outdoor company with great baseball hats.
Day Trip 3: Langley, WA. stay at the Inn at Langley in the off season for great rates. The chef's dinner is spendy, but definitely worth it. Otherwise, I just had a great dinner at Gordon's in Freeland. Really interesting take on Northwest/Seafood/Asian fusion. Though I'm generally anti-fusion (thai inspired coq au vin? not so much), the food was excellent and interesting, and the combinations seemed self evident once they arrived--a la salmon infused tempura battered scallops with hoison sauce. To the chef: you really knocked yourself out with that one. I could have eaten 12 orders.
Hmm, perhaps this should be appended to restaurants of Washington, rather than "sights" of Washington--but I generally have my best days in/around seattle enjoying the cuisine as I go. Whoever remarked that there is better food in the east than the west should probably undertake a more thorough analysis before making that type of global remark. The restaurants in LA are great--but I'd rather wind my way through downtown seattle/the market/san juan islands than drive 25+ minutes through unzoned/unkempt cityscapes for my food, a la the City of Angels.
Apr 3rd, 2009, 11:07 AM
#44
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 16,253
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thank you, natinwpb. I'm SO looking forward to this trip. Anyone who wants to add anything else or a special experience aspect you liked- please do.
I always print it out just before leaving- and you'd be surprised how many places we get to. SF, Baltimore, San Deigo, D.C.- those especially- when we ran into a name from the posts, oftentimes we stopped to look, sample etc.
Fodorites really do have good insight into suggestions.
I always print it out just before leaving- and you'd be surprised how many places we get to. SF, Baltimore, San Deigo, D.C.- those especially- when we ran into a name from the posts, oftentimes we stopped to look, sample etc.
Fodorites really do have good insight into suggestions.
Apr 3rd, 2009, 11:54 AM
#45
My two favorite restaurants lately are not on the usual suggestions list, both downtown Seattle hotel restaurants... Andaluca at Mayflower Park & Brasserie Margeux at the Warwick. Both have excellent food, professional service, and an elegant atmosphere. Both made a nice change from the more hip & trendy, even the Tom Douglas spots.
Apr 3rd, 2009, 06:03 PM
#46
Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 2,767
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I just made reservations for May at the El Gaucho Inn. Fabulous deal, even those of you living up there might check it out for a night on the town.
http://inn.elgaucho.com/inn.elgaucho/packages.htm
http://inn.elgaucho.com/inn.elgaucho/packages.htm
Apr 17th, 2009, 11:17 AM
#47
Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My wife and I plan to visit Seattle for our 1st anniversary and neither of us have been before, so we are really looking forward to it. Thanks to all who posted here...this is really great information. I think the Underground tour sounds especially interesting.
We are debating on whether or not to rent a car, think we could get by without one?
We are debating on whether or not to rent a car, think we could get by without one?
Apr 18th, 2009, 08:38 AM
#48
I don't think you need a rental car, if your focus is downtown Seattle area. It's all quite central and walkable (with taxi, bus, monorail, streetcar as other options).
Yesterday I was having lunch at Andaluca's at the Mayflower Park hotel and a small tour group came in. It looked so interesting we asked the guide who they were. Turns out, they were one of the Savor Seattle Food Tours "Eat your way through Pike Place Market & Seattle!" www.SavorSeattleTours.com
Yesterday I was having lunch at Andaluca's at the Mayflower Park hotel and a small tour group came in. It looked so interesting we asked the guide who they were. Turns out, they were one of the Savor Seattle Food Tours "Eat your way through Pike Place Market & Seattle!" www.SavorSeattleTours.com
Apr 18th, 2009, 10:18 AM
#49
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,725
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
When we visit Snoqualame Falls, we always include breakfast or lunch at the Salish Lodge. The dining room overlooks the falls for a beautiful view. Be sure and wear comfortable shoes to walk the trail down to the base of the falls. Salish Lodge is a bit pricey but superb quality.
The drive to Paradise Lodge at Mount Ranier passes waterfalls and beautiful picnic spots. Purchase a meal to go for an exceptional setting.
The drive to Paradise Lodge at Mount Ranier passes waterfalls and beautiful picnic spots. Purchase a meal to go for an exceptional setting.
