Visiting Seattle—would love some guidance

Oh Mardee, there is so much to see and do here! The Argosy Locks cruise is excellent. I like it better than the harbour cruise. Ballard is a great neighborhood and the Nordic Museum there is really good. The farmers market in Ballard is one of the best. You can walk to the Ballard Locks as well. Chihuly garden is gorgeous! Pike Place Market is best is the morning before the crowds. I like going really early when the flower vendors are still setting up. Bacco is our favorite breakfast spot and it’s by the market. The Dungeness crab omelette is my go to there. You could take the ferry over to Bainbridge as a foot passenger and wander the town a bit before coming back.

As for hotels your budget is low since cruise season will have started (check dates to be sure). That said I love the Mayflower Park Hotel. It is the oldest independently owned hotel in the city. We have stayed there for special events. The Westin is good too, but of course more generic. Again we have stayed there for events.

I do think you would enjoy coming up Edmonds. The RS office is only open on Saturdays. It is smack downtown and the town is really cute with all sorts of shops etc. they have a lot of outdoor markets that go on there too.

I’m sure I will think of more but this will get you started.

In 2011 we did an underground tour. http://undergroundtour.com/main/
I really like the Pioneer Square area to stay but it was 15 years ago so I don't know if the neighbourhood is still OK. It probably is because the stadiums are nearby.

Oh and do check out Bill Speidels Underground Tour or the Underworld Tour. Fascinating history of the city.

Mardee!!! How fun! I wish I was in town in April - I'd invite you right out for lunch!!!

I would suggest the Inn at the Market over Hyatt 8. The Hyatt 8 is a little removed from the waterfront area of downtown and I feel like if you're in Seattle, you want to see water, mountains, and the ferries.

I would splurge on a view room at the Inn at the Market. You literally walk out to Pike Place Market, you can see the ferries criss-crossing the waters, the Olympics may well be on display for you. There's nothing prettier.

Seattle highlights - the Chihuly Glass at the Seattle Center is 100% worth it. The volume and variety of glass there is fabulous.

The best and prettiest ferry route out of Seattle is the Seattle-Bremerton run, in my opinion. It's an hour each way - and you don't really need to get off to see much in Bremerton but there is the USS Turner Joy ship/museum there, which is excellent.

Another good ferry route is Seattle to Bainbridge Island. That one is about 35 minutes and you end up in a cute little town...Winslow...and there's a great book store and some nice restaurants for snacks/meals.

And is it worth it to make it up to the Rick Steves Travel Center?

It is open ONLY on Saturdays. Making a trip to just for that probably not worth it. If you want to wander the shops of Edmonds (several wine tasting opportunities) then it might be interesting.

If you go to the Tom Bihn store the FIRST Costco store is not far away. :-)

https://www.google.com/maps/dir/TOM+BIHN,+4750A+Ohio+Ave+S,+Seattle,+WA+98134/Costco+Wholesale,+4401+4th+Ave+S,+Seattle,+WA+98134/@47.5627974,-122.3445939,15z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m14!4m13!1m5!1m1!1s0x549040271ab76e39:0x1f474e0ad2a43c44!2m2!1d-122.3375857!2d47.5593144!1m5!1m1!1s0x549041ce7ac75819:0x42d0987d610a4a8b!2m2!1d-122.3304717!2d47.5653465!3e0?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI2MDIyNC4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D

How do you plan to get around? Be advised that Seattle has the highest uber fares in the country. The good news is there are plentiful. So much so the drivers were picketing the uber office because there are too many and not enough business to go around.

The Waterfront is now done and ready for tourists. Be sure to get some clam chowder and fish and chips at Ivars.

Oh, you all are getting me so excited! I knew it would be fun, but it sounds even better than what I've been thinking.

mikliz, thanks so much for the ideas! It sounds like a wonderful area. Unfortunately, I don't think I'll be able to get to the Rick Steves store, as I leave on Saturday morning. I'm there from Wednesday, April 21 through Saturday, April 25. I will definitely check out those hotels, though! I'd like to get that booked soon.

Allan, I was reading about Pioneer Square, and it sounds interesting. And that underground tour sounds interesting that you and mikliz97 both mentioned! It must be good!

Valerie, thank you for the hotel tips—I will definitely check it out as it sounds great, as do all your other great tips! The view room sounds absolutely incredible, as do the ferry ideas. I can't wait to go to the Chihuly Museum and Gardens. I love his work. And I'm so sorry I will miss you!

Joe, I'd hope to just use walk and use public transportation if possible. I figured, to be honest, I haven't really researched it yet, but I guess I was assuming that Seattle was big enough to have some decent public transport. And of course, I don't mind using Uber either. Thanks for the seafood recommendation. I love fish and chips—and clam chowder.

Do you like flowers? April is tulip time…
🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹

I’ve visited many times but usually visiting people and not much touring.

The season cries out for a garden visit but can’t recommend any. There’s a park with a Japanese garden a little south of downtown.

Having done the MSP>>SEA run on Alaska note that there is an inch more legroom in economy on the port side of the plane behind the exit rows, if every inch matters to you (it does to me).

For shops, I'm partial to Market Spice tea at Pike Place market, the cinnamon orange flavor is my favorite. https://marketspice.com/ It's definitely fun to wander through the market, be sure to watch the fish shops toss their catch around. The original Starbucks is near there but unless you are a die hard it's not worth waiting in the VERY long line. Ferry rides are always fun, even in the rain, and if you're lucky the mountains will be out (PNW talk for "visible"). An outpost of Portland's Salt and Straw ice cream has made it to Belltown, always worth a taste. Endless beer and wine choices - you can't miss in that department. If you happen to be into aviation, the Museum of Flight is between downtown and Sea-Tac. My nephew works there so let me know if you want to visit I can ask for a favor :)

Our local forum members will help you with nitty gritty, but you can take light rail from the airport to downtown area. Parking especially around the market is AWFUL so definitely use your feet and transit. And it goes without saying, bring your water repellant outerwear and shoes, it's possible you could see four seasons in one day (multiple times).

Like David, I was immediately thinking Tulip Festival.

Oh gosh yes, the tulip festival! Not on a weekend though!

There is a market on Saturday the 25th in Edmonds at the Masonic Lodge, which is in the heart of downtown.